My first project (52' Chevy)

[bmnk]

I've decided to create a build thread on my 52'.

A little background history on the truck....

When I was 15yrs old I decided I wanted a "Classic Car/Truck" to drive when I got my license, much to the dismay of my parents who lacked any automotive mechanic skill and knowing the effort it would take to restore a vehicle.

jump ahead 6 months - My mom tells me of an "old" truck she saw for sale and thought she could talk my dad into letting me buy it. The truck was a 52' Chevy with a school bus yellow paint job. The short box was missing, but had a wooden flat bed. The truck had been partially restored and was equipped with a 350 Chevy motor and 350 Transmittion. There was a 10 bolt Chevrolet rear-end with 5 lug Chevy Rally Rims all the way around. My parents like it because it was ready for me to drive, and I like it because it looked and sounded really cool. With a small financial gift from my grandfather I got my classic vehicle I wanted.

Jump ahead another 1yr and 1/2 and while driving to school one day I blow the motor on the truck. The truck then goes into storage.

While in college and just starting my working career I didn't have the money or time to put into the truck, so in storage it sat collecting dust

Jump ahead 9 years later my grandfather and mom passed away, 4 months apart of each other.

A year later (last summer) I decided to pull my old truck out of storage and do a partial restoration on it to get it back to road ready condition sorta in memory of my mom and grandpa whom without there support I would not have been able to buy the 52'.

[bmnk]

Truck comes out of storage after almost 10 years of collecting dust.


I start tearing it apart while I wait for my step-dad to clean out an area of his shop for me to work in.


I start gutting the inside, cleaning out the mouse nest and other junk






Removed the old fuel tank

[bmnk]

Truck finally get's moved into the shop. Not alot of room as I have to share with my step-dad's mustang and a ford ranger he is working on.


Removed the old steering set-up


Creating mounting brackets for an rear fuel tank


Fuel tank in place and very secure




Painted the frame

[bwilli2]

What's the new gas tank out of? Are you going to route the fuel filler neck out the side (as it's currently angled) or do a through-the-bed filler?

Look's good.

[bmnk]

Decided it needed a new floor, as the old one was a collection of sheet metal pieces pop-riveted to the old rusting metal.


Working on welding the floor into place




Time for the driver side


it took forever, but the floor is done, almost


New Tie rod and Tie Rod ends


Shiny Black 350 engine dropped into place


Lokar Shifter


Steering Column now installed


Updated the Master Cylinder

[bmnk]

steering column shaft also completed -- Yay power steering!


Interior coated with Lizard Skin - and starting to run the new wire harness


New Heater (Small but it should do the job)


New Aluminum Radiator to keep the engine cool

[bmnk]

Originally Posted by bwilli2

What's the new gas tank out of? Are you going to route the fuel filler neck out the side (as it's currently angled) or do a through-the-bed filler?

Look's good.

I am thinking I would like to do the through the bed, but currently undecided.

Tank is out of a 79' GMC Jimmy. I used the Jimmy as a donor vehicle for the tank, engine (recently rebuilt), and steering column.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Originally Posted by bmnk

New Aluminum Radiator to keep the engine cool

Nice!

[nickp51chevy]

Looks like you have nice bones to start with. If everyone had a mom and grandpa like yours it would be a much happier world. It must have been hard to loose two of your greater influences in your life about the same time.

Looks like you're doing a great job though. I'm sure they would be very proud of you.

Keep your updates comin.

[pgf545]

Looks like you have a great start going and a really neat story to go with it. If you need anything ask questions...these guys have been really helpful with me on the 52 I am working on. You can send me a PM with questions although I don't check it everyday. I will get back with you. Have fun with it.

Bernie

[bjcaldwe]

Keep up the good work.