1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'

[Chevy-49]

Hi there. I'm Richard and own a 1949, 3100 Chevrolet pickup since 1996.
I read a lot of posts, asked a few questions and followed build treads, learned a lot from you all.
It's fun to help each other, The 1947 - Present Chevrolet GMC Truck Message Board Network is great.
So I thought maybe is time for me to start my own build thread.

Here is a little History.

In 1996 I bought the truck in Holland, I had asked a dealer to look out for a Chevrolet truck, equipped with V8, auto trans, power brakes and power steering. I wanted a daily driver.



Got the truck ready for dutch DMV. Drove it for a few weeks and started a optical restoration. Added new front power brakes, kingpins, fresh paint, new GM Goodwrench 350 and overhauled the transmission. Visited in 1999 en 2000 the US for parts.



In 2000 the fun starts, driving the truck to work and planning trips to Europe, but never drove more than 50 miles, because the truck never handled like I would like to. Steering was worse, needed the whole road to drive in a straight line.



In 2001 planned another trip to the US for holiday and truck parts, Visit Pomona Swap meet (fun..!!).
Bought a TCI Mustang II front IFS. Back home started disassemble the truck, a local shop welded the cross member in, chassis send for a media blast and powder coat. Bought several other parts and.....stored the truck.

Then I met my wife, bought a House and now I'm a proud father of two daughters.
In the mean time bought a lot of parts and done a few things to the truck.
Currently I can spend more and more time on the truck, kids are growing fast...

Plans:

- TCI front mustang II IFS
- TCI 4 link rear suspension
- TCI chassis mount power brake booster
- Iditit steering colom
- Vintage Air Heater (no airco)
- Bench seat
- New bed
- EZ-wiring
- Ron Francis switches (head light, wiper)
- Mar-k hidden hinges / latch
- Doc's Custom fuel tank under bed
- Dakota Digital dash (bought in 1999)
- Hidden stereo set / speakers /amplifiers etc.
- Clean firewall
- Rear disk brakes
- New chrome front and rear bumpers / grille / door handles etc.
- SS trim in front windows
- New color
- New green tinted glass ??
- New floor and toe board, and other typical rust.....

[Advanced Design]

Sounds like a great history. I don't see the photo's.

[oldman3]

I can see the pics, you've made it alot better, plan sounds great, ready to watch the progress. You've got some great products to use. Best of luck...Jim

[Chevy-49]

The Cab needs a lot of work. I would like to do all the work on the truck myself, except paint. So looked out to buy a welder, but thanks to my neighbor I can use his machine. Trying my first welds on the firewall, started good, but need to learn to be patient. Got too much heat so the firewall wrapped a little.


Started all over again with new sheetmetal, welded some braces in to mount vintage air heater and fuse box.
Also made a small recces for the engine.



Trying to fill some holes in the dash.

[Chevy-49]

A daily driver needs wipers.
Next, where to mount the switch?
First idea is to mount it underneath the Head light switch, but I'm not sure.



Do you have another idea?

[Chevy-49]

Wiper switch is in, had to turn the head light switch 180 degrees to make room for wiper switch.
Test fit the Dakota dash as well, no problems here.

[oldman3]

Looks nice...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Good choice on wiper switch placement. Looks good!

[Chevy-49]

Today finally dissembled the glove box hinges, bolts where rusted, had to drill em out.
The starter button gets in, did not try it together with the digital dash. Also get some 'juice' on it.

[RockinKees]

Nice project, great plans too!!
Where in Holland are you?

[Chevy-49]

Hi Kees, small city named Losser. Read your posts too, like your project, Is the American dinner named 'Caddy's 'still in Pumerend?

[RockinKees]

Caddy's is demolished a few years back, unfurtunately.
There is a Burger King now....
Very sad :-(

Losser is quite a few miles away...but I'll keep an eye on you!!

[Chevy-49]

Found some pictures (crashed server) to share. Can't wait to start the engine.
This summer I want to have chassis out off the storage and turn the key....
(thought to do it last summer, but time flies...)

[Chevy-49]

Last weekend cleaned the inside of the dash, firewall is out now there room to do that.
Spayed brunox epoxy to stop the rust, next is to spray a primer.

Next weekend start to weld the firewall in and maybe to start with the floor panels.

[Advanced Design]

Chassis looks good! I did a double take on the dash...looking at it from the front I realized.

[Chevy-49]

Dash in primer, hoping all the holes are correct.



Firewall tacked in, I'm satisfied how it looks, finishing welding later.

[Chevy-49]

A member asked questions about heaters, so test fit the vintage heater today.



Welded two braces on the inside of the firewall.



Mounted the heater



Picture taken thru glove box.



I do not use the top vent, picture taken from above.



Heater is hidden behind the dash.



I'm also trying to post a video, have to find out how....

[Chevy-49]

Here are the video's links:

https://youtu.be/3fV476aN_vY

https://youtu.be/F3KuwH6wb5Y

[Advanced Design]

Nice work. Looks like you have a helper in the first video.

[HUSSEY]

I had not see those heat only units before, they look like a nice little unit. My original heater core is about trashed, I think I might go with one of those not seeing it mounted up, thanks for sharing!

[RockinKees]

Just like Hussey, I hadn't seen these before, nice unit!

[Chevy-49]

Hi thanks for your reply.

Removed the inner cowl panel.



Trimmed the path panel



Started to replace the floor panels, first a welded a floor reinforcement tube in (came with the floor panel kit)





Also welded an extra reinforcement tube in, followed by the left floorpan

[JJorgensen52]

Looking good!

Could you give dimensions for that center reinforcement tube? I didn't use the front floor kit, but it definitely needs to be reinforced without the seat riser and I want to know what metal I should be looking at adding.

[Chevy-49]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Looking good!

Could you give dimensions for that center reinforcement tube? I didn't use the front floor kit, but it definitely needs to be reinforced without the seat riser and I want to know what metal I should be looking at adding.

Tube is 3'' x 1'' and approx. 55'' wide

Richard

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by Chevy-49

Tube is 3'' x 1'' and approx. 55'' wide

Richard

Perfect, thanks!