A 'virtual garage' of antique Chevy & GMC trucks from around the World

1949 Chevrolet 3100

01 March 2008
# 2251

From Curt :

          My Dad and I pulled this 1949 Chevy 3100 out of an alley [ pix ] in 1986. All of the glass was smashed out. We chained it behind a Bronco II and pulled it six blocks to our house. [ interior pix ]

          Dad spent a lot of time putting in new glass, brakes and getting the ol’ thing running. After we replaced the glass, it became a daily driver.

          In 1998, Dad had a stroke and felt he could not keep up with the truck. He talked of selling it and he decided to sell it to me and did so in 1999. 

          I drove the truck back and forth to work, but I found it difficult to keep it going original. Engine-wise, too many quirks had to be worked out.  Besides, we wanted something a little more “hopped” up anyway! 

          So about four years ago, we decided to go from original to putting a Chevy 350 engine with automatic transmission in the ol ’49. Dad found an engine and automatic transmission that would work and I purchased a 1988 Suburban for the chassis. [ pix ] I had the ’49 body set the on the frame and had power steering and brakes from the Suburban added. I had the engine put in and moved the gas tank to underneath the bed (safety reasons).

          Dad knew I was doing all of this, but what he didn’t know was that I was doing it for him. This past summer (2007), I loaded the truck up on my car hauler and took it back to him (from Texas to Colorado). He did some bed work and has gotten plenty of primer on it for a future paint job.

          Right now, the truck is sitting in my Sister and Brother-in-law’s farm shed waiting out the bitter Colorado winter.  Spring is just around the corner!!

Thanks!

Curt

          ~ Looks like a great truck and your Dad should be very proud.  Keep us updated on the progress… Gallery Gal

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