Owned by Bruce Graham "britcon" Bolter # 4497 Cloverdale, B.C. Canada

1940 Chevy KC 1/2-Ton

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From Bruce :

My truck is a 1940 Chevy KC that has been " rodded" with a 327 Chevy small block bored .060 over, roller rockers, cam, Edelbrock intake and carb, ceramic coated headers, balanced, with hypereutetic pistons, etc.

The transmission is a TH 350 with a shift kit. The rear-end is from a 1956 Chev car - 3.42 gears and posi. Front end is a Mustang 2, with 9" Granada disc brakes, and a power rack. Rear brakes are drum. Wheels are Torquer 2 style - 17", with 275 rubber all around.

I purchased this old truck in 2004 after looking for a project for a number of years. This classic truck started its life on a dairy farm near San Francisco. The fellow I purchased it from bought it from the dairy farmer in 1960. The new owner slid in a camper and took the family camping thru Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado in the "stock" truck. In the mid-1970's, he dropped in a 327 HiPo motor from a 1966 Chevelle, added the 350 trans, and rear-end. In 1994, he retired to Oregon and had the stock front end swapped out for the Mustang 2 setup.

When I bought the truck, it was in pretty sad shape. The motor was burning oil and knocking. The filler in the fenders was cracking. The interior was shot.

I thought I would just pretty it up with a new paint job and mechanical stuff ... HA HA HA !

I spoke to a friend who owns a body shop. He convinced me that throwing a coat of paint over the problems was a waste of money - that I had something pretty unique, and should do it right.

So, I tore her down to the bare frame, stripped the body to bare metal. Luckily, the body was in decent shape with only a bit of rust on the cab corners front and rear. Front fenders were okay; rear fenders were beat to heck! Had one inch filler everywhere, and bad rust. I ended up finding a set that were a little better and having a body guy fix them.

The motor was stripped and rebuilt. Trans and rear-end got a going thru. I sent the cab and body parts out for painting. The box was shot - totally beat up. The tail gate bent and rusted.

I found a local sheetmetal shop that reproduced the bed sides and front panel and bought a tailgate.

I had an upholstery shop re-do the existing seats and interior. Then we put her all back together.

A mere 3.5 years later, and much more money than I had ever imagined, we are back on the road. It was worth every cent and hour spent. We love the truck.

We hit as many shows as we can in the summer and have met some great people along the way.

Glad to get her in the Gallery. The credit goes to Husker, who lit a fire under my rear to get the pictures and story posted.

She's a beaut' for sure! I love that shade of blue, too. Drool City! And shucks, no credit here -- it's my job to track down these great stories and get 'em in here! ~ Husker, the Gallery Gal

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