Brad,
I have thought about removing the center support in the roof, but that leaves me wondering why it was installed in the cab originally. I also question as to why the late 1949 cardboard headliner panels produced today have screw reliefs at the back side if the floating center bows require no screws. I made note from your earlier post that there were different configurations of headliners based upon months and year of production. Is it possible that the reproductions of headliners made today are simply grouped together in either 1947-early 1949 and late 1949 with no consideration for possible mid year production? This truck has been a bit confusing as I found I have an early 1949 glove box configuration with the metal retaining band. I tried the late 1949 glove box and the liner didn't even come close to fitting the opening. The early glove box liner fit perfectly and all the screw holes in the dash also lined up. Is it possible I have a truck that utilized early and late configurations based upon what was available on the production line at the time?
I recall when I did the frame off restoration on my 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne that I ran into fitment issues with outside door handles and wrong emblems attached to the car. I finally got to talk to a production line worker that worked for GM during that era and Mike with Auto City Classics. Both of them told me that it didn't matter what the VIN # designated concerning trim items. Because of the economic climate in 1958 the production facilities used what ever trim items were available on the day of production. My 1958 VIN tag indicated that this car was equipped with a 348 cu.in. engine with 2 four barrel carburetors, heavy duty suspension, standard transmission, and base trim. The 348 cu. in. with 2 four barrel carburetors or the tri-power set up was RARE and generally only used in law enforcement vehicles, know as an interceptor engine. My confusion was that the car had 6 cylinder emblems on the hood and trunk and no indication of the 348 cu.in. engine that was usually designated with the double cross flags on the rear quarter panels. In the process of the frame off restoration I found the original registration receipt under the rear seat. The 1958 Biscayne was originally registered to the the City of Wichita, Kansas in Nov. of 1957. As the media blasting company stripped the car, they called me to come take a look before they completed the job. When I arrived they found under the white paint that the car had been painted black with white doors and the out line of a star decal on each door. Under the black and white was the original color gold paint. Police vehicle? .....to this day, I still am not certain. When I did the upholstery as I uncovered the back seat the previous owner had his wife made corduroy seat covers, under the corduroy seat cover was a plain black vinyl seat cover and then the original factory upholstery. Another indication of a law enforcement vehicle?
Another situation with this car was that the outside door handles I ordered from a reputable vendor, did not fit the contour of the doors. I then was put in contact with Mike at Auto City Classics. Mike informed me that the door handles I received were probably for the Impala. He further went on the explain to me that ALL door contours on the 1958 Chevrolet line of cars were different. Mike explained that most vendors were selling a generic 1958 outside door handle that would not fit the different models. In short, he sent me NOS door handles that fit perfectly.
I'm sorry if I sound like I ranting and am probably over thinking this whole process, but I'm just trying to learn what I have. I know...as Carl said, "Just pick one."
Thanks again for your patience and ALL your help with this!!
Tim
