Hello,
This is my first post to the site and I find this site to be the most informative I've seen.
Twelve years ago I purchased my 52 Chevy 3 window pickup from a local guy who had been driving it to work every day while he restored a 56 Chevy Bel Air, when that project was complete he sold the truck to me for the sum of $4,000.
This truck had already been modified with a 350 v8 and turbo 350 trans. The suspension was still original although lowered by removing leafs from the front ( two leafs left on each side), and changing the rearend to a 10 bolt with the springs under the axles.
I drove the truck this way for about a year as my daily driver, although I found driving on the freeways to be too scary as the front kingpins were worn and the truck would change lanes if it hit a bump!
At that point I decided to update the front end with a MII type front end with rack and pinion steering and disc brakes. I used tubular control arms and air springs rather than steel springs. I replaced the tired 350 motor with a fresh 305 that I had in storage,and rebuilt the trans. I upgraded to a tilt column with the ignition switch and shifter. I completely rewired the truck with a Ron Francis wiring kit, relocated the fuel tank and battery into the bed which also got new bed wood and stainless strips.
I drove the truck every day until 2005 when I decided to do some more upgrades and get the truck into shiny paint as it was in a base coat paint without any clear.
Well like most projects this one has taken on a life of it's own, I retired from working as a mechanic in the auto repair business and decided I wanted to do some customizing on my tuck as I've always wanted to learn metal forming and improve my bodywork skills. Since that decision I've made a custom dashboard, prepped the wind shield area for one piece windshield, frenched the headlights, removed the bullnose strip and welded up and leaded the hood also removing all emblems. I'm currently putting twin hood scoops in on each side of the hood, these pieces were fromed from flat 18 Ga cold rolled steel on a planishing hammer I got at harbor freight.
I,m having a ton of fun doing this work and improving my skills at some of the things I wasn't sure were possible for me to do.
I'm a 65 year old retired mechanic/operating engineer/printer that works in one half of a two car garage and my truck sits under a portable temporary 10'X20' shelter. Thank goodness here in Montclair, CA it doesn't rain too much and it never snows!
I've been so interested in the work on this truck that I haven't taken any pictures of it thinking no one but myself would be interested. Now that I've found this site that will change very soon and I will post pictures as soon as I can get them taken.
Hope I didn't dissapoint to many of you by not having pictures, looking forward to inter-action with the members of this site
Last edited by Peggy M; 04/13/2025 12:10 AM.
