Hi all,This my first post, so I thought I would introduce myself and my old 1951 Suburban Carryall.
I bought her in 1973 when I was 19 years old to replace my 1st car, a worn out '53 Chevy. I paid $49 for the truck. Guy wanted $75, but $49 was all I had. She had a bad rod, but I filled up the crankcase 2 quarts over with STP and drove the 100 miles from Winston Salem to Raleigh with that rod a bangin' the whole way.
To tell you the truth, I had no idea what I was doing.
When I got home, I dropped the pan and saw that a dipper was missing from one of the rods, and the crank was pretty gauled up. I decided to put the 235 Powerglide motor from my car in this truck. I totally lucked out on this, as that year motor just dropped right in. Like I said, I had no idea what I was doing. The car had a standard tranny, but a full pressure Powerglide motor with hydraulic lifters. How can this be you say? Well this '53 Chevy had factory power steering, and those cars got the Powerglide engine, even if they were equipped with a standard tranny. As a bonus, I have a double pulley on the crank.
I have driven this truck now for almost 40 years. Many road trips and adventures. Mountains to the sea. I keep her maintained, have rebuilt the engine twice, rebuilt the gear boxes, done what I could with the suspension, rewired her, pretty much fixed what was broken.
Never done much with the body, however.
Over the years I have seen fewer and fewer of the old Panels and Suburbans. I can't remember the last time I saw one here in Raleigh, maybe 15 20 years ago. As beat up as she looks though, I get a load of attention and a big thumbs up wherever I drive.
So why am I here? I was poking around on the Internet looking for a flywheel cover (mine has been missing since 1974) when I ran across this site. It occurs to me that I will be able to find a lot of great info and good folks here. I would like to do some body work, and fix some nagging problems and get some answers to questions such as:
How do I get the dents out?
Why does my steering wander around even everything seems tight?
Why can't I get a good rebuild on a vacumn wiper motor, and
How do I get the knob off my shifter so I can put that nice boot I bought on it?
Anyway, for your enjoyment, here are a few pictures of my truck:
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2027.JPGhttp://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2052.JPGGot this bumber sticker at the Los Alamos lab:
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2025.JPGThe interior:
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2031.JPGhttp://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2067.JPGhttp://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2068.JPGHere is the rear seat I made from a Thomas School bus seat:
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2033.JPGhttp://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2034.JPGThe engine:
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2056.JPGhttp://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2045.JPGAnd here are a few body problems I'd like to repair:
Rear fender at body:
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2070.JPGJust a hole - been there since I bought it:
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2072.JPGNeed some rear window TLC:
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2075.JPGAnd I really need a new sill here at the rear, I think.
http://www.kearc.com/kurts_photos/truck/DSC_2081.JPGHope you enjoyed the pictures of the old beast, and if anyone can help me out with any of my questions, I sure would be grateful.
Kurt
