The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 1949 chevy 1 ton deluxe Panel project.

Those were stock 1 ton panels sent to a coach shop to have windows & etc added to them for school, military & etc..

Yeah! Score! Free parts truck. 87 k10 or k20. I think it's a half ton. I'm taking both axels , the whole steering and the brake booster w pedal. The truck has front disc and rear drum.
So far most of the parts and materials have not come out of pocket. I happen to have good scrap metal and a whole lot of sheet metal. The seats were donated. Even way back when some parts came from donor trucks before they were gift trucks.
This latest installment of this truck will have recycled another dead chevy. Kinda like if "Christine" ate other cars to rebuild its self.
Or another way to look at it is The donors live on in my panel truck.

Edit: V10 series not K10

1tonpete Congrats on the score. Double check width dimensions of axles to make sure they stay under fenders.Before doing a lot of work. Per my earlier email I'm on limited budget also so reusing newer parts was the way to go to keep these trucks on the road. I really appreciate some of the restoration projects on this site and hope to have the patience and funds to tackle one in the future but for now I like driving a "beater" with new running gear.

Wheel surface to wheel surface measurements :
1949 stock 1 ton.
Rear:65"
Front : 62"
87 rear : 62.5"
Front: 65.5"
The offset on the newer gear has me thinking the front will fit. The outer tire to outer tire comes to 70" about. My inner fender measurement comes to 72" . I will be changing the tires though. These tires aren't holding air. My 49 tube tires are in better shape.

The rear I might keep the eaton and find 3.23s or 3.56s to put in it. Depends on gears in the 87. If the 87 has highway gears then I'll swap that over .

Today was a good day. My son and my daughter helped me pull parts off the parts truck. They got all the lil screws n such off the dash panel so I could get the brake pedal bracket out.
They actually saved me a lot of hassle. I was able to work under the hood while they worked the dash. He's 10 and she is 4. My 4 year old is my lil mechanical genius .
What I pulled today...
Steering column . Brake booster and pedal mount with the pedal.
Tomorrow steering box and axles. I have to help pull motor and trans as cost of the parts I'm taking.

So yeah, I just realized I had a dumb moment. Front and rear axles have to match. At least the gearing does. So I need to identify the gears in the front. I'm going to do some googling to find out what ratios were available for the fronts on the 87.
As for the rear axles , I think the Eaton is the better choice over the 10 bolt. But then I have 8 lug rear and 6 lug front.
Conclusion ...
Beat the 10 bolt until it blows up. I would rather have to replace that then the original rear anyways.
Back at it in a couple hours.

Hands hurt . I'll update later. But I got an idea for you stock guys for an easy bolt on sway bar. I won't know till I get everything back to the shop.

So all my parts are pulled from the parts truck. The axles are still under it until the flat bed comes to pick up the parts truck.
Right now there is piece of junk newer chevy with a bad frame in my bay. Then the owners camaro is going in for a couple days. I guess I have a lil break for the week.
Now I remember why I don't do this for a job. It's not worth the money. But doing for a different purpose such as this is worth it.
Time to figure out what else I'll need.

I came by the shop and took some pics of the truck . It's some what thrown together. These pics are before any changes to suspension or steering.

pic1
pic 2
pic 3

Bored this morning ... drew a quick version of whats in my head. I will probably go with a more aggressive tire. The wheel tire combo on donor truck is small.
panel truck sketch.

The only problem with the added side windows is you will not have the privacy that was available to your parents. I recall that privacy from when I had a rusting-away 1948 3105 in 1969-71.

I am up in the air still on the window. I had some glass for it, but all my glass is original smoked glass. I have not found anything that matches. Everything i find tinted, has a green color. My glass is pure black smoke. I dont think ill be ordering any custom glass soon.

Divorced transfer case twin stick Dana 24 . Cast iron.

Hey 1tonpete

I am waiting for a 1 ton truck to come to my place...I am planning a newer rear-end upgrade out of Chevy pickup also..hanging pedals on the firewall from the same truck...Your looks great..I will be following along for sure.
I love the history of your truck. Kinda like a family heirloom for sure..

MikeC

Thanks for checking it out. My 1 ton could come by your place when its done, you are not far from me.

Huge day for me today. After many delays in getting my donor truck parts , I finally delivered them to the shop today. All my major components are in my possession for getting my truck rolling stopping and turning and possibly driving. Depending on condition of everything on inspection and clean up before I test fit things. My plan is an afternoon trip to the shop after a long break away , I am more than eager to begin working again.

Also I found this internet pic , This is basically the look I am going for. I might refine it some more with the deluxe trim , and some other touches, but this is pretty much it.

Please don't cut your fender wells! Look into the big bolt front fenders, they have a larger opening and look stock. The rear fenders are hard to find in good condition, it would be a shame to cut them up.With some work you can modify truck rear fenders to fit the panel, they would stick out a little farther than the original panel fenders and would allow for bigger tires.

Oh I had no plans of cutting the fenders. Especially The rear . The reference pic was to show stance . But I like your idea of using truck rears. There is a big bolt on graigslist about 40 miles south of me. I have been meaning to talk to the guy as he said in his add that he had a 1 ton panel there too. The big Bolt caught my eye because it was an old wrecker. I thought about getting it and restoring the the thing to use at the shop as a wrecker again. But I got enough on my plate.
I will probably raise the suspension before I do anything to the fenders.

Sounds like you been stricken with the hard to cure stove-bolt-accumulator bug, Josh?

Let me know when you are in your shop (PM, or phone call) - I would like to stop by over the next 5 days.

Thanks Tim . And yes, I have been stricken. I absolutely love these trucks. I kinda wish I could save them all.

Thanks Tim for coming by the shop today. It was great to see you, and the fact you brought a surprise former mentor was awesome.

It was good seeing you and your truck and your helper-daughter.

Keep at it.

Here is a Specialty vendor set-up, I have seen other combinations.

Here's is Joe's 49

Here is Mr. Langs converted1/2 ton panel

I know Large marge. I remember when that thing was getting frame swapped. love that truck.
I might not do a window conversion.
Now that nice weather is here its time to rebuild my "electrolysis tank". Start cleaning parts. All my door parts are next.
I ordered new windshield rubber and inside handles for windows and doors. I cant wait to see what that smoke glass is gunna look like. Anyone with tips on glass install please chime in as soon as rubber gets here it needs to go in, and I am only getting one chance at it, so it has to be perfect.

Can someone chime in on how to remove steering column. Im feeling really stupid after couple days looking and pulling and scratching my head.

Josh,

I think there is bolt underneath, going up through the frame. Many of us have been fooled by that one.

Thanks Tim Ill have another look tomorrow night.

Pete, don't know if I can help but on my panel the front sheet metal and such was already off of it. I took the steering wheel off, took the collar loose at the toeboard and then after taking the steering box loose I took it out the bottom.

Then I can pull column out w/o steering wheel attached w the box?

.... I pulled the steering wheel off and dropped it out the bottom. You can do it.

I ordered some goodies and they came. I needed a new windshield seal and it was 30$ along with rear door hing seals. Also reproduction inside handles.
So I restarted work on the windshield channel. Im like 75% there.
Some interesting info I found while shopping for swap parts...
jeeps used a 2" wide spring and shackles can be easily found cheaply.
I am going to use the original spring packs , with new shackles mounted outside the frame. These spring will then be wide enough to mount to my 87 front axle. The rear no width modification is needed. Just need to mount spring axle perches in narrower.
The width of my axles is going to make clearance ok for the leaf pack in the front being out a lil wider. the original lever shock might become a problem even flipped around.
I found the pitman arm puller but have yet to continue on the removal there, as I am focusing on closing up the truck, starting with the windshield.
I got some free 20" tires for my 20" for my Yukon. Same bolt pattern as my 87 axles but different hub size. Well upon inspection while installing on my Yukon, I noticed they have a universal hub design. So they will fit the 87 axles. not sure how the back spacing is going to work out but , I will upload a pick of the wheels mounted to my yukon. You'll see why they match the style of the AD trucks.

20" giovanna Capris

Windshield is in!
windshield 1
Windshield 2

I am going to be rebuilding my electrolysis tank this weekend.
Doors and fenders going in the tank shortly after.
I am having a heck of a time getting the door mechanics apart.
PS. Any local bolters want to put something in my tank, I would be happy to clean their parts free of charge. The largest part I can dip is a hood.

Had some trouble past couple weeks. I fabricated new brackets to mount to the out side of the frame . The leafs mount to these brackets. While making them I got some metal in my eye. After many tries to flush and even tried a magnet. Off to the ER. They got it out, but I had a rust ring imbeded in my eye from the metal being in there over night. Eventually the eye people got it all out. I'm back to 100%. man it sucked being a pirate for a week.
My next step is to start getting the rivits off the front suspension and frame. I need to get the axle under the truck , so I can mark my brackets for the mounting holes. My brackets are bolt on. The only permanent modification I am making to this truck is the work under the floor. Everything else is bolt on , bolt off. I'll try and get a pic loaded with the new spring brackets.

Thanks for the photos and updates.
Sorry about the eye...aargh! :-)

Back at it.
I primed and set the hood in place. Still down driver hinge...
front clip set back together for the moment.
I also removed the door latch from the passenger side. The window regulator is moving , but not out all the way yet.

Tip for grinding rivets... cut x's into the rivets and hit them on the side with air chisel. Be sure to cut the x's all the way into the rivet and they will break off clean. Then just air hammer the rest through.
x's in rivets

Old axle off...
Front axle out
lil while later , we got the old springs off and back on the new axle . I flipped the left and right springs and ground the ridges off the spring brace.
before flip and grinding
I lined up the axle under the springs after bolting on the flipped rear spring braces.
Flipped spring pack and mock bolted on. I will make a brace from frame to lower rivets/bolts.
Axle and spring minus U bolts and top plate for U bolts

Front view Axle under truck. Looks mean.
Side shot fender off
Fender on. Remember way bigger tires and big block weight. Zero weight on axle
Fender to wheel offset
I made brackets for the front but I forgot them today.
font spring mount area. Turns out my brackets wont work but I got it figured out Ill post pics of that later.
Also I made a 1 gallon version an electrolysis tank and dipped my passenger side latch. Then dipped it in oil over night. couple wacks with a hammer and its all freed up. This thing was rough. (pic/video later)

Pete...I understand "rough". However, you prove what I always have said, 15 minutes a day, or more, and you will Git R Done. Thanks for the updates. I read/look at them all.

Thanks for staying with me.
Tonight I am going to mount my front brackets and start on power steering swap.
Notes on new 4x4 axle
I noticed that the front axle universals that attach to the hubs are bad on both sides. And the driver wheel is locked. The passenger was locked but was freed up with some rolling. Maybe when I get weight on it and rolling again it will pop free. If not I may be replacing the auto lock hubs with manual hubs.
I may also have to use new style shocks and keep my lever shock aside. This is for 3 reasons.
1 not to destroy my original parts.
2 comfort. I am hoping I will get a smoother ride.
3 ease of install.
Since I started working on my truck outside , I have had so many visitors . I enjoy talking about my truck so , if you are in the area and want to swing by and check it out . come on by.

On to the column side of the steering. I finally pulled the old column out and slid the new one in.
Tilt column mocked up
I thought I would use the original mounting holes, but that would bring my wheel into my chest. I could use the old mounts if : 1 . The metal there was a lil better. 2 . if I move the mount on the column up towards the wheel.
I need to put my dash mounted pedal in , and use the original 87 chevy mounting set up. I will have to cut down the bracket some as the dash is very narrow.
I might center the column between gauges and since I need to do a lil patch where the original recess arch is, I am thinking about enlarging the radius and centering it between the gauges also.

Both windows are out.
Window regulator disconnected from window
And passenger regulator. I need to rebuild the handle part and I need a new spring .
(Pic soon)