The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 1935 CHEVY P/U

HI LOOKING FOR INFO ON A WOOD OR TUBE KIT FOR MY 35 P/U THANKS DENIS

Hi Dennis.

Prior to restoring my '36 Chevy high cab pickup (same body as your '35) in the early 1970s I was a VCCA member and had heard numerous horror stories about ill-fitting wood kits. The kit sellers' excuse was always something like "There was a lot of variation in those old body parts so a lot of custom fitting is necessary in using the kits". Because of that I made my own wood using the old rotted wood pieces as patterns. Now, 40+ years after completing the restoration the home made wood is all still holding up well.

So that project is definitely not beyond the reach of a motivated amateur. You can do it!

If you have old stuff you can use for patterns go for it. Purchased kits are expensive for sure and no one will let you have, borrow or buy their patterns.. I checked once for kit on a 29 with a company somewhere around Kansas, I think, but once I got the price I didn't buy the truck. Back years ago it was around 2800 to 3000.
Good luck and hope it works out for you. Please let us know. I may someday get one??!!!

K C Wood Mfg Website: chevywood.com Can fix you up.
Let me tell you a short story. I checked the price and went into sticker shock. I am a retired shop/tech teachers with a million tools and I said I can do this! I used the old wood as patterns but much of the old wood was in really rough shape. The vertical pillars all had the last couple of inches rotted off and many of the pieces of wood around the bottom of the cab were in rough shape as well and didn't make super patterns. The A pillars are compound curves in two dimensions and difficult to lay out and cut, they also have edge detail that needs to be cut in to fit the panels. If you have moderate woodworking skills, I would suggest you at least buy the A pillars and make the rest. If your skills are marginal, I would buy the kit. You need cabinet making level skills. The wood is joined in many places with mortise and tenion joints, perfect fitting lap joints. Compound curves are common. You will need a band saw with a tilting table. I made it all but if I had to do it again I would buy the pillars from K C Wood. I do not know them and have no financial interest in them, just passing on what I have learned. If I can be of help do not hesitate to get in touch. There is a man in California that I have been in contact with before but lost his name that I hope chimes in here. Although he did his truck years ago he has been a help. Good Luck!

"There is a man in California that I have been in contact with before but lost his name that I hope chimes in here. Although he did his truck years ago he has been a help. Good Luck!"

Good morning Rick.

I'm in California and I made all the wood parts for my high cab '36 pickup (same wood as Denis' 35). My wood was in the same shape as yours when I started. I'm a geologist, not a woodworker. It was challenging as you say but definitely doable for a motivated amateur. The key is to accept that it is a complicated project and takes time. It's not for the impatient.

The payoff is the the wood fits unlike the "kits". I've heard horror stories about them. It's way easier to make a part that fits than to try to alter a part that doesn't fit.

Denis,

If you've considered putting hydraulic brakes on your '35 I have the '36 master cylinder mounting casting that will bolt to your existing transmission and bell housing.