The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk TLC "Overhaulin'" a '52 pickup this week

I've stepped in it before by recommending a show I haven't seen, so let me be clear about this "heads up." Saw a preview on the The Learning Channel (TLC) for the show "Overhaulin'" (that we've discussed before along with "rides" or "trucks!" etc.). This week a '52 pickup goes under transformation. Looked like a primer gray GMC 3 window, but it could have been anything as it flew by on the promo. In our neck of the woods, this episode is Tuesday night (12/21) but the website lists it for 12/24 and 12/30. Check your local listings.

Knowing what they have done to other relics, it could be a wild rod, something in the middle (AKA rod-storation) or some sort of freak show. Either way, I enjoy watching this show put hundreds of man hours into any rig, jealous they get so much done in a week. I have varying opinions about the final product and don't always like the Foose design, but he seems to respect the classics while wanting to upgrade the running gear, plugging sponsors stuff at every turn.

Check it out, post your opinion!

I hope its a good one, in general I like the show, sometimes a little too Foosish. When I get my own restoration show on TV I'll do some things a little different (yeah, hold my breath).

Thanks for the reminder!

Buddy

I saw the promo and thought it was a 54 Chevy but it could have been a GMC grill. It went by fast. I will try to catch that one.

Tony-

The promo was so quick, it could have been an IH truck! Website lists "'52 pickup" so who knows!??! :confused:

I have a 53 GMC 3-window that I would let them "Overhaul" As a matter of fact, I have not seen my truck since the end of November. What are the odds?

Unfortunately, my truck is in storage, and Overhaulin' requires the vehicle to be in running condition.

i wouldn't mind them doing mine either but i would like input on so much of it, it would take two shows to do it, color seats engine/ orginal 6 for sure and on and on and on. or maybe i could just trade for the female host. LOL must be the time of the year wild hopes and dreams. ron

The first thing Foose would do is plug that chunky Edelbrock girl and put in one of their crate engines.
Hmm, that didn't sound right...

I wonder if there will be any truck left.

-W

I saw the promo for this show and all my hopes of them doing mine were crushed, whats the chances of them doing two classy trucks...Oh well, I think I enjoy wrenching on my stuff more than anything else. Nothing like being in the garage gettin dirty, hurt, aggrevated and po'd and still come out of the garage less stressed..............Dale .

If Overhaulin' requires the project to be in running condition, what was up with the vette? It didn't run, and most of the cars got all new drivetrains anyway.
Just wondering,
Scott

Catch the last 15 minutes. The other 45 minutes
is repeat. Cecil...........

Boy, I hope that Cletis is sleeping and missed the show,, he would die,, if you like a custom truck then it is built by one of the best,, sort of a cool truck,, I thought that the dash of a GMC (52) was different then a chevy,, this dash looked the same,,,,regards..Fred

I saw the show. I didnt like the choice of color to much or the tires...I did think the front end of the 55 bel-air looked pretty sweet. Overall I thought they did a little to much custom, with the tires and all. I like the idea of the 383 stroker they put in, it sounded sweet when they cranked it up.

I liked the truck for the most part, but you see what age group it was built for. If it were an older guy, I'm sure it would have been built differently. I really liked the front clip mods. Almost made that front-end some what attractive.(kidding GMC guys)
Scott

joker: The 54 GMC was the one your thinking of with the different dash, like the chevy they changed it for that year when they went to one piece glass. I call it the flat dash, I have a pic here.

I liked it recorded it here on the computer so I can look back at it..
Like the final result.. But hate the Grill and the wheels first thing I'd do is put the stock grill back in and get some wide white steelies on it.
And I'm annoyed they keep calling it a "Stock" Truck! I belive I saw a disk brake rear end, no torque tube, fuel tank in the back, and a smallblock. The guy (Or someone) had already done a good bit of work.
Over all I enjoyed the show they did a pretty good job overall with the overhaul.
Mongo

That was a good looking truck. The only things I would take off would be the color, the wheels and the engine. Why, well the color was to bright for my taste, I hate 20 inch wheels on a classic truck, look to big and the engine because a inline 6 seems to suite the older trucks. Still a good looking truck

IMO the truck turned out very good. They kept the flavor but added some flair. I only wish they had time to go more into the details that a build like that entails. All the same the truck looked great for seven days of work.

HMMM I know where a 1954 Chevy truck is that could use an overhauling.

KC, thanks for setting me straight,,regards,Fred

They did a pretty complete job. It was not a bondo monster like some of the other fixit up shows. Still, if they did that to my truck I wouldn't be totally happy.
I wonder if they ever done a show where the person went, "Oh, no, what did you do?"

I wonder if they could put in back just like they found it.

Having seen the show now, I agree with others that they retained some good features while adding some flair. The final product was unique, though the color, stance and large wheels are not my style either. However, I would not decline to take it home if that happened to me!

I liked the fact that they kept the wood bed and the roof lines. The later 50's bumpers made it look like a strange truck-car hybrid, but that would make me look twice if I saw it on the road. To each his own.

Click for pics:
OverHaulin a \'52 GMC

I liked it better in primer. And even though she's easy on the eyes, that girl who does the narrating gets a little annoying with her overexhuberance.

But hey, I like trucks to be trucks, not all fluffed up. And 10 years from now, that thing will look so dated who's gonna want it.

The truck was better before they redid it in my opinion

I agree- better before. I saw that episode when it first aired in 04. I thought they made a good truck look like a taxi.

If I had that truck and they did that to it I would be extremely mad and liable to sue them

I used to watch overhaulin every week but now it is just boring all the do is change all running gear paint and interior with a powerful sound system it does not seem like any of them actually care about the authenticity of a vehicle

Pretty rough critics on this post. I'm really surprised by this because out of all the car hobbiest boards I've been on, this one is usually the most upbeat and helpful. That show and others are one of the reasons we can still have are old cars and trucks. Chip and his dad Sam are major supporters and paying members of SEMA, the number one lobbying groups that keeps the misinformed and ignorant "DO-GOODERS" from taking anything older than 13 years and crushing it. Like it or not every session of congress looks at bills that would take our older trucks away. A lot of stuff gets through congress because no one is looking. These shows keep our hobby in the positive public eye and by making it part of popular culture makes our hobby acceptable and that keeps it around.

It's like being at a car show with your ride appreciating the other rides and hanging out or being in town with your driver and having someone pick it apart. I look for the positive in everyones ride from ratrod to trailer queen. It might not have been the way I would have done it, but to each his own and I'm always amazed by the creativity. I wish I had just a small bit of Chip's talent, he happens to be a nice guy too.