Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,009 Posts1,055,296 Members48,419 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 466 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 466 | Just wondering which way you Burb/Panel guys are going? Orig. Stock, Resto almost stock, Restorod, all out Hot Rod, Chassis swap or clip....???
Buddy | | | | | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 49 Member | | Member Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 49 | Here`s what I`m doing to mine so far, Not sure if its a resto rod or just a hot rod. 454 with a mild cam/ 750 carb/performer intake/ full length headers/th400 /12 bolt chevelle rear end 270 gears/ straight axle with power drum brakes/ power steering. Stock steering wheel and seats up front, leather electric Cadilac seat in the middle with a rear facing seat from a mini van in back. My truck seats 7 people with comfort thats why I want to make it a long distance cruiser. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | Originally posted by Buddy in AK: Just wondering which way you Burb/Panel guys are going? Orig. Stock, Resto almost stock, Restorod, all out Hot Rod, Chassis swap or clip....???
Buddy Yeah. That's right.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more... It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 | Buddy, I started out doing just a few "updates". Front discs, automatic, power steering. And then IFS crept in along with a 283, 12 volt etc. etc. and so on. I have been accused of building a street rod and I guess I can't deny it. The outside of this thing will appear strictly stock except for dual exhaust and 15" wheels and tires. Maybe wide whites. My wife has already got the color picked out. Weeds | | | | | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 235 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 235 | My 64 panel is behind the garage waiting it's turn to be restored. The plan is to have a 350 fuel injection with a auto over drive trans. And disk brakes all round. I want to make it a nice traveling machine, maybe pull a small camper. But for right now, it is being used to store parts of my 60 Chevy stepside that is in the garage now being restored to original . | | | | | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 210 Member | | Member Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 210 | Started out as a purchase for a mild "rod". A V-8, good front end, suspension. You know make it drivable and comfortable. It's now an original(or as good as I can do it) looking, and driving, semi-restoration. Was thinking of the value when I was finished. I guess I'll do the next one for comfort. I'm about 2 or 3 months away from the finish of this one and I'm happy with what it looks like so far. Picts to come. Jim Some picts on www.jandcawards.com follow "car projects" links | | | | | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 33 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 33 | Here is my two.5 cent. Iam running a 270 with lots of goodies, bolted up to a five speed to a 12 bolt with 3.73. Inside is mostly stock,but I will have a full door panel. Still running leafs springs at both ends with disc up front. Just order a set of the ss king pin with needle bearing. The body is stock but I do have a set of 38 tails on the side. I say its about a 60 40 blend.
Stock and loveing it.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | great work on the burb, 46Jim! we'll be waitin for pics of the first road trip I like'em fairly stock - my last panel [57] was very original cuz I got it w/ only 50,000 original miles and the driveline was too good to change, just needed lots of sheet metal work - the 57 in progress now will be fairly original too, as it came w/ a V8 new, and I'm partial to 283's, and an overdrive trans will be as good as changin the rear gears - may do disc brakes some day, but I've always been satisfied w/ the stock front end - hey! it's a truck after all! Bill | | | | | Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 800 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 800 | My 51 will be all original on the outside. Wide whites and the 15" "split rims". Drivetrain will be GMC 302-6. My hopes for a 12 port head are dwindling, as the supplier seems to be on the ropes fiancially. But fuel injection is a must. This on is for the ole lady and it's got to be dead-on reliable, and simple. 700r4 and open driveline out back. Interior will be "stockish" looking. It's all long way away, so some things will evolve. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 438 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 438 | I think 59P and I must be twins separated at birth as mods are almost identical- 49 burb w/ 69 Nova clip, 1978 454 w/ cam, intake,750 Holley, th400. Nova 10 bolt rear. Lowered chassis about 4-6" Exterior to remain stock. Chassis complete & body back on frame. Need to hang front tin, rewire electrical & drive by June 1!!! Notice I didn't say what year.....
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison Things may come to those who wait...but only the things left by those who hustle."-Abraham Lincoln
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 466 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 466 | Very cool guys, the possibilities are endless..... I also want a reliable long run cruiser, maybe pull a little camper. Stock look exterior a few inches lower but keep a 50's paint on it and wide whites. Maybe paint two-toned something with a white top. A V8, looking at a new 383 Crate motor w/ auto trans. Disks up front with power brakes. Power steeering not a must? Can't decide to make the change to IFS or not, probably keep the solid front axle (maybe a new one with 2" drop) and put new springs all around. Interior will be stock looking except for seats but will use period fabric so they blend in. Thinking about just front seat, mid-seat and leave the back for cargo. As k10 says it will evolve................. Thanks for all the insight Buddy | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 364 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 364 | Buddy...After struggling with my very stock '51 3100 PU for 8 years...I decided to go strictly resto-mod for both my Burbs(;49 &'52)...both have power steering & disc brakes, MII front ends, new GM Crate 350/330hp, Auto trans (TH400 & 700R4)3.42 & 3.55 rears and AC ...aside from those mods both trucks look absolutely stock (but they are fully accessorized). They are very reliable and I can drive them anywhere | | | | | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 476 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 476 | Going for modern driver here too. Stock look, full accessories. Have a 454, thinking 6 spd OD manual trans.
Don't lose your head to save a minute, You need your head, your brains are in it. Burma-Shave (1947)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 9 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 9 | I am trying to get a canopy express, and it will be mostly stock type resto if I can get it. I need to find a new tranny, which I may have located and do alot of body work. One thing I would like to do is keep the six, but add some speed parts that make it look sort of vintage but upgraded. Maybe do non stock stuff like carpet up front and use peel and seel to cut down on the noise. I also would like to get a sign company to do the canvas sides with some sort of message. Put in nice chrome strips and oak in the bed eventually. Maybe convert to 12 volt system. Most of the changes would not be stuff you would see, aside from the new canvas, but would just be usability upgrades. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 112 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 112 | stock 1940 burb, impossible dream. not enought time to do it all but may come close one day, jbennett 40 burb | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 109 Member | | Member Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 109 | Going for an old school rod look, with updates. Using 250 with 700R4, not stock. Interior will be traditional rod style, hidden XM radio, ac and heat front/rear. Power windows, all LED illumination. Moving rear seat back for legroom, using just 2 rows. Daily family hauler. 4 wheel disc, rack-n-pinion steering, Corvette IRS. Fairly loud dual exhaust. Studebaker Avanti side mirrors, colour rear monitor.
John Kennedy 1950 Suburban street rod Pics in the Gallery....... new site up! http://home.joimail.com/~kennedyjp/
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 221 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 221 | Creating a daily driver. Replaced rear axle with hi speed 308 for interstate travel. Looking for front clip so wife will "enjoy" driving it as well. Also plan to replace 235 with late model small block Chevy w/ fuel injection and 700r4 tranny. Goal is dependable daily driver with as as good gas mileage as possible. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 | I'm doing a Resto-Rod type project on my '54 GMC 1-ton Deluxe. It's getting a 4x4 system (my own special hybrid -- it will keep most of the load-carrying capacity, use 8-lug wheels, and be the right width). The rear axle is being equipped with a 4.10 differential carrying a Detroit Locker. The engine is going to be a souped-up 250 I6 with fuel injection. The interior is getting upgraded bucket seats and a later van tilt column (I've figured out how to use an original steering wheel on one), but for the most part the exterior and interior will appear stock, down to the original brown/tan two-tone paint job. | | |
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