The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Modify 53 Chev Panel Body

I am thinking of modifying my panel by making it into a
quadcab (please don'd hit me too hard). I saw a burb in
a recent classic truck mag. made into quad cab that was
a show stopper. Not sure exactly how to go about it, thinking of getting a pair of like doors and frames, modify the front
angle and weld it in there. The second mod. would be to
create approx. 4' 6" box with a niece lift cover. Make the
rear doors half the size keeping that nice accent in the middle
all around the truck. A rear access hatch to create a place to
sleep or haul things that are longer. The roof line would be reshaped to keep the traditional curves. One note is creating a
truck that would be different and better handling (not so top heavy)
Appreciate your comments!
Cheers

I always enjoy outrageous ideas.

I've seen a few pickups made using the lower panels from a Suburban or panel to form a bed, but not one done as an extended or crew cab.

As I picture what you've described I see an extended cab pickup with a short box integrated behind it. Do I see what you are descibing?

I'm imaging this based on a 1/2-ton panel with 116 inch wheel base, not a 1-ton with a 137 inch wheel base. If you start with the longer 1-ton panel you could have a full crew cab and a full size box.

You might enjoy following the link below to my web site and checking out my plans for a COE Suburban Cargo. Not the same as what you describe but outrageous in similar ways.

I have seen pictures of "extended cab" ADs and I always wonder how the back doors are made. I am guessing that to make a straight back door it would talk a combination of two doors.

Thanks! I appreciate the comments. This is not everyone's
cup of tea obviously. I have scretched out some preliminary
drawings and made overlays existing trucks. There is a good
chance I will finish the resto as a panel and experience that
life. A radical mod. could come later. This all came about
when I talked to a local who has 2 panels (56/57) and top heaviness is what he mentioned. He now has a 57 pickup with all
Corvette running gear. I am going Mustang 2 and have a Nova
rear which is about 1.5" off original in width. Not sure on
leafs or coils.
Cheers

if you check into some old railroad ads i remember being at buffalo ent. in stanwood wa. talking to steve and looking at a poster on the wall with AD coe with 4drs. that was used by the railroad (and it ran on rails) to move men for track repairs. they also had similar ones with huge snow blowers to clear tracks in the mountains.

I sounds like you are planning a '53 Avalanche. I love my 2003 Avalanche. I think a '53 version would be a cool truck. I say do it before someone steals your idea.

Yea! let them go ahead. I have been eyeballing Honda Ridgeline's lately. I like their cab and the outer box being
part of the main body. I think the box might be 5'. Might get a 4.5 out of the A.D. I would follow that concept but with softer lines more original to the Panel. Many of the Ridgeline's
features could be integrated into the A.D. Lots of work though.
I am surprised that the panel might only be approx. 300lbs
heavier than a pickup, is that true?