The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Fulton Visor Poll

I have a Fulton Visor to install on the 53, and I am close to wanting to committ to it and drill before painting.
We have a split vote happening, some in the house like it and the other opinion is that it is ugly. We are all going by pcitures, have not seen one up close and personal in my area.
So, I am looking for thoughts and opinions on those that have them or seen them installed on the AD truck. If it matters the truck is being painted burgundy maroon - correct for 53.

Thanks as always!

Mike

love em have one for my 49............dave

I love the one on my 38 coupe. I had to make a longer center brace to get the front up where I wanted it. The stock brace made it look like someone with a hat pulled down over their eyes. The longer brace gives it a more horizontal look.

Love mine. Really helpful for a daily driver.

i want to get one for my 57, i love them. just wish i didnt have to screw into the metal above the wind shield though, but one day i think i will install one.
i love them, look really cool.
leonard

They sure dont do much for me. And with gas prices as high as they are Im sure they create some drag...

I have one on my 53, I didn't even put the inside visors on the truck after we drove it with the outside visor. Take a look at the sites below. We are very close in color also, red cabarnet metalic. It is a burgundy shade!!

very nice truck Frank...

I have one for my 53, but don't have it on yet. I have full intentions of using it. I like the look.

I like the look and would be a great benefit out here in the Valley of the Sun.
Bill
Tempe, AZ

I also like the look, Im plannin on this winter to get one along with a new set of running boards.

No AD,but I have one on my 55 2nd. It was on the truck when I bought it,so I just left it on. Looks kinda cool,and they were a desirable accessory back in the 40s and 50s.So yeah,I think it will give your truck a nostalgic look.

I’m right next to ya on this one Jeff. I’m sure most of you guy don’t want to mess with stuff like over coffee this morning. I myself sure don’t want to work it out before breakfast. In fact I bout got my fill just lookin’ all this up before the sun came up.
But basicly it says that your gonna have a LOT more problem with drag at 55 mph than ya do at 25 mph. And if you’re lucky enough to have a gear that will permit you to run at 65 mph, well, you can see the problem. About 60% of the power required to cruise at highway speeds is taken up overcoming air drag, and this increases very quickly at high speed. Therefore, a vehicle with substantially better aerodynamics will be much more fuel-efficient.
Additionally, because drag does increase with the square of speed, a somewhat lower speed can significantly improve fuel economy and reduce wind noise.
Multiplying Cd by the car's frontal area gives an index of total drag which is a commonly published rating of a car's aerodynamic smoothness, related to the shape of the car. I couldn’t find one for an Advanced Design Chevy truck but I’d say a Hummer comes close.

Wind noise example; I took the wife out for a little drive Sunday afternoon. I think 45 mph with my 4.57 gear is about where the engine feels best. We were fine going east, had a nice tail wind, but heading back home with the 30 mph head wind presented us with an air speed of 75 mph. The wind noise was such that we pretty much had to yell at each other to hear and we just shut the tunes off cuz they were about drowned out by the breeze. Drilling more holes in that pristine body, not one of my favorite things, it's just one more spot for rust to get started. And then there is the stop light thing, if its gonna be driven much at all your gonna have to hang you head out the window to see when the light turns green.
Then there is the aesthetics angle, and in my personal opinion Fulton visors, air horns on the fenders, mud flaps and coon tails on the antenna all fall into the same boat. But then again that's just my own opinion.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

You are 100 percent correct Denny - aerodynamically these cute little things have absolutely no business on the front end of an AD or a TF, or a deco for that matter. Nonetheless - the visor was the first thing I bought after I bought my truck. It's not on yet, but I can't wait -- practical - no -- but way cool -- my vote is yes. I'll go slower, and invest in the little gizmo (another foxtail?) that reflects the traffic light color for you. They're cool too. Dale

Couldn't agree with you more cameo1956. I doubt that an Ad pickup ever saw a wind tunnel to check out air drag when they were being produced. I didn't build my pickup to be fuel efficient, I built it to my tastes. I would suspect the wind drag on any fat fendered vehicle would be terrible and not fuel efficient. I am sure my visor is not going to be a major factor in my fuel consumption. I can't seem to keep my foot off the gas pedal on my 400 horsepower engine. As for the other add-ons, air horns etc. each to his own preferences and tastes. Build it to your specs. Thats what makes this hobby great. Just my very open opinion!!

Just a little more food for thought. How tall are you? If your about 6'3" or taller, them things can be a literal "pain in the neck".

Bob

I am 6', my son who drives it alot is 6'2". Doesn't seem to bother him!

I'm 6'4" & have to use a traffic light viewer at some lights. As for the drag they add little if mounted as I did. As I stated above I fabricated a longer center front brace which put the visor in a more horizontal position. There is a 2.5 to 3" gap all the way across the back to keep from trapping air under the visor. No, I haven't had my coupe in a wind tunnel but I doubt my wind resistance has increased much at all. Front view.

i bought an after market model as fultons were $400.00 and welded the tabs to the rain gutter before i got the truck painted. i made a center support to the window center for added support. I didn't like the cheap clamp they supplied me to grab the rubber so my two bars are bolted directly into the two top AD window bolt holes. I modified the AD's center chrome piece (as it was rotted at one end anyway). I also made it a little higher in the center as I'm tall 6-3 so i could see better & bought a glass prisim to see the lights signals.
http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/1951otter/?action=view&current=Scan11_0011.jpg
as first fitted before painting, remember to leave a gap above the window for air flow. The TF trucks have the visor tucked against the window causing airflow issues whereas the AD's have a gap for better airflow, thus better aerodynamics. No AD or TF is aerodyanimic any way you slice that pie.

very nice tiny

I have the same visor as you, Carolines truck.

I am no expett on aerodynamics.But on my 55 with the visor,there is no place to trap air.A very wide gap between the visor and the roof of the truck.It would be interesting to do a wind tunnel test with and without the visor.

I like the look on most vehicles. They look like they're wearing baseball caps. It kind of goes with the "smile" of the grill for me.

Personally, I can't stand 'em. Makes a beautiful truck look ugly. Hooray for all who love 'em. More power to ya.
But Never on my trucks.
And don't forget those "Back Off" mudflaps, dual stacks and a big Puppy Dog hood ornament! Sweet! Makes it look just like a big rig. Vroom Vroom. .02

I like the way they look on AD's, I've never seen one on a Task Force in person. If you want one, go for it! I wish that there was something similar for my '66, but I don't know how that would look on it. I guess I'll have to settle for ball caps and sun glasses with the sun visor flipped down.

I have to weigh in on the 'not for me' side. They really change the look of an AD and my preference is no visor.

Well, if you want to "pimp" your truck out, one of those visors is a good place to start. I thought they were ugly in the 50s and still think they're ugly.

But that's just my opinion.

My 54 3100 came with a Chevrolet visor when it was new, that was one of the things that I really liked about it when I bought the truck. I think the AD's look good, but look even better with a visor!
Samantha

I like the functionality of my sun visor, they do work. If you already have the visor, mount it and have it painted just make sure you paint the screws. Then run the truck without it the only sign will be the painted screws and they are in the door jam. The only people who will know are a few boltheads and if they notice that you will have a lot more to talk about than the 4 screws. After a while put the visor on to see if you like it and everybody else will ask what did you do it looks different.

hey Mike... do it!
all those whom are opposed are just jealous that they don't have a truck with the right attitude! check out my truck in the (1953) gallery. our's is of course burgundy as well and i think it looks good with it. everyone has their own opinion and are welcome to it, what do YOU think ? that's all that matters. we also have a 2nd series 1955 3100 and i don't care for the look on the task force trucks but i'm all for it on the A.D. trucks. i can't imagine an extreme drag coefficient on a truck that tops out at 55 mph. there is quite a gap between the visor and the top of the cab for air flow and the visor is adjustable up or down.

cheers,

a fellow mike

I miss this truck, and its visor. [IMG]http://thumb11.webshots.net/t/28/28/6/5/29/2946605290096215731ZQPyXX_th.jpg[/IMG] I liked the way it looked in spite of the traffic light thing - I didn't have a viewer; never heard of 'em. I don't like the "pimped out" look at all, but that visor just looked right to me. Somewhere along the line I'll be looking for another for Epic #2.

How's this for finish:

http://www.lowridermagazine.com/features/0305lrm_53_chevrolet_chevy_deluxe_pickup/index.html

Check out the close up of the carbs.

i love the one on my 49, i think it gives it a neater look. check out my pic it may help your decision