The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Modernizing Your Panel or Suburban

In my search for a restorable truck I've come across quite a few Stovebolt "shells" and it got me to thinking about simply placing one on a modern trucks chassis and drivetrain as well as the possibility of a more modern interior. Does anyone have technical input on the subject or links to build threads following across those lines?

I was specifically thinking of placing a 55-59 shell on a modern four-wheel drive chassis w/ four wheel disc brakes and fuel injected drivetrain, then restoring the shell, dash assembly and gauges if salvageable. The engine bay would also be upgraded with better wiper motors, installation of a blower fan on the firewall and power brakes. The seats, door panels, floor and headliner would most likely be upgraded to a more modern setup as well. In the case of a Panel truck I was going to try putting power windows in the rear doors to allow the breeze to come through...years ago, there was a company in California that did the same thing to extended cab and king cab pickups, they simply made the glass lower down into the rear panel of the cab. The end result of all this being the look and feel of old with the comfort and performance of new.

Wm

Check out this option.

AD-Engineering

They sell what it takes to put a Suburban body on an S-10 pickup frame.

Those AD kits are slick, it looks like they took all of the headache out of it. Wouldn't it be nice if all swaps were that easy? lol

Wm

If you open the back windows you may get exhaust fumes coming in. It depends on certain factors, I had that on my '88 Vandura with rear pivot windows.

I thought about the exhaust fumes and figured I'd do turn out/down tips just in front of or behind the rear wheels, that should solve the problem 99% of the time....keeping them closed in bumper to bumper traffic would handle the rest I'd imagine (with exception of the rouge wind that blows it in occasionally). The one major perk of the power windows is that it'd allow the driver to quickly open/close them for whatever reason. It's probably easier to get away without ventilation in Canada...down here, Panels and vans turn into ovens as soon as we start getting some decent sunshine.

Wm

and the bottoms of those doors would turn to swiss cheese after a few years of rain ... the back doors have a pronounced slope, meaning the water will lay on the window sill, running down into the doors [which rot fast enuff as is] ... unless you've got some fancy trick to make that area watertight on an opening window

Bill

Some Jeep models are similarly sloped and the problem is solved by simply undercoating the inside of the doors heavily and then drilling a drain hole through the edge at the lowest corner...it works really well, you seldom ever see those models with rusted out doors.

Wm

have you ever seen how the TF doors are constructed inside? and how the rear door sill is set up, where any drainage would wind up .... inside the door seal? good luck

Bill

Considering the intermediate precipitation here in Ohio, undercoating placed in the door and minimal amount of water that would actually get into the door I doubt it would be an issue. Rust prevention has also come a long way in the past fifty years....Rustbullet, POR15, undercoating ect.

Also, unless everyones truck is 100% original or restored, there should definately be some more participation piling up. Even if you just want a shameless plug of your build thread or photos, an upgrade of any form would be applicable here. =)

Wm

I am trying to do a similar project, but I have a complete panel.
You can see the pictures in my signature but the modernization of at least the suspension led me to a link on another thread. I have not tried this but it will probably be my summer project.

click here

Again I have yet to try it but their description is pretty detailed

I've read a similar build thread where the owner used the front suspension from a Camaro.....although the one you posted is far more detailed. I saw your panel photos and read the story a couple of weeks ago while checking out the galleries, that's a great looking old rig and I really love the name you gave it...I look forward to updates on your build!

Wm