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| | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 14 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 14 | Hi everybody,
This is my first visit to Stovebolt. Great site. I've reen reading posts almost all day. (I've got to get a life).
I recently aquired a 52 Chevy truck. It is complete, all of the trimmings are original (hub caps, mirrors, etc.). Even the interrior is in great condition. VERY little rust. Most of the rust is around the tailgate and in the bed. This truck has lived its entire life in the south without salt on the roads in the winter.
My delima is do I restore it completely original, update it as I restore it (brakes ,suspension, do away with the babbit bearings, ...), or build a really cool hot rod. I own an LT-1 350 that I could drop into it. The 350 came out of a 1970 Z-28 Camaro. Kinda seems a shame to change the old girl tho. She is beautiful. Any suggestions?
I also own a 46 Dodge WF32 winch truck that I use regularly. No intentions to restore the Dodge.
A neighbor of mine has a 46 Chevy panel truck that his father bought new. It has been in his mother's garage since his father passed away 22 years ago. I'm trying to talk him into letting it go to a good home (mine).
I'd like to get suggestions from others on this forum on what I should do with the 52.
JoRojo
1952 Chevy 3100In the Stovebolt GalleryMore pictures on Photobucket1946 Dodge WF32Rojo "A people that values its privileges above its principles will soon lose both." - Clint Smith
"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy." - Samuel Adams | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | This issue has been debated forever and will continue to be debated. To each his own. Myself, I prefer to leave the stovebolt engines in these trucks and the 360 hp LT1 should remain in the Z or a similar muscle car. That's just my opinion and that is good for me. If my buddy drops a SBC in his old truck, that's fine with me too, I appreciate them all. If you have some hesitation with pulling out the six, just leave it for now. Try it out and go from there.
Oh, and hope you get the neighbour's panel. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | yeah, it's all up to yer preferences, but if it's very original now I'd keep it that way, there will be 350's around forever, but they're not makin the ol stovebolts anymore  Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | Rojo, it sounds as though you have one of the trucks I would love to get a hold of... and I'd keep it original. It seems that all mine have to be, not restored, but resurrected. I have "resto-rod" both of mine. Keeping the look but changing the running gear. It sounds like you have a nice one. Save it. Do the things to make it safe and enjoy the slow drive to town in it and while driving slow look for something to hot rod.... this is just my opinion. and I hope you get the neighbors panel to  | | | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 14 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 14 | Thanks for the input guys. I was already leaning to the option of just putting her back as she was meant to be. Just got her 3 weeks ago, and haven't laid a wrench on her yet. So far I just like to go into the shop and look at her. Oh, and pinch myself to be sure I'm not dreaming again. I'm finishing up on another project (a '97 S-10) to get it out of the way so I will have room to start on the 52. Looks like I need to set up a site to publish picturs of my progress. Looks like a lot of people on this site use Photobucket. Any suggestions? Still working on the neighbor for his panel. I'm not too proud to grovel, bribe, or beg.  Keep on truckin
1952 Chevy 3100In the Stovebolt GalleryMore pictures on Photobucket1946 Dodge WF32Rojo "A people that values its privileges above its principles will soon lose both." - Clint Smith
"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy." - Samuel Adams | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | Still working on the neighbor for his panel. I'm not too proud to grovel, bribe, or beg. Keep on truckin Its the stovebolt fever! I always say beg borrow....or steal Photo bucket works nice for me and I have to have it simple! | | | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 14 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 14 | Can't say steal here....too many witnesses.
Kinda hard to keep a hot panel truck under wraps when the guy you stole it from lives across the street.
Still... might be worth a couple decades at the Greybar hotel. Three hots and a cot.
1952 Chevy 3100In the Stovebolt GalleryMore pictures on Photobucket1946 Dodge WF32Rojo "A people that values its privileges above its principles will soon lose both." - Clint Smith
"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy." - Samuel Adams | | |
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