The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs why did you chose a pre'73 panel or suburban over everything else?

what can i say? great xmas gift john and peg.i posted something earlyer and it hasn't made it to the fourm yet. The suburbans and panel owners can be counted now unless you don't won't tobe.there's old sub , gmcpanel,paddywagon, tclederman and myself tony'n weatherford. if you've never posted anything before now the time to start.

when i was a kid around 11 years old, my grandfather had an old yeller panel that he used to carry his carpenter tools around in from one site to another.my cousin and i used fight over who would get to move the panel from one driveway to the other side of the house. fast forward, i was driving around a closed army base about six years ago going to a job when out of the corner of my eye i saw my first panel and thats how it started. the panel that i have now was at one time an emergency vehicle. why and how, did you come by your panel or suburan?

tony'n weatherford

After years of having to drive a company car I was suddenly able to choose whatever I wanted (within financial limits).

I've always liked old trucks and had owned a few in the past and I've always found station wagons to be real practical cars.

So when a friend mentioned that he was going to buy an old Suburban I was interested. After asking a few questions I told him if he changed his mind I wanted the contact info.

A few weeks later he decided he couldn't handle the challenge and gave me the name and phone number. I called right away and arranged to see it.

It was sitting off a driveway under some trees just a couple miles from where I live. After a little negotiation, mostly with my wife, I was able to make a deal and drive it home.

My second Suburban was sold on eBay, but the buyer was not able to pick it up. Knowing my interest and that I was close by, Ken Brown offered it to me. The timing was right, and I was able to collect it the next day. The second one is probably going to be sacrificed as parts, but it hasn't happened yet.

So why? Its an old truck that's also a station wagon. How: talking to friends and grabbing the opportunities.

I had a '49 3-window when I was younger and have always loved working on old trucks. Now with a family with 5 kids - the only option for runs to dairy queen involve something with at least 7 seats. The suburban is the perfect solution.

Unfortunately (or otherwise) one old truck is never enough. I don't own a panel, but I have a couple of canopy expresses now and officially two titled suburbans (and a few parts rigs). One burb will be factory stock when done, the other will be enhanced with a later 292, disc brakes, stereo, etc.

Hey Ken, glad to see you here! I feared we'd lost you in the confusion.

dont have a surb but I have sit in a big roomy one, kept me out of the cold while we were waiting for other bolters to show upat a meet but didn't, remember that day Tonynweatherford, glad that you have this spot, just be sure you do the bolt stuff/computer at home and not at work,,I am watching you like a hawk, this mod. has a nice surb, check it out....Fred

I bought mine about a year ago. The first thing Dad let me drive when I got my license was a '47 Chevy truck. Within 6 months Dad sold it and got an old SW for me to haul the other 9 kids around in. I always wanted that truck back. In the 30+ years since then, I have restored or rodded a half dozen or so vehicles, but never a stovebolt. After ten years of forced exile from the motorhead scene (divorce related financial problems) I finally decided I could afford a stovebolt. I started looking, and when I found this panel it just started talking to me.

My panel is a '47 ton dually. From fellow stovebolters I have learned that the dually conversion is called an S.E.O. order or Special Equipment Option. From a guy whom I have never seen in these forums, but who saw my ad in the swap meet, I learned that my ton dually panel was a fueling truck at an airport down south. That guy has another one just like it, and the modifications on his all match mine. The original color is bright orange because Gulf Oil owned it.

When I got it there was a Chevy smallblock, a 4 speed and a 1988 Dana 73 dually axle in it. It has a lot of cobbled up problems, but it is solid and it runs. My plan is to clean it up and modernize it. I want the original stovebolt look with all the driveability, power and luxury of my late model Suburban. I'm still debating about the color though. I don't think my wife will ever ride in it if I keep it orange.

So far I have just been fixing safety items and show stoppers, but I can't wait to really dig into it. It sure gets the looks when I drive it around town.

Why I chose a Panel truck... Believe it or not, if given a choice, I would not anything newer than 25 years old... I have a 1964 Chevy suburban that I bought because my lady has MS, Multiple sclerosis, and I need to carry a wheel chair around once in a while...
Well that's the excuse I used to justify why I needed one

In 1999 I saw a General Motors concept calendar with a Chevy SSR Sport Truck. Before they approved that concept for production, I thought it would be great to build my own from a 1947-1954 Chevy P/U. I dragged my feet for about 18 months and by the time I found a good solid truck, General Motors anounced the production of the SSR Sport Truck for sale to the public. Not wanting to be a follower I decided to build a Chevy Suburban based on that Concept idea. I hope to have it completed in Spring 2005. I have since learned that General Motors has approved a Concept design based on the 1947-1954 Chevy Suburban. If anyone is interested I could find a way to post a picture of it.

I was looking for an AD pickup to replace my stolen Toyota and thats how I found out '53 Suburban Ambulance. Bought it on eBay outside Chcago then drove it home via Route 66. It now has 28,000 original miles.

-John

john, glad to hear from you and welcome to everybody else out there especially you folks with the panels, suburbans and the canopy expresses but, i have one other thing to say,and i'm just as bad as some of you, rather it looks like a pile of rust or a big shiny diamond,PICTURES,PICTURES,PICTURES

tony'n weatherford

are you on break or what, I have been trying to find pix of a certain 54, thought it would be in the gallery but can not locate it,, do you know the one I am speaking of?? Is your truck a four-speed with the org, transmission,,,regards..Fred

It chose me...
A few years back I decided to get an old truck to work on. Something I always wanted to do, but time and money just kept getting away. Anyway, I was looking for a late 50's chevy (55 my fav) but figured I would know the right one when it came along. I went to look at a group of trucks and in the middle was a 1950 GMC Suburban. That was it, story over, had to have that one.

Buddy in AK

The first "camper" I can remember was the 37 Chevy panel truck that served double duty as the tow car for the family's 34 Ford 3-window coupe dirt track car, and had GI bunk frames welded to hinges on the sides for fishing trips. It had a top rack for an incredibly heavy wood boat my Dad and uncle built, and we slept in the old truck at many a lakeside campsite.

I picked up a 59 Carryall many years ago in California, put 70 model 3/4 ton running gear under it, except for the 1/2 ton front axle, and drove it to Tennessee when we moved back home. It's going to get a Caddy 500 engine, Turbo 400 trans, and 3/4 ton IFS one of these days, and become my trailer-towing rig.
Jerry

hello fred, shouldn't you be washing the dishes? here's some info on my panel, 1954 3800(1ton)4 speed sm420 with a 4:10 rear(swaped out the 5:14}.i've been told the 235 was a late 1953 block? was used at one time as an emergency vehicle of some sort. there is an exhaust fan on top at the rear just inside of the barn doors . wheel base is 135/137"it has the BAD RIMS,7.50x17 tires and they are 12 ply. i guess that's the reason it rides like a truck,it was used as a billboard at a car wash in dallas in the late eighty's. i have no idea if it's ever been retro are not. the odometer reads 30,000s and the dash looks almost new. if you would like to send some pictures of the panel to peg for her to post, be my guest. i like the one that shows it in front of a single pole sign.

tony'n weatherford

Ah, fond memories. I did not choose a panel and suburban over everything else, the match-up was a result of luck, availability, and cost.

In 1969, I wanted a truck and a friend told me about a 1948 Chevy Panel truck for $70 on a used car lot. It turned out my girl friend's brother (soon-to-be brother-in-law) was a salesman on the lot. That truck took me and my friends on many trips.

[img]http://home.nycap.rr.com/lederman/images/48panelboys.jpg[/img]

And, that '48 panel drove us away from our wedding reception (no soaping - the guests felt free to spray-paint good wishes on it).

[img]http://home.nycap.rr.com/lederman/images/48panel.jpg[/img]

In 1970, my (now) brother-in-law saw a 1954 Chevrolet Suburban being used for target practice in a farmer's field near Crewe, Va. I bought it for $200 and donated the '48 Panel to a volunteer house-renovation group (and kept it running for them for 5 more years).

The 1954 Suburban has just been through a 9-year restoration to almost original specifications. Many old and new friends came to the Suburban's 50th birthday party to sing Happy Birthday and for a free ride (in what one neighbor called "a museum").

[img]http://home.nycap.rr.com/lederman/images/4th%20truck%20front.jpg[/img]

The good news is that the hood emblem and grill letters are now painted and the truck cruises smoothly and quietly at 65 mph (original 3.90:1 enclosed driveshaft and 235 engine). This truck ain't no trailer queen but the neighborhood kids say it rules. Ain't life grand?

Tim

I dont do dishes,, you mean you dont want a pix with my truck :p

Pictures? Why didn't you ask?
[img]http://www.oldsub.com/images/2002/09/windows/IMAGE019.jpg[/img] This is the daily driver.
[img]http://www.oldsub.com/images/2003/01/IMAGE056.jpg[/img]
And this is a probable parts truck.
[img]http://www.oldsub.com/images/2004/04/IMAGE019.jpg[/img]
I love rusty old iron!

I had a '56 Panel and after retiring and moving back near the grandkids, they all wanted to ride in it. Being that I didn't have a rear seat nor windows, they weren't able to do that.
I sold the Panel and bought this '59 Burb that was a US Army vehicle.

[img]http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL326/687113/1184161/13768057.jpg[/img]

Then I removed the body and mounted it on a '00 GMC Sierra chassis with a 5.3 Vortec engine, transmission and running gear. I've also sold the front fenders and hood replaced it with a '56 sheetmetal. I've been side tracked on other projects but I've resolved to finish it up this winter :p .

[img]http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL326/687113/1184161/23483665.jpg[/img]

BTW here's my parts chaser/daily driver. I guess you can say that I like Burbs .

[img]http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL326/687113/4733778/67609031.jpg[/img]

I vividly remember the Matchbox I got for Christmas so many years ago. It may have been a Corgi, or, a TootsieToy, you get my drift. It was my favorite for years. It was a Chevy Panel. The back doors even opened. I just loved the way it looked. I've always had a soft spot for Panels. Driving home from work back in '84, I caught a glimps out of the corner of my eye, behind a body shop, a '49 3100 Panel. I drove past that thing for about 2 months. Finally I stopped in to inquire about it. "400 bucks, and, it's yours". I didn't have much money back in those days, but, I dipped into the rent money. I had to have it. 400 small block, ran 14.8's in the 1/4 mile. Drove that thing every day for 10 years. Even without heat. It became my only vehicle. I mashed the front of it in '94 when a woman stopped short. This was a very emotional event for me. Especially after vandals got to it. It was hardly recognizeable. I can still remember that feeling, as a tear rolled down my cheek. 8 years along I started saving my nickels and dimes, literally. After 2 years of gathering my acorns, almost 10 years to the day I wrecked my '49, I found this beauty.http://community.webshots.com/user/pywgn
I'm falling just as much in love with this truck as I did my '49. Every upgrade brings more affection for it. People have asked me, "why didn't you just buy one that was already done?".
Well , if I did that, It wouldn't be "my" truck.
I know you guys can understand that. I've already had the "Piewagon" out to Pittsburg, the Poconos, and, Delaware a couple of times. I don't think I'll be getting rid of this one any time soon. They may have to bury me in it!! Love the new forum. I'll be back often. I have been, and, will continue to post progress in my WebShots albums.
Feel free to go check it out.
Thanks,

Jim Sgrig

Hello fellow burb owners!I bought my 1966 GMC Suburban back in 1992 for $1000.00.And drove it for 3 years before the V6 started spining rod and main bearings.So I put a GM Goodwrench 350 in front of the old 4 speed.And then drove it from California to here in Iowa.And the 4 speed started to jump out of second gear.and the rear end gave out.Now the 350 has trick flow twisted wedge aluminium heads,Edelbrock multi port fuel injection,headers with flow master mufflers,and a mild cam.Ford 9" rear end.And disc brakes on all corners.And a TH350 for a tranny that will get a gear venders over/underdrive in the near futher.Its off the frame right now waiting for the air ride suspention.I was very lucky on the rust problem.Since it was a california burb there is very little.There is a 1 1/2" spot in the left rear wheel well,a 1/2" hole on the bottom of the passengers door.And you can just see rust along the bottom of the tailgate.All I need to do is replace all window weatherseals,and the door window runners and stuff.Find rear hatch hindges,rear sliding window handels and locks,and body mounts or specs.for body mounts so I can find something close.It was all white I think.But when I moved to Iowa Iwas kinda tapped out on the cash thing and wanted to add some protection from the salt in the winter so I ordered a camo kit from JC Witney for $45.00.It worked and looked great.The reason I got a burb is because they are cooler than pick-ups.And not to many fo them around.

I love AD Suburbans...as far as I'm concerned they are the most beautiful truck ever made! I had a '51 3100 PU for 10 years when I decided to get something different. After a lot of study and exploring I decided on an AD Suburban...problem was that they usually didn't survive in the Northeast. I ended up buying a '52 Burb from a failed ebay listing that I followed up on...former Kansas school bus and later a plumbers truck. You can see the results of the resto in the '52 Gallery. I just bought a 2nd Burb, a 1949, and have started that resto.
My Suburbans are resto mods...completely stock appearance with modern drive train,power disc brakes and IFS.
The truck is always a top attraction at any cruise-in or show I take it to...people commenting on how the Burb is so different and attractive...they also ask why it only has two doors and why you need rear barn doors with the 3rd seat in place(no space)..all good questions.
AD Suburbans are truly the ultimate "Retro SUV".

It's all my wifes fault!!! We had just traded in a 1998 Suburban for a new 2000 Suburban. As we were driving off the dealer lot she vehemently stated that I was not going to trash out the back of the new one. So I started looking for an "old work truck" which turned out to be a 49 Suburban. I have slowly been rodding the burb as money and time allows. Hope to be on the road by spring. I'm pumped about now having a forum to discuss. Thanks guys.

Because, any other project would have been too easy. I really needed a 10 year project to bring a rusty farm Burb to life. Meanwhile, it makes a great windbreak. (And can store its own parts - very practical!)

Just ask my wife!

Jim

I've always been a panel junkie - started w/ a 55 International about 67 or 8 and been thru a number of different year chevs up to the late great 57 chev that was my daily driver for about 14 years - now hoping to get this one on the road soon - kinda get the shakes sometimes w/ missin a panel to drive!

Bill

I guess the 46 burb we are working on "found us"
also. This thing just appeared for sale about 4 miles from my house. To his credit he sold this to me for $1000 less than his asking price because I promised him not to chop it all up.(he also wants a ride when done but that will be more fun for me than him)
i'm tryning to include an image for the first time, let's see how it goes
it's much farther along than this picture now
[img]http://truck.jandcawards.com/img57.jpg[/img]
[img]http://truck.jandcawards.com/img60.jpg[/img]

Over everything else?

I have two AD Suburbans, two AD Big Bolts and two AD pickups.

My wife would say I also choose everything else!

I thought I should post some photo's here. Look's like a twin to Steve's @ OldSub with the exception of the yellow bus fender.
[img]http://community.webshots.com/s/image17/2/80/42/183828042RTfjmy_ph.jpg[/img]

My wife caters small to medium events. We have 3 kids and 2 cars. A minivan and a 2 seater convertible. When she does a catering event she has to transport all her stuff in the minivan. This was a problem if I had to take the kids anywhere. Selling the convertible was out of the question as we both enjoy driving it immensly. So July 2003 we started looking for a "catering Vehicle"
We wanted something special so a late model van was out. We settled on a 65ish Suburban. With the help of a friend we instantly found one. It was a 65 GMC with a luggage rack conveniently located near my Father in Alabama. All the others for sale were in the Southwest or Northwest, thousands of miles away. After we checked it out we put $500 down to hold it and I began the process of selling my 65 Chevy shortbed.
After 3 months with no luck we had to let it go. The search was on for another and we changed our target to the 55-59 Task Force. The 59 was the favorite. In April, after scoping the web every night for 9 months, I found one "inconveniently" located in Phoenix. Here's what I saw.

[img]http://hesproductions.com/home/images/59sub7.jpg[/img]

I thought $3000 was fair so I worked out the delivery. I have been working on this thing since. I spent 100's of hours this summer redoing the body.
I love it. Especially now that I can drive it more.
Sorry about the long post. It was a long journey.
[img]http://hesproductions.com/59sub/images/photo_album/images/drivers-front.jpg[/img]

There just cool looking trucks and very versatile.

My dad had a 48 panel on the farm we used to hall calf . I always wanted that truck that was befor I even knew what a street rod was. When I turned 16 it was mine. I won't lie I drove it into the ground and blew the engine. Hey I was 16 what did I want with a truck that didn't run. I traded it for a 66 chevy 4 door Implala . Few years down the road I relized how stupid I wasand tryed to buy it back but the guy was going to fix it up . evry few years I drove by and saw it sitting in that field rusting I could have cryed a couple times . This year I was on craigs list and found my girl I got now. This time Im going to do what I couldn't afford to do then. Shes a 54 but it will be hot

Why I bought a Suburban...../

Years ago I bought my first pickup turck. I soon realized that there was no secure place to put anything out of the weather and we soon after bought an SUV. I kept the pickup (1951 GMC) to restore but decided I wanted the inside room of a suburban and that is WHY I BOUGHT A SUBURBAN!.

Another reason - I wanted something a different!

Good question!

Ter

.... my wife says I'm odd....and I'm different. Nuff said.

well, the price was OK and I love a challenge...cause I'm odd and I'm different

I just had the itch for one and I don't know why. I just knew I had to scratch it.

I run a swap meet the first Saturday of every month, and needed something to haul my tents, supplies, PA equipment, etc. in that was covered... Rather than do the smart thing and get a camper shell for my '01 Dakota, I found the '62 Suburban online by accident. We also kinda needed another vehicle.

$2000 and a one-way plane ticket later, I drove it home from Joplin, MO to Atlanta.

It's been my daily driver ever since.

-Brad

Don't own a pickup anymore, and you just can't put things in a suv. Wanted an older panel to hual things.

I'm always amused when an old thread resurfaces. This one was dormant for 5-1/2 years.

In those years I've bought and parted out two 1/2-ton panels mostly to collect parts I need for my Suburban, and a 1-ton panel because I've had two crazy ideas, one to use the rear sheet metal to form a smooth sided bed for a 1-ton truck and the other to graft that long panel body to a COE cowl to create a custom COE.

But the real question posed was 'why did you chose a panel or suburban over everything else?'

My answer is that I didn't. Today I have the two Suburbans and the 1-ton panel. I also have two GMC 1-ton trucks, two COEs, two big bolt Chevys and a big bolt GMC. Plus two 1/2 ton Chevys and enough parts to make another.

My GMC Suburban is a 'Z' series which has an open driveline and is titled as a '55 so I call it a '55 1st. It has the curved glass windshield, the distinctly GMC dash and the chrome grill with mustaches.

I've found that its that Z-series GMC look that I like best and while I'm not sure why, its very likely the next truck I buy will be another of those. I have enough sheet metal parts to build the COE Suburban Cargo project I've described I've decided I want to base it on Z-series parts so I'm keeping my eyes open for both a Z-series COE and 1-ton panel.

I told the story early in this post of how I ended up with my Suburban, but today my answer is really that I want everything Z-series....

I just like the look of the 1948-1954 suburbans. I would always look for them in every month of LRM. So one day at the motor pool in El Paso TX (Ft Bliss) There was this civilian mechanic and in his tool box he had all these pictures of suburbans. So I asked him if he had one and he said no but wanted one. Then I told him I want a suburban or truck. Then he tells me I know where one is, that he has been trying to buy it but does not have the money. So I asked where and he told me just outside of post at a produce store. So I head there right after work to go see it. So when I arrive at the store right outside in the front is a 1953 Chevy truck looking clean. I'm all excited because I wanted a Suburban or a truck. I get off and asked how much was the truck. He tells me $7000 I'm like cool..Then I ask him if he has a suburban and he tells me yes in the back of the store in a garage. So I tell him that is what I wanted. So we head to the back and he opens the garage door and I almost faint. It was my dream truck that I thought I would never get to own. He tells me do you want to go for a test drive...I was like hell yea...I would have been happy if it didn't run...but it started right away..We drove it down the street..He drives...then he tells me to drive it..So I leave him at the store and take off..and I put it in first and it just keeps jumping...and it turns off...so I’m trying to start it and I can't ....so I call him and tell him were I’m at and he comes over and I tells me you have to use the foot start...I had never seen one or driven a old truck. The suburban drove like a champ after I put it in second. So I tell him that I was going to talk to the bank and call him in the morning. I asked him how much he wanted and he tells me $8000. I didn’t care because it was my dream truck. He saw how much I wanted it and told me just give me $7000. So the bank gives me the ok and I take it home. Later I find out how lucky I was because it had all three rows of seats and a sun visor. So I take it to work like a couple of days later and the guy that told me where it was is [censored]. He didn’t think I was going to get it...(the picture of my 51 burban in the garage is the one where I almost fainted.)Its not black any more its candy brandy wine.

My wife had been driving a newer suburban for years and it was time to trade it in. As we were driving off the lot she looked at me and said " You are not trashing out my new suburban like you did the others". My immediate thoughts were past haulings of engines, transmissions, and assorted rusty parts for this sickness we all have. So I told her i guess I'd have to get my own to which she agreed. Several months of searching later I found a 49 on evil bay. The tree that had grown up where the engine used to be was free of charge....

I've had my 1951 3100 for almost 27 years.I was at the truck nationals and Stovebolt reunion show a couple of years ago,when i discovered AD Suburbans existed . I blame 1954Chevy5Window for my love of suburbans,I looked his suburban over for a couple of hours at the show.Then for the next couple of years i was looking and thinking about suburbans.I sealed the deal on the one i have now,took a road trip to Texas and drug it home.

My suburban is an addition,i didn't choose it over anything else.

My dad had been/is a Chevy man. I'll admit...I strayed (and still have Fords) but now that I'm a dad, I have a 6year old. He, like every other 6 yr old is into Grave Digger. That got me hooked so I found us a '50 Panel (don't worry I'm not going the Digger route on her)That opened my eyes to these great Chevy Panels/Burbs.Once the panel was home, I decided I needed somewhere for my wife to sit, so I talked her into a 1948 Burb. Along came a road trip to Oklahoma and now this spring we can all cruise.

My wife and I have driven "Street Vans" (you know "if the van is rockin, don't bother knockin") since '73, at one time neither of us had ridden in a car for 10 years. I saw my first AD sub in '76, and decided some day I would own one. I bought my first one, a '49 Chevy in '04, It didn't have a drive train or seats, but it was an AD sub. In Fall of '09, I bought a '52 GMC in excellent condition, but not running or braking. I hope to have it going by Back to the 50's in June. Generally out of 10,000 vehicles, there are no more than a half dozen Subs or panels there.

Inuke,
'49 Chevy Sub
'49 Chevy Fleetline
'52 GMC Sub