The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs I would like opinion of panel owners

I bought a 1949 unmelested panel truck, then I bought another 1949 because it had almost all stainless fender strips. My opinion I need is I am thinking of converting second panel into a trailer, it had no VIN or bill of sell. I am using alot of stuff from it dash was mutalated from someone trying to update steering. By the time I'm done with it I feel I can not sell it and decided to make trailer from it. Is this a no no for all of you to do this? I feel once done it will only be worth scrap metal, but feel I can still retrofit a trailer from it. I want your opinion please.

if you have the chance and ability to make a panel bodied trailer to haul behind your panel instead of scrapping it, fly at it ... just make sure we see some pictures

Bill

Believe me, I have never seen it done it will be a task because both are rotted out but I have figured out how to rob from another to make a good panel truck, and feel I will have enough to make a bondoed trailer. I have original off frame now and ready to do major work. Thanks for your opinion.

Oh, and when I get further on I will submit pictures.

Submit the pictures now! We like pictures

Just my two cents!

Destroying a perfectly good and restorable body is frowned upon, scraping a rusted piece of metal is not.

Don't cut the body until you're ready to do the work on it. It will be much easier to tote around. If you decide not to make the trailer, you can sell it intact.

OK, I am only steeling metal and parts from back doors. using hood for side rust out of body, trying to use anything that can be replaced. I need to get a little more computer savy to post the pictures, but will do my best to get pictures before I do too much damage. Thank you for your opinion. I wanted to hear from people who care.

Just be sure you don't throw away anything that could be used still. Little things like rear door latches, spare tire carriers, rear lights...

GMONIZ, I loaded first truck in photobucket can't figure how to post now

I'm keeping everything right now other than rotted away metal, city Recycle wont even take rusted out metal, they leave it in my bin.

I think that it would be cool to make a trailer out of two panel bodies, you could cut them both at the side door jam (removing the front seat and the rest of the front of the body, and graft them together so that one faces backwards. It would be even cooler if it was made out of two 53 or 54 station wagon bodies. You would have four side doors and two tailgate front and rear doors, with the seats that fold down flat...

Figured it out will send pictures of Second truck soon and pictures of off frame.

Well, that's not what I was expecting to hear. I will not waste old vehicles just for fun.

I've seen a trailer made out of the body of a 1941 Chevy panel truck, a 1947-53 panel tuck and a camper made out of a 1941/46 Chevy suburban. I found all three of them over the years in junk yards. All of them were really neat and were severely rotted or I would have one now too. The 1950's one had the roof of another panel truck welded to the front of it to make it nice and rounded. IT was well done. The 1940's trucks were fairly crudely done.
I say go for it!!!!!!

That is rough! Make sure you make templates of the fender trim so you can transfer them on to your non trimmed fenders. Save the seat riser if you decide to cut it behind the front doors. The front door stainless is good to keep and may work on your other panel if it's pre-51 and with a little work if it's 51 or newer. Save the gas tank and mount. The rear door stainless is unique to the deluxe panels although can be used on the suburban too. The Bucket seats look like they are from a 1964 Pontiac or at least a GM car of that vintage.

Looks like you have a 1955-62 chevrolet 235 car engine, possibly with hydraulic lifters, would need more information than what I can see from the picture. What is the casting number and the stamped number on the engine? What is the number on the body tag located on the drivers side pillar? Save the radio delete panel and buttons too.

Patch panels made from the bottom of the front doors will replace the lower body area behind the front door and in front of the rear fender.

Good luck and keep posting pictures.

GMONIZ, you seem very knowladgable on these era's. Seats came out of a 64 Impala, I don't like how they look I actually bought some PT Cruiser seats that will fit nicely in the panel. I will look at engine castings after work today and also the VIN tag. The Doner truck is just as bad shape it only looks better because some one has bondoed it quite a bit already. I will take pictures of it also

Is this going to be a "hauling" type of trailer for lumberyard and dump trips, or something else? It might make a really neat alternative to a modern camping trailer. Maybe a couple of bunk beds and a simple stove/micro/fridge setup. A window or two and a skylight fan. Paint the interior a light color. Carpet. You could really do this up bigtime and have something really unique to tow behind your running panel. I like the idea suggested earlier of using another panel rear end to graft onto the front of this one. (More destroyed trucks!) And then it would have a vintage look that perhaps looks factory built, and be more aerodynamic as well.

I was planning it to be a little of both, an extra hauler and sleeping quarters, I like to ruff it when I camp out. As far as the front I was planning to fold roof down at back side of front door. cut door way center and mearge together. Right now I need to complete the running truck first.

Personally, I'd think a vintage Camper such as a Kom-pac, shasta, or something similar would look amazing behind a vintage Suburban or Panel. But, I could really appreciate the art and creativity behind making your own too!

OK All I just found some back doors on e-bay that I bought, so now I have three sets of back doors. After done I will only have two complete sets. Sooo, If I'm careful I still may have a extra somewhat complete panel that someone may want to buy. But if not I will convert into trailer.