The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Out of the Box Thinking

I know the purists will not like it..
My 55 first series was modified when I got her. I decided to gut the interior. This included adding a rear gas tank.

The dome light swich was fubared, so I wired it to a door jamb switches, also built a floor to dash console. Console has separate gauges stereo, speakers and courtesy lights, that work with the door jamb switches. LMC sells an interior courtesy light fader in which I incorporated. The two large holes where the gauges were, are now an Autometer Speedo and Tach. The speedo bezel is pre-drilled for LED turn signal and highbeam indicators.

What "out of the box" mods have you made to your ride?

I built a glove box for my 1950 that houses my stero head unit and has a small compartment with LED lights that turn on when the glove box door is opened.

I also modified the radio delete plate to rotate with the screen for my back-up camera mounted to it.

How did you change your dome light to operate with door jamb switches? Originally it was switched-positive and the door jamb switches switch the ground.

Craig

Originally there were no door jamb switches. NAPA sells a universal door jamb switch, that works well. I just cross wired the switch to come on when a door opens, or I have a switch on the new console that turns it on. You are correct on the ground.

The radio delete modification you made is very interesting. I went to a trophy shop and had them make a size specific plate for the radio delete. I had the plate done in brushed aluminum and scripted with "Advance Design"

Project Helen - How did you insulate the dome light from the body so that it was not constantly grounded? I have thought about using nylon bolts.

I fear they might kick us to the Hipo forum if some others don't chime in with their "out of the box" ideas. . .

Anyone?

Craig

start with a pacer IFS, nova rearend t-5 tranny, lesabre seats rear gas tank, alternator a/c original looking digital radio. look at my pictures on photobucket. i wanted a safe driver. i went to stovebolt HQ in April and i have gone to KC reunion for the last three years. also dual master cylinder and power brakes. Do it your way. welcome. ron

Ron, your truck is over the top, love it.

To be honest I can't remember, seemed easy at the time.

Craig - it's the socket that's isolated from the light case, the original switch setup provides the ground direct to the socket

Bill

Even though the HiPo shop is technically the place to discuss modifications, I think we can keep this thread here if we keep it to the original question.

Let's discuss little custom touches you have added to your truck. We'll leave the suspension and driveline swaps to the HiPo shop and the wiring discussions to the Electrical Bay.

On my '54 GMC the headlight knob was deteriorated to a nub. I had a fake silver dollar that was made for a belt concho. I turned a knob shaft down in the lathe, threaded it to fit the concho and used it for a new knob.

I can't take credit for this, BUT the previous owner used an old hinge for the gas pedal in the '37 truck.

I would appreciate pictures of the center consol.

stovebolts are about a way of life.... if I wanted modern ride I would ride my 2010 2500 gmc... that gave me an ideal.. I could take my 1941 name plate and put it on my 2010 and call it my stovebolt.. now thats adding comfort.... while were at it, lets paint the golden gate bridge yellow,, lets paint all center line green, lets put speakers on statue of liberty, lets add a set of earings on the mona lisa. since women can get implants lets put like three sets of them like a six pack.. " I know the purists will not like it" you got that right...... why didnt you add mirror dice, bright orange rear end, two rubber straps trailing off the bumper, two foot lift kit, 26" chrome one off rims,, moon lights, a sparkomatic radio with a 40 watt audiovox booster... your driving part of american history.. things your mom or dad or gandpa or grandma built with there own hand.. real 100% american made, from the parts to the steal.. I take pride riding around my truck with zero comfort... but it history..

like

Will snap some today

NICE!!, you left out the part my truck was modified when I got it. If it upset you why did you read it, let alone respond?

Innovation out of the box thinking is what got us to point you can respond on a computer today.

I like building, and fabricating things that are one of a kind, something no one else has done, rather than add bolt on kazoos and streamers

Now lets play nice, bring on the mods you have made.

Modifications (non HiPo):

- stainless steel brake lines
- high-profile black LT radial tires
- 6v electronic ignition (on some of my trucks)
- epoxy primers
- urethane paints (2-part; single-stage)
- seat/lap belts
- a few 6v LED bulbs
- modern lubricants, anti-freeze, brake fluid
- convex side mirrors

Some pics of the mods

Floor console

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/001-4.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/002-3.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/003-2.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/008.jpg


Door Jamb Switch

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/005-1.jpg

Door Panel

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/006-1.jpg

Tail Light mount

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/014.jpg

Random Engine pic

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/012-1.jpg

you could of shoped ebay, swap meets and put it back to OEM.. I'm glad we got the internet. but they also put some tube set electronics on military aircraft to make it past an EMP from a bomb.. thank God someone thinks old school... we need to go chrome out the statue of liberty just because.... your killing me.. you have a peice of american history.. keep it that way... you want a custom job. buy a ford f-150 and deck it out there only a few million of those riding around... I think I might upset the puriest.. really what gave that away .. this web site wouldn't even be here if we all wanted to just peice up a ride.. maybe its just me but the reason we ride these things and show them to people is to show them the way there were... I can buy a 2012 gmc truck to show them how its made today.. and mod the heck out of it..

Project Helen, you do nice work. thanks, but all i did was throw ideas and money at it until it was done. i do enjoy driving it, drove it around too give Christmas gifts to friends only 50 miles but it is fun. i have a 160 degree thermostat and a aluminum radiator and at 35 degrees out it only go to 100 degrees. i think i should change it.

Safety stuff mostly ( hopefully Katrina doesn't disagree with these mods ):


Turn signals
Radial tires
Seat belt

all for safety.. its cutting it all up I cry.. because before a guy get ready to kill an oem part they should post the job and maybe someone might give a donnor part and the oem part could be used to save a stovebolt... I seen it last year... it's one thing the wife cuts her long hair.. thats grows back a complete perfect 47 chevy dash drilled up and switches put all over.. guy should of been taken behind the barn and wopped... guys would kill to save a stovebolt resture to have that dash... this summer I seen a kid blowing up a polaris colt 1974 500 cc triple.. what are you doing... they had a differnt fan cool to drop in it.. I said you guys just killed 2000 dollars... you cant fix stupid

I take pride in the fact that all the mods are made by me and my friends and family in my garage. I buy American made parts when I can. I make the others with my hands. It's my truck and I want to modify it to fit MY needs. Just like my Great Uncle put in a newer heater to suit his needs.

If we should just get by with what works, why did we ever need cars and trucks in the first place? Didn't the horse do a pretty good job?

My wife told me this yesterday: The difference between a man with tattoos and a man without tattoos is that the one with tattoos doesn't give a s*** if the other guy doesn't!

I guess what I'm saying is please let us have this thread. We won't get on your threads and say how silly it is to keep thing original.

Craig

Katrina, we're not here to discuss the merits of keeping them stock. You have made it clear how you feel. Now it appears you want to argue about it. Please refrain. This site is open to all, purists, rodders, customizers and all.

(Editor's note: You made your point. Please quit ranting about it.)

I'M Sorry Guys... I just love these old general motors trucks... my last ride going on my dirt nap. going to be on a GM.. my post wasn't to hurt anyones feeling.. just to show my passion. everyone of you guys are welcomed at my place and a day of running on points... even stop for icecream if you promice not to get sticky fingers all over the glass and dash....

Guys, this is no way to spend Christmas. Let's chill out a bit.

I prefer stock stuff myself. But, that said, my own truck has a V-8 in it. (It was in there when I got it.)

One of the primary rules of this hobby has always been: It's YOUR truck! Do it however YOU want! The next guy can do his however HE wants!

I like to admire the workmanship that goes into ALL of them. There are a lot of very talented people out there!

Merry Christmas everybody!!

Well put, Rich! And ditto on the sentiments. I believe everyone here wants to preserve old Chevy and GMC trucks, or we wouldn't be here. Everyone has a different idea of how they want to do it, and that is their choice. The main thing is to keep them out of the crusher's jaws, IMHO.

Back to the original topic. The '61 truck has a 327 out of a '65 station wagon in it. I got it that way, and I plan on keeping it that way. It preserves the history of how easy and how many times engines were swapped in these older trucks. Fine my me. Besides, it's an awesome engine!

I too used to get quite bent out of shape when I read about certain mods but I've let that go. We're on earth such a short time and that makes us caretakers of these old vehicles, who knows what's going to happen after we've gone and leave the truck to someone? In my final analysis I please my self and patiently answer questions and endure comments of others like, "When you going to paint it?", "If it were mine I'd...", etc.

As a daily driver only vehicle of a '49 Chevy 1/2 ton I am in a rare club and I know it. My '62 overdrive unit is the greatest creature comfort I have, hidden stereo for 2 thousand mile round trips is nice, a cheap 12v fan to help cool me in the summer and reversed, in winter, help to defrost the front w/s. Radial tires make it ride like a dream on stock wheels, no tubes.

I do think others opinions and choices make us sharp and consider options or not for our own projects.

Peace to you brothers and sisters.

That's me lower right at The World Stovebolt Headquarters .

Thanks for the compliment. When I go to car shows I do appreciate the originals and the restoration work that has gone into them, they just are not my cup of tea. I have spent countless hours, sometimes sleepless ones, researching ideas or trying to figure out an idea.

At a car show I look at others modifications and ideas. The rat rodders are pretty ingenious.