The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Newbie to the forums with a couple of questions...

Hey guys, my name is Blake and I'm located in Kingwood, TX (just north of Houston). I'm fixing to by a 1955 1st series Chevy Suburban, and it's missing a couple of things. It's missing the seats, the windshield, and the side window glass. I've been researching the forums a little, and have seen side window glass recommendations for 54 models, and was wondering if because this is a 1st series 55, are all astetic things like glass and seats be the same between 54 year models and 55 1st series year models?

Thanks,
Blake Thomas
Kingwood, TX
(soon to be owner of a 1955 1st series Suburban)

Blake,

Welcome to Stovebolt.com.

The major differences between the 1954 and 1955st trucks are:
- hood side emblems (hoods and holes in hoods are same)
- open driveshaft in 1955st (transmission and rear end are different)
- different grill paint scheme

Yes, glass and seats and sheet metal parts are the same.

Seats are hard to find, but are the same from 47-55st.
Suburban side glass is the same 47-55st.
Windshied glass is the same on 55st and 54.
Door windows are the same 51-55st

Welcome Blake, you just got a reply from our expert on your Suburban. I've heard those seats are tough to find, but this is the place to get help locating them.

Leo

I appreciate the info Tim, and thanks Leo. Door glass and barn door rear glass is there, just need the windshield (easy find), and all of the side glass (I want to go with the sliding glass windows, but I might go solid. Just depends on what the glass company I have a connection with can do.) Like you said, the seats are going to be the hardest part. I would love to have all of the original 3 rows of seating in it, or would go with the front seat (3/4-1/4) bench and the full rear bench in the center position to leave the back open for cargo. I know the 3rd row full bench is going to be the hardest one to find. I'm going to install seatbelts with shoulder a strap in it because niether the wife or kids will ride in it otherwise (her rules, not mine).

The rear seats are the same 1947 - 1959 and there is another difference on the side windows, they have a different stainless trim 1947/1952 and 1953/55. The rear seats are being reproduced by elhippie64 The trim pieces come on ebay occasionally, but aren't cheap, hopefully yours are still on your truck.

Being in texas without the ability to open the rear windows and no A/C may be another reason your wife won't ride with you

The glass is available pre cut. I will see if I can find the vendors information. ........g

I don't remember finding any vendors for the side glass. I know Jim Carter has side window templates for purchase. I took my old glass to the OLD glass shop in town and had him make me the pieces I need. New glass shops just seem to do replacements and no custom work.

Hey Blake! Welcome! I can't offer much help as I have a 55nd Panel... But I will tell you that Stovebolt.com is THE BEST forum to find answers, parts, whatever! Good luck with the rebuild!

Try these guys:

VINTAGE GLASS USA

328 S River Rd, Tolland, CT 06084

860-872-0018 / 800-889-3826

They sell on ebay and I am pretty sure that they carry the glass and patterns for the suburbans.



truckman4787 on ebay sells the one piece glass for the suburbans.

I almost forgot these guys but I found them very expensive last time I asked.

http://www.theglasshouse1.com/

You can also buy the window pattern kit from Jim Carter and have your local glass shop cut it for you. window glass pattern

Here are some links to Tims 1954 suburban window trims.I believe mid 1952 to 1955.1 use the same stainless trims and window locks. window pictures

sliding window weatherstripping

This link to installing the weather strip and glass is very helpful,but the picture links don't work anymore. slider window assembly
I wonder if Dogs51Burb would be willing to fix the picture links ?

MnSmith did this write up on installing the glass and weatherstripping in his 1951,excellent step by step pictorial.
side window installation



Tim

Thanks for all of the suggestions and links guys. Think I have the capital to purchase this suburban, so providing the seller is done with the paint, I should be bringing her home this coming week.

Blake,being that he has owned the suburban 11 years and he just put a new paint job on it.Make sure you ask about the old side glass that was in it.I bet the stainless trims are still on them.


Tim

He doesnt have the glass or the seats. I never asked if he had the stainless trims. Talking to him tomorrow to let him know that I have the capital for the purchase and to check on the status of the repaint and assembly. Going to see if he has the trims...fingers crossed.

Well, he doesn't have the trim for the sliding window, so I might be going in with solid glass. He does have a hook up with a guy right down the road that is selling all three seats. Only hickup so far is this burbon is the guy I've been talking to's sons. His son had someone come by over the weekend to look at it and the prospective buyer nit-picked the hell out of it
p1ssing the seller off enough to say screw it, I'm taking down the for sale ad on it. I told him that I wasn't going to nit-pick it, and to tell his son that I had cash in hand, ready to buy. He's going to get back with me this evening hopefully with good news.

Question, I asked if it was 12-volt or 6-volt, and he said it was 12-volt. Was that one of the changes they made to the 55 1st series?

12v came in with 1955-2nd series in Chevrolet trucks.

Sounds like a conversion then. Thanks Tim!

So I just have to put this out there to see if you guys think it's just as messed up as I do. I've been working on a deal to buy the 55st series that this post is about. The seller was asking 6k on craigslist. I went and met with the owners father on New Years Day to look at it, and the next day I let him know that I was very interested in it, and was just working on getting the 6k together. I checked the craigslist add this past Sunday night (right after finally getting the go-ahead on the deal from the wife) to find the add had been deleted. So I went back over to the shop where the suburban was located to see it still there, and asked the owners dad why the add had been taken down. He said that his son had someone come in and look at it over the weekend and as stated above nit-picked the crud out of it trying to low ball the price (the 6k price). I let him know that I wasn't there to nit-pick him on it, and I had the asking price, cash in hand. He emailed me back after talking it over with his son saying that the 6k asking price was just to low with what they had in it, and they couldn't let it go for less than $7500. Sounds like they're trying to turn my excitment for my first classic vehicle into more money for them. I have never had someone try to negotiate a "higher" price than the intitial asking price. If they couldn't sell it at 6k with low ballers and nit-pickers coming in to look at it, what in the heck makes them think they can run the price up on someone who's willing to give what they asked for in the first place. Going to stand my ground at 6k and wait for them to call me begging for it.

Sorry for the rant, but I just wanted to see if you guys think that the situation is a screwed up as it sounds.

That would sure get my dander up and I would probably walk away or drop my offer 10%.

I agree,let them call you.That suburban has been on Craigslist for a really long time.
There will always be another suburban for sale .



Tim

Yeah, he decided not to sell. So I'm just going to keep my head on a swivel for another one, and put a posting in the Trucks Wanted section of the forum. Thanks for all of the advice on this one guys, I know it will be benificial to me with any future purchase in knowing what to look for and ask about.

-Blake