It's been a couple of years since I posted on this project. LOTS of things to add, but first let me say this. I've learned the hard way that you should ALWAYS do it right the first time. Short cuts don't cut it and you always have to fix them in the end. I left the original suspension on the front end in order to save money. I added power steering conversion kit to the leaf springs and straight axle. It's been nothing but a headache and in the end I've invested more time and money than I would have it I would have simply bought and installed a good aftermarket Mustang II front end. Between steering dampers, shimming the straight axle, wheels changes, tire size changes and whatnot, it's been a nightmare and is just now starting to be a vehicle I can drive safely at just about any speed up to around 85mph.
I should have moved the gas tank out of the cab when we restored this project. The photo shows what happens if you don't. Now, after the fact I'm moving the gas tank under the bed and having to fix the paint. Another thousand bucks and more time and energy. DO IT RIGHT the first time even if it means more time in the build, you'll be happy you did in the end.
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Been to a couple of show and shines, and several cruise-ins. I've also used it to pick up yards of dirt for the raised vegetable beds, yards of bark dust for landscaping, and loaded it up and taken us camping with it. It's all been fun, except the hiccups. The belt system is in serious need of revamping. The original design simply isn't holding up to the heavy demands of all the systems I'm running, power steering, AC... well, actually, that's about it, but the belts aren't sufficient. I should have spent the money to get a serpentine system right out of the gate. Doing it after the fact is a bear. Here's a couple shots, one a show and shine, and one ready to take us camping. The fun just doesn't stop!
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The truck is mostly done, I'm driving it, and having a ball! A few nickel and dime things to do to the suspension, little bugs here and there, but for all intents and purposes, done! Cole and I took it to show and shine, and cruise last weekend and had a blast. The truck gets a lot of looks and thumbs up, and fits right in at a cruise. It's just the start of the cruise in season, and I'm going to cruise. Whoo hoo! That's me, the happy camper, in his hot rod '49 truck.
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This truck is the 2nd hot rod in three years I've had the pleasure of watching Norman Cole Hembree build. Both are pictured here. 1st a 1939 Plymouth, and the latest, this 1949 chevy 3100 pickup. I'll be posting before and after photos of the truck. I've learned how to shave door handles and door hinges. I've learned what it takes to chop and channel a vehicle. I now know more than I ever wanted to know about sanding, shaping, three stage paint, and why the clear keeps bubbling up and having hiccups in it. I've learned how to airbrush flames and skulls, and I've watched a master hot rod builder ply his trade. Cole is nothing less than amazing. He built both of these vehicles in a garage and 10'x20' tent erected just outside the garage. He sprayed three stage paint in that tent, and it came out looking better than the cab and hood did, and the cab and hood were sprayed in a real, honest to goodness paint booth. He's taught me about friends, and friendship, and what going the extra mile is all about. Thanks Cole for the lessons and the hot rods. WooHoo!
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We finished the truck yesterday. I still need to replace the stock gauges and speedo, I'm going to get higher profile tires for those wheels, but for all intents and purposes it's done. I'm driving it and it'll get put to work next week when I start hauling pea gravel, bark dust, and camping gear around in it.
I'd like to add this: As stated in my journal throughout, this truck has tons of nostalgia for me. I think my friend would have been happy to see how nice it turned out, and also to see how many people are enjoying seeing it drive around.
If there is one thing I learned from him it's this, whatever it is that you want to do, you better get to it because our time here is way too short. No matter if you die at 9 or 90, it's too soon. Not enough time. Here's to you Bill - See you at that big hot rod rally in the sky.
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