<home>

December 13 , 2002

The plan is really starting to come together in my mind. One of the things that has helped a lot is having Teri's '54 Chevy pickup too. The pickup allows me to work one direction on it, while going another direction on the sub. The benefit is that I can do a simple hot rod pickup, and an all out custom with the sub. And all those years I'm working on the sub, I'll be able to drive the pickup. Or Teri's Subaru if she has the pickup...

Anyway, with two trucks to help me think through the process, I 've been breaking both projects into pieces and documenting how I inted to pursue each piece. The result is the table below. Basically as I think about some aspect of the project, I add it to this list, and then spell out what my current thinking is on each truck. Of couse, until I actually do something, everything is subject to change!

Little Red Truck

OldSub

Primary Driver

Teri

Steve

Basic Concept

Car for general use locally, and occasional run to a car show.  Must be comfortable for Teri to drive, since after all, this is her truck!

Light truck, with some capability for heavier use such as pulling a trailer for general use.  Also might get used for family trips of two hundred to six hundred miles.

Basic Look

Original, lowered with wheels, stock bumpers.  Standard door handles and such.

Classic body built today.  Implies modern bumpers, smoothed doors, smoked glass, BIG wheels and as low as the driveway will allow.  Hidden gas cap.  Leave the gutters because we live in a rain forest.

Engine

Spunky, but mild mannered and very reliable.  Chevy 305*.

Torque with power to pull a trailer with a truck on it.  383 Chevy, or big Buick, Pontiac or Cadillac.  455 Pontiac with GMC valve covers from 50’s GMC?

Transmission

Automatic.  Turbo 350*.  Lokar classic type floor shift.

Automatic (heavy duty for towing).

Front Suspension

Subframe*

Light three-quarter ton like the five-lug stuff under a G-20 van.

Rear Suspension

Four link*

Light three-quarter ton like the five-lug stuff under a G-20 van.

Brakes

Disk/Drum

Disk/Drum

Wheels/Tires

Classic look: beauty rings and Chevy hub caps.

Tall wheels with tires that can handle the load of towing a trailer with a heavy pickup on it.

Steering

Power with tilt wheel.  Classic steering wheel.

Power with Tilt and modern fat wheel

Electrical

12v with alternator sized for the need

12v with Alternator sized for the need.  Multiple stereos, power seats, windows, door locks…  Needs a big alternator and battery.

Comforts

What?  Good heater and defrost

Air conditioning, heater and defroster, power windows, door locks, power mirrors.  Cruise control.  Rear heater/defrost.

Seating and Interior

Stock bench?  Back seat from Monte Carlo?  Clean and neat.  Look inviting.  Move fuel tank out of cab.

Four leather buckets (power!).  Posh with everything upholstered and power everything.

Sound

AM/FM Stereo with CD Player

At least an AM radio…  Full stereo system with Cassette/CD, and should have separate front and rear audio.

Glass

Stock clear glass

Tinted glass in front, mini-van type windows on sides and back.

Dash Board

As stock as possible

Modern instruments in stock look dash panel.

Controls

Updated stock type

Modern, column mounted.  Heater controls with the three dial approach.

Bumpers

Stock

Wrap around with modern look.

Exterior Lights

Stock look with modern turn signals and side markers

Halogen and LED.

Time Frame

Start as soon as Sub is a driver again…

Driver now, customization begins when ’54 is a driver.

Donor Car?

’78 Chevy Monte Carlo.  *identifies parts from this car.

Nels ’75 Chevy ¾ ton van?

Last updated: December 31, 2006

<home> <projects and progress> <current plan> <specifications> <frequently asked questions> <sell/trade/need>

Copyright 2002, 2007 Steven C. Hanberg -- All RIghts Reserved