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May 5, 2005 This is an update. The December 13, 2004 version is still available, and this is mostly only a refinement of that plan. The Dually has solidified somewhat. The proposed running gear donor is a '78 Chevrolet P30 chassis and associated stuff, all pulled out from under a motorhome. I think a 454/475 Turbo and a 12,300 LB GVW should be adequate. I expect to combine the body and bed from a '52 Chevy 2-ton truck combined with parts from my '52 Suburban parts truck to create an extended cab dually. Two things have changed. First, it is definitely going to be a pickup. I've acquired a '51 1-ton panel, which gives me a cargo compartment with the smooth lines of a modern pickup bed, styled in the 40's. I'll trim the upper (window on a Suburban) area off, and separate the cargo area from the cab area to create the bed. I'm thinking I'll use the rear of a cab to form the front of the bed. Simply turn it around and weld it in place (at least one or two hours work). The rear fenders will need to be extended to cover the duals. That too is just a few hours work... I'm also thinking this truck does not need IFS. Instead of figuring out how to put IFS under it I'm going to put disk brakes on the 1-ton straight axle under the panel that is providing both the box and the frame. Now since I'm building this dually I feel I can make make some changes in the OldSub plan. It no longer needs a big block or the suspension to support towing heavy loads. Its load capacity needs to be adequate to support four adults with luggage and a smaller trailer. I had begun to see a 50's look for the OldSub, but have returned to thinking it should have a modern look. For those who are offended by modern looking hot rods I need to mention that at least one of the other two will either have a 50's look and perhaps a patina left over from about then. The Little Red Truck has become the Little Suede Truck, meaning it will not be finish painted, and will not carry its current patina. It's changed in some in design also. I've long wanted to build a g-machine or pro-touring car. This truck is going to be it. That means the modifications to the Monte Carlo underpinnings will take a little different form. Preserving the handling and structural integrity of the frame moves for a 10 to a 12 in order to achieve superior handling. Instead of cutting the frame to lengthen it, I'm going to shorten the truck to fit the wheelbase of the car. I've been spending a lot of time looking, measuring and thinking. More details when I feel I have an adequate handle on them. This web site is about my truck toys, not the life occurrences that might distract me from these projects. However one summer '04 event which consumed a lot of time was also a truck project. My friend Gene moved his family (wife, two kids, mother and mother-in-law) about 1,500 miles to resettle in Colorado. My '72 Chevy pickup made the 3,000+ mile round trip as part of a '55-'57 Chevy convoy. I towed a '57 two-door. Also made numerous trips to both the dump and the local junk yard to help dispose of stuff that wasn't worth moving. The whole thing was a lot of fun, but it also delayed the projects you come here to read about. Please accept my humble apologies. Okay, here is the current plan! |
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Copyright 2002, 2007 Steven C. Hanberg -- All RIghts Reserved