<home>
|
May 9, 2006 I just bought another 'truck'. And in acquiring it, my plan has refined a bit. I'm not quite done buying raw material. I hope to buy at least one more in the next few weeks. And it will provide the character for the one that I'm adding to the project list. This is another update. I've refined and changed the plan a little. Since I was not able to work much during 2005 and 2006 isn't looking any better I'm spending my energies on planning. A brief note about delays. I'm trying to build a shop in a county where the government doesn't like new development. I'm more than a year since starting and haven't turned any dirt yet. Frustrating to say the least. At the same time I've had some injuries and have made working outside problematic. A shop will help with that. The projects... The Suburban has slid back further on the priority list. My next steps with it are to fix the heater and align the front end, and see if I can make it a bit nicer to drive. I've bought some replacement sheet metal for it and need to find some more. I'm thinking I'll wait to tackle that project until I've got some more experience with welding sheet metal. I have rethought the powertrain a bit also. Instead of a 350 I'm debating two other options. I've been driving a 454 powered pickup a lot lately, and I really like big block power. The other alternative is a Cadillac Northstar. Maybe something crazy like mounting the Suburban on the front drive Cadillac platform. Or maybe adapting the Northstar to an S-10 four wheel drive frame with Astro all-wheel-drive to create an all-weather Suburban. The Dually has clarified in my mind. I've recently added a '50 1-ton to my collection. Its missing a lot of pieces, but none I can't replace from my collection. It will stay rough with patina but will be extended cab and behind that cab will be the big utility box to carry tools. I'll create bedsides under the box with standard fenders over the rear duals. This is a working truck and will need a good powerplant. I'm thinking 454 but I'm now putting more big blocks in trucks than I actually own, plus with gas at $3.00/gallon I may need to rethink things. But that's all I'm doing these days, so its okay... A possible COE has appeared in front of me. Actually two of them. I hope to close one of them in the next few weeks. My plan is to create a 4-door cab with the 1-ton panel cargo compartment behind the 2nd set of doors. This makes a long truck, but since the wheelbase of teh donor frame is 164 inches that's okay. I'll also take the side windows from the parts Suburban to add light to the cargo compartment, and to support a third row of seats or living space. The proposed running gear donor is still the '79 (I thought it was '78, but was wrong) Chevrolet P30 chassis and associated stuff, all pulled out from under a motorhome. I've resisted Diesel power, but with fuel prices so high, and the number of big block powered trucks I'm working on, this one maybe should be a Diesel. No hurry... The Little Suede Truck is going to be a g-machine/pro-touring car. It is also at the top of my project list. It will have the '78 Monte Carlo underpinnings preserving the handling and structural integrity of the frame becomes a priority. 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 and have an idea I like. I'm going to take the lower body panels from the rear of a panel truck and make a bed from it. I've seen this done on a stock wheelbase truck, but not on a shortened truck. I think it will run the 454. This web site is about my truck toys, not the life occurrences that might distract me from these projects. Summer '04 ended up focused on moving my friend Gene and his family 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. Summer 2005 was lost to college prep and more exciting shop prep. By Summer 2006 I expected to be working in a nice three stall shop with a lift but life continues to get in the way. Permit issues have kept me from starting the work, and other health issues have kept me in my recliner instead of out where the fun is. Its taking a few years to make these things happen, but we're getting geared up for some excitement! Anyone notice I'm now building four projects? And I keep failing to mention my '52 6400. The 6400 (2-ton) remains a light restoration project that will run in parades and such. So its not getting much play. I'm having fun, I hope you are too! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
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