<Current Plan>

September 8, 2007

I've finished one project since last updating this list! Formerly number 6 in order, the utility trailer is now finished.

Since my truck projects are intertwined somewhat, often relying on the same parts cars or trucks, and requiring some things to move before others can be accessed, I've sorted through an order of precedence for the projects. I wanted to think through my resources and make sure I don't have things being used before they are available...

Based on my initial thinking the projects proceed in the following order:

Project 7 may not wait to be last... Like the Utility Trailer it is a minor project that has project utility and therefore may happen when it would be useful. Otherwise I think things are in the order in which I'll start them.

2005 and 2006 haven't been good for my projects. 2007 has been a lot better but still slow. The only issues I see slowing me down are time and money, and though both remain real limitations neither should be any more of an issue than they have ever been.

When I last updated the plans I had decide to push the Suburban back, but do some drivability work on it. With things coming together on the Dually I'm now considering advancing the Suburban project. The risk is I think it will be years before I finish it.

In any case my next steps with the Suburban are to fix the heater and align the front end, and see if I can make it a bit nicer to drive. Then maybe I'll take it down for some serious body work. Maybe.

Describing the projects in order this is what they look like.

Utility Trailer

This project is sort of finished. I've modified a frame to create the tongue, mounted an axle and the bed. The trailer is now parked out back with some panel body parts in it, that had been in the way in the shop. The structure is done, it roles and is now usable. The bed floor is in need of repair, the ride height is not the low rider look I wanted, and I did no electrical. And its complicated by the lack of registration and license. But otherwise it is done.

Little Suede Truck

The Little Suede Truck is going to be a g-machine/pro-touring car. It remains at the top of my project list.

My current plan is to use the '54 Chevy cab but modify it to make it a 5-window. It will have the '78 Monte Carlo underpinnings. While at one time I though I'd build a custom box I've since rejected that idea, mostly because this is my wife's truck, and she wants a standard bed. I expect to run a 350/350 combo in this one. Other options have been on my list, but that is the quickest and most practical. I may change it at some later date.

Dually

The Dually changed dramatically recently. I bought a '54 GMC 5-window 1-ton Dually and it is now the basis of this project. I had originally thought this one would be an extended cab, but probably won't bother. Its a lot of work, and not really necessary at this time. Too many others have done it and I'm not as interested now that I've seen lots of others.

Behind the cab will be the big utility box to carry tools. I'll create bedsides under the box with standard fenders over the rear duals.

The '54 GMC has a running 248 backed by a Hydromatic. It does run but not real well, and while I had considered leaving it stock I'm not interested in doing a lot of work to keep it that way.

Today the plan is to put the Cadillac 500 with Turbo 400 in my 1-ton Chevy frame that already has a GM 14-bolt rear. That rear has 3.73 gears which with the big motor and tall tires should work out well. Using that frame means modifying for the GMC sheet metal but it also means the frame with 248 and Hydra-matic can remain intact in case someone else wants it.

An alternative plan might be the 454 with Turbo 475 from the motorhome. The Cadillac would then go into the COE project.

COE Suburban Cargo

I recently bought cheap a very rusty COE with much of the cab missing. It has the cowl, doors, fenders, hood and grill, all the COE specific stuff, and should be perfect for an ambitious custom project. My plan is to create a 4-door cab with Suburban type windows and the 1-ton panel cargo compartment behind the 2nd set of doors. I'll install Suburban rear windows in the side panels back of the doors to make it look like a Suburban. This makes a long truck, but since the wheelbase of the motor home donor frame is 164 inches that's okay.

The proposed running gear donor is still the '79 (I thought it was '78, but was wrong) Chevrolet P30 chassis which currently mounts a 454 and Turbo 475. Cadillac 500 and Turbo 400 are an alternative because this engine and transmission currently sit in the back corner of my shop.

Suburban

I've been thinking Cadillac Northstar as the power plant but also thought I had a line on one real cheap. I've considered something crazy like mounting the Suburban on the front drive Cadillac platform but another idea was to adapt the Northstar to an S-10 four wheel drive frame with Astro all-wheel-drive to create an all-weather Suburban. But the Northstar turned out to be just a 4.9 so that's out. Further planning can wait. I've considered big and small block Chevy, looking for another Northstar, and staying with the GMC motor. I'll come up with something.

I'm planning to repair the rust while mostly preserving the original look. I now have almost all the metal parts to start repairs and once the Dually is a licensed and insured driver the repair process will begin. The interior will be updated, perhaps in serious modern SUV fashion, but since that will cost a lot of money, we'll wait and see where it really ends up.

Parade Truck

I have two big Chevrolet trucks, a '51 4100 that is really rusty, a '52 6400 that was nice until my neighbor dropped a tree on it. I've also got a '53 GMC 450 cab, hood, fenders and grill. The idea is to build a drivable truck that looks original enough to call a classic, but can be safely driven in parades and in other public displays. I'm not sure which of these will become a driver, but one will... I recently saw a similar truck at a show with a small block and an automatic. I'm wondering if that approach might work for a lightly used truck like this.

This is an updated table of specifics on the trucks.