1956 GMC panel truck - POS to RatRod in one year.........

[Roadracer_Al]

Living the dream, MZ! I have similar fantasies about '50s era Willys wagons. This is why I hate the internet -- because it makes undertakings like this seem reasonable.

Haha, along the hippie girl magnet line, if you think rug burn on your knees is bad, wait until you get sanded-bed-liner burn on your knees. *Always* keep moving blankets in that truck!

[assquatch20]

I'm probably missing something, but I thought panel trucks were 'panel trucks' because of the wood panel flooring in the back?

I'd get some boards and finish em up nice and call it a day.

[peanut_gallery]

cool, this reminds me of my dads '48 Ford Panel that he has been restoring over the past 15 years. This past summer I spent 3 weeks at his place getting that thing road ready. Switched it over from 6V to 12V and rewired, replaced the water pumps, rebuilt the carb, fixed the breaks, installed an elect fuel pump, and a bunch of other little things. Took it out in 12 years and put 30 miles on it and its been setting ever since. The original 239 flathead V8 is a hoot to drive with the three speed. His is more of a factory rebuild though.

Originally Posted by assquatch20

I'm probably missing something, but I thought panel trucks were 'panel trucks' because of the wood panel flooring in the back?

I'd get some boards and finish em up nice and call it a day.

Yeah thats my job this summer and kinda looking forward to it cause it should finish it off nicely.

[MZcountryboy]

Originally Posted by assquatch20

I'm probably missing something, but I thought panel trucks were 'panel trucks' because of the wood panel flooring in the back?

I'd get some boards and finish em up nice and call it a day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panel_truck

Nope - "Panel" refers to the rear metal body not having windows down the side. All of the early pickups had the wooden strips with metal divider rear bed floors.

Suburbans of the day were the same body, only had windows and rear seats.

Let's not even delve into "sedan delivery" bodies yet......

[MZcountryboy]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

Oh yeah! http://rolledon.forummotion.com/

Jim

-OH---------MY---------------------GAWD-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


(inserts link into favorites.....)


This could work out just fine. A quote from the site -

"rolling on another thin coat is easier than sanding down orange peel"

[MrBob]

Originally Posted by MZcountryboy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panel_truck

Nope - "Panel" refers to the rear metal body not having windows down the side. All of the early pickups had the wooden strips with metal divider rear bed floors.

Suburbans of the day were the same body, only had windows and rear seats.

Let's not even delve into "sedan delivery" bodies yet......

Since we're on the topic, I'll try to dig up photos of my 66 Suburban and 52 Pontiac Canadian model sedan delivery. I lived in the back of that one for two months.

[AWM]

Originally Posted by MrBob

You can have your truck liner, it's the shag carpeting that will pull in the chicks.

Bob,now MZ looks like he should have shag carpet,,,,and the mystery machine paint job,,but i don't think pulling chicks is his purpose for this ride.As a matter of fact he has a lovely wife,that as you can see,,is very easy going.
Now you guys gotta check out LineX's tactical applications!MZ,,,,,bullet proof????
www.linex.com

[mike54]

Originally Posted by MZcountryboy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panel_truck

Nope - "Panel" refers to the rear metal body not having windows down the side. All of the early pickups had the wooden strips with metal divider rear bed floors.

Suburbans of the day were the same body, only had windows and rear seats.

Let's not even delve into "sedan delivery" bodies yet......

Time for a musical interlude



Calling this a rat rod is kind of a disservice to the truck. What happened to the terms 'beater' or 'driver'. I think those fit better.
But it's your project and you can call it what you like.

You could use bed liner on the inside of the truck if you want or you could use Lizard Skin, or you could try this stuff. http://www.metalshield.com/index.html

Maybe you've allready got it done.

It's fun to watch though.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by MZcountryboy

-OH---------MY---------------------GAWD-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


(inserts link into favorites.....)


This could work out just fine. A quote from the site -

"rolling on another thin coat is easier than sanding down orange peel"

From this:



8 rolled coats of paint later, and some wet sanding:


A little polish:


And finish it up:


If you want to do it the easy way, just roll on several coats and call it a day.

This is what I got with no sanding and polishing:


The nice thing is it is cheap and easy, rust resistant, and durable as hell!

They have it in semi-glass and flat black as well.

Just a thought.

Jim

[BHW]

I like it. Can't wait to see the end result.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Saweet!

In...

[crazydrummerdude]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

They have it in semi-glass and flat black as well.

My brother rolled the paint on his Camaro.

[MrBob]

Originally Posted by crazydrummerdude

My brother rolled the paint on his Camaro.

Very nice!

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by crazydrummerdude

My brother rolled the paint on his Camaro.

Looks nice, and it is very durable.

Jim

[MZcountryboy]

Originally Posted by mike54

Calling this a rat rod is kind of a disservice to the truck. What happened to the terms 'beater' or 'driver'. I think those fit better.
But it's your project and you can call it what you like.

You're the second to suggest this, but I got to say in my defense, that I'm having to do more work on this truck than I originally planned to make it roadworthy. As a result, I'm fixing more than a "rat rod" might require.

But when you guys see the second rate body work I'm gonna do, it'll still qualify.

I'm building this thing to be a daily driver for me in the summer, I'm planning on putting some miles on it. It has to meet a certain standard to be able to do that.

I guess my "definition" of rat rod is not writing a $15,000 check to a body guy only to have to worry about where you park the friggin' thing, cause someone might put a ding in it.

Originally Posted by mike54

Maybe you've allready got it done.

nope, I'm pretty much up to the current state at this point.