my dumb idea of the day

I kinda like my old truck. Honest, easy to work on, humble. Yeah, I'd rather it didn't have the 305, and I'd rather it was a manual and blah blah blah. Dammit, it's just a plain ol' work truck, and that's not such a bad thing to be.

Naturally, I can't stop thinking of ways to screw it up.

Obviously, I'd like to build a 350 stroker to go in there eventually. I dig sleeper trucks, and a lumpy idle makes my insidey parts all warm. So, that's a given.

Here's where the dumb idea comes in. I bake awesome bread for a living, and since I'm the only guy at my restaurant involved with that, I'm also the salesman, accounts manager and delivery driver. (You see where this is headed...) I like old panel trucks. What would be cooler than a half-ratty old panel truck with some hand lettering, loping around town making bread deliveries? It's part of the image of the brand, and it's identifiable.

So, I got the dumb idea to put an old panel truck body on my frame/engine etc. Basically, do what Haas did with the '49 Chevy/Caprice body swap. Then I have a modern-ish structure and a cool looking truck. What could go wrong?

But here's the thing, short of going out and measuring old panel trucks, which would be an enjoyable endeavor if not a little time consuming, how do I find out what body will fit? For that matter, will any old panel truck fit on my more modern ('88) full size frame (GMC 1500), or were they closer in frame size to something like an S-10?

I suppose when it comes down to it, screwing up an otherwise good truck isn't the best idea. That's never stopped me before.

look up the wheelbase measurements for your truck and any older panel trucks.. if you have a long box pickup, i'd bet they are pretty close. everything else is just a matter of a little fabrication.

and i don't consider an 88 GM truck to be "older"- i consider that to be a late model.

I'd be willing to bet you'd not need to fab anything except body mounts. Put new rubber blocks on, though; otherwise, lotsa squeaks.

novaderrik wrote: and i don't consider an 88 GM truck to be "older"- i consider that to be a late model.

Yeah, it's that weird vintage that ain't quite vintage. It doesn't seem all that old until you realize it's old enough to drink.

That sounds like an awesome idea, not a dumb idea.

I personally would like to deliver bread in this

http://www.superstreetonline.com/featuredvehicles/130_0801_datsun_620_keep_on_truckin/photo_16.html

Yeah, I'm still waiting for the dumb idea to show up, too

Hm. I see a nice old truck being sacrificed for something that may not work out without a ton of time, skill and money. If you've got the talent, do it.

Alex, I saw the truck/van you should be interested in this morning or last night on CL. It was one of a limited edition of LEVI'S Editions Econolines, that was done in conjunction with HOT ROD magazine. I'll have to go look up which city I found it on.

The bad part of the idea is you wouldnt be improving most panel vans near enough to be worth that kind of trouble by doing that. The frame of the newer truck isnt that much different than an older one. Why not just get a whole panel van and have both?

I'm with those that are curious where the 'dumb' part comes in. Sounds like fun, actually...

I realize most people here would love a "half-ratty old panel truck with some hand lettering, loping around town making bread deliveries", but how many of your customers would see the charm? If you're going to turn it into a vehicle representing your business I think you would need to make the exterior look really good, not "half-ratty". A fancy restaurant, or a grocery store is not going to want a beat up '55 panel van sitting out front, but a shiny, restored-looking old-school anything will get approval from anyone. So I'm saying that if you do it, make it look good, get a good paint job, get professional lettering, etc. Everyone loves a lopey idle though, so definitely go for that.

That's just my opinion though, maybe I'm wrong.

Bob

Aged maybe, Ratty no, maybe its just the wording but in principal I agree with Schmidlap

The Aussie has it, I think: ratty may be a bit of an overstatement. Everyone's favorite overused old-car term - patina - probably covers what I'm going for.

Fortunately, I'm strictly wholesale at the moment, so all of my customers now are other chefs in independent restaurants. They're a weird bunch, so a bread delivery truck with some character is right up their alley.

When I get big enough to warrant a fleet of trucks, that's when the fun begins...

I think you're on the right track.........

Here's my advice -- keep in mind what you paid for it

Dunno if the dimensions work out, but an older panel van would be cool -- a sedan delivery even more so, a Divco milk truck body would also work!!! I think a color instead of hotrodflablack! would be a good idea -- make the color flat to look older/worn, keep the rust to a minimum, keep the brightwork shiny, some aged, er, patina'ed logos and you're all set! Also keep the bodywork and wheels/tires sedate and close to stock looking.

I think this would be cool!!!