panel VS suburban interior differences?

[leadfoot-vanner]

looking for info about the difference between
a 47-53 GM panel trucks and 47-53 Chevy Suburban
-
also seeking the difference if any between
54-55 GM Panel trucks and 54-55 Chevy Suburban
-
now i thought the only difference was suburban had windows
in the body
but i have different kit listings for
47-53 panel and 47-53 suburban kits (2 diff prices too)
but only a listing for 54-55 panel
my question really is i guess is 54-55 panel and suburban the same inside?
seeking info differences like headliners?
the reason i ask is
i am a rep for a reproduction company and the listings for the above is not clear and like to have the correct info before offering the headliners for sale
so thought i'd ask those who may know

[BBEEP]

I have a 48 GMC Panel and a 52 GMC Sub, what measurements would you like? The insides appear the same to me!
John

[leadfoot-vanner]

do the headliners look to be the same?

thanks!

[BBEEP]

Actually one is original and one is custom, but remembering back to before the Panel was upholstered, I think they were the same. Let me know if I can measure anything for you.
John

[suzq044]

.. were there lwb panels in the 40s-50s? I know there are for the '60s .. that'd make a big difference in measurements for the panels listed. [i'm a noob, but i know they were available for the 60-66, at least]

[BBEEP]

Yup, there was a long wheel base Panel. Don't think there was a long wheel base Suburban though.

[BBEEP]

My Panel & Burb

[DavesRide]

Nice Early metal photos of all of the panels. Sure wish the modern mopar wasn't taking up soo much photo space as the Ford behind it so that I could see it. A long or short, windows or not, makes for some nice rods either way.

[panelrodder81]

My understanding is that, having a 1/2ton panel myself, that the 1/2 ton panel and the suburban were the exact same minus the side window parts. The 1 ton panel (long bed) was dramatically longer but still shared the dog house, and doors (front and rear including the tailgate or barn doors). There were some buses that would have been the 1 ton equivalent of a suburban but the suburban name was only applied to the 1/2 ton sized vehicles. Mine is in cold storage for a few more weeks, hopefully only a few more, so I won't be able to contribute any measurements till then to back any of this up! So you can choose to ignore me if you want!

As for the headliners, I'm not aware of a full length headliner being available for either vehicle let a lone one or the other. I had planned to just custom build mine like all the others I've seen/asked their owners' about. I know that some catalogs I've looking in over the 11 years I've had the truck said they had a head liner but it was only the front part over the driver's head and were essentially the same as the pickup headliners. Are you suggesting that you have a line on full length headliners? (From the windshield to the rear doors?) I'd be interested in one if you do!

-Panelrodder

[Dan Bowles]

The 1 ton "bus" was actually a panel converted by aftermarket companies. The windows aren't the same as OE Suburbans or Carry Alls.

No 3/4 tons for 47-55.1.

I have a 49 1 ton panel if I can offer any measurements. The only uninstalled headliner I have is for the 54/55.1 pickup so I can't help there.

[sweet70beast]

I have a 47 Panel and a 54 Burb. I will have a look tomorrow and see. I do know that my Panel has a rear floor made of planks like the bed of a pick up and the Suburban has a one piece wood panel rear floor.

[sweet70beast]

The Panel inside roof is painted the same color as the rest of the interior and the Suburban is painted a different color from it's interior. I believe that the Sub had a full headliner originally but the Panel did not. All though It does look like the Panel had a short one that went to the rib just behind the doors. Both of these have the same color interior.
The side rails that the headliner would go into are there on both vehicles.
Remember that these are a 47 and a 54 so I don't know if this is the same on all years.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[sweet70beast]

I also took some pics of the floors in them too.
Panel;

[IMG][/IMG]

Suburban;

[IMG][/IMG]

[panelrodder81]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

The 1 ton "bus" was actually a panel converted by aftermarket companies. The windows aren't the same as OE Suburbans or Carry Alls.

No 3/4 tons for 47-55.1.

I have a 49 1 ton panel if I can offer any measurements. The only uninstalled headliner I have is for the 54/55.1 pickup so I can't help there.

Thanks for the clairifcation. I didn't know that all the 1 ton buses were built by companies after GM was done with their part. Good to know.

Originally Posted by sweet70beast

The Panel inside roof is painted the same color as the rest of the interior and the Suburban is painted a different color from it's interior. I believe that the Sub had a full headliner originally but the Panel did not. All though It does look like the Panel had a short one that went to the rib just behind the doors. Both of these have the same color interior.
The side rails that the headliner would go into are there on both vehicles.
Remember that these are a 47 and a 54 so I don't know if this is the same on all years.

My 53 also has what you show in your photo of so called headliner, though I always just referred to it as sound dampening material as it appeared as hardly more than that to me. Interesting to know that the panels have the entire interior painted all the same color. Didn't know that but know I know what color the inside of my truck was!

-Panelrodder

[55dude]

one thing about the floors is they could come both ways, plywood or the planks. it depends where and when it was built, they used whatever was being supplied at the time in the plant where truck was assembled as sometimes supply's were short.

[panelrodder81]

So I just found some old pics... very old... of my panel truck and thought that this pic might be of use on this thread. Its the only thing that I have that could be viewed as headliner in my 53 GMC 1/2ton panel truck.



Hope it helps... someway!

-Panelrodder