New member with 57 panel

[OnePunch]

Greeting everyone,

I'm the "potentially" proud owner of a 57 panel 1 ton. (pics coming once its actually here). My vision for it is to be basically a rolling billboard for my furniture store handling the light deliveries. I would love to hear input regarding the rarity (or commonality) of the 3800 series panels. Also being a 69-70 Cougar enthusiast, I was curious if there was any consensus among the bowtie faithful in regards to the "custom vs. stock" argument. In the Cougar world, if its a rare vehicle, doing ANYTHING other than a factory correct resto is akin to pushing a nun down a flight of stairs. I'm not really concerned with the end value after its done, because a 55-57 panel is something I've always wanted to have, so I'm quite fine with spending 25k on the resto only for the truck to be worth 10-15k afterwards lol.

I would also appreciate a heads up on parts suppliers for tri-5 panels. If I'm not mistaken, from the door jamb forward everything is the same as the pickups, but there may be a unique thing here or there that I might end up needing. I know for sure I need a drivers and passenger door, and I'll be having the "find a decent used one" vs. "buy a new repop that probably won't fit right" debate in the coming months.

Any feedback is certainly appreciated!

Thanks............

[fabguy]

Yup from the doors forward almost exactly as a truck and most parts are readily available, from the doors back........... Good luck buddy, those parts seem at times harder to find than superman at a Star Wars convention.


I crack me up sometimes.


Seriously though if you dig deep enough you'll find the parts you need.
As for original resto or a resto mod or a full custom, you will find almost any idea, project, or finished truck on this board. As for me, I like them.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Kim57]

Welcome.
Looking forward to some pics.
As far as original or not I have no problem taking a cut off wheel to anything.
Kim

[Highsider]

Welcome to the board!

I use my '57 1/2 for deliveries and a billboard. As you can see it isn't stock.
I love driving it, as it has all the comforts, except cruise control.
Keep us updated.

http://s48.photobucket.com/user/Highsider2/story/5895

[OnePunch]

Originally Posted by Highsider

Welcome to the board!

I use my '57 1/2 for deliveries and a billboard. As you can see it isn't stock.
I love driving it, as it has all the comforts, except cruise control.
Keep us updated.

http://s48.photobucket.com/user/Highsider2/story/5895

Thanks! Sweet panel you have. Did you do the tail light mod yourself?

[Highsider]

Nope, I bought it as is.
I think they are from a '78 C10 or?
The electric antenna and rear license plate are "frenched" too.

[Ferrofil]

Hi! Congrats on a rare and interesting model!
I just recently bought mine (3105) too, and starting realise how rare they are...
Thinking of modernising it with axels, suspension and drivetrain...but alsio thinking of maybe body-mods like, chopped 1"-2" and incorperating the sidepart of a fleetline-bed...but dont want to "ruin" the truck...so hesitating...
Posted via Mobile Device

[_Ogre]

3 days and no pics? wtf?
in the 35 yrs i've owned my 3800 panel truck, i've only seen a couple 55-59 tf 1 ton panels
i know that you will never be able to load a 1 ton panel to need the overload springs
unless you fill the back with bricks
they are all long wheel base, thus not very collectible, just like lwb trucks are just now getting popular because that's all that is left

as far as modifying it? do it. make it yours.
there are some here that want every truck restored, but not many.
most of us here modify the heck out of them
$25k is a good budget if you do all the work yourself

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

3 days and no pics? wtf?

What Ogre said above. Let's see some pictures or you're making it all up

If you're willing to spend up to $25K - which will go FAST if others are doing the work, build it any way that pleases you.

As a younger man I never much cared or panels and especially not the long wheel base panels, but they are really growing on me and ESPECIALLY the long wheel base ones. Those and the 9 ft. bed AD's for some rreason really strike me as old school.

Now....let's stop all the jibber jabber and see some pictures of this imaginary panel!!

P.S. since you requested these:
https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/index.lasso?dept=Truck
http://www.truckandcarshop.com/truck...t47_cover.html
http://www.classicparts.com/default....Fc57Qgod4goA4A
http://www.bowtiebits.com/
http://www.classicperform.com/Chevy-Truck.htm
http://www.tuckersparts.com/

....that oughta hold you for awhile!

[OnePunch]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

What Ogre said above. Let's see some pictures or you're making it all up

If you're willing to spend up to $25K - which will go FAST if others are doing the work, build it any way that pleases you.

As a younger man I never much cared or panels and especially not the long wheel base panels, but they are really growing on me and ESPECIALLY the long wheel base ones. Those and the 9 ft. bed AD's for some rreason really strike me as old school.

Now....let's stop all the jibber jabber and see some pictures of this imaginary panel!!

P.S. since you requested these:
https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/index.lasso?dept=Truck
http://www.truckandcarshop.com/truck...t47_cover.html
http://www.classicparts.com/default....Fc57Qgod4goA4A
http://www.bowtiebits.com/
http://www.classicperform.com/Chevy-Truck.htm
http://www.tuckersparts.com/

....that oughta hold you for awhile!

sorry guys, the truck is in MS and probably wont be here for at least a couple of weeks, because I have to schedule some time to make the 11 hr drive (each way).

p.s. thanks for the parts links

[Daze57]

Welcome to the board from sin city ! Good Luck on your project

[OnePunch]

Well, the guy who's bid I accepted on uShip screwed me and didn't show up, so I had to go pick up this big girl myself. Despite the "rural schoolbus" conversion windows cut into the sides, she's a pretty solid truck. Needs a drivers side door and fender, and both inside steps. Cowl appears solid, and everything underneath looked relatively decent too. I suspect that patching those windows will be the toughest job of the entire build, to get them to look good & smooth. I guess the guy doing the welding will have to decide whether to try and patch the holes or just fab new panels from the door jamb back.

The fun begins!

[Highsider]

Congrats and good luck with everything.
Someone here has good interior wall shots, if you need them.

Keep us posted. We love photos!

Ogre: Love the photo of your panel.

[Ferrofil]

And we got touchdown! Looks good!
Posted via Mobile Device

[OnePunch]

Originally Posted by Highsider

Congrats and good luck with everything.
Someone here has good interior wall shots, if you need them.

Keep us posted. We love photos!

Ogre: Love the photo of your panel.

fortunately it looks as though when the windows were added whoever did it lined them up in between the vertical supports and didnt actually cut anything structural. But yes, I'd appreciate seeing those photos just to compare......

[Bierkan]

I kinda like the windows! Not only custom, but gives it an airy feel. Looks like they thought about making a Suburban or camper out of it.

[OnePunch]

Originally Posted by Bierkan

I kinda like the windows! Not only custom, but gives it an airy feel. Looks like they thought about making a Suburban or camper out of it.

The backround that the seller gave me was that it was used as a rural school bus in the 60's. I have no way to verify that, but it makes sense......

[Ferrofil]

Originally Posted by OnePunch

The backround that the seller gave me was that it was used as a rural school bus in the 60's. I have no way to verify that, but it makes sense......

No holes in the floor to verify that they had seats in the back?
Posted via Mobile Device

[OnePunch]

Originally Posted by Ferrofil

No holes in the floor to verify that they had seats in the back?
Posted via Mobile Device

plenty of holes. I guess I'll be replacing the plywood floor once the body is off the chassis........

[Ferrofil]

So nice to see another 57 panel here! I havent really started my project yet, have to fix the pick up first so its sellable...
Looking forward to see what youll do to yours first!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Ferrofil]

Btw, did you hear why its plywood instead of planks?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Bierkan]

Could become a "'Cool Bus" hot rod

[OnePunch]

Originally Posted by Ferrofil

Btw, did you hear why its plywood instead of planks?
Posted via Mobile Device

everything i've read indicates that around 50 or 51 Chevy switched to plywood instead of planks in all the panels & burbs to reduce dust getting in the truck........

[Ferrofil]

Originally Posted by OnePunch

everything i've read indicates that around 50 or 51 Chevy switched to plywood instead of planks in all the panels & burbs to reduce dust getting in the truck........

Yep, thats it! Product development in the fifties! :-)
But take note that they kept the planks in the pickups...ergo plywood were more expensive..
Posted via Mobile Device

[OnePunch]

I played around in photoshop a little, and here's kinda what Im hoping to end up with when its all said and done. The main difference would be that with mine being a 1 ton, I wont be lowering it so the stance will be higher than this rendering, and I'll probably keep the stock 8-lug wheels.........