While sitting here with my leg in an immobilizer due to knee damage (and getting bored out of my skull). my thoughts turn to the truck project. This was brought on by a thread by another '37 builder. I used a very basic photo altering program so its a bit crude but you can see what I am thinking here. The truck is tall in its stock form. I don't want to channel it because I don't like the look of the cab hanging way down low. Stock cab. Top chop (better). Sectioned. I like this as the bed top and the body line and the engine valve cover all line up much closer. Also, the cowl seems more proportional to the short grille shell and the height of the engine.
The chop looks good. I'd skip the sectioning - one helluva lot of work - and drop the firewall end of the cowl 1"-2". That would give a better flow to the hood line. It may need the grille shell dropped a bit. The cab beltline and bed are alright as is. What could help there is a pair of bobbed rear fenders. Raising the bed an inch or two could help too. Lots of subtle things you could do to make the design flow well. Might think about a more rounded grille shell, something along the lines of a fat fendered Plymouth or Chevy circa 1935 or so. An early Hudson Terraplane grille shell would be different. They flow well design-wise quite well and you won't see them most any place you go. I think some careful thought and not getting too radical would give you a one of a kind truck and not a copy of an already built truck. Don't forget nerf bars front and rear. And the 120 degree exhaust sytem....
Ya, the engine is long. Its a '50 Buick 263 inline-8. The Olds is my buddy's '53 Super 88. He bought it cheap and restored it to driver condition. All stock except radials and electric wipers.
I like altered stuff but it's looking to Pinocchio for me and the front Hair pins need some kind of help, or just something different there all together. The Wizzard
Here's another angle of the truck as it is now. I chose the Willys grille shell because it mimics the shape of the cowl and firewall pretty well. Since this photo, I moved the grille support rods down to line up with the body line. I thought they were too steep as they were.
I know it's a lot of work..but the cab needs to go foward..and the bed needs to be longer..my 2 cents
I chopped mine 2 1/2, and it looks good . 3 is better but at 2 1/2 you better be short or plan on lots of cramped legs.
bring the axle back where it is supposed to be to start with, or at the very least right up against the grill,,, that will help the long nose problem, and with the *** in the air. Recessing the engine into the cowl will help also.
This is really crude, but it gives you an idea... moved the cab forward, front axle back against the grill, and a brought the cab down a little in relation to the engine/grill
I will have to take a look at moving the axle back. The engine is tucked into the stock recess in the firewall as it is now. No excess room there. I would have to redo the firewall with a deeper recess, don't like that idea. Its just a long engine so the front is going to be longer than most. Besides, if the Buick ****s out, I'll have room for two V8s! The truck is apart right now as my brother did the welding on the underside of the frame. I could mock it up with the front axle moved back and take a look at that. I do like the chopped look though. While working on the truck, my brother and I pretty much knew a chop would be needed and we tossed around the idea of channeling it some. But for now, the cab stays as it is. Once other things are done, the cab will be revisited. Sitting here with the broke down leg, I was just doing some thinking. I like the opinions expressed here.
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