Classic 1952 Chevy Truck

Behind the Scenes

This restoration was begun by another party, and included a Camaro front clip. A buyer who wanted the truck badly was able to strike a deal, but not wanting the archaic steering, wide stance or spliced frame of a Camaro clip, sourced a later and more pristine frame, then had it sent to a frame shop to be completely jigged to original specifications.

The front crossmember was then replaced with an RB custom crossmember and all new components for independent front suspension, rack and pinion steering and disc brakes. Chrome-plated front shocks were utilized.

A good Tri-5 passenger car rear end (1956) was located for the back, checked out and given a clean bill of health. Mono leaf rear springs were used to simultaneously drop the back and center the new rear end in the wheel wells. Damping was converted to modern tubular shocks, and the rear brakes were converted to modern self adjusting rears. The brake pedal itself was shortened to a more realistic length for a more modern braking system, and linkage ration was adjusted symmetrically, both before and after the pivot point to prevent binding, something often overlooked in many rebuilds. A dual master cylinder and large power booster and all new lines and hoses round out the braking system.

A new crate 350 was installed, along with a 350 TH transmission. Everything under the hood was brand new, including the HEI distributor, Holly carburetor and chrome H/O alternator. The only exception is the Edelbrock intake manifold - a new one was purchased, but on assembly day it was discovered to be the wrong one, no close suppliers had the proper one, but a good used one was available. The air conditioning is a new Hot Rod Air Elite Deluxe Heat & Air kit with defrost, lifetime guaranteed with a Sanden compressor and Alan Grove brackets. It was upgraded to electronic rather than vacuum valving.

Fuel system is an all aluminum 'between the rails' tank from classic performance, fully plumbed for any induction system, vented with a K&N frame mounted vent and plumbed into a frame mounted filter and new Holly electronic fuel pump. Filling is done through an aluminum trap door mounted in the second board of the bed.

The cooling system includes a new radiator and new electric puller fan, the largest puller that would fit the field area of the radiator. The fan was bracket mounted, not fin mounted through the radiator. Fan control is run through a temperature control switch and relay, so the fan only runs when needed and only the control wire goes into the cab, not the high amp draw of the fan. The cooling was converted into a closed system using a tall spun aluminum fluid recovery tank.

Body Beautiful

This is a three window cab. The windshield has been converted to one-piece using a tinted V Bent product. New vent frames support all new glass. Door handles have been shaved, stock fuel tank filler opening removed, cowl vent smoothed and the hood converted to one piece seamless with emblems removed. A body colored grill and new stock chrome bumper complete the front. Running boards are body color with aluminum bow tie steps.

The stock length bed was remounted close to the cab after paint. A roll pan was used in the back. A lighted billet license frame floats in the center of the pan area. A stock lettered tailgate is closed using factory hardware, including chrome hooks, chains and trunions. New Jeep tail lights were used. Paint is late Ford. In assembly, almost every single nut, bolt and fastener used is stainless steel. (During reassembly after paint, one fastener was lost and a steel galvanized fastener was substituted... can you find it? We put a smiley face on it to make it easy!)

Inner Beauty

A complete custom gray tweed headliner has been fitted, covering the entire inner cab from front header to back panel to the floor. A matching stock seat has been remounted for better adjustment and positioning. Full door panels have been stitched to match which cover the entire door area, with some vinyl piping on the upper edges. The dash is painted body color. (Although they are covered, so are the doors.) Arm rests and three point safety belts with complementing colors are installed. The entire floor from firewall to back panel is covered with a matching closed loop style carpeting. Power window controls are located in each door. Functional vent wings are used. Both the radio and the heater control area of the dash have been filled. Heater controls and A/C vents are mounted below the dash, and fully functional defrost ducts are mounted in the factory location. Dual speakers are mounted behind the factory radio grill and driven, along with a set of floor mounted speakers, by a 300 watt amplifier with an iPod / Aux In connection. Factory visors were mounted in the original location. A leather and billet banjo style steering wheel and billet adapter are fitted to a GM tilt column for steering. The ignition key is dash mounted, but the shifter, turn indicators and emergency flashers are on the column A glass mount day / night mirror is used. All in all the interior is tasteful and comfortable.

Sally's (Recent) History

My relationship with "Sally" began several years ago, before I had even set eyes on her. Growing up, my dad (a self-proclaimed "car nut") often asked me what my dream car would be. Never one to follow the herd (no brand-new Ford Mustang for me!), I would tell him that I dreamed of one day driving a 1950s truck.

This dream became a reality when I graduated from college and my parents presented me with just such a truck. . . or rather, the frame of a 1950s truck and all of the accompanying pieces! The previous owner, Sal (Sally's namesake), had lost his life to cancer before he could finish this restoration project with his own daughter, and my dad and I were thrilled to complete what they had begun. In addition to getting a truck out of the deal, I had the gift of spending some quality under-the-hood time with my dad during my last couple of years living at home.

Copyright © 2011 Luke Jernejcic