This may be old news but here is my planned project for the next month, or three. I hope to use the 500 Caddy engine, 400 Th trans, and the Chrysler 8 3/4 rearend from my ruined '56 truck in this panel. The truck and the panel both have a Volare ifs. I had decided that I would not use a Volare ifs again because parts have become hard to find but now I will have some spare parts on the red truck, so I will got with the Volare. They do ride and drive nice. I drove the red truck for several years before the crash in July 2017.

 

Oh my God. My first thought is, "Was everyone OK?!" My second thought, "That poor truck!"

 

I obviously survived but was not ok. My pelvis was crushed and I had cuts to my chin and inside my lower lip. The accident occurred July 18,2017. An oncoming driver crossed the center and nailed me. My broken pelvis required reconstructive surgery and I am still going to physical therapy and cannot walk without a cane. The insurance company paid me probably what I could have sold the truck for and I kept the truck. Unfortunately most of the money went for bills that were not covered by the insurance company so I don't have a bunch of money to spend on the panel now.

 

Hey Thom
I'm glad you made it out of there! I like the looks of your panel...good project to get back into
these old trucks. What part of NC are you in? I've got a brother out in Charlotte & I grew up in Chapel Hill.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

I'm in Hudson, near Hickory, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I took some more pics of the panel today. It's a little hard to get good pics right now as it is crammed in between a '56 pickup and a '56 firetruck.
The first pic is a hole where I cut out some cancer about 20 years ago and the second is the patch that I cut from a ruined front fender. Next is the bottom of the LH quarter panel. Both sides are solid.Last is the good front fenders and chrome grille with some other parts in the back. The hood is in great shape. The cab floors are solid but the drivers side rocker needs to be replaced. The dash is uncut. The rear bumper is there. I will not have to buy many parts to put it together. All the mechanical parts will come from the pickup.

 

Sorry for the large, in your face pictures. I will reduce from now on.

 

I think I have changed my mind about the chassis for my '56 panel. I now have my '55 Studebaker truck on the road and it drives great. It is on a '87 Dodge Dakota chassis and I believe I will use a Dakota under the panel.

 

Here is the Studebaker that drives so well. I will probably drive it to the Shades of the Past rod run in Pigeon Forge TN in a few weeks. I would be happy if the '56 panel drives as nice as the Studebaker.

 

I have begun to strip the wrecked truck. The bed and other pickup only parts I am giving to a friend that is fixing his dad's truck. The usable '56 stuff will go on my '56 Panel. I'm anxious to get started putting the Panel back together. I now have a wire welder so I can repair the few rust areas on the Panel.