Automotive Projects

Automotive Projects

Past

This was my first car...actually a 1957 GMC that I bought from my grandpa in 1975. I've been hooked on trucks ever since. Sadly, the classic truck aftermarket was not as widespread then as it is now. I wish I had never gotten rid of it.

Thirty years later... a "new" truck (and closer to my hair in color!!!). This time a 1955 Chevy. Slight differences from that first GMC, but close enough to eventually live out some (but certainly not all!!!) of those dreams I had way back when.

My senior year in high school saw me driving this 1976 Chevy truck. I about drove the wheels off of this one. Good, bad, or indifferent, to many people I was simply "the guy with the orange truck." This truck was even mentioned to me several times at a recent high school class reunion...

In 1982, I bought my first new truck. Of course, it didn't look like this when I bought it. It was mahogany with chrome bumpers and white wheels with hubcaps. After about nine years of daily driving, the engine was rebuilt, body rust tended to, the entire truck repainted, and then lowered. Sometime after this photo, it received a set of Weld Racing Zero Drag wheels. Ultimately, I drove this truck for 11 years and over 250,000 miles. Gee, did you notice that the new paint is orange???

OK, now we are getting into the hot rod stuff. This is yours truly working on the chassis of the 1951 Chevy truck. At one time, this project was down to a bare perimeter frame. Notice that the work is being done in my apartment parking lot. Who needs a garage???

Later that year (1997), we moved to the current location. The 1929 Ford Model A and the truck finally had a garage.

Right before taking the truck for its first drive after rebuilding it. This truck project served as the basis for several how-to articles in CUSTOM CLASSIC TRUCKS magazine.

For approximately two years, the 1951 Chevrolet truck was my only running vehicle, so it got driven everyday, regardless of the weather.

Remember that Model A from a few pictures ago? Here it is in its finished form. Sadly I needed to sell it. The last I heard, it is at home on Long Island, New York. If you happen to know the whereabouts of this Model A, please let me know via e-mail.

Current

Although comments from readers have been minimal, I did receive an e-mail from Steve Gilmore (Stilmore Designs) that has proven to be very interesting. Steve was an intern at Hot Wheels for a time, with the Hot Wheels Track T being one of his pet projects. Since that project was so near and dear to Steve, he contacted me after finding this website. Long story made slightly shorter, he did some sketches for me. The drawing below should give a pretty good idea as to what my Track T will look like when completed.

Epoxy primer has been sprayed on the Track T a years or so ago, so it was scuffed up so the filler prime would adhere.

A couple of coats of filler primer were then added...

My garage certainly is not huge, but it will be big enough to paint the Track T.

Even though we got rained on a bit, my nephew Zachary finally got to take a ride in Uncle Dennis' hot rod. He thought it was pretty cool!!!

Hot diggedty!!! The Track T not only runs, it moves under its own power. July 31, 2008, some three years (and three book writing projects) after starting the project, I was finally able to take the Track T for a spin around the subdivision. Plenty more work to do before it is finished, but a few laps around the subdivision each evening will sure help to entice me to get it finished.

Of course, the roar of the side pipes caught the attention of my neighbors. Stock car racer John quickly accepted my offer of going for a ride.

I think John was concerned that we might have to push it home, since the gas gauge was reading empty. I assured him that it simply wasn't working and that we had plenty of fuel... Yes, we did have enough fuel. The non-functioning gas gauge is merely another item on the list of items to address. Ain't hot rodding fun???

It RUNS, it BREATHES, it has LIFE!!! Finally, with some help from Tim Fries, the Track T engine roared to life. Other than a little bit of new paint burning off, it didn't even smoke. And I must say, it sounded pretty healthy. With the price of gas being what it is, this may need to become my commuter car this summer. I still need to do some bodywork around the cowl and get the windshield installed before I can legally drive it.

After a long winter, I finally got a chance to work on the Track T again. All of the body components are finally in the same color of primer, although more body work still needs to be done. Yes, I do have the center section of the hood, I just don't have installed at this time.

Major tasks at this time are to fire the engine and make sure that the car runs, stops, and turns properly. Then I need to finish the bodywork at the cowl/windshield area. When the bodywork is completed, and any mechanical bugs are worked out, I'll blow it apart for the last time to add sealer, final paint, and scallops.

I still need to do some work on the deck lid prior to having a louvered skin installed. I also plan to have a new aluminum dash made. These two tasks will be included in my upcoming book, Hot Rod Chassis and Body Builder's Guide, which is due to the publisher, December 1, 2008 and in stores next summer.

Future

The '55 Chevy truck is stashed away in Dad's barn until I have time to work on it. It needs a lot of work, but it seems pretty solid. Not full of rust holes like all of the trucks from the Midwest. Plans call for the installation of a Heidt's Superide II front suspension and 4-Bar/coilover suspending a nine-inch Ford rearend. Probably Halibrand Sprint wheels to complement some VW Chili Pepper Red paint. When the chassis work is done, the truck should sit at least 10 inches closer to the ground in front and quite a bit lower in the back as well.

No, sadly, this isn't my '55, but it should provide a pretty good idea of where I want to go with mine. The stance is right on, but I will most likely run a set of Halibrand Sprint wheels. I like the smoothed bumper and doors. I won't be adding scallops, but I am not opposed to adding some flames.

www.dennisparks.com