What's Your Story?

I've been fiddlin' with some photos this week. Ended up posting a new header for the page last night. Then I noticed the date of my last post (September!) and thought "Alrighty then! I guess it's time for a new post too."

I enjoy the technical details of restoration projects, but anyone familiar with this one knows I'm more of a story guy. At shows or cruise nights I always spend more time walking around, chatting people up and learning about their rides than hanging around my own. So many cool stories out there. Love to hear them.


Left to right: Brothers Dan, yours truly, Chris and Pete on May 30, 2015, when I finally drove the truck for the first time. Pete bought the truck in Missouri and drove it home to Connecticut in 1981..

So what's your story? Truck, car, old school bus, whatever. Why does your ride mean so much to you? I'd love to read all about it and share some stories in a future post. Comment here, shoot me a quick email or send a message through the John's Old Truck Facebook page, and feel free to attach a photo. And by all means, if you've got a website or blog that deals with your classic ride I'd love to share those as well. Looking forward to checking out some projects and hearing the stories.

As always, thanks for stopping by. See y'all down the road!


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One Thing You Can Count On

Okay, September is here. Time for another long overdue blog post...

As anyone who has ever taken on a project like this can tell you, the timeline you initially envision will almost certainly not happen. Originally, I wanted to do the coast to coast / Route 66 run this summer, and roll triumphantly into our 50th family reunion in Ohio (where I saw the truck for the first time as a teenager in 1981) on the way back. Wishful thinking for sure. The reunion happened three weeks ago and was an awesome time as always, but the finish line for our chassis swap project remains out there in the distance. Not a big deal in the grand scheme. The most important thing was the time spent with loved ones. The old farm is hallowed ground for our family, the fifth generation of which now walks it since Alva and Harry (Dad's parents) got married in 1920. Plans gone awry is often a good reminder of what really matters. At some point the epic road trip will happen, the truck will roll up Cady Run to the reunion, and regardless of when, it will be special.

With that, I thought I'd share a few current photos...


On the lift, gorgeous '40 Chevy in the background


Cab mounts were all toast, all replaced


Cab in place, starting to line things up

When we're all done I'm going to do a detailed book of photos documenting the project from beginning to end. Stay tuned, and as always, thanks for stopping by.

See y'all down the road!


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Today Marks a New Chapter

I enjoy those moments when you can simply let the pictures tell the story...


1981 - When Pete drover her home from Missouri to Connecticut


2003 - The day we pulled her from Pete's garage and she became John's Old Truck


May 30th, 2015 with the brothers - When I drove her for the first time


Last week at the shop

Today marks the beginning of the next chapter, as the cab and the new chassis become one. And there is much left to write, including the chapter about living the lifelong dream of an epic cross country road trip. I would be honored and truly appreciative if you would like to help write it! Please check out the links to the full short story on the right of this page...

Thanks, as always, for stopping by. See y'all down the road!


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Now It's Gettin' Real

Jason has been telling me that once we get started, the swap won't take very long. Sure enough, a couple hours after we got the S10 down to the shop on Saturday and started prepping for the '49 body, I stepped back, took a look and said "Wow, I guess you were right, Jason!" I was truly surprised at how much we got done.

The S10 chassis swap is fairly popular among owners of the '47 - '54 Advance Design Chevy/GMC trucks like mine, but while most of these swaps start with a completely bare S10 frame, we'll actually be dropping the '49 body on a running, driving '91 S10 chassis - 4.3 liter V6, 5 speed manual transmission, power steering and brakes, modern suspension, etc. At some point in the future we might go with a small block V8, an LS or maybe even a nicely done flathead, just because I've always loved that look. I understand the flathead is not a very powerful motor, but that's never been my focus with this project anyway. I'll be happy just to cruise, do some shows and of course live the lifelong dream of an epic coast to coast road trip.


Big thanks to my friend and coworker Darrin, who came by with his trailer first thing Saturday morning so we could get the S10 down to the shop. He's got a very cool '68 LeMans that he drives to work on nice days, and he's working on some nice upgrades for it. Looking forward to cruising with him.


Jason's shop is just a couple miles from our house here in New Milford, Connecticut. In addition to all the cool hot rod/custom work he does (check out the Facebook page here) he's also an expert mechanic. If you happen to be local to the area and you're looking for someone you can truly trust to handle your vehicle maintenance or repairs, he's your guy. I can also tell you first hand and with complete confidence that he'll be very fair on cost. Proud to know him and be working with him on my dream ride.


Also finished the horn button over the weekend (found on eBay for $13.75 with the contact plate!). I was going to leave it as is, but decided that with the completely restored steering wheel and the plan for a nice freshened up interior, it would look better painted to match the wheels. The paint is Rustoleum metallic paint and primer in one, and the color "Dark Steel." Love the look, especially with a couple coats of clear.

Much more to come, stay tuned! And as always, thanks for stopping by.

See y'all down the road!


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Still Here!

Please accept my apology for the long period of inactivity here. No excuse, really. Just kept forgetting. I've planned on it a million times, then suddenly a squirrel would run by and I'd be off in another direction...

I've been helping Jason at the shop (Custom Conversions in New Milford, CT), where we'll very soon be swapping in new urethane bushings for the S10 chassis and setting the '49 body on the S10 chassis. I won't be able to do the epic cross country run this year, but the plan is to drive the truck out to our 50th family reunion in Ohio this August. Can't wait to rock the 4.3 liter V6 five speed, with modern suspension, power steering and brakes, heat and AC! It's gonna be a total blast.

Took this photo yesterday morning, to mark 21 days to spring. Then last night I was playing with different effects and came up with the "ink sketch" look, which I like...



Thanks as always for stopping by. See y'all down the road!


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