Project "Pandemic" 1927 Chevy Capitol
 

This post is not for the purists out there. I traded away a 1999 Chevy for this 1927 Chevy cab on a 1930 Model A frame. Yes it is a rat rod and not the norm for this website however I have made too many friends on this website and met a ton of folks that love Chevy trucks while my father and I built our trucks.

This is a 1927 Chevy Capitol Truck Cab. All work to date was done by the PO: Chopped 6", and set to be channeled over the frame 4" , 1930 Model A frame with Ford Truck 9" rear end linked in the back and mono spring front suspension,a 1948 Chevy Bed to use for parts.

So I will start loading up the obligated pictures for everyone. Please give me your thoughts and ideas...

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wire wheels my buddy gave me, 2-19" and 2-21"
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mocked up in the driveway after I got home so the mrs could actually see it is something and not a pile of scrap
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straight axel with speed holes
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can see the hastily welded chop on the door
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The door hinges are made from a double roller timing chain, the idea is cool the execution is up in the air

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Here is the truck I traded away
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This is how it all looked when I brought it home from Indiana.

So that brings up on how the name came about,

2 weeks ago against 3 Governor's orders I drove from Missouri to Indiana and back to drop off my truck and pick up this project. I seen it fitting to call it Project Pandemic due to the current situation in the Country.

So currently, I have the pieces of the cab in the basement removed the horrible 1x1 tubing and welding that was inside it and I am in the process of building a wood frame structure for the interior. The metal has several holes either factory or PO made that I will be screwing the body to the wood frame. In some areas I will be adding metal bracing and of course the floor board. However I have secured a nice stack of weathered oak barn wood to use for trim around the treated 2x2 wood framing I am currently working on.

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Wow, I hope the 99 didn't run. There are much better starting points than that out there.


That aside, I LOVE it. I would love to put an old truck like that together but I have too many projects already. What are your plans for a drivetrain? Can I talk you out of the wood replacement? I have a 26 Chevy and if it weren't so nice I'd rip all the wood out and redo it in metal. The wood just gives too much and you have to wiggle with the doors to close them from time to time depending on how and where you drove it or how it's sitting if on a hill or what not.
Either way, cool project hope to see you keep this thread updated.

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I have access to a rebuilt 283 and got a 350 turbo tranny with the deal, would like to find an old school high rise intake with 2 or 3 carb setup and finned valve covers.

The 99 chevy quit after replacing the transmission in it an it was a 2x4 with a lift not my style. it however was rust free all over cleanest I have ever seen.

As far as the wood goes, I am not experienced in welding and way more comfortable with wood, I do have plans to reinforce some areas with metal.
Someone local has a restored truck for sale and took a lot of pictures to share with me so I have a pretty good idea on what I need to do, hanging the doors to find an overall length is where I am having issues currently without the original hinges, the ones made up on it are not cutting it.

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I think you've got a big project ahead. I'm looking forward to following along though. Keep us updated.

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Heck yeah that would be awesome with a tunnel ram. I like the 283 also. Good luck with it, look forward to updates. Wish you were closer.

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There's no pics but I did purchase a dash with some gauges and a back panel from a '29 truck. Think I am going to go back and purchase the remainder of what he had, a cowl some front fenders and the remainder of the back of the cab.

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So minor follow up, I went back and purchased the remaining items he had, a cowl, back panel and a set of front fenders. Now I have my sights on a door I found on craigslist.

Starting to gather a plan on how to tackle the cab, I have watched numerous videos and I think I need to make a solid metal runner from the front to the back of the cab making mounting points to the frame.

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Hi Mike,

Thanks for the message and letting me know about your build. I have a friend that has an older Chevy pickup but I am not sure what year it is. I will check with him to see what he has.

That's a pretty aggressive build but I'm sure you can pull it off.

I built a '27 "T" with about the same specs. Drug the body out of a ditch, chopped the top 12", put it on a "Z'd" Model A frame with a 4" channel and an Olds rear end, 4" dropped "I" beam front axle and a Buick 322ci Nailhead engine. That thing was a blast to drive....

Wife and I miss seeing you guys at the All Truck Nationals in KC.

LockDoc

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Hopefully in a year or so I will have this running where I can take it out to KC for the Nats

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Did some mocking up of the body. Used some 2x2s for bracing. I laid out some 2x4s on the floor to represent the frame. I love the look I have started here. Might even go with a little more rake from front to back.

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Found some inspiration on Craigslist. this is a REO cab but it has wire wheels and the kind of look I am going for.

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Well after some further discussion with a neighbor, I decided to frame out the inside of the cab with metal. I sourced some 1x1 square tubing and a couple bed frames for the angle iron and away we went. Currently we have about 8 hrs of welding and the doors, cowl, and back section of the cab metal. They prob weigh 2x as much as they did from the factory. Our 1st attempt at welding the door hinges on however was a fail. We used a spacer behind the hinge and it made a bad gap. So I cut them off and we will go without the spacer on the next try. Then the back half of the cab can be welded to the front half. I purchased camper style door latches to use they were way cheaper. So hopefully in the next week or two it I can set it on the frame and start figuring that part out. Pictures to come over the weekend.

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Here are some pics after a lot of welding, in the last pic you can see the door latches, door knob, and the hinges I am using. Yes the hinges have removable pins.

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Any updates?

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Sorry, i have been slacking, but my neighbor has been too busy to come weld for me so i have been waiting on him. Hopefully some updates in a week or 2.

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Oh... I understand . I haven't got much done these last few months ,No daylight , No heat in my little CONEX.

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OK

finally did some work on my cab. Neighbor came over and we worked for approx 6 hours and i now have a solid 1 piece cab. Welded in the hinges and then had to rework the back cab to make the curve with the doors line up. then tacked a few supports so the entire cab can be moved at one time.

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