I need a little help with a '37 Chevy truck

[Aaronw]

I picked up an Orange Blossom Special awhile back with plans on building it as a stock '37 Chevy. I know there will be a fair bit of work doing this, but one thing I really need is some good close up photos, particularly of the hood sides which are cut away in the kit. I have found some decent photos at stovebolt dot com, but nothing with good close ups.

Just thought I'd take a shot and see if someone owns one, knows someone who owns one or maybe someone has some good pics from a carshow I could use.

Also for the motor and wheels would the '41 Chevy truck provide the appropriate parts?

If anyone has done a similar conversion, I could definately use some tips.

Thanks

[Raul_Perez]

Aaron,

Try www.carnut.com They've got a GREAT selection of pics of almost anything imaginable!!

Later,

[Jello]

Get the AMT '37 Chevy coupe kit for parts...it has a inline 6 but not sure how much of it is correct for a truck but I'll say close enough! The kit is still listed in ModelRoundup. You might be able to use several of the body parts from the coupe on the truck as well. Looks like the hood & fenders are nearly the same for both.

Sounds like a great project and I have heard of several modelers building a stock truck from that Orange Blossom kit. Good luck.

~ Jeff

[Guest zebm1]

Someone did this trick once before....I'm thinking it was in the "Old SAE" magazine.....but I could be wrong.....

[george 53]

Guys, I THINK it was in an old Car Modeler. If I remember correctly(which is quite a stretch) it said to widen the cab a bit and the hood an fenders needed modification too. BUT, it did come out lookin more like a 37 chev than it did BEFORE the mods!

[Aaronw]

Thanks for the help. That carnut site should help, they are larger and more detailed than the ones I found at stovebolt.

The tip on the Car Modeler mag article is great, I was able to find a copy on ebay for $4.

I was looking at the top and was having a hard time deciding if it had been chopped. The 1-1 on the box art looks like a standard roof but the kit looked a bit low, but I was having a hard time deciding if it was chopped or not since the Chevy does have a fairly low top.

[Ken Kitchen]

I did this conversion about 5 years ago. It's not for the faint of heart. The cab is wrong in so many ways. It is too narrow, it's been sectioned and chopped. It's do-able but definitely follow the article. For a stock 37 the 41 Chevy is definitely the right place to start. It gives you the chassis, engine, bed and running boards. You can use the fenders from the Orange Blossom Special.

As to the hoodsides it's probably simpler to use the entire hood from the 37 Coupe or Cabriolet. I used the clear hood from the 37 coupe and added the blisters on the side from strip plastic.

The link will take you to some pictures of the one I did, however as I said I did this about 5 years ago so be kind. It looks like I need to update it as I have definitely improved my skills since then.

My 37 Chevy Pickup

Edited August 28, 2008 by Ken Kitchen

[Tom Jackson]

Aaronw i Have a real 37 half ton in the garage let me know what else you need i'll get you hood side pics tomorrow her is a quick shot will get you a better one

Tom

[Tom Jackson]

41 cab totally different but the chassis will work nicely

[Aaronw]

Tom, thanks and it looks like you have a fun project there yourself. I'll wait until the article arrives but I'll probably be bugging you for some specifics on the 1-1 once I get started.

[Tom Jackson]

No problem feel free to bug . That truck ain't going anywhere fast . It will be 90% stock A later 235 will replace the 216 and maybe a slightly dropped axle not sure on that

[Aaronw]

Well I got the Car Modeler magazine, in the article the truck is converted into a tractor trailer, but he shows what to change to make a pickup too. Looks like I need to get myself a '37 Chevy coupe.

What is a tuck and roll, he mentioned that the seats need to be replaced because the kits seats had a tuck & roll job. I think I have a '34 Ford truck willing to donate a bench seat for the project.

Tom, I could use some interior & dash shots, also a close up of the chevy bow tie on the side of the hood, and grill that looks like a good use for this PE kit I bought last winter.

Thanks

[Raul_Perez]

Aaron,

I've got an AMT '37 Chevy Cabriolet that you're welcome to if you need any of the parts. The only thing missing from the kit are the rear fenders.

Later,

[Aaronw]

Tuck & roll is a custom seat pattern design popular from the 50's on, The seat in the OBS Chevy is actually more of a "Diamond Tuck" pattern, Either way it's not correct for a replica stock truck & will need to be replaced/modified.

Thanks, just when I think I'm starting to get a clue about custom car terminology I get whopped upside the head with a new one.

[Aaronw]

i just want an Orange Blossom Special to build, as an Orange Blossom Special! that kit brings back alot of memories for me as a kid and going to the monster truck and truck and tractor pulls with my dad.

Dave

I actually didn't have that hard of a time tracking one down on ebay last year, I think I got it for about $30.