Customer Restoration
1949 Chevy 3600
Scope of Work
A neighbor was walking by one day and noticed me working on Jacqueline, with my Chevy truck also sitting within view. He stopped and asked if we could talk about a truck his father-in-law had been trying to have restored for the past several years.
The truck had special meaning to the family. It was his father-in-law’s childhood truck—the same truck he had driven while growing up and working on the family vineyard. His goal was simple: he wanted to see it returned to its original glory. Unfortunately, the truck had been through the hands of several people over the years, and despite the time invested, the restoration was never completed.
I went to see the truck and, after assessing its condition and what would be required to finish it properly, agreed to take on the project. When it arrived, it wasn’t running and still had significant rust issues. The interior was unfinished, the correct gauges were missing, and much of the electrical system was either incomplete or improperly installed. There was a considerable amount of work left to do—and some previous work that needed to be corrected.
Over the next several months, we worked through the truck system by system, addressing the mechanical, electrical, interior, and cosmetic details needed to bring the restoration together. Slowly, a project that had stalled for years began to look and feel like a finished truck again.
By the time the work was completed, the transformation was remarkable. More importantly, this wasn’t simply another classic truck being restored. It was a piece of someone’s childhood and family history being brought back to life—a truck that could once again be driven, enjoyed, and connected to the vineyard where its story began.
Body & Paint
The body and paint on this truck were already beautiful, providing an excellent foundation for the restoration. However, the undercarriage, interior firewall, floorboards, and other areas beneath the finished surfaces were showing signs of surface rust and age.
These areas were thoroughly addressed with rust mitigation and protective treatments to stop further deterioration and help prevent future corrosion. The goal was not only to preserve the truck’s beautiful exterior appearance, but also to ensure that the areas most people would never see received the same level of attention and protection as the visible portions of the restoration.
Mechanical
The original floor-mounted emergency brake had been removed and was sitting in a parts bin, but preserving original components was an important part of this restoration. The assembly was completely refurbished and reinstalled, returning both its function and original character to the truck.
External engine components were removed and bead blasted to eliminate rust and corrosion, then refinished with high-temperature paint for a clean, durable appearance. New belts and hoses were installed, along with Ton’s Performance color-matched spark plug wires and a PerTronix electronic ignition system to improve reliability while maintaining the period-correct appearance of the engine bay. An electric backup fuel pump was also added to assist with starting after the truck had been sitting for extended periods.
The doors were removed so new seals and the correct weatherstripping could be properly installed. All fenders were also removed and fitted with new fender welting. In addition to providing a cleaner, more finished appearance, the welting helps prevent dirt and debris from collecting between the fenders and body, providing additional protection against future corrosion.
Electrical
A full rewire was done along with a new up to date fuse panel. New old stock switches, exterior lights and turn signals were installed. Vintage B31 backup lights were adapted and installed to give the ability to have light at night when backing up. A new custom stereo system was installed by Ruben as the owner loves music.
Chassis / Suspension / Brakes
A new dual master cylinder and 8-lug front disc brake system were installed to provide significantly improved braking performance and control for this massive truck, which weighs more than 9,000 pounds. The upgraded braking system provides more consistent stopping power and helps keep the truck tracking straight and predictably under braking, greatly improving overall safety and driving confidence.
Interior
After the interior rust was properly mitigated and treated, heat and sound-deadening materials were installed throughout the cab, including the floor, firewall, roof, and inside the doors. This significantly reduced engine and road noise while minimizing heat transfer through the firewall and roof, resulting in a quieter, cooler, and much more comfortable driving environment.
Work Completed
Job completed with a full restoration.