VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 not junk

i guess this topic can go on forever can't it?? well i really don't see how adding disc brakes and a larger engine can make a beautiful truck a "hacked up worthless piece of junk" stock is not very practical for me. i love to drive the truck to work however it is a 25 mile commute one way with a rather steep pass between home and work. I don't like to run the truck wide open at 35 mph in third gear, and i don't think it likes it either. i want to keep it on the road and let others see it. not a stock truck just sitting outside rusting away like it has been for the last 7 years until i decided to make it useful this year. it has fresh paint, no rust and is awaiting it's new drivetrain and freedom.

Hey, it's your truck to ruin as you see fit.

Why not a good 261 and a longer diff? Some good radials, maybe better brakes and you still have a interesting truck, with the ORIGINAL feel, but not a moving roadblock. I can accept some upgrades for the modern traffic, but I really like the original feel: learned to drive in one of them 51´s.

Or you can put a newer V8 truck chassis under your body and show the original chassis to your grandson.
Have a friend who´s got a seventies C10 under the cab and body of his 3100 1951, and it was far easier to build.

Some people like original and some like modified. the question is where do you draw the line? I own a streetrod and I drive it all over the country you can't do that with an original car without becoming a traffic hazzard that is why there is all the talk about trailers on this site We are all chevy lovers. why not encourage the sharing of information and parts. I know for a fact that the old parts taken off of the cars and trucks are needed to restore originals. tearing down other people that don't agree with your point of view is not the way to improve membership.THAT is the reason that I am no longer a member!
(ok...I will get off my high horse now)

From the www.vcca.org home page:

"We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Chevrolets from 1911 to 1979."

So chev53 and tom32, what exactly is the point you're trying to make? You don't like that we're "...dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Chevrolets"?

I thought only my wife wanted to change me... :confused:

If you are going to be original make it 100% original. Stop modifing by powdercoating, changing rear end ratio, the color of the car, internal engine componets ect. This is not preservation this is modifing. But my biggest gripe is the way new people are treated when they come to this site.

You modifiers "go for it!" I personally am an original car person. However, I believe that if there were not people that modified cars (street rodders, customs, etc.) there would be far fewer cars that retain at least some of the original design characteristics. Those cars that do not get modified would probably be crushed or be rusting down someplace. And, after all it is your property. Tom32 I agree with you, we do have members that do not treat people well that do not agree with them, but when has the world ever been any different?

i guess i should read a little more before becoming a member of something. if i offend you jim i am sorry i am not out to upset anyone. a lot of people obviously have a lot of different opinions. if all i am going to get here is negative critism then i won't waste my time. i have put a great deal of time and effort into my truck and i really take offense having someone i don't even know telling me i am "ruining" it or destroying it. i am not about to chop the top or anything, i love the body, it is a beautiful truck. i just spent every night for the last four months sanding and welding all the sheet metal on the truck getting it back where it should be, even painted it myself. please don't tell me it is ruined. it is far from that it's getting better everyday.

I think I read this topic about the '53 truck in another thread and it started out as someone seeking advice on an engine swap. The advice given was that the plan wasn't advisable for that particular truck because of chassis design. Now the posts have switched to being more opinionated as to how a vehicle should be kept. It's your truck and your time and money and you can do as you please. However, I still read between the line that serious modifications to a '53 model truck may cause unexpected problems and should be investigated carefully. Enjoy your truck whichever way you choose to keep it and all the other guys will enjoy their vehicles too.

We have been down this road many times, I really don't see this discussion as being anything but another intrusion into the principals of VCCA by those that don't agree with those principals and want to change the club, why is this?.... If you agree and also like some modified versions of Vintage models do both, go over to Chevy Talk or Classicar, etc.etc. to catch up on the newest mods, and when you want to discuss what is acceptable as "Stock" or need advice on original stuff (I am sure most modifieds have over 50% original parts) come over here and talk with us, just don't try to change our minds as to what we see as a Chevrolet restoration.

Hey RGwiz, are you still out in the garage.

Mr Mack, It's not the VCCA that I am trying to change but remarks like this - "It'll probably just be junk by then. Just another hacked up old truck. Just good for parts."
"Hey, it's your truck to ruin as you see fit."
These types of remarks do not help the VCCA or the hobbie. I feel when a newbie comes into the site and ask a Question they should recieve a civil answer. Let the person know what the VCCA stands for, DON'T put down somebodys hard work or dreams.

Thank you tom for your understanding, i had no idea even what this chat forum was about, i just clicked on a link from the filling station site. i am not at all trying to change the club, i just don't want to be put down or told how horrible all my hard work is. if no one here wants me to be here that is perfectly fine, i thought that it was about making your own vehicles how you want them, and helping others with advice. i am an automotive technician, i know how to fix a thing or two, i would love to offer advice anywhere i can. that is all i came here for was advice and to help others that are stuck on a problem, i have no opinions on what is better stock or not make what you want but please don't tell me i am destroying something, everyone here knows the effort it takes to bring these vehicles back, DO NOT TELL ME MY TRUCK WILL BE RUINED OR A PIECE OF JUNK!!

Well if we haven't learned anything else we learned that Chev53 don't like to have someone call his pride and joy a piece of junk! Why don't we pull off the boxing gloves and go out to the shop and paste together another old Chevrolet, like we want to, after all it probably was headed to GM Heaven via the crusher. See you all at the next Event!

I take my old Chevys with a little Marvel Mystery oil, and some PB Blaster on the side!

Now if anyone still feels froggy and friskey, just come on over to my place tomorrow and help me get that %#@&*^% old master cylinder off the '53 2 door. &^%$*&#it anyway!

Oh, so now we're the bad guys? So Mr. chev53 shows up and registers on a site dedicated to preserving original Chevys and introduces himself with "need to go fast" and "appreciate any info before i start cramming the motor and tranny in.... "

He's politely informed that it would be better to keep the truck stock. (And he expected what response?) Unable to take a hint, he presses on and even starts a new topic to rail against us luddites who don't seem to understand his need for gutting granpa's legacy to him?

Let me see if I can clear up chev53 and tom32's confusion. This is a web site for people who are interested in restoration and preservation of classic Chevy cars and trucks. If you are interested in restoration and preservation of your Chevy car or truck - you have come to the right place! And between the many helpful people here and joining the national club to receive the G&D magazine, you will have great assistance in restoration and preservation of your Chevy car or truck.

If, however, you are not interested in restoration and preservation of your Chevy car or truck. Please do not bother to explain how much you love the shell of your truck, or how rude and limited our patience is for your explainations about how replacing key original components (like the engine and driveline) isn't much different than powdercoating an original upper control arm. Because, you are in the wrong place. You need to follow the links that were previously and politely provided at the beginning of this discussion; and go to another web site where tearing into a fine old automobile to bastardize it into a modern street machine is welcomed and fully supported.

I personally think its wrong to not restore grandpa's truck to original and enjoy and pass it on. But I'm OK if you disagree. Its your truck. Just don't expect me to give you helpful advise on how to get the dirty deed done.

Ok,
My .02. I visit this forum every day. I also visit the StoveBolt pages daily. I wander thruChevy Chat and other forums periodicaly. I come here to seek and share knowledge and I've only been doing this for 2 years, so I understand that I'm a rookie in a lot of folks eyes. I'm doing a restoration on my truck. There is nothing wrong about pointing out to a new poster that this forum is about preservation and restoration, not modifing, hot rodding etc. I do think that civil replies and refraining from personal attacks should be the normal behavior. I am not saying that the we should allow discussion of rodding etc. to continue, but gruff, rude remarks turn off people who are just exploring possibilities and seeking knowledge. That person you chase away just might not have considered a restoration and be intrigued by the concept. If not, then pointing them to approiate forums seems to me to be the best policy.

Well all this stock vs. Modified has been going on for several decades I guess it will go on for several decades more...THIS site is dedicated to those that want to RESTORE and PRESERVE the Vintage Chevrolets in original stock condition, as I have said before..."If you can't stand to have a vintage Chevrolet restored to original condition", and must you have that compelling "Need for speed" you probably are in the wrong web site to satisfy your "Need for speed" .....CLICK....

Chevy53, if you feel you must keep this fight or debate going you will have to do so somewhere besides this forum.