'47 Chevrolet and 100 year old bridge

[Beap52 1,324]

Decided to take the '47 sedan delivery out for a drive today.  There is a 100 year old bridge in the next county so decided it would be a good 80 mile round trip.  From what I've read, it was moved to it's current location in the 1930's.  The bridge from abutment to abutment is a little over 400 feet.  Supposedly, it on a list to be replaced.

 

Notice the cowl vent and vent windows are open.  It finally warmed into the 80's here in southwest MO,   I bought this car in 1972.  Swapped out the original drive train with a 1957 6 cyl, three speed and differential.  Bought the overhaul kit from Montgomery and Wards. 

Edited June 1 by Beap52
additional information

[953 nut 59,070]

Love to see some more pictures of the '47 sedan delivery, they are soooooooo cooooool.        

 

We had a bridge much like that near my parent's house. I towed many wagon loads of hay and grain across it, always said a little prayer  as I drove the tractor onto it. After the NYS Thruway bridge collapsed in about '88 the state began inspecting bridges throughout the state. That bridge and another much older bridge were both closed down immediately. What had been a one mile trip on sparsely traveled roads now became a three mile trip on heavily traveled highways towing wagons at three or four MPH.

[adsm08 2,909]

I love those old cars. My grandfather had a 47 New Yorker, and that was a slick machine, except for the brakes that didn't work quite right.

 

The wife and I used it to go from the church, to go get some pictures, and then to the reception when we got married. That car was ahead of it's time. It had push-button start, and an electric fuel door release. My dad was driving us and couldn't get it started when we left for the reception, because he was pushing the wrong button.

[Beap52 1,324]

Here's side shot of the delivery.  Difference between sedan delivery and panel truck is that the delivery is based upon a car frame and panel on truck frame.  From seats forward is a car. (Kind of like my El Camino. from seats forward it's a Chevelle.)  The paint is getting rough--but so have I over the past 53 years.  When I bought it, it was full of plumbing supplies. 

 

I hope I don't back into something and ruin the back bumper.  Probably hard to come by.  The teardrop tail/stop light is original.  The two brake/turn signals lights were added during the rebuild. I have a NOS teardrop lens in original GM box. 

 

The original floor inside was plywood.  I laid oak flooring but when I had to remove gas tank mounted behind seats under the floor with no access from below, Carpet was it's replacement. The wall were a painted hardboard.  Now it serves as a holding place for fishing equipment.  When my kids were little in the early 1990's they'd ride back there as we headed to the family farm pond. 

 

All gauges are original and work.  The front end is the original knee action shocks.  The shocks are part of the suspension and leak.  Years ago, and I suppose even now, they can be rebuilt.  I've went the way of our forefathers and wrapped string around the pivots in an effort to slow the leaking but by my own device, I attached a "jar," if you will, to a fender well with a hose leading to each shock and replaced the fill bolt with a nipple.  Now I add oil to the jar and it feeds the shocks as needed.  Of course I mark my parking spot. 

 

The seats are original, reupholstered of course in mid '70's.  When compared to today's standards you ride with me a your own risk.  The passenger seat tilts forward and all you've got to look forward to is a steel dash. 

 

The car is basically rust free.  The door sills were the biggest rusted area.  The car was pretty much dent free -well except were my brother got even with me and my buddy when we mixed his tobacco with a little dried horse manure in his Prince Albert can we found in the barn.  The steering box is adjustable.  One adjustment is a lock nut and screw the other the box halves can slide to tighten it up.  The knee action shocks are basically two little pistons that oppose each other. 

 

A good car is like a good wife.  If you find one you like and you take care of her, she'll last ya a lifetime!

 

Edited June 2 by Beap52
change size of pictures

[Pullstart 65,574]

I love the pictures, almost as much as the stories!

[8ntruck 7,593]

3 speed with overdrive?

[Beap52 1,324]

3 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

3 speed with overdrive?

No, just a 3 speed we found somewhere.  Fresh out of high school and build with what we could find.  I only  run about 60 mph Seems to be happy at about 55 mph.  The rear end is from an automatic so it geared a little higher.  Sandblasted the body with my buddies' dad's big gas air compressor and sand we bought from lumber yard and sifted it through screen.  Looking back, we could have done some serious damage to the body.  Drove it to the street rods show in Minneapolis  Minnesota in about 1977.  Not to show but just to attend.  Took about every tool I owned.  No problems other than loose starter.   

[Tractorhead 9,163]

It doesn‘t matter how fast it run.

 

It‘s the feeling inside that old Cars when they drive,
what is completely different to the new Driving Computers.
they have one thing no new Cars have

- Charisma - 

 

I have a lot to rebuild on the whole Structural sheetmetal on my BoogieVan it rotted hardly out.

much more than i ever expected before.

until now i Welded 2,5 squaremeter of modified Sheetmetal in it 
and reconstruct lots of structural parts the didn‘t be available since.
repair and reinforced half the Frame, rebuilt the whole Engine,
The left Rear Sidepanel was massive impacted, i do my best to need or use as less Bondo as possible.
That was x hours of Sheetmetal work but i see slightly a end of the tunnel.
with a year Interrupt i work since 3 years on this Project.

 

 

i hear permanently one question - Is it worth all the Work you do on it ?
probably no, but for me the whole reconstruction is a sentimental journey.

That is the Same type of Van i drove as first Van in my Life.

if all goes right, we be finally Roadlegal in August this year.

 

great Car you own !

[Wayne0 1,093]

On 6/1/2025 at 8:30 PM, Beap52 said:

Here's side shot of the delivery.  Difference between sedan delivery and panel truck is that the delivery is based upon a car frame and panel on truck frame.  From seats forward is a car. (Kind of like my El Camino. from seats forward it's a Chevelle.)  The paint is getting rough--but so have I over the past 53 years.  When I bought it, it was full of plumbing supplies. 

 

I hope I don't back into something and ruin the back bumper.  Probably hard to come by.  The teardrop tail/stop light is original.  The two brake/turn signals lights were added during the rebuild. I have a NOS teardrop lens in original GM box. 

 

The original floor inside was plywood.  I laid oak flooring but when I had to remove gas tank mounted behind seats under the floor with no access from below, Carpet was it's replacement. The wall were a painted hardboard.  Now it serves as a holding place for fishing equipment.  When my kids were little in the early 1990's they'd ride back there as we headed to the family farm pond. 

 

All gauges are original and work.  The front end is the original knee action shocks.  The shocks are part of the suspension and leak.  Years ago, and I suppose even now, they can be rebuilt.  I've went the way of our forefathers and wrapped string around the pivots in an effort to slow the leaking but by my own device, I attached a "jar," if you will, to a fender well with a hose leading to each shock and replaced the fill bolt with a nipple.  Now I add oil to the jar and it feeds the shocks as needed.  Of course I mark my parking spot. 

 

The seats are original, reupholstered of course in mid '70's.  When compared to today's standards you ride with me a your own risk.  The passenger seat tilts forward and all you've got to look forward to is a steel dash. 

 

The car is basically rust free.  The door sills were the biggest rusted area.  The car was pretty much dent free -well except were my brother got even with me and my buddy when we mixed his tobacco with a little dried horse manure in his Prince Albert can we found in the barn.  The steering box is adjustable.  One adjustment is a lock nut and screw the other the box halves can slide to tighten it up.  The knee action shocks are basically two little pistons that oppose each other. 

 

A good car is like a good wife.  If you find one you like and you take care of her, she'll last ya a lifetime!

 

That is one sweet ride, my friend.