The first "new car" ever in my family was a '53/54 5 window Chevy truck... I grew up in and around that truck, but it rusted to oblivion before I could drive it.

Now it began life on the farm then moved to "town" when the family finally convinced my great grandparents to sell the remote farm "you turn off the paved road and go for a bit" and move closer into civilization.

The truck was rarely washed and even more rarely waxed... in my memory it was a faded chalky dark blue... a "rat rod" before such a thing was considered cool.

Anyway, I have a hankering for such an animal... but I'd like to be able to use it in modern traffic around DC.

The few standard trucks I've driven seem to have 60-65mph as their top end... and mediocre brakes (at best).

The trucks on modern frames/ Mustang front axles tend to be 5 figures and up.

I'm looking at a couple of trucks that fall in the middle... a daily driver '54 with a period 265 4bbl V8/TH350 and a modern 3.08 rear... a bit crusty around the corners (and in satin black primer) but overall solid... but stock front axle and brakes. Now I've not driven a '54 but the seller says the brakes are much better than the '50 he owned and that he found them adequate for daily driver use (in the country, not in city traffic). He also mentioned the front end needed a kingpin set... but that he hadn't done it since he was wavering on a Mustang II IRS before deciding to go with a more modern car as his driver. Let's say price "as is" is around $5500

The other is a '52 truck that is even more solid, has fresh shiny blue paint (but with some "shelf wear"), 350/350, Camaro front clip, discs, ps, pb, tilt wheel, etc... but has never been completely reassembled after paint (wonder why?) and is being sold "not running" with an asking price of about $8000. I couldn't replicate the paint job on the #1 truck for the price difference, but then I likely wouldn't (I was thinking of a cheap quick respray in a satin navy blue rather than the satin black)

There is a 3rd truck... similar to #1 above but with the original 4sp hooked to a period 283. This truck is also sold "not running" and is 3000 miles away... but only $3500. But by the time I get it here (and assume get it running) it would likely be more than the $5500 one already being used as a driver... something I value pretty highly when car shopping.

From looking at the market, I'm not sure I'm going to find something closer to what I want (near my price point) than #1. (Except maybe something with a modern 5sp manual in it...) Do you think I could live with the stock front axle and brakes or would I really need to budget in $2000 for IRS (or at least $600 for discs on the solid axle).

I guess I'm trying to talk myself out of the #1 truck...just not sure how to value the necessary mods... and any leads on a suitable 5 window greatly appreciated.

Good luck in your search. I see similar Fords every now and then in this part of the country, in fact there was(is?) a 55 Ford on my local CL that sounds like it's all sort of stock....I think it was a V8. I haven't seen a early '50s Chevy, in any condition in quite awhile.

You don't want to drive that thing with stock brakes and steering. You will hate it, and more than that, you will be in mortal danger every time you hit the freeway.

Check closely to see whats missing, low ball truck #2, and finish putting it together. Some of the best deals in the world are projects that people have gotten too deep into.

I have this for sale. Its a '47 Ford, though, on a Bronco drivetrain (351). Very clean, 4WD, heat and AC and a CD player.

Wow that is sweet! Absolutely not what I'm looking for (way too nice for one thing), but freakin' sweet!

There are a ton of kits and DIY solutions to the crappy brakes. Search the H.A.M.B if you aren't already a member.

The only problem with those trucks is the cab is so small they are amazingly uncomfortable to drive for anyone thats a somewhat normal size.

Appleseed wrote: There are a ton of kits and DIY solutions to the crappy brakes. Search the H.A.M.B if you aren't already a member.

Yes, the brakes are (realtively) easy, but that would still leave me with the OEM steering and front suspension... do you think I'd find that acceptable for modern use? Because doing each bit separately will cost more than a one time one shot "turnkey" fix.

Bill

I'd probably go with number two if you can get him down a little....based on your description.

I drove my 1952 Dodge for a while with a flat head six and 4:78 gears in back. OK around town, on the highway keep checking the mirrors!

I believe a stock 1949 with the blue flame six and stock half ton gears will keep up with traffic. Even though my dodge weighed 4300 lbs., I didn't have a problem with the stock brakes. Luckily the previous owner took the heater box option from the factory. AC, tilt wheel and all that make it a car, no longer a truck, but that's just me.

I would look around more. If I had an $8k truck I wouldn't throw crap in the back or get it dirty. The Dodge I've posted on other threads here lately, with the 318, 727 automatic, Dana 60, it ran well, very sorted out truck --- went for $3500.

Dan

I don't know about this but I don't understand the point of taking and old truck and turning into basically a car. It seems to destroy all the character. I would take number 1 and spend a bit of money on brakes and drive it.

The steering should be OK. If its suspect, rebuild it all and sleep soundly. Its a Chevy. An old one, but still a Chevy. Parts are cheap.

Check Speedway Motors for front end and brake parts. There are a lot of those types of trucks out there and could be some simple upgrades without going whole hog on a Mustang or other IFS.

Thanks guys... really leaning toward #1 now. Have found a straight GM 6 lug disc brake upgrade kit for $400... I figure the kingpins will cost me $100 a side to install (if I'm not able to get the truck here and do myself)... add tires and I'm ready to roll. (I don't really have time for a major project right now... in fact trying to sell a couple of not-so major projects...)

2 is still a possibility, but it's 2x as far away and would entail additional logistics. #1 is far enough that I won't be able to even get there for a few weeks... so it's likely to sell out from under me anyway.

body swap onto S10 chassis?

That's the ultimate. Completed trucks tend to start in five figures... with nice ones in the upper teens.

I don't have time for an involved project; otherwise that's exactly what I would do myself.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Mustang-II-IFS-Stock-Control-Arm-Stock-Spindle,2088.html

speedway catalog - mustang II spindle to spindle/crossmember $999 - ford or chevy bolt pattern

Thanks! Even with the required crossover, that's still abotu $300 cheaper than the next cheapest option I've found.

As I've been shopping for these, I find myself very torn between two distinct types of trucks I'm finding.

First is the "classic hot rod" type like I mention above like truck #1. This particular truck is still extremely attractive to me... the stance, etc are classic and what I've had in mind all along.

It looks sort of like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220695678532&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT (Yes, I'm the high bidder on it and it would be an awesome deal for someone wanting to build one from the frame up... but I have neither the time nor $$$ to invest in this now... just showing so I don't have to link to the #1 truck)

But the dollars are making me think twice about it. First, the guy with truck #1 is pretty solid on his price (more than my estimated $5500) and flatly refused a somewhat lower cash offer.

For driver duty in DC I'd either need to invest the $1300-1600 (and time) for an IFS, disks, and modern steering... or if i stayed with the beam axle, invest $400 in the new Royal king pins (with bearings!), $500 for disc brakes and updated bearings... and then the "known costs" of tires, a respray, etc. Suddenly I'm in the price range where I could buy a lot more truck.. and have more time investment than I can afford as well.

At the other end, I've found a frame swap (Chevy K5 Blazer) that's fairly common (or once was anyway) but one that's fallen out of favor because it requires a foot to be cut out of the front of even a short bed and the width in front (and the height required by the 4wd stuff) gives the truck a strange looking stance. (Not nearly as cool looking as the '47 Ford posted earlier... which I can't seem to find an ad for anywhere?)

Here's a sample one (I'm the high bidder on it... though the sellers have told me that my "buy it now" offer was not even in the ballpark.. so I don't mind openly posting it) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160506754534&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

However, the positives are that these trucks are generally cheap (the above one not withstanding) and fairly common, have 4x4 and a short but stout frame... so decent for towing anything a Blazer would) and have likely the cheapest driveline and suspension that you could find... making them excellent "daily driver" material.

But I fear the "redneck" aspect of this wide stance is just too much to be considered "cool". Some of the pictures of these trucks look reasonable while others just reek of a Pinto perched 3 feet up in the air on a CJ5 chassis...

But then I'm cheap enough that if a solid one of these K5 trucks came along at the right price point, I would likely strongly consider it anyway...

Opinions?

Drove to KY over the weekend and answered my own questions... I can't live with one of these and even more specifically wouldn't have taken the POS I went to look at had he offered to give it to me for free....

Back to looking at a more "classic" truck...

Too bad there's something 'old' FS up the street from me that the girls call "Mater" all the time...