First truck build '49 3100
 

Hey everyone.... about a week ago I purchased a 1949 pickup from a family friend. The guy I bought it from is the grandson of the original owner. He came to the realization that he just wasn't going to get around to it. He had kept the truck in his barn for the past 32 years, prior to that, it sat in an airplane hanger for several years at the airport that his grandfather owned. The truck is still wearing most of it's original paint and even has hand painted lettering from the airport and the phone number which I'm told was painted on in or around 1951. The truck was mostly disassembled and in various boxes, old coffee cans and tobacco cans. From what I can tell so far, I have the complete truck minus the front and rear bumpers. The truck has spent it's entire life here in the same town which I think is pretty cool. My plan is to keep the exterior largely untouched but most likely spray a satin clear over it to preserve the lettering. I have an 8.8 out of an explorer for the rear and plan to go with an IFS with a small block and turbo 350 trans. The interior will be completely re-done to provide comfort while driving. Right now the plan is to put 17" artillery wheels on it as well as I think it would be a cool look. The hood and doors had been primed 30 years ago but I was told that they weren't stopped.to metal so I'm hoping that I can carefully wet sand through the primer to expose the original paint underneath (or what's left of it). There are so many great builds on this site! I hope that I can get through this project and have a worthy cruiser as well.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

thats a pretty good start!

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

WOW...that looks like an extremely solid truck....

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Welcome Brad! Great find and back story on the truck. It looks very solid. Good luck and enjoy the build.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Thanks guys! Yes the truck is extremely solid. The wood bed floor is gone which I expected but as far as the sheet metal, the cab corners are in great shape, there's a small rust hole in the driver's side corner about the size of a pencil eraser. There's some surface rust in the rocker in front of the driver's door but the metal is still solid. I have been looking at truck projects for about 5 years but I believe I found the "right one" for me to build.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Looks like your patience has paid off. Nice truck

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Nice truck, look forward to the build...Jim

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Nice truck, and it looks good,
Good luck with your build,

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Not a real exciting update but I worked on the truck a little bit today. Someone in the past had welded a couple of "L" brackets to the stake pockets I'm assuming for taillight mounts. My plan is to go back to the original small rectangle tails so I cut the welds and removed the brackets. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to paint the bare areas or just let them rust a little before spraying clear over the body.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Looks like a fun project! Following.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

oossuuu754 posted this aging recipe in his cecil thread



http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=642010

I have used it, it works great, even on fresh paint, as long as you sand the paint to give the solution something to bite. it oxidizes paint and surface rusts bare metal.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

I can't believe how little rust you have! Subscribed.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Love the history of your old truck...the finish is awesome too...

Looks like a decent specimen to start with.

I am subscribing...

MikeC

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

In going through boxes getting ready to pull the bed and cab off I found some pretty cool stuff! First thing I found is a never installed windshield washer kit made by Trico. All of the instructions are still in the jar and there's a small envelope inside stamped February 25, 1953......
A bunch of the screws and nuts and bolts were put into an old tobacco can. I think it's probably from the 60's-70's but looks cool.
In another box was the heater out of the truck. Best I can tell it's a Ha-Dees brand but I have no idea what model or what year it's from. I want to clean this up and use it in the truck so I'm thinking it should work if I can find a small 12v fan motor. I have to stop myself from getting ahead of myself and stick to my plan of getting the frame and suspension done first.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Cool finds.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

cool...

True

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Hey all, I pulled the windshield and rear window out of the truck. The pinch welds look really good! All of the glass is in excellent condition, not even cracked but I'm thinking about replacing the rear and side windows with tinted glass anyway. I pulled the bed off of the frame and pressure washed the frame again before I start in on it with a wire wheel while I wait for my suspension to arrive. I think there may have been a fender bender on the right rear at some point because the fender was welded to the running board. So once I cut through that, I could remove it. Now that parts are going to be coming off, I have to figure out what to do with it all.. I don't know if anyone would buy any of the original stuff but I will try and post it for sale. Maybe someone would want the original drivetrain.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Since the truck was owned by and used at a private airport, should I "play it up?" maybe stencil on "Avgas 100LL Only" above or below the original fuel filler on the cab? My plan is to just clean up the original exterior and not re-paint.
What do you guys think? leave the exterior alone? or add some aviation elements to it?

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

looks like its going to be a fun project ( and a fair solid one too )

keeping it original or what kind of upgrade(s) are you thinking about ... ?

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

I just ordered the TCI 4-link kit for the rear, have a Ford 8.8 out of an explorer with 3.73 limited slip and disks. I'll be ordering a Mustang II IFS shortly and have a 350ci and TH350 trans. The exterior will stay the way it is save for some cleaning but I like the lettering on the back of the cab and the original paint. The interior will be redone new paint on dash and inside the back of the cab, new carpet / seat / tilt column etc..... that's the plan anyhow.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Well I finished pulling the steering column and pedals out so I could remove the cab. I pulled the engine and transmission out and removed the factory suspension and axles. I'm hoping to get the frame to the blaster tomorrow while we have dry weather so I can get it back and start installing the 4-link and the new (to me) rear axle. There are a few spots of pitting on the frame so I'm hoping that chassis saver will be thick enough to settle in and give me a fairly smooth finish.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

great progress!

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Well I loaded up the frame and took it to blasting. They got right on it and got it back to me the following day! I had to take advantage of the nice weather so it went to blasting without all of the brackets being removed. I spent the weekend finishing removal of brackets and un-boxing the TCI 4-link kit and the Mustang II IFS to see how everything will fit. I got the TCI brackets laid out and holes drilled and then my wife started painting the inside of the frame rails. Once the inside rails are painted, I'll install the boxing plates. I'm using "Zero Rust" on the frame and it dries to a nice semi-flat finish which I like.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Moving forward.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Awesome build! Cool that your wife is helping out also. Is the Mustang 2 from TCI as well? Are you going with coilovers?

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

pretty! you will be light years ahead not removing the bracketry, in my admittedly biased opinion.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Thank you. The rear is TCI with coilovers, the front is the Mustang II IFS sold by Southern Rods, it is just a coil spring front end. I didn't go with coilovers for the frontend. Right now my main focus is to get the frame done and get it back to a roller before I make any more orders, ( I need to clear out some boxes in the shop). Yes I got lucky with a wife who is willing to help out with this stuff.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

I was hoping to have all of the stock suspension brackets off before blasting but I figure I can hit those small areas with a flap wheel once they are off and I'll be good to go. I feel that I saved a ton of time just having it blasted rather than going the wire wheel route to clean up the frame.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

The frame looks great and is really nice to have a clean one to work on. You have a good plan going and I am enjoying following along.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

It took me a long time with wire wheels. And a few wheels too, wires got in my clothes covered in a layer of dirt and rust.... and I couldn't do it all at once either. Next project I'm copying you. Frame looks awesome!

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Thank you!

Thank you! Yea just cleaning up the rearend I'm using made enough of a mess I could only imagine the mess I'd have cleaning up the frame.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been able to get in some good time on the truck. Winter decided to show up around here so I spent some time playing in snow with the kids. Then since I had been working on the truck so much I thought it was important to take the wife away for the weekend.
I was able to get out and work some more this weekend. I cut the old shock mounts off of the rearend I'm going to use and got it ready for the new brackets to be welded on
Then started on the front......boy am I tired of drilling rivets out! I mocked up the boxing plates and the new crossmember.... I have a little trimming to do on the plates before I can weld them in but I finally feel like I may be getting somewhere with this.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Looking good Brad!

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

looking great!

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Thanks guys!
What is the best method of addressing the raised part of the frame where the old steering box was located? Lower it by beating it into submission? Or heating it up? Or just leave it alone?

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

I would leave it alone, especially if it isn’t in the way of anything. It won’t be very visible, if at all when the truck is done.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Well I made some progress this weekend. Of course I made a total bonehead move and welded the first boxing plate in backward......... I got done welding the top and thought "hmmm I shouldn't be seeing primer on the outside, it's supposed to be on the inside". I had put the right hand side on the left hand side. At least I hadn't done the top AND bottom so it wasn't as big of a deal as it could have been. Just welding practice right?? Haha . So I got that fixed and continued getting the front crossmember in.......don't beat me up too bad about my ugly welds I don't claim to be a professional. I figure as long as it's stuck, that's the point right? Doug, I took your advice and left the raised part of the frame alone, I was able to get it closed up with the boxing plate and then just had to grind a little off the top piece for the front end to make it fit better.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Once I got the front installed I turned my attention back to the rear and got the new brackets installed and the rear axle installed. I have some adjustments to make still before I pull it apart again for paint. But I'm happy to be at this point at least. I even got some paint on the front of the frame!

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

Good progress Brad! Glad it is working out well.

Re: First truck build '49 3100
 

welds look good, I think you were being facetious but I will let it slide haha.