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Old 09-29-2018, 02:22 AM   #18
nail pounder
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Fallbrook CA
Posts: 453
Re: Need some thoughts on a long time/sentimental 59

My .02¢ is keep it. But if it's not your dream truck then sell it. Here's how my current situation happened. I have a 66 C20, 350/5spd, PB, PS and it drives great, cruises 80mph etc, but it wasn't my dream truck. I always wanted a 58 fleetside, but they were always out of my budget. While surfing Craigslist one night I found a running stock 58 fleet, I6, three on the tree for 4000$ that needed a clutch and some TLC. Holy crap I was on it! This was my dream truck! I drove a hundred miles, paid $3500 and trailered it 100 miles home grinning from ear to ear. I installed a new clutch, cleaned it up and drove it locally for about 8 months. I hated it! It was gutless compared to my 66, no syncro, top speed of 50mph. One day my daughter and I were cruising down a two lane road and I was getting tailgated by a Prius, my daughter said I should probably pull over...that was the straw that broke the camel's back. I thought to myself, it will be a cold day in HE-double hockey sticks before I pull over for a Prius. I drove straight home and put it on Craigslist, well, just the motor and transmission that is. It took a month or so but I found a buyer for the I6 and trans for $750, meanwhile I had located a "lightly used" crate motor and 700r4 that was being replaced with an LS. The compression checked out and a deal was made. The rest is history, my 58 is still a work in progress but I can take it out on the weekend and let the smoke out of the tires. Its now got a 3" drop axle, power disk brakes and goes 80mph no problem and I'm happy i made the switch. It will probably never be done, but the point of my long winded story is this. If your 59 is not your favorite body style, then sell it. If it is, then make it what you want. I did the motor, trans, drop axle, and brakes for less than $5K and I'm sure you could too.
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