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#1 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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1953 3100 "Honey-do"
And so it begins. A picture of this truck was texted to my wife around Christmas 2019 from her step-dad with a message that said Merry Christmas. We didn't get to pick it up from Arkansas until last October. This gave me some time to do some research and formulate a plan.
Sorry about the matchbox car looking photos from the side. I scaled the hi-res pics to meet the size limits and that's what happens. Last edited by rnrdthefox; 04-08-2021 at 10:20 PM. |
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#2 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
So what's the plan?
- 6.2L and 6L80 - TCI Frame - Must be "Red" according to the boss - Power windows (removing the vent window) - Power door locks - Power seats - A/C - Dakota Digital gauges - Wheels and tires TBD, but probably 18s or 19s and as wide as I can go in the back w/o interference - Gas tank under the bed with a behind the license plate access to filler cap It took about 6 months, but I picked up a 2008 Escalade donor from auction for slightly more than the price of a used engine and tranny from one of the wrecking yards. These pics are after giving it a good cleaning inside and out before I started taking it apart. Since it was going to sit in my driveway for several weeks, I needed the HOA to think all was well while I pulled everything from under the hood and all of the front seats, electronics, and misc parts. Then over one weekend, I stripped the hood, front bumper, fenders, a couple of doors, HLs, mirrors, etc for sale on Craigslist before hauling to the Pick and Pull. Last edited by rnrdthefox; 04-08-2021 at 11:50 AM. |
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#3 |
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Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
I pulled everything that I thought might be of value. I wish I had a place to "park" it out of sight as there were a few more items I would like to have had after the fact. I could have sold a few more parts also. Oh well. That's how you roll in the land of HOAs.
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#4 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
While all of this was going on and still a couple months from going to pick up the truck in Arkansas, I got the frame ordered and started putting it together to transfer the body parts to the new frame. This thought process is all about the limited space. Once the truck arrived, and I started dismantling it, I would only have a few days before the HOA would start complaining about a junk vehicle sitting in the driveway.
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#5 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Next I tore the engine down and inspected it as it had a "tic" in the valvetrain that I heard when I did a preauction inspection. I knew something wasn't right, but wasn't as concerned as I knew I would be doing a basic rebuild anyway. I sent the block and crank out to the machinist and the tranny to the tranny shop to get new clutches and the tail converted to 2WD from the tail and housing for AWD.
Sorry no pics of the tear down as I was in a hurry to get it to the machinist. The tic was from a lifter that looked like it wasn't pumping up fully and was galling the lobe. But, all is not lost. I promised the boss it would go back stock. No wild or loud engine with an aggressive cam. This gave the excuse I needed to put a mild cam in it form Texas Speed. A win for the little man! ![]() You can't really see it in the picture behind the engine, but that is the radiator from the caddy. I built a rolling test stand for the engine/tranny/radiator/exhaust so that I can hook the ECU and harness to it and check the initial fire up and tune without it being in the truck. Last edited by rnrdthefox; 04-08-2021 at 11:39 AM. |
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#6 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
About now, it's October and time to make a trip to Arkansas and pick up the truck. For once, with COVID in full swing and going stir crazy at home, I was looking forward to the 13 hr drive back. We have made this trip many times through the years, with and without kids and it gets old so we generally fly when given the option. The weather was good so we picked up the trailer and headed out. We only stayed for the weekend as we were expecting our first major snow storm in Colorado and got back just in time. The next weekend was nice so I started pulling it apart and determining how much rust I was going to have to deal with.
An interesting note, the tires were certainly from back in the day. They actually held air. Wow. Last edited by rnrdthefox; 04-08-2021 at 11:34 AM. |
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#7 | |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 10,827
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Quote:
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Bryan, Texas
Posts: 2,311
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Nice work, and that is a good looking Bronco sitting next to the truck.
__________________
8man-aka Robert 1948 on a S10 Frame, small block with a carb 1954 Cab, 53 Front and Bed, 50 Doors, S10 Frame, Power TBD Build thread: "]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=746899&highlight=wife%27s+48[/URL] [/URL]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=840204 |
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#9 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Quote:
It's got a 393W stroker with Explorer top-end and 94/95 mustang computer driving the engine and 4R70W, PS and power disk front and rear. It will cruise down the interstate at 75 like a dream. I need to get it out now that it's finally spring here in Colorado. |
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#10 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Quote:
It was wrecked although not that bad. You can't tell from the pics, but the rims were trashed (broken inside lips) and the back bumper gone. It likely jumped a curb at high speed and ripped the bumper off. Also the rear door panels had been removed as if it was being searched. I had a person that wanted the frame before I hauled it away, but when he had his insurance run the vin, they said they wouldn't insure it. It had been turned in for fraud. |
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#11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Fallbrook California
Posts: 248
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Quote:
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#12 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Time for an update I think. I've been focused on some other things lately and Elk hunting season is approaching in a few weeks, so the distraction will likely last into the fall.
![]() My focus of late is cleaning up a few loose ends with the cab and doors. Much of the time of late has been fussing with the doors on final gaps and alignment before I welded in the door strikers. I've got the doors now ready for the media blaster and will likely drop them off this week. First, I wanted to close the hole over the transmission. Here are some pics of the transmission cover that I fabricated. |
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#13 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Bryan, Texas
Posts: 2,311
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Nice!
__________________
8man-aka Robert 1948 on a S10 Frame, small block with a carb 1954 Cab, 53 Front and Bed, 50 Doors, S10 Frame, Power TBD Build thread: "]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=746899&highlight=wife%27s+48[/URL] [/URL]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=840204 |
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#14 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
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#15 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Finally welded in the door strikers. I fussed with the doors for a couple of weekends going back and forth with depth of closure to get minimum amount of filler on the doors themselves and keep it on the cab and also tweaking gaps. For some reason, I didn't get final pics of the door gaps and contour alignment. Go figure. I'll snap some late once I get some epoxy on them and remount them. Here are a couple pics of the striker pockets.
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#16 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Cleaned up a number of welding areas from replacing the door skin and adjusting gaps with cloths hanger rod. Here are a few pics.
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#17 |
Post Whore
![]() ![]() Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,630
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
NICE!!!!!..i like it ..
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
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#18 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Posts: 190
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Nice. Going to follow your progress.
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
dude, playing the full HOA game on a top-down build, well played! awesome start to the build too.
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#22 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Bryan, Texas
Posts: 2,311
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
As said before, nice start to the build.
__________________
8man-aka Robert 1948 on a S10 Frame, small block with a carb 1954 Cab, 53 Front and Bed, 50 Doors, S10 Frame, Power TBD Build thread: "]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=746899&highlight=wife%27s+48[/URL] [/URL]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=840204 |
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#23 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Plains, Missouri
Posts: 7,557
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
I'll hang around for this build, nice job on everything so far...Jim
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my build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=459839 Jimbo's long bed step build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=464626<br /> |
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#24 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
Thanks everyone for the kind words and encouragement.
I started next on the floors. I ended up replacing the sub-floor supports, front floor pans, inner kick panels, re-working the existing inner cowl braces and part of the bottom of the right door post. I'm waiting to weld the outer cowls until it's media blasted. At that point, I will do final welding of all the panels and filling the extra holes in the floor and cowl. I also want to do some additional bracing underneath across the floor to each door and around the tranny cover. The stock seat frame provided a lot of the floors rigidity. I'll try to use the braces for the seat mounting points also. Debating on Epoxy Primer at that point. |
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#25 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 221
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Re: 1953 3100 "Honey-do"
More pics of flooring and cowl work.
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