New guy from Washington with a '53

[Rambow]

Back in November- I made a sight unseen deal with a guy at work to buy his '53 Chevy 3100 truck thats been sitting for the last 13 years. $500. The catch? it was ~400 miles away.

My wife has always wanted one of these- so it was a no brainer. Last weekend after planning and plotting all all winter- A friend, my son & I ran down to Bend, Or. 6hr down... 8hr back loaded up.











'53 3100
NOM 235 (unknown year)
4spd (granny 1st)

its been sitting for the last 13 years- and the brakes lines were rusted out when it was parked- so we'll start there- clean out the gas tank & lines, see if i can get it running again- then bend up some new brake lines & replace all the rubber hoses- see if i can make it go down the road... then we'll queue up going through suspension, etc etc to make it safe.

:-)

[iowaboynca]

Looks like a solid truck...the guys on here are gonna drool over that patina

[OrrieG]

Looks great, and Canadian from the spare on the passenger side.

[NW Task Force]

Cool Project! Nice to see some local folks on here. My wife is from Lynnwood/Mountlake Terrace. We frequent that area occasionally on the weekends. Looking forward to seeing some progress pics as you go.

[RedneckRodder]

Another local! I live in Silvana but work in Everett at Fluke, right next to Boeing. Glad to see there's another project in the works close by.

[TNACUSTOM]

Nice looks like a good starting point. I'm in Yakima I've painted to 48's in the last year and ahalf for other people I have a 51 that my dad gave to me and have had it for 30 year now so after doing the 48's I am starting on mine. Good luck and have fun

[Old Crow]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Looks great, and Canadian from the spare on the passenger side.

Sorry to hijack this, but you got me curious, Orrie. Are you saying that this '54 that I owned in Flagstaff like 29 years ago was built in Canada because of the passenger side spare?



Sorry about the pic, but it's been floating in a shoebox since the '80's.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Old Crow

Sorry to hijack this, but you got me curious, Orrie. Are you saying that this '54 that I owned in Flagstaff like 29 years ago was built in Canada because of the passenger side spare?



Sorry about the pic, but it's been floating in a shoebox since the '80's.

If the space mounted into a fender recess, then yes, unless someone could have special ordered it. If it is a long bed and the mount just bolts to the bed side, then probably US

[Amorget]

That truck is awesome, totally worth the drive. I would have done it in a heartbeat.

[Hogger54]

Welcome from the dry side.
LOVE the patina. I think that defines it right there.
Yank out the spare, slap some new wheels and rubber on it, clean up the interior and drive it.

[RedneckRodder]

Originally Posted by Hogger54

Welcome from the dry side.
LOVE the patina. I think that defines it right there.
Yank out the spare, slap some new wheels and rubber on it, clean up the interior and drive it.

I have to agree with you. The patina is killer!

[mr48chev]

That looks like a solid start on a truck. Did you happen to come back up 97 though Toppenish and Yakima and over SnoQualmie? I though I saw a rig like that go by the house last weekend when I was working in the yard.

[Rambow]

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by Hogger54

Welcome from the dry side.
LOVE the patina. I think that defines it right there.
Yank out the spare, slap some new wheels and rubber on it, clean up the interior and drive it.

Thanks- thats exactly the plan. Actually the interior was in great shape once i cleaned the inch of dust out of it. Has nice (factory?) silver paint on the dash and door jambs... and back behind the seat. No rust staining at all. Front half of floors are potato chip thin and need to be replaced, but solid & still painted under the seat.

I've located another 235 six, recently yanked out of a running driving 67 elcamino, i'm going to steal the carb and some other stuff off it to speed up getting this one rolling again.

Short list at this point is... Clean out gas tank & fuel system- rebuild/swap carbs- replace all the hoses & belts- Fire up engine... Replace all the brake lines & hoses- get some cheap tires that will hold air & get 'er back on the road.

Originally Posted by mr48chev

That looks like a solid start on a truck. Did you happen to come back up 97 though Toppenish and Yakima and over SnoQualmie? I though I saw a rig like that go by the house last weekend when I was working in the yard.

No we went over 26 then back up I5. I was amazed at how much old iron just sitting next to peoples houses in bend there was. Saw a lot of 50's caddys and oldsmobiles and other stuff sitting waiting to be plucked. I had at least 3 people ask if I would sell it on the way home. LOL.

[Lo1dakota]

Welcome!

[tranzamwayno]

hey, love your truck, hopefully we'll see each other cruising around, i just got my 52 on the road, im in lynnwood, good luck with her

[53 randy]

nice truck, welcome aboard, see you live close. PM'd you Randy

[rktolds]

Nice grab on the truck. This site rocks and has tons of info. Kinda like the Olds forum we hang out in. My wife likes these too, must be the curves. Have fun with it.

Matt

[55dude]

welcome! a 67' elcamino would have a 250 which is different series of chevrolet 6 cyl. and it will not bolt in place of 235.

[MIKEs50Chevy]

I agree with the other guys, wow what a great starting point! And cool patina if you want to keep it. I live in Brier (between Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park and Bothell). Hope to see you around town when you get it running. Enjoy!

[Angryman117]

Looks like a pretty solid truck. All of us Washington folk should have a giant 47-54 truck party!

[RedneckRodder]

Originally Posted by Angryman117

Looks like a pretty solid truck. All of us Washington folk should have a giant 47-54 truck party!

Agreed!

[MIKEs50Chevy]

Originally Posted by Angryman117

All of us Washington folk should have a giant 47-54 truck party!

I would be down for a local get together. I don't see a lot of trucks around, so it would be cool to meet some of you guys and see your trucks.

[Angryman117]

Only one problem, my truck is not drivable yet

[RedneckRodder]

Mine too, but that's easy. I'll just offer up my place as the spot!

Sorry for jacking the thread. Angryman PM me and we'll see about getting something scheduled

[Rambow]

No Worries- It is cool there are so many locals on here!

I'm a few months from this sucker being on the road- even when i get it running, i still need to replace all the brake hardlines since that was the original reason for it getting parked!

Hey Angryman, see your are in Olla, any chance you know a guy named Mike Parker? He's one of my chevelle friends, and lives there too- has his fingers in about everything automotive.

Did some puttering last weekend (thats about all i get time for): Cut out the deteriorated rubber mat so i could get a look at the rusty floors... sprayed & scrubbed with some simple green. Got the seat out so i could start planning to get the gas tank out for cleaning...

Before scrubbing the rusty floors, but at least cleaned off the seat:


After pulling the seat:


Front half of floors, especially on drivers side are toast. Rusted through in the embossed marks, and right at the toe bend... But they are solid, and still painted under the seat.
Rear area behind the seat under the glass all looks great- paint is still nice... at least until you look down into the lower rear cab corners which are toast. I think the pass side has an old giant hornets nest down there...

Pulled numbers off the engine and its a 58-62 235- and is really clean. Talked to the PO again and he said he bought the engine "rebuilt" about 3-4 years before he parked the truck, so hopefully its still pretty fresh.

ANyway- Next is just getting the gas tank out, and then ordering up a carb kit for one of the carbs.

Baby steps