47-55.1 55 years ago I was given this USAF 54 3100

[vintovka]

It came from my Uncle who bought it in a surplus sale at Edwards AFB in 1964. He passed in 67 and I got it that year. I wound up in the Air Force soon after and it again spent considerable time on bases for a while. Some records show its been shipped around the world as needed. I've had it all this time and attempted various revivals this last half century, It was a 235/6 with a hydromatic tranny, then a 3 speed, then a 4. Needed four wheel drive and did a chassis swap with a 84 GMC k10 (350/700R4). I regret that, but had to. Now its up for its final (for me) restoration and I need advice on replacing the blown motor and such. Goal is a daily driver that i want to be somewhat a USAF tribute truck with the AF emblem on the doors and the names of all the aircrews we lost from the 430 TFS in thailand circa 1972. Advice on stuff like a crate engine and other mods to make a safe, long lasting driver /heirloom is appreciated by this old man.

[mongocanfly]

Looks like a pretty solid body..unless it s still on the stock frame your going to need a complete donor chassis...if you want to make it dependable your best bet will be the s10 frame swap..unless your looking for v8 power you can even use the 4.3 engine and trans from the s10..joedoh has done several of these..check out his builds.. and thank you sir for your service..

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looks like a pretty solid body..unless it s still on the stock frame your going to need a complete donor chassis...if you want to make it dependable your best bet will be the s10 frame swap..unless your looking for v8 power you can even use the 4.3 engine and trans from the s10..joedoh has done several of these..check out his builds.. and thank you sir for your service..

It was in the dry desert in Las Vegas for many years then in the dry foothills near Placerville till 4 months ago. Now in OR the rust potential scares me

Sadly Its on a 84 gmc k10 frame 4x4 with a worn out 350. I needed a 4x4 for the ranch and the 84 frame was basically a gift. The old frame/engine/trans are long gone. Looking at a GM 350/290hp crate but need to pick a good carb. The 4175 holley has been a problem from day one. The Offy intake and M/t covers are neat but very old.

[mongocanfly]

Are you wanting to keep it 4x4? Thats no problem...I thought you were looking to do a frame swap..my bad..my ad body is sitting on a 69 4x4 chassis now for the past 35yrs..but will be coming off to go on my custom built tube chassis.. I've got 4x4s running out my ears around here and want to take mine back a 2wd hotrod cruiser

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Are you wanting to keep it 4x4? Thats no problem...I thought you were looking to do a frame swap..my bad..my ad body is sitting on a 69 4x4 chassis now for the past 35yrs..but will be coming off to go on my custom built tube chassis.. I've got 4x4s running out my ears around here and want to take mine back a 2wd hotrod cruiser

Yep sticking with 4x4. We retired to a beach community and the weather/terrain here are unfriendly to non 4x4s/awd. Just the wet winter leaves and unpaved roads will stop a 2 wheeler. Its gone to restorer (yesterday) and need to pick a replacement 350 and running gear asap. Think I lost all my mechanic smarts when 65 blew past.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Think I lost all my mechanic smarts when 65 blew past.

Me too. Projects that used to seem simple are now overwhelming.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Think I lost all my mechanic smarts when 65 blew past.

We did lose the smarts we just realized we can hang a $50 bill in front of a 20 year old and get him to do a $200 job.

[MiraclePieCo]

You're from Oregon? Keep it 4WD, it will be highly admired in the logging culture.

[Midge725]

Originally Posted by vintovka

It came from my Uncle who bought it in a surplus sale at Edwards AFB in 1964. He passed in 67 and I got it that year. I wound up in the Air Force soon after and it again spent considerable time on bases for a while. Some records show its been shipped around the world as needed. I've had it all this time and attempted various revivals this last half century, It was a 235/6 with a hydromatic tranny, then a 3 speed, then a 4. Needed four wheel drive and did a chassis swap with a 84 GMC k10 (350/700R4). I regret that, but had to. Now its up for its final (for me) restoration and I need advice on replacing the blown motor and such. Goal is a daily driver that i want to be somewhat a USAF tribute truck with the AF emblem on the doors and the names of all the aircrews we lost from the 430 TFS in thailand circa 1972. Advice on stuff like a crate engine and other mods to make a safe, long lasting driver /heirloom is appreciated by this old man.

What do you regret about on your chassis swap to the k10?
Just curious makes an awesome looking truck you see a lot of lowered ones on s10 fames but you don't see a lot of them on 4x4 setup.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by Midge725

What do you regret about on your chassis swap to the k10?
Just curious makes an awesome looking truck you see a lot of lowered ones on s10 fames but you don't see a lot of them on 4x4 setup.

Being not a true 54 does make me sad, I fought the 50's technology into the dirt and badly needed a 4x4 for ranch work on steep grades The crappy torque tube drive line, poor oil pressure and brakes about killed me more than once. I still have flightline/ air force related paperwork i found under/behind the gas tank. Apparently they shipped these wherever needed so think its been to asia.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by Midge725

What do you regret about on your chassis swap to the k10?
Just curious makes an awesome looking truck you see a lot of lowered ones on s10 fames but you don't see a lot of them on 4x4 setup.

Agreed. It's cool and different in it's own right. It will stand out (literally!) from the crowd.

Originally Posted by vintovka

Now in OR the rust potential scares me

And yeah, don't leave it outside in Brookings. 78 inches of rainfall annually - seriously? Even on sunny days, that salt air rolls in off the ocean so thick you can taste it.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Agreed. It's cool and different in it's own right. It will stand out (literally!) from the crowd.



And yeah, don't leave it outside in Brookings. 78 inches of rainfall annually - seriously? Even on sunny days, that salt air rolls in off the ocean so thick you can taste it.

You are right about rain and salt. Built a special garage with full 10' doors to accommodate it. We are on the beach about 40 miles North of Brookings. IT rains harder here than during the Monsoons in N. Thailand. The latter helped kill my CO. His name along with 8 others will be painted on the truck along with the old army air corp winged star on the doors. Plan to have it in the Brookings Memorial day parade next year Google "wild bill coltman - F111" if interested. He went down in late 72 and remains found in 2005(?)

[Port&PolishMan]

Originally Posted by vintovka

You are right about rain and salt. Built a special garage with full 10' doors to accommodate it. We are on the beach about 40 miles North of Brookings. IT rains harder here than during the Monsoons in N. Thailand. The latter helped kill my CO. His name along with 8 others will be painted on the truck along with the old army air corp winged star on the doors. Plan to have it in the Brookings Memorial day parade next year Google "wild bill coltman - F111" if interested. He went down in late 72 and remains found in 2005(?)

Nice Truck Beginnings :
I had to Increase Springs in My Door so the Cab Lights on Roof
will Clear .

I don't know why the Gus say -Must Remove Chassis and all that .
I have Original Brakes and they Stop very Well .
Yes I have to get on them , but what the Hey it's an Old Truck .
It's Not like I'm Going fore the Best 70 Mph to Zero of 142ft

[joedoh]

love the truck, love it even more that you have had it 50 years. good luck!

[pvienneau]

I like the 4x4. Great truck.

[whitedog76]

Check out these links.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=710984

http://www.throttleworks.com/projects/65

They're in Garden City, Idaho. Might be worth a day trip for you.

[Softpatch]

Golly I would have been 8yrs old when you got that truck
Do with it you want It's not an investment.!
Build it to suit your needs weather a parade vehicle a DD
or as a long distant driver,weekend car/show car, stump puller, paint it purple

it's your choice
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again not an investment.!
Let your money by you happiness
Don't let it sit in the bank for a rainy day it may never rain
and you may never have a chance to drive you dream truck
around if you do
Does pw steering power brakes Leather seat make you feel good
or just the smiles on peoples faces as the see that truck on the road
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I just lost my brother 4 weeks before his 60th birthday every bodys favorite Best brother ever.!
He died broke but had many many friend he lived life to the fullest
he lived his dream's
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R.I.P. mark 07-23-56 ...06-10-16
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Me :Saving for a rainy day one penny at a time without a lick of sense
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[MIKESAD50]

Truck is cool as a 4x4. Like the story behind it also. get a gm crate replacement 350 and trans 700r4? then use one of the new self contained throttle body fuel injection units and I think you would have a nice reliable driver for not too much.
LS and 4l60e would be nice reliable just a bit more of a swap I think.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by MIKESAD50

Truck is cool as a 4x4. Like the story behind it also. get a gm crate replacement 350 and trans 700r4? then use one of the new self contained throttle body fuel injection units and I think you would have a nice reliable driver for not too much.
LS and 4l60e would be nice reliable just a bit more of a swap I think.

This is exactly the advice/suggestions i was looking for. Heres another new gadget i didn't know existed until you mentioned it. I like the idea of the 350/290 crate plus TBI. Looked it up and seems a good combo if not too many extra parts are required. Do these give better performance/mileage than a 4 barrel carb? In a no smog required area BTW. I see kits include a new distributor (which i would need anyway). Wondering if the edelbrock intake that comes with the crate is compatible? Also wondering if anyone/anything now exists to make the 700r4 kickdown and go into overdrive rather than the old dash switch it has now.

[vintovka]

Anyone know about the stuff in previous post. Need to make some serious decisions pretty soon.

[mongocanfly]

Vin,, you get get more specific answers if you posted your engine questions in the engine section on here..lots of knowledge on this site. I think this is what mikes referring to but those aren't cheap..its basically a carb replacement..but the beauty of it is its fuel injection.http://www.jegs.com/i/FITech+Fuel+In...KT-RoCQe3w_wcB

[vintovka]

Well the engine has arrived at the shop ok but they tell me BOTH the existing 84 GMC auto/tilt steering column AND the replacement are too loose. Was thinking of rebuilding it myself but hands and eyesight is shot, Was thinking of a shop rebuild but no one does it for 2-300 miles around brookings, or. Now thinking of an after market one like a street rod. Don't need the key on column as the starter button is on the dash as well as the ignition key in their factory positions. Any recommendations?.

[Softpatch]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Well the engine has arrived at the shop ok but they tell me BOTH the existing 84 GMC auto/tilt steering column AND the replacement are too loose. Was thinking of rebuilding it myself but hands and eyesight is shot, Was thinking of a shop rebuild but no one does it for 2-300 miles around brookings, or. Now thinking of an after market one like a street rod. Don't need the key on column as the starter button is on the dash as well as the ignition key in their factory positions. Any recommendations?.

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if i can do it anybody can
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this is the hardest part
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and the money shot 9 time out of ten the bearing fall out make it loose
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you can do this it's just not that hard to get a part
Here's a link hope this is ok with the mods here.....Sp
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http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=263218
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[vintovka]

The build continues. I wish i could still do all my own work but health forces me to have heavy stuff done. I still get to make choices (and mistakes) but here it is so far:

The fire wall was too shiny but ok. Main color will be matt Air Force blue. Interior will retain most of the original partw with the exception of a new tilt steering wheel.

Its a old school 350/300HP with and Edelbrock carb and dress up kit.

[vintovka]

more pics: