Nina Patina 1953 3100 project.

[robozride]

Hey there good truck people. I picked up my latest project this weekend and will spend the next few months making "Nina" a happy girl. This old truck has a pretty good story.. A fellow in Missouri bought it new and used it for his plumbing business until he retired. Upon his death his daughter took ownership of the truck and stored her for the next 25 years (yes, a real barn find). That's when I purchased her from the original owners daughter and dragged her home. I will be leaving the exterior as is with cleaning only. New MII ifs with power rack in the front and 4 bar with coil overs in the rear. Motor will be sbc normally aspirated with an automatic trans. Ill change the steering column, seat, shifter, gauges, etc and will probably paint the inside of the cab to make it more comfortable. That's about it, she will be stereotypically low with 18's and ready to pile on some new stories.

[robozride]

So the first thing I did was order all of the needed suspension parts so we could get started in a couple weeks.

Last night I decide Nina deserved a long overdo bath. I broke out the power washer and a spray bottle of CLR and here are the results, I cant believe how much color was hiding under all of the oxidation!

[Advanced Design]

Sounds cool. I am in for the ride along....

[robozride]

And... Were off! started tare down today. No surprises lotsa dirt grease and broken bolts. Things are looking pretty solid though.

[STOCKISH]

Looks like an amazing start!

[robozride]

60 year old Missouri dirt up in there

[Zoomin]

Your truck is in amazing condition considering how it was stored. Looking forward to seeing the transformation.

[HUSSEY]

Great looking truck. How did it look after it dried out with the CLR bath? Before I finished reading your first post I though to myself, please Lord don't let there be another clear coated patina truck. Glad to see you're leaving it AS IS.

[robozride]

Originally Posted by HUSSEY

Great looking truck. How did it look after it dried out with the CLR bath? Before I finished reading your first post I though to myself, please Lord don't let there be another clear coated patina truck. Glad to see you're leaving it AS IS.

Ill post some pictures of the after when I start to reassemble. IT came out really good, brought out a lot of the color that you couldn't see and took all of the rusty "haze" off so it gives it a good contrast. I was worried about it looking wet sanded or scratched up so I didn't go crazy with the arm pressure and it looks pretty good. NO! No clear coat for me!

[robozride]

Rear frame is stripped an ready for four link.

[STOCKISH]

Nice, Keep it up! Whose 4 link are you going with?

[robozride]

Originally Posted by STOCKISH

Nice, Keep it up! Whose 4 link are you going with?

Its a Speedway kit for 47-54
that comes with bolt/weld in brackets, bars and shock cross mount. Ill be adding some plating and small c-notches as well.

[STOCKISH]

I am debating on using that same kit. Be sure to post plenty of pics!

[ChuckDriver]

Nice Patina!

[robozride]

So I had a couple days off and installed the rear Speedway four link and a c-notch. The kit installed pretty easy and as you would expect. The low bars bolt on for reference and then the others line off of those. Your supposed to drill for the other bar mounts and shock cross member, but I welded it all in. The only complaints I have are that the instructions are a little vague, but easy enough if you have any experience. Also all of the bolts are big 5/8 fine thread with nylocks and mine came with coarse thread nuts? not easy to find most places. I think in the end I will need to go with shorter shocks or rework the mounts to get it as low as im looking for but wont do either till I get all of the weight back on it.

[DeanTX]

Looks like a nice 4 link kit. Wheels look good too.

[Zoomin]

What axle are you using and how do the bars attach to it?

[robozride]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

What axle are you using and how do the bars attach to it?

Its a 69 Camaro 10 bolt. The brackets upper and lower are welded on.

[lower50's]

So cool you basically bought it from the original owner. Are there any holes in the body at all?

[robozride]

Originally Posted by lower50's

So cool you basically bought it from the original owner. Are there any holes in the body at all?

Yep, it has the guys name and town with aluminum plated letters on the drivers bed side, he used it for a plumbing business. One hole about the size of a 50 cent piece in the passengers cab corner, other than that very solid.

[robozride]

Not a clear photo but here's what I was referring to. Has his name and Higginsville Missouri and the zip, I plan to leave it there, originally had some orange lettering on the door for his business but only little spots remain, not legible at all.

[joedoh]

what a great start!

[Homebuilt Hotrods]

Nice looking truck! Did you order direct from CPP? And did it come with the tubing spacer for the full lower control arm like yours or was that purchased separately? Cant wait to see more. Good work.

[robozride]

Originally Posted by Homebuilt Hotrods

Nice looking truck! Did you order direct from CPP? And did it come with the tubing spacer for the full lower control arm like yours or was that purchased separately? Cant wait to see more. Good work.

I actually bought it on sale from Ebay but it came directly as you see it from CPP with the tubing spacer, power rack, 2"dropped spindles, drilled and slotted rotors and swaybar for $1400.00. Pretty good deal now that I see how well it installs.

[robozride]

So the front end is all installed. Overall im pretty happy with all of the components, the only issue being the springs. They are probably to long as everything is bottomed out and they were a ***** to get in there. I have not installed the steering ends or sway bar links yet as I cant with everything fully extended. Ill wait till I get all of the weight in there but right now.. they don't look good.

So, I installed the shift kit and started readying the trans and motor for merger and installation.