1955 Chevy 3600 “9 Years or Less”

[MadManAndrew]

Finally have a garage big enough to fit a truck in so I decided to drag this thing home. Between the truck, a tow home, and used tires to get it rolling I’m in for $1136. Is that a good deal? The truck needs EVERYTHING. I figure it will be a good way to teach my son about working with his hands and my goal is just to have it done by the time he’s old enough to drive it!

[joedoh]

great starting point, great price too. what are your plans besides making your HOA mad?

[MadManAndrew]

Originally Posted by joedoh

what are your plans besides making your HOA mad?

😂😂 I tried to get it in the garage as quick as possible so the neighbors wouldn’t have a fit! I don’t have any concrete plans but I’m trying to formulate some ideas. I know the look I want at least: Toyota Quicksand tan with black bumpers/grill/light buckets/wheels/etc. Not any crazy stanced/drop or anything but some nice fat tires. Thinking a 350 crate with 4L60 trans. We’ll see what happens!

[dug224]

Originally Posted by MadManAndrew

😂😂 I tried to get it in the garage as quick as possible so the neighbors wouldn’t have a fit!.......... I know the look I want at least: Toyota Quicksand tan .....We’ll see what happens!

Nice project. It's pretty interesting what goes on behind closed doors in neighborhoods with restrictive covenants. Good choice on the color. It actually appealed to me to the extent that I asked a guy the other day with this color what color his Toyota truck was. Subscribed.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by MadManAndrew

😂😂 I tried to get it in the garage as quick as possible so the neighbors wouldn’t have a fit!

I am convinced that HOA boards are made up of shaved koala bears and they see homeowners as bamboo.


getting rid of that 8 lug hardware will drop it a good bit and make it ride 10000X better, count me in! I am building one (55-57, hopefully with a later fleetside bed) as soon as a find the right truck.

[MadManAndrew]

Originally Posted by joedoh

I am convinced that HOA boards are made up of shaved koala bears and they see homeowners as bamboo.


getting rid of that 8 lug hardware will drop it a good bit and make it ride 10000X better, count me in! I am building one (55-57, hopefully with a later fleetside bed) as soon as a find the right truck.

For the time being I am planning to keep the stock running gear. Maybe the first thing I drop after the truck is “done”, but for now I plan to keep it. I’ve always had a thing for HD trucks so I like it. If I was gonna swap running gear I would probably want to go 4wd anyway so I don’t think I would improve the ride much.

[joedoh]

the plate looks to be there in your picture?

your truck is still all together so before you take anything apart just schedule with the texas DMV to have a new VIN assigned. tell them you will absolutely keep it stock and you plan to title it immediately, in case they want to give you a non-highway (means needs reinspected after completing) registration. if the number is on that blue plate in the door jamb you are goldenrod.

I dont think the vin is on the frame till the 60s, but I may be wrong. most times the trucks were titled on the ENGINE number, which could have been changed so defintely take care of this while its still complete and original. taking care of it after doing all the swapping is a nice way to have a 2019 (or 2028) titled truck.

Originally Posted by MadManAndrew

For the time being I am planning to keep the stock running gear. Maybe the first thing I drop after the truck is “done”, but for now I plan to keep it. I’ve always had a thing for HD trucks so I like it. If I was gonna swap running gear I would probably want to go 4wd anyway so I don’t think I would improve the ride much.

at least switch to 1/2 ton axles and springs, the 8 lug is 3/4 or 1 ton, the rear axle will probably be 5.14 or higher ratio, and the springs will ride like square wheels without any weight on them. its not like modern 3/4 tons that still ride ok, those were purpose built, 45mph top speed (with a 1:1 4th gear), ride like a buckboard empty REAL truck.

not telling you how to do it, just info if you hadnt thought of it. for yuks and giggles, just count that rear spring pack. you could probably take out SIX OR SEVEN leafs.

[_Ogre]

"9 years or less" at least your realistic with you timeline
texas sun must be brutal to bake all that paint off
up here in salt country old vehicles rust from underneath, once you see rust, it's pretty well gone

[MadManAndrew]

Well I need help! The truck didn’t come with a title... I assumed this was NBD; the truck is 63 years old and obviously hasn’t run in decades, why would it have a title? Well, I hadn’t been able to get the drivers door open since I bought the truck, but today, I finally got in the cab and laid on my back and kicked and kicked on the door until it flew open... to find that the vin plate is missing. #$@&! I’ve read that the vin should also be on the frame near the steering box and on the motor somewhere, but I can’t find them. Does anybody have pictures or know exactly where these are located so I can file for my title?

[MadManAndrew]

Definitely unaware of how bad the suspension was on these trucks. Thanks for the info.

The plate does not contain the vin. Vin should be where arrow is pointing but is not. AFAIK it would be difficult to impossible to get a new vin for this thing without being able to prove its original VIN. Really hoping I can just find it somewhere else on the truck.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by MadManAndrew

AFAIK it would be difficult to impossible to get a new vin for this thing without being able to prove its original VIN. Really hoping I can just find it somewhere else on the truck.

i dont think that is true, looking into it briefly turned up texas document VTR-68-A https://content.govdelivery.com/atta...8-A_SAMPLE.pdf

this may be new to you but they have seen it before no doubt, in the "important" section it says that if the original VIN can not be determined a new one will be assigned. and the "vehicle theft investigator" they refer to is usually a state trooper, or at least it is in kansas.

I am familiar (now that you show it) with those type of VIN plates, they used them through the 60-66 models (which did have a frame VIN on the left front rail) and for a lot of years they just fell off because they were spot welded (poorly) in little dimples on the plate, I think in 64 they started riveting them. you can mention that to the DMV too, that the spot welds sometimes failed even under the BEST circumstances, but they are probably familiar with that detail too.

make sure you take your chain of ownership, and any proof you have of how long it sat. here in kansas trucks are sold on bills of sale when they havent been registered in a long time, and even if you have an old title they tell you not to bring it because after 20-25 years they drop registrations and an old title is just a historical document. be honest, dont answer anything you dont know, they have done it before and you can get a new VIN assigned on an old rusty pile of parts a lot easier than a 2003 ford focus.

[Fitz57]

Vin numbers on frame in two places. Under cab on top of frame drivers side. Gonna need a mirror or pic with phone to see it. On top of frame behind steering box. Going to need some serious scraping to see it.

[MadManAndrew]

Originally Posted by Fitz57

Vin numbers on frame in two places. Under cab on top of frame drivers side. Gonna need a mirror or pic with phone to see it. On top of frame behind steering box. Going to need some serious scraping to see it.

Would it be the same for a '55? The frame in the engine compartment was pretty clean already, gave it a little scrub and sure doesn't look like there was ever any number there. Under the cab is pretty rusty but I gave it the mirror treatment and didn't see anything there either.

[joedoh]

i dont remember the frame number under the cab thing on 55-59 trucks, only on tri five (55 56 57) chevy CARS. I have heard people say the production number (not a full VIN) is stamped in front of the steering box on the top of the framerail but I have never seen one personally.


that motor number is gone for sure, probably a remanufactured engine somewhere in history.

also, its worth noting that a few weeks ago a guy showed a 55.2 GMC that had a 55.1 style frame under it from the factory. if the chevys did the same thing that may be why the VIN Isnt stamped there on a 3/4 ton.

[MadManAndrew]

I realized today that the badging on the hood and fenders are '55 which really excited me. A '55 Chevy would have been titled by the motor's serial number in Texas. However, when I scrubbed the motors serial plate clean it was completely blank. I looked up the casting codes and it IS a '56 motor. Is this thing making me lose my mind already or did somebody swap a '56 motor into this '55 Chevy and grind the serial number off?

[joedoh]

there ya go! fingers crossed for you

[MadManAndrew]

Also, the serial verifies it is in fact a ‘55 so there’s that. Need to figure out how to change the thread title now.

[joedoh]

woop woop!

dont worry about changing the thread, just get to work!

[MadManAndrew]

I've been waiting to get approved for a title before I do any work on the truck. Today I finally got my title application back in the mail with a big rejected stamp and a letter saying that the VIN I supplied has never been titled in Texas and will have to be inspected. The fun part is that the vehicle has to be brought to the inspection station, about 30 miles from my residence... Fun!

[joedoh]

well at least you havent taken it apart.

if its run by the troopers, like it is in my state, usually you can get the local troop to send a guy out to you and do the paperwork.

[MadManAndrew]

Today was the day! Today was the day I actually started working on this truck. My appointment for VIN inspection was Thursday. I had to load the truck up and take it 35 miles South to the inspection station. At first the officer told me the truck was “unidentifiable”, but after some back and forth and him discussing it with his superior for 30 minutes, they finally certified it with the full serial number including the first “J” even though that is missing on the serial number stamped on the frame. Then I had to take my inspection certificate back 70 miles North to the DMV regional service center to get my application for bonded title approved. I left my house at 8am to pick up the trailer and I didn’t walk out of the DMV until after 5, so this was an all day affair. Anyway, then, Friday, after buying a $6000 title bond I got to take all that paperwork 40 miles southeast to my county tax office to get my actual title. What a PITA this all way, but at least I am getting a title.

Is there anything specific I should try to keep? Goal right now is to get it torn down to cab and chassis.

[MadManAndrew]

Front clip’s off. Don’t know if I’ll strip the cab or bed next... probably the cab since I’ve been piling parts in the bed. 🤦🏻*♂️

[MadManAndrew]

Doors off, seat and gas tank out, bed cleaned out.

Got cordless grinder for Christmas, had to come up with some sort of organization to get all the tools and chargers off my workbench.

[joedoh]

ah the joys of a small garage build, space is at a premium!

looking good!

[Oldtruckwelder]

Nice project MadMan.
Great patience dealing with title.
Thanks for sharing.
JT from SC