50's Truck + Snow - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chevyboy73 · 10-01-2012, 09:11 PM

I am looking into a 50's chevy for my first truck (crazy I know) but it snows round here so how do these perform in it? i honesly would have to keep it on the stock chassis until I would be able to buy a 4x4 s10 chassis. You guys might think I am crazy but this a serious thing I would do as I love these trucks. Thanks

**mr48chev** · 10-02-2012, 12:20 AM

If they aren't lowered too much and have some good snow tires on the back along with a couple hundred lbs. of ballast back there to hold the back end down they do great. If the door seals aren't good and the heater isn't kicking out real warm air you might want long johns and a down coat though.
Guys forget that these trucks weren't always classics, collector vehicles or hot rods or customs but just plain work trucks that got used in every condition known to man in the 50's including driving through some fairly deep snow.

More often than not my 48 was my daily driver from 1973 until 2000 except for when I had it down for rebuilds. That included running with studded snow tires on it on a regular basis for at least ten of those winters. It wasn't always easy as since 1981 it has only had bolt in Lexan windows in the door and a puny heater. I was a lot tougher then than I am now though.

andyd00 · 10-02-2012, 01:37 AM

I would recommend doing some sort of protection under the truck to help from all that road salt. The manual drum brakes take a bit to get used to in snow in ice fyi. Other than that, they do just fine. Like said above. It can get cold in there with bad seals. Mine has a stuck vent on the passenger side. I already have to wear a jacket to work. Be sure to carry a jug of deicer as well.

I think the 55+ truck would look great on a stock s10 4x4 height. I've never seen a pre55 on a lifted chassis, so idk.

mknittle · 10-02-2012, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyd00

I would recommend doing some sort of protection under the truck to help from all that road salt. The manual drum brakes take a bit to get used to in snow in ice fyi. Other than that, they do just fine. Like said above. It can get cold in there with bad seals. Mine has a stuck vent on the passenger side. I already have to wear a jacket to work. Be sure to carry a jug of deicer as well.

I think the 55+ truck would look great on a stock s10 4x4 height. I've never seen a pre55 on a lifted chassis, so idk.

the s10 would be way too narrow for a TF truck!

chevyboy73 · 10-02-2012, 05:31 PM

Thanks guys don't seem to bad, my dad had a 54 he drove around that was on a stock chassis and drums and didn't seem too bad for brakes and what not.. But thanks this might keep me thinking!

andyd00 · 10-03-2012, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mknittle

the s10 would be way too narrow for a TF truck!

U R right.

jetnow1 · 10-21-2012, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevyboy73

Thanks guys don't seem to bad, my dad had a 54 he drove around that was on a stock chassis and drums and didn't seem too bad for brakes and what not.. But thanks this might keep me thinking!

Remember that 54 would have had bendix brakes- early trucks had huck brakes, don't remember exactly when they changed over- early 50's or so.
Make sure if you want to drive it more than around town you at least have
the bendix brakes or upgrade to disc brakes. Jim

_Ogre · 10-22-2012, 02:10 AM

i grew up in wisconsin and lived in montana, colorado and wyoming, all while driving late 50s trucks. never had a problem driving in snow or ice, never added winter ballast either. the heaters pretty much suck even with good door seals, much below zero the defrosters have a hard time. run narrow tires will keep your traction maximized. the biggest problem i see is road salt, they use a lot in wi.

chevyboy73 · 10-22-2012, 05:57 PM

thanks guys, a little more convincing and I might get the truck! here's the link of the one I am looking at, don't any of ya'll try to steal it!

http://madison.craigslist.org/pts/3350051309.html

1project2many · 10-22-2012, 11:15 PM

Drove my current 57 all over MT, WY and even down to NB once in snow before it was restored. Heck, I drove it back to MA from MT with a trailer in back on December 18 the day the restoration was officially done and it snowed the entire time I was in WY. I used to fix equipment for the farmers and ranchers at night and in winter I'd let the truck warm for 20-30 minutes before heading out. It'd go from 80 to -10 in the cab in less than a mile. And there was a wicked draft that would find it's way up my left sleeve no matter what I did. At -20 or colder heat just didn't exist, even inside the engine. But I put a lot of miles on that outfit in winter weather and it always did just fine so I'd say go for it. Be sure to oil the daylights out of the undercarriage.

10-01-2012, 09:11 PM	#1
chevyboy73 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sun Prairie, WI Posts: 131	50's Truck + Snow I am looking into a 50's chevy for my first truck (crazy I know) but it snows round here so how do these perform in it? i honesly would have to keep it on the stock chassis until I would be able to buy a 4x4 s10 chassis. You guys might think I am crazy but this a serious thing I would do as I love these trucks. Thanks __________________ 2011 Silverado ECSB LT 2000 Silverado RCSB 2WD super bad habit of not owning a vehicle for a long time

10-02-2012, 12:20 AM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,640	Re: 50's Truck + Snow If they aren't lowered too much and have some good snow tires on the back along with a couple hundred lbs. of ballast back there to hold the back end down they do great. If the door seals aren't good and the heater isn't kicking out real warm air you might want long johns and a down coat though. Guys forget that these trucks weren't always classics, collector vehicles or hot rods or customs but just plain work trucks that got used in every condition known to man in the 50's including driving through some fairly deep snow. More often than not my 48 was my daily driver from 1973 until 2000 except for when I had it down for rebuilds. That included running with studded snow tires on it on a regular basis for at least ten of those winters. It wasn't always easy as since 1981 it has only had bolt in Lexan windows in the door and a puny heater. I was a lot tougher then than I am now though.

10-02-2012, 01:37 AM	#3
andyd00 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 56	Re: 50's Truck + Snow I would recommend doing some sort of protection under the truck to help from all that road salt. The manual drum brakes take a bit to get used to in snow in ice fyi. Other than that, they do just fine. Like said above. It can get cold in there with bad seals. Mine has a stuck vent on the passenger side. I already have to wear a jacket to work. Be sure to carry a jug of deicer as well. I think the 55+ truck would look great on a stock s10 4x4 height. I've never seen a pre55 on a lifted chassis, so idk.

10-02-2012, 05:31 PM	#5
chevyboy73 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sun Prairie, WI Posts: 131	Re: 50's Truck + Snow Thanks guys don't seem to bad, my dad had a 54 he drove around that was on a stock chassis and drums and didn't seem too bad for brakes and what not.. But thanks this might keep me thinking! __________________ 2011 Silverado ECSB LT 2000 Silverado RCSB 2WD super bad habit of not owning a vehicle for a long time

10-22-2012, 02:10 AM	#8
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,680	Re: 50's Truck + Snow i grew up in wisconsin and lived in montana, colorado and wyoming, all while driving late 50s trucks. never had a problem driving in snow or ice, never added winter ballast either. the heaters pretty much suck even with good door seals, much below zero the defrosters have a hard time. run narrow tires will keep your traction maximized. the biggest problem i see is road salt, they use a lot in wi. __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

10-22-2012, 05:57 PM	#9
chevyboy73 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sun Prairie, WI Posts: 131	Re: 50's Truck + Snow thanks guys, a little more convincing and I might get the truck! here's the link of the one I am looking at, don't any of ya'll try to steal it! http://madison.craigslist.org/pts/3350051309.html __________________ 2011 Silverado ECSB LT 2000 Silverado RCSB 2WD super bad habit of not owning a vehicle for a long time

10-22-2012, 11:15 PM	#10
1project2many Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Lakes Region NH Posts: 3,195	Re: 50's Truck + Snow Drove my current 57 all over MT, WY and even down to NB once in snow before it was restored. Heck, I drove it back to MA from MT with a trailer in back on December 18 the day the restoration was officially done and it snowed the entire time I was in WY. I used to fix equipment for the farmers and ranchers at night and in winter I'd let the truck warm for 20-30 minutes before heading out. It'd go from 80 to -10 in the cab in less than a mile. And there was a wicked draft that would find it's way up my left sleeve no matter what I did. At -20 or colder heat just didn't exist, even inside the engine. But I put a lot of miles on that outfit in winter weather and it always did just fine so I'd say go for it. Be sure to oil the daylights out of the undercarriage.



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