Another oddball build 1953 IH I110 pickup

[old Rusty C10]

My wife has been after me for some time to build a fifties pickup in the hotrod state. She has put up with me and countless squarebodies, a 71 monte carlo and the shaggin wagon (that she despises, but supported me in the build) so i figured being that she wants the fifties pickup, id build it as her second classic vehicle. She has the 1966 Mustang i built for her just prior to getting married ( long story short her dad promised her the car when she graduated High School, never gave it to her, then when we were planning marriage she was struck by cancer and we had to postpone marriage for 6 years or so, so i decided to give her the car she always loved as a wedding gift)
I had lots of problems trying to find a fifties chevy truck that wasn't a complete rot box that had a title, and being we were going to modify it, my budget was around $3000. Months of scouring marketplace found me this 1953 International pickup. It looks surprisingly close to a chevy so i snuck out and bought it. Snagged it for $1500 with a title and the whole truck albeit in pieces and a new chevy 6 cyl motor
the goal is to mount it on a squarebody chassis which is a pretty dern near perfict fit she wants coil overs and four link and she wants alot of jewelry on it so all of the mechanics of it are going to be my choice, she gets to pick out the wheels and tires, accessories, interior and exterior colors etc.
I did a tow for a friend and scored a seventies c10 shortbed chassis and the demolition began

[mongocanfly]

Sweet truck Bob...
if it's not rusted out that's a great price you got it for also...
Look close under the dash...IH cowls are notorious for rusting out...

But I'm not sure about the C10...I'm thinking it's to wide to keep the wheels inside the fenders..
Itll be a fun little truck though..I'll for sure watch your progress...
As im sure you know there's no aftermarket support for IH trucks so im sure you've got some custom work ahead of you..
theres really only one decent forum for IHs ..but its geared more towards Scouts , not trucks
But they like everything IH...may be a good place to look for parts if needed..but again, it's a 98% Scout forum

http://www.binderplanet.com

[old Rusty C10]

the wheelbase on the Int is 116 the shortbed is 117.. it works out well on a 2wd truck in fact the wheels are in a little bitbut ive already placed the body up on the frame. The front core support mounts needed to come off and the front cab mounts are also going to come off.
the steps are held on with mounts similar to the side saddle mounts of the C10 gas tanks and i can just bolt them directly on.
it appears the hardest part of this build is going to be rigging up the C10 power brakes and the steering..but all ive done so far is to just stick the body on the frame and held it up in front with some blocks of wood.. betweeen heat and time i havent had much time to do anything else on it time for summer maintenance on the fleet trucks and i dont often get help here
this was fathers day when i had the kids help me transfer the bed over

[mongocanfly]

Looks good Bob...I was concerned about the C10 being to wide, but that looks like a good fit..

[mongocanfly]

another site I had forgotten about ... http://oldihc.org/phpBB3/index.php?f...v0V13vDk3VYEMk

[twinshadows]

Hi there old Rusty C10 . . . .

I have my Dad's old 53 IH 1/2t truck (that I got back in 1974) , and was my
DD for many years. I really have 'two 53's . . . my ol' yellow one is still ALL
stock IH stuff (bought over in Bagdad. AZ = $ 100.00 - & runs). But o-y ,
was bought just for extra body parts , for my Dad's truck . . (the White truck).
Then, back in my Texas days - I was working at 'Richardson Paint & Body Shop'
. . . and our owners would let us use the shop & tools for our personal cars
- - (own our own time , days off) , so we kinda had a good thing going.
Anyway, I didn't really want the old 'binder stuff' . . . I installed a 68
Chevy 250 - I-6 & powerglide ; which is still in my truck , still sitting in my
yard , today . Man, I drove that truck everywhere .
BUT, back then - - I installed the IH body onto a 64 Chevy Impala Frame . . . .
(way before there were any S-10's around) . . . . and, of course I got my
chassis from the body shop (an old Chevy that someone had given to our shop ...... (spell that for free) . But , My concern was . . . I didn't want my IH running boards sitting on top of another truck frame . . . thus, the car frame .

My IH has a 115" wb = 64 Chevy frame has a 120" wb . . . but, almost nobody sees it - - - until I point - it - out . . . but, not too bad .
That makes all my running gear - Chev over the counter parts . . . which is much easier to find.

Plus, I did just like "joedoh" does with his builds . . . I used everything I could
from the 64 car = brake pedal, wiring, steering col. , radiator , ect . . . .
back in the mid 70's .




Kinda "been there" . . . . .

and, not too rob your post . . . . have Fun , and I'm following along,
for sure . . . .
jim

[HAULIN' IT]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looks good Bob...I was concerned about the C10 being to wide, but that looks like a good fit..

I agree! My thinking as I started reading was: "Ohhh, that's gonna be too wide!"

I know a bunch of guys have used Dakota frames for those trucks & would think our square bodies would be 6" or so wider, but must not be. Keep us posted! Lorne