New Truck!

[a5Ben]

I just bought this 49 3600 and am trying to get it home by the end of the week so that I can try to get it back on the road. Im a newbie when it comes to old trucks so expect a LOT of questions from me. I've already wasted hours and hours reading the old threads on this site, thank god for google!

Anyways here's what the old girl looks like as of right now.




She was taken pretty good care of and was actually bought new in 49 by one of my wife's cousins. I was glad to be able to keep it in the "family" so to speak when the grandson of the original owner past away a few months ago.

I plan to go through the truck and get it back on the road before I decide exactly what I want to do with it long term. It's sooo original it's kind of scary. One change that I can see is that the wooden bed was replaced with a big flat piece of metal. Shouldn't be too hard to grind the welds off I suspect.

So tell me what ya think.

Ben

[Atomsplitter]

Looks like a nice place to start!

How are the usual bad spots like the floors, cab corners, lower door pillars where they connect with the rockers, etc?

[a5Ben]

I'll know more when I get it home and can clean it up but at first look there's no rust anywhere.... Not even surface rust. The frame still has shiny paint, I popped the hub caps off and there's new paint there as well.

The odometer says a little over 23k.. Not sure if that correct but it sure would be cool if it was!

[enick72]

Looks great and very solid. Has it run in the last decade? Enjoy.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Can't wait to see more pics. Looks very straight.
Welcome to the forum !!

[a5Ben]

As I sit here trying to lay out the plans for the truck I wonder if I should try to keep the 3/4 ton rear axel? I know that I want to lower the truck but not enough to require a c notch and I don't want to go the S10 frame route.

If I don't keep it I guess an IFS and maybe a ford 9"? Decisions decisions...

If it were a short bed this might be an easier decision

[jimig1]

Looks like a nice truck. I just got a 55 second series and i must of spent about 48 hours looking at parts and posts and still have not made an final decisions except for fixing the little bit of rust.

[1952ssr]

My '52 was a longbed, and I changed it having a short bed at home. But here are pictures I have of longbeds that I really like, they might help your decision.

[a5Ben]

Are the long beds not as desirable? I just don't see many of them out there as projects..... This one was in such great shape I couldn't NOT get it.

I know I want to get it running with the stock 6 and drive it a little before I start tearing into it.

[panelrodder81]

They are not quite as desirable and a lot of them get cut down to short beds. Personally I say "long and low" is sweet!

Having said that only one of my trucks is a long bed, my 64. The 53 panel is a short bed which I do prefer in the panels.

[a5Ben]

WOW, what a job just getting the truck out of the back yard. It took a 4wd tractor to move it. The brakes finally broke loose and I was able to get it onto the driveway. It's sitting waiting for the rollback in the morning to move it to my house!

I'll get pictures then. The first neat thing I found when it was moved is that it has the original 1949 SC tag still on the front. Score!!

Ben

[T Hilde]

You know, I don't think you are going to like that truck. Let me come take it off your hands.

Seriously, that is a great find. The only real bad thing about the long box is the middle stake pocket. I know a guy in my town that eliminated his and it looks awesome now.

[raycow]

Originally Posted by a5Ben

I wonder if I should try to keep the 3/4 ton rear axel?

You probably won't like the gearing unless you run an overdrive transmission.

Ray

[a5Ben]

And she's home!! Had to get some tires and rims so I could roll her around while I work on the mechanicals.

She cleaned up really great! Tomorrow we clean the inside and try to get her running.



The kids wanted to get involved in the cleanup.

[pgf545]

Man that thing looks like its in great shape. Great score on it!!!! As Atom said the problem areas are the rockers and floor...if that is in good shape I would drive the heck out of it.

Is that a bug eyed Sprite in the garage?

Bernie

[a5Ben]

I'll know more about the floors tomorrow but they look good at first glance.

Yes, that's a Bugeye. It was my last project, I'm waay overdue for a new one.


Ben

[av8tr33337]

That thing is SWEET!! I agree with you on just getting it running for now. You might find you like it and don't want to change it, but if you do decide to update it you are miles ahead of most of the rest of us

[fist5366]

Wow buddy the truck looks really solid and straight. Good luck on the rebuild if you decided to even do one. I would definatly get it running and drive it for a while before you make any major changes. Looks like a great old truck