Started My '53 for the First Time

[studda]

First off, sorry for the small novel I have written. Anyway, finally got a nice day here in the Midwest and was able to make some progress on my '53 4400. After more than an hour of rummaging through the shop for a screw to lock the points down, I finally buttoned up the engine and was able to hear it purr. The last time the truck was licensed was 1980 and I don't know how long it's been since it's been started. I replaced the 6 volt coil with a 12 volt internal resistor coil, replaced the points, and put a new condenser in it. Finally, I got fire from this beast and cleaned up the spark plugs, which were all mismatched. My dad primed the carb once while I was cranking it and it started immediately but ran only about five seconds. We did this about five times and, when my dad plugged the carb with his hand while cranking, it started sucking gas through the carb on its own. By this point, when it finally started feeding itself gas, I turned off the choke and stepped out of the cab to walk around the front to hear it smoothly idling and I know now that it's a running truck and that I WILL NOT be transplanting the body onto more modern running gear. The truck has 40K on it and doesn't smoke at all. Later today, I'm getting a new radiator hose, filling up the radiator, and will change the oil to take my maiden voyage.

[12volt]

very nice! I can't wait to start my '63 for the first time in the next few weeks.

[Katrina/10]

Good job!

[mrolds88]

Two thumbs up!!!

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Glad to hear that you are keeping it basically Original.

Looks like a great truck to restore.

Bill

[studda]

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

Glad to hear that you are keeping it basically Original.

Looks like a great truck to restore.

Bill

Yeah, it is a great candidate for restoration. The truck is an exceptionally unmolested truck. Other than the mirrors and sun visors, everything is there. It even has the original air cleaner with it that I have seen on eBay bid to more than $350. That's only $200 less than I paid for the truck complete with title and a pair of extra doors that are in better shape than the ones on the truck. I filled the radiator up and started the truck. It started right up and idled very smooth with no smoke whatsoever. While it was running, I noticed the fuel pump was leaking gas at a considerable rate. I immediately shut it off and was disappointed at another day I couldn't drive it. I'll pick up a pump in the next few days and will hopefully get to drive it around on the farm a little bit real soon.

[studda]

The fuel pump inlet and outlet fittings on the new pump are smaller than the fittings on the old fuel pump. Would it be ok to just use adapters to get it downsized to thread into the new fuel pump or would it be too restrictive on the flow of fuel?

[studda]

I got my fuel pump installed, changed the oil, filled the radiator and took the '53 out for my first drive in it today. I knew it was low geared but, man it is LOW geared. I don't see how I could even get to 45mph in it. It doesn't have brakes but with as slow as it is, that was no issue. I adjusted the parking brake and just used that to stop it. I'll fix the brakes soon. I just couldn't wait to drive it. I also took the head rack off of it and think it looks WAY better.