47-55.1 1952 GMC flatbed dually - questions?

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by leegreen

Stock rear axle, this probably tops out of 45 MPH, stock brakes you probably don't want to go faster

Many years ago I tested the small magnet idea on a car I knew had lots of bondo as I put it there. The magnet was useless. YMMV
They sell paint thickness detectors now pretty cheap, simple magnet on spring deals and more complex eddy current meters. I don't know if these work.

I'd be more excited by this one if the paint was 30 years old and that was all the rust showing. Look inside rear cab corners for a seam to see if they have been replaced before, if they are original maybe the truck is pretty rust free. If they have been done I'd go on a bondo hunt, check the edges of panels for thickness, bottoms of doors, look behind things for unrepaired rust. Figure out why the cab and bed are not level with each other.

The handheld inspection cameras off Amazon are pretty decent now. I got one of these for my son recently :https://www.amazon.ca/DEPSTECH-Indus...dp/B0928Q3T42/ Way better than the USB snake cams attached to your cell phone.

Most valuable tool for a project inspection is a car guy friend that has not already fallen for the new project.

Good call on the paint thickness tool. I have one and forgot all about it. I'll take it with me tomorrow too. I also have an inspection camera that connects to my cell phone via bluetooth, I'll bring it too.

I highly suspect that the metal bed frame is not original, which is fine by me. The wood that is on top of the frame is cracked and showing signs of age, could be replacement, could be original - did they use wood back then to raise the bed up off the frame?

As for the paint, it looks much better in the photos than it does up close. I would not be too concerned with cutting out the cab corners and welding in replacements and scuffing up the rest of the paint. I have no deep seated desire for another looker, I want a decent project. I'm more concerned with the front axle and the rear axle. I hope there is a front clip that has been replaced for the power steering. I will crawl under for the rear axle and try to find a serial number or something.