Marvin (1953 3100)

[torchlight]

Originally Posted by wolffcub

Truck looks great! The one picture thru the rear window into the cab got me all horny for a second. I thought you actually did something funky and installed a wood slat floor in the cab to match the bed but then noticed it was the reflection of the box wood lol.

Haha, it does kind of look like that! Just carpet for me, but I did see a 59 chevy with that kind of cab floor in the May 2016 copy of Classic Trucks Magazine. Looks real nice! See http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/...than-a-beater/

[dug224]

Spectacular! dug

[4DSEVEN]

Wow super nice!! Congrats!

[torchlight]

Well, I've been enjoying the good weather and putting some miles on. Marvin drives so nicely, it is almost hard to believe he's the same old truck! Plenty of power, sounds great, smooth ride, and solid handling. A/C has been nice too, with these recent warm weeks. It has been a dream come true to drive him around town!

You know what they say, a project is never really "done," and maybe that's true here also. Have had a couple gremlins to work out - squealing belt, leaking power steering reservoir. Those types of things will probably be a part of life this first year or so to get things really dialed in. Also, decided to add a pinstripe around the beltline of the cab, and I think it turned out really sharp!

I'm looking forward to the Goodguys car show in Des Moines in a couple weeks - will have Marvin there on the Saturday and Sunday of that show. If anyone is going to be at the show, please don't hesitate to come say hello!

[*Kenny]

Beautiful truck man! Enjoy it!

[MIKESAD50]

Marvin came out very nice! you driving much?
How is the battery working out? If I recall you mounted an Odessey under the seat?

[torchlight]

Originally Posted by MIKESAD50

Marvin came out very nice! you driving much?
How is the battery working out? If I recall you mounted an Odessey under the seat?

Driving quite a bit! Almost any chance I can get. No long road trips yet, though. The Oddysey battery under the seat has been perfect. Sure, it is a small battery, but it has not failed to turn the motor over effortlessly. Probably wouldn't want to run one in the winter, but not an issue here. I really like the under-seat location for keeping it hidden and keeping the engine bay nice and clean.

[oldman3]

Looks sweeeeet...Jim

[torchlight]

Hey everybody, just a quick update here as we get closer to the end of the summer. Been driving Marvin everywhere that I can and just having a blast! Just a couple small changes recently to share:

Made an adjustment to the coil-overs on all four corners. I'm guessing that the front shocks had "settled" a bit with the driving I've been doing, and the front fenders were down over the tires farther than I prefer, and the back end was starting to kick up pretty high over the rear tires. Started to be at the point where it had quite a rake to it, and mismatched fender/tire openings, so re-adjusted things to get the running boards as close to level with the ground as I could. I think this is better than the rake look on this truck:


Also, used a leaking upper radiator hose as an opportunity to have the steam-port tubing re-done. The way it was before was perfectly functional, but not the cleanest looking install. Here's the new approach, which is plumbed directly into the water pump:


A couple more pics of the new steam tube setup:




For reference, here's a picture of the old setup. I think the new way makes the engine bay look a little cleaner:


And finally, for fun, I had been working on a "garage improvement" project for Marvin to give him a safe place to hang out free from the dangers of bicycles, razor scooters, and hula hoops. Not a lot of room in here to maneuver, but the shelves and drawers make it so that all the "truck stuff" can now be removed from other parts of the home and kept in here. Still working on that, haha:


Marvin looks pretty comfy tucked away in his new "house:"

[Hampshire]

Good move! - much nicer stance....

[Advanced Design]

The steam port plumbing change does clean that up a bit. Looks good.

And the garage space looks perfect to keep incidental damage away.

Glad you've been enjoying Marvin!

[joedoh]

good googly moogly thats a pretty truck!

[BlueJeep]

I got to see Marvin at GoodGuys, very nice truck! I especially like how they did the back of the hood, adding another layer to it like a doorskin to keep it rigid (wish I'd have seen that 6 months ago before mine was painted). The back of the hood flopping around and hitting the cowl is the biggest rattle I'm dealing with now in my truck.

Nice, safe location to keep him in!

[ChuckDriver]

Beautiful!

[torchlight]

Hey thanks all for the supportive comments - having the most fun sharing Marvin with with community!

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

I got to see Marvin at GoodGuys, very nice truck! I especially like how they did the back of the hood, adding another layer to it like a doorskin to keep it rigid (wish I'd have seen that 6 months ago before mine was painted). The back of the hood flopping around and hitting the cowl is the biggest rattle I'm dealing with now in my truck.

Nice, safe location to keep him in!

Thanks for stopping to take a look! I don't think we got the chance to chat? I might have been off running around somewhere - possibly buying a corn dog. Or two. Looks like this was on Saturday afternoon once the rain finally stopped. Fun show!

Originally Posted by Donnie Lee

Beautiful Truck, i've read thru the build at least 1/2 doz times, lots of great details to see. In post above by BlueJeep he mentions additional layer to back of hood, i can't find this in the build, how/what was added to increase rigidity?

I don't have any good pictures handy right now, but there was some additional metal added along the entire length of the back edge of the hood where it meets the cowl. When I get home from my work travel later this week, I will take a couple pictures and post them up!

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by torchlight

Thanks for stopping to take a look! I don't think we got the chance to chat? I might have been off running around somewhere - possibly buying a corn dog. Or two. Looks like this was on Saturday afternoon once the rain finally stopped. Fun show!

I scanned the area and none of the guys near it looked like they owned it, so yeah the corn dog stand must have been calling you. It is a nice show, thought it's usually MUCH hotter than it was this year.

[oldman3]

Stance looks great, nice storage area for Marv....Jim

[Donnie Lee]

Beautiful Truck, i've read thru the build at least 1/2 doz times, lots of great details to see. In post above by BlueJeep he mentions additional layer to back of hood, i can't find this in the build, how/what was added to increase rigidity?

[ken sungela]

Beautiful build. I'm about to start working on a '53 myself. Can you show some pics of the metal work you added to the hood to make is more rigid?

[iowaboynca]

Konga Ratz on the ToTM win!

[mongocanfly]

Congrats!!!

[joedoh]

still gorgeous! congrats on TOTM

[oldman3]

Well deserved win, congrats...Jim

[sqweaka]

fantastic build ... can i ask how you latched the glove box doors? magnets?

[torchlight]

Originally Posted by sqweaka

fantastic build ... can i ask how you latched the glove box doors? magnets?

Thanks! Yep, magnets for both doors. Easy peasy. Very easy to open and close the doors but also really holds them shut tight - no rattling or popping open unexpectedly. Highly recommend!