47-59 Original and Close to Stock Pics

[Curbfeeler26]

Great story. And in a COWINKEEDINK came across a 63 Ford 4WD at our local cruise night last night with one of your COOL Polar Bear Plates...

[pvienneau]

Original patina and stock throughout.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by pvienneau

Original patina and stock throughout.

Ohhhhhh, damn that's a nice truck!

Brian

[pvienneau]

I like em all.

[Daves54Chevy]

Here's my mostly original 54 3100.
I picked it up in Wisconsin a couple of years ago.
Someone had painted it an awful gold color.
I could see from the engine bay that the original color of the truck was Juniper Green. I started sanding the gold paint and red primer lightly and was surprised to see that if I finessed it with 320 to 1000 grit wet sandpaper that I could get down to the last two layers of green on the truck.
It took me about 3 weeks.
Surprisingly the old paint had held up and there wasn't any rust or rot under all the gold...no body filler either.
Not sure why someone painted it that color.
The chrome grill was painted gold.
I have it running and stopping and looking pretty good for now.
Enjoying the Hell out of it.
3 on the tree and still has the original engine and drive-train.
I think the green is much more period correct.
Here's some before and after shots.
I'm not trying to fake patina...just bringing the patina out from under 3 layers of paint and primer.

[MARTINSR]

HOLY COW what passion you have! I have done that before (sanded off crap paint) and it's a LOT of very tedious work.

You did a heck of a job!

Brian

[pvienneau]

We love the new patina.

[Daves54Chevy]

Thanks Pat

[Daves54Chevy]

Thanks Brian...I'm usually not that focused to do such a thing but it was cool seeing what was underneath. Every inch was a new paint job.

[Volfandt]

I'm the 2nd owner of this 49 3100. I bought it from the heirs of the original owner whom I knew. It was parked in 69 and sat in a barn until I bought it 5 yrs ago. It's still 6v, mostly stock and still running the original 216 with a rebuilt head. I've added turn sigs, the chrome grill, chrome bumpers, reupholstered bench seat and door panels, some tongue and groove paneling for the bed and radial tires. I drive it every weekend.

[MARTINSR]

Oh DAAAAAAAMN that's cool!

Brian

[Curbfeeler26]

My kind of weekend Grocery Getter... Cool Ride

[mdpaulson1]

here are 2 shots of my truck when I first bought it in 1972. still own it and will drive it tonight to a local show

[68blackbird]

Originally Posted by mdpaulson1

here are 2 shots of my truck when I first bought it in 1972. still own it and will drive it tonight to a local show

^^^^ Awesome^^^^

[Dilligas]

100% stock for now.

[Dilligas]

A couple more pictures.

[MARTINSR]

So damn cool like that. What do you plan on doing?

Brian

[Dilligas]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

So damn cool like that. What do you plan on doing?

Brian

I just received a power front disc brake kit and some lap belts. That's all for now, just want to make it a little safer to drive.

[MARTINSR]

And honestly you don't have to have disc brakes, I drive a car with tiny 1.5 inch by 9 inch drums every single day. Unless you are spending a lot of time on windy roads in the mountains and stuff like that you do not need those discs.

Brian

[Dilligas]

With my 13 year.old son wanting to ride in it I will feel safer with improved braking. I just hope everything fits, they told me it will with a replacement cross member.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Dilligas

With my 13 year.old son wanting to ride in it I will feel safer with improved braking. I just hope everything fits, they told me it will with a replacement cross member.

I hear you but honestly driving habits are WAY more important than the brake components. I fix cars every single day with GIANT disc brakes, the driver didn't put their foot on the brake pedal and push on it soon enough was the problem.

Believe me, study traffic as I have and you will find it's up to your driving more than anything. I feel the same way about my loved ones believe me, I give a ride to my daughter to school every single day with those drum brakes.

Under most circumstances there is ZERO difference between the disc and the drum. The distance you have left between you and the car ahead of you is the difference.

Brian

[Dilligas]

I agree with what you are saying, it's hard to drive this truck recklessly. My concern is other drivers, I am hoping this improves my braking but it may make very little difference.

[Foot Stomper]

Originally Posted by Dilligas

I agree with what you are saying, it's hard to drive this truck recklessly. My concern is other drivers, I am hoping this improves my braking but it may make very little difference.

Brian's got great advice...because I happen to agree...haha

Seriously, do your research on your disc conversion because there's countless threads on the web about guys losing braking distance and performance because they didn't do them properly.

I'll echo Brian by saying that properly maintained and setup drums will stop as efficiently and effectively as discs.

By the way, I really like your stocker! I like to call them time capsules when they haven't been messed with.

Cheers!

[Dilligas]

I can understand the disc vs drum not making a big difference, what I was really looking for is the power assist. Do you see that making a noticeable difference in stopping? My mechanic friend is supposed to help me install the kit next weekend, should I rethink this? I already have everything to do it but don't want to do something I'll regret.

[Foot Stomper]

Disc brakes won't stop your truck any faster than drum brakes when setup correctly. Easy to setup correctly too.