New to the forum..looking for some opinions/advice

[mark '87 930]

I am in the process of purchasing a 55-57 3100 and have two that I've narrowed it down to.
a little history about me...I'm way up north in Canada, so this truck will be a summer driver for me. We have a cottage 1.5hrs north of hte city where i'll be spending most of my time and driving to and from once a week with this truck as it'll be our second car during the summer months.

Needless to say, I'll be paying attention to fuel mileage a little bit but it's not too important. I'm in the process of selling an older Porsche that isn't the greatest on gas anyhow, so I'm used to paying for gas.. The two I'm looking at are pictured below. Both are askign the same money. I am very much partial to the a manual transmission

The black truck ('57) is in slightly better shape and has a nice bed with a period correct rear bumper. Both have all steel bodies and no visible rust or repair work. Frame is solid and straight, has a sbc and turbo 350 transmission in it. The interior is in very good shape, but I'm not liking the contrast between the orignal colors and the mat black paint that was chosen.

The wite truck ('56) is in good shape also, just shy of the black when it comes to cleanliness. The windshield has a crack on the passenger side, the bed is just a sheet of plywood and the bumper is from another era truck, however she is ready to haul with (I have 2 dirtbikes and a boat that i haul a very short distance 1 a year). It does have a manual 4 speed which i really like though and the interior is a more neutral color. Speedo and temperature gauges don't work.

Is it more work and money to change out the auto to a manual transmission, or should i jsut change out a windshield and build a bed on the the white one? The only thig the black truck has going for it is that the bed, the ignition system has been changed to HEI, the chrome bumper and slightly nicer shape.

Lots to read, I know.. but I'm new to trucks, go easy on me.

[entourageguy]

Welcome to the site. Lots of info here and a lot of great people. Where are you located? I'm just north of Newmarket and head up north of Barrie. If you ever need a 2nd pr of eyes looking at a truck let me know.

4 spd or auto? just depends on your driving. 4 spd is fun but city driving it can get to you depending on the set up. Auto is nice. Rear end gearing is a factor as well for heading north. Paint can hide a lot as well.

[Kim57]

Welcome.
Both trucks look pretty clean from the pics.
Entourageguy is correct that paint can hide a lot of things so I would crawl underneath and take real good look at the cab corners.
I'm partial to an auto over a stick.
Changing a window would be easier than changing the trans.
Good luck with your choice.
Kim

[jimig1]

Yeah make sure you look at the cab corners. I though my cab was in way better condition when I bought it. I ended up sand blasting the whole cab and removing about 2 gallons of bondo and i have to redo the bad patch job they did. If you can get something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/FILLER-DETEC...ht_1417wt_1396 and check the few areas that are know for problem (cab corner, bottom rear of the front fenders, ect) could end up saving you in the long run.

[mark '87 930]

Good info, thanks. The white cab I was able to get underneath easily as he had a hoist. There was no visible rust or repair from underneath, but checking for bondo at the cab corners is a good idea. Would a magnet work just as well? I got a feeling the black truck may have had some work.

I'm assuming you mean the lower cab corners (all 4 of them). I also didn't see any rust in the upper windshield section inside the cab like I've seen on many others.

[jimig1]

magnet will work just be careful some people freak when you do it jut put something thin between the magnet and body.

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by jimig1

magnet will work just be careful some people freak when you do it jut put something thin between the magnet and body.

Welcome from Southern Arizona, (once removed from the K-W area!!)

For some reason I like the white one, don't have a reason just like the pic.!
The items you mentioned are easy to correct to your liking just follow the suggestions.
When you use a magnet put a $100.00 bill under it it will feel better!

[mknittle]

Both look good in the pics but it's hard to tell. both being equal......... I an just glad it's not my decision. lol I am partial to the 55-56 though.

Good luck on the choice Mark

[mr48chev]

I don't see the black paint as a final finish, it looks like primer and it looks like the guy finished the interior of the truck and didn't get the outside painted.

My daily has a turbo 350 and I can't knock it. I like driving a stick but sometimes it's nice to just get in pull the lever into drive and go. If the other truck has the original four speed it will be a compound four speed and may be a bit noisy at this time in the game.

I'm liking the white truck myself. it looks finished all around enough that you can take it to a show and not feel you have to hide it out back but it isn't so detailed out that you will want to pass on loading one of the dirt bikes in it and heading out to your favorite riding spot. And it looks good enough that your wife will let you park it out front instead of making you park in the alley behind the house.

[mark '87 930]

it looks good enough that your wife will let you park it out front instead of making you park in the alley behind the house

lol She's gonna drive it actually... so it's got to be reliable and not finicky like our sports car was.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Put a Pertronix in the one w/o the HEI = $200 +/-
for hauling and towing not sure why you'd want a factory bumper other than apearance (I much prefer them too). They got for about $225
same $$ +/- for a windshield. To me, all those variables are extremely minor considerations versus rust and mechanical reliability. Remember that you're choosing a 55 yr old vehicle so don't be over-the-top in your reliability expectations.

Last? Each of those almost invariably HAS cancer, you just haven't found it yet. Headlight brows, vent/"kick" panels inside. It's almost certainly there.
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[mark '87 930]

I figured i have about $900 to put into the white truck to initially get it to where i want... and the black truck would be about 1400 if i decide to revert to a manual transmission, but it would be way more work.

I'll be focusing on the body the most i think as that is the work i DO NOT enjoy to do or want to do. Thanks for the great input everyone.

[mark '87 930]

ok.. so here's an update...
I saw both trucks back to back yesterday and here are the pro's and cons.. plus a couple of pics i snapped of the white truck.

Black truck
Pro's
1) Body is in better shape than the white truck
2) has a bed but needs wood to be refinished
3)beautiful front and rear chrome bumpers
4)HEI
5) aluminum intake


Con's
1)automatic tranny
2) mat black paint (I would paint to the original blue to match the interior)
3)Header is smashed in (restricted to half diameter) on the cylinder closest to driver to clear the steering knuckle. Engine was moved forward (seems common) a little to fit HEI.
4)No trailer hitch
5) 3 of the gauges are not even there(temp., pressure, amp) but has aftermarket ones (I want to go back to original
6)bench seat is covered with ugly
7) Don't like dog dish wheels

White truck

Pro's
1) Manual 4sp
2)has a tonneau cover
3) already has mag wheels
3)Slightly lower purchase price
4) Trailer hitch on a newer style bumper is already there
5) gauges work
6) bearings, front end/steering and brake lines have recently been replaced

Con's
1) body is rusty on cab corners of passenger side and seems to be a little at the rocker (how hard is it to fix that (with metal))
2) bed is just plywood.
3)Front chrome bumper needs to be refinished, and there is no rear chrome bumper (i like the chrome bumpers)
4) Wondshield is cracked on passenger side, but can be driven that way
5) Drivers side window is crack but still functional
6) Speedo not working

Up until last night, I thought I was going with the white one.. and this morning I searched blue trucks and thought I could just paint the black one to match the blue interior...but I'd want to do that right away. How touch is it to fixe body rust? Sheet metal hard to work with? I';ve never done that before and not keen on it.. but it's onyl seemingly little sections.

[mark '87 930]

I should also state that I found no bondo on either..but the white truck is defintely going to need some repair at some point.. if you want to do that.. I could drive it for years in the summer and not worry about that stuff. The black one I'd wnat to drop a few g's immediately to get rid of the color...I guess i could live with the auto for awhile too.

I confused! ahhh.. to have problems like this! lol

[Russell Ashley]

Both trucks look to be decent. I can't make your decision but if it were me I'd take the black one, especially if it has the better body of the two. From what I see the white one is going to need some patch panels.
I'm a little biased though because the black one already has the interior painted the color I want to paint mine.

[Kim57]

I think the rust issues would keep me away from the white one. If you have experience with doing panel replacement it's not that bad. With rust there's always more than what you see and it can get real expensive and time consuming in a hurry.
Kim

[azsnow]

The main question is what year do you like better? If you like the 56 better (white) then get it, the 57 (black) has a hood and grill that are unique to this year and are expensive to replace. All of the issues you have mentioned are minimal. Grab the 57 because it has a lower purchase price, slap on a grey primer job to make it more to your liking, and then fix the small issues one at a time. I just bought a set of headmen headers for my Cameo for $150 from summit, and they went on in about 15 min.

[mark '87 930]

you mean grab the '56 ? That one is cheaper and I could do little things as opposed to paint... I actually prefer the grill and look of the 56

[mark '87 930]

ok.. so i went wiht the white one... It's anew challenge fo rme to do some metal work.. so it should be fun..

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by mark '87 930

ok.. so i went wiht the white one... It's anew challenge fo rme to do some metal work.. so it should be fun..

Cool.

Are you going to buy a MIG welder, Angle grinder, body tools, etc and do it yourself?

[mark '87 930]

I have most tools with the exception of a MIG welder , and of course the welding skill.. I'll have to learn that. not lookig for a show truck, but will want to elimiate the rust for sure eventually.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ha ha, I can relate. I HAVE the MIG welder (a Hobart 140), I just haven't used it yet. Good luck, post pictures as it develops.

[entourageguy]

congrat on the purchase. Keep up with the pictures.
Are you going to the flea market this Sunday at the international center?

Brian

[mark '87 930]

I didn't know there was a flea market, much less a local one.

[STEVE60]

In a case like this, you can only lose. Now you are in the same boat as the rest of us, once your in it you can't get out. We have already seen that you can take pictures, so all progress will have to be shown. I will be the first to tell you, you should have got the '57. Only because that is what I have.
Seriously, both trucks looked pretty good. Alot less rust than mine. Looks like a good start. Keep us updated,
Good Luck Steve