Latest Project 1952 Chevy truck

[wildfifty2]

This poor thing was looking a bit neglected so i decided to bring it home with me.. I am hoping to have it running by the end of next week.. It has been sitting for over twenty years.. Wish me luck!

[mechanixman]

Good luck!
It's a great looking truck!
Can't wait to see how it turns out

[chev3600]

Not a bad start at all. What do you have planned?
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[53 292]

Saw that truck on craigslist. Looks like a solid start!
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[wildfifty2]

Been a while since the 52 was towed home on a trailer.. Since then I have been plugging away in my spare time.. Today the truck took it's first self powered trip around the block (Its first trip in over 25 years).. That should keep me motivated to continue on.. Here is the list so far..

New headlights
New tail lights
New flasher unit..
rebuilt brakes
repainted interior and rebuilt and covered original seat new rubber mats etc..
New rims and wide whites..
All new glass and rubber.. (except the windshield)
cleaned the fuel tank and ran new fuel line. rebuilt the carb
new battery and cables.
new water pump.
New oil and filter
several hundred feet of new wire..
rebuilt the starter. (Original floor starter)
New ignition switch. (Nobody could find the key)

I am pretty sure that I am leaving several projects out.. and refuse to add up the receipts..


Next project is new exhaust...

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by wildfifty2

...I am hoping to have it running by the end of next week....

SSHHHH.....

No one tell him its been SIX MONTHS since he last posted to this thread.

Truck looks really nice, I like what you've done with it... but we need more frequent updates! Your truck would be called "done" by a lot of us here.

Have you considered giving it a wash with CLR and a Scotch Brite pad, then clearing it? You could clear it with rattle can satin and it'll hold fairly decent for awhile.

I'll check back in March 2014 to see your response!

Oh, PS: Did you custom order six lug Rally wheels from someone (who?) or did you modify the hubs some way to make it five lug? Enquiring minds (nosy people) want to know!

[wildfifty2]

Wow.. I can't sneak anything past you guys.. actually the truck was running a week later.. I just could not drive it cause the brakes didn't work and the tires were all flat... I ordered the rims from Summit, They are 6 lug truck rally rims.. They were on sale... They came with free chrome caps, no tax and no shipping.. That is the only was I could justify spending the extra money on the Hurst white walls..

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

SSHHHH.....

No one tell him its been SIX MONTHS since he last posted to this thread.

Truck looks really nice, I like what you've done with it... but we need more frequent updates! Your truck would be called "done" by a lot of us here.

Have you considered giving it a wash with CLR and a Scotch Brite pad, then clearing it? You could clear it with rattle can satin and it'll hold fairly decent for awhile.

I'll check back in March 2014 to see your response!

Oh, PS: Did you custom order six lug Rally wheels from someone (who?) or did you modify the hubs some way to make it five lug? Enquiring minds (nosy people) want to know!

[parkwood]

very nice, and the truck looks great just the way it is....

[wildfifty2]

Thanks.. I hope to lower it a bit soon..

Originally Posted by parkwood

very nice, and the truck looks great just the way it is....

[mr48chev]

You think time moves too slow? Just buy an old truck project and start working on it and the clock looks like a wall fan.

It's amazing how many old trucks of all sizes seem to have just been parked and forgotten over the years. Maybe the owner bought a newer truck and parked the old one out back thinking he would use it to haul trash off or gravel home to save the finish on the new one and pretty soon the battery is dead and the truck is forgotten. My luck has always been in finding the one with the gapping hole in the side of the block where a rod excaped or no engine because the engine was pulled and the truck ended up out in the pasture forgotten. I did buy the 48 as a running driving beater with a brushed on paint job that guys would probably go nuts over now but ten bucks at the car wash took that paint off in sheets.

[wildfifty2]

Try working on 2 projects at the same time.. with very limited free time..

Originally Posted by mr48chev

You think time moves too slow? Just buy an old truck project and start working on it and the clock looks like a wall fan.

It's amazing how many old trucks of all sizes seem to have just been parked and forgotten over the years. Maybe the owner bought a newer truck and parked the old one out back thinking he would use it to haul trash off or gravel home to save the finish on the new one and pretty soon the battery is dead and the truck is forgotten. My luck has always been in finding the one with the gapping hole in the side of the block where a rod excaped or no engine because the engine was pulled and the truck ended up out in the pasture forgotten. I did buy the 48 as a running driving beater with a brushed on paint job that guys would probably go nuts over now but ten bucks at the car wash took that paint off in sheets.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by wildfifty2

and refuse to add up the receipts....

smart man, the less you know, the less she knows
nice projects, both of them

[Dan in Pasadena]

Whew, niiice '56. Still have it?

I was just bustin' yer hump on the whole six months thing.

The truck DOES look very nice. Unless you've got a lot of body work/painting ability OR a lot of money, I'd be tempted to leave the truck as is for a while until it's truly sorted out just the way you want it mechanically. That's just me...YMMV.

What's next on it?

[wildfifty2]

The 56 is still in the garage.. I can't talk my wife out of the other garage stall so the 52 truck sits outside.. The truck was supposed to be a low budget build so i will not be spending too much more on it.. Planning to leave the straight six in it and make it dependable.. The 56 has a big block in it so if i feel like i have the need for speed... i will pull it out of the garage and take it for a spin..

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Whew, niiice '56. Still have it?

I was just bustin' yer hump on the whole six months thing.

The truck DOES look very nice. Unless you've got a lot of body work/painting ability OR a lot of money, I'd be tempted to leave the truck as is for a while until it's truly sorted out just the way you want it mechanically. That's just me...YMMV.

What's next on it?

[Katrina/10]

Good deal on the wheels, I bought some that look just like that from Wheel Vintiques and probably paid a lot more. How do you plan to lower it?

[daveboy]

Sweet. I love it. I also have a '52 that is stock. Where did you get those tires? I love those.

daveboy

[wildfifty2]

I am not sure yet but my budget will not afford airbags... Possible new leaf springs but that only gets me 3 inches..

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

Good deal on the wheels, I bought some that look just like that from Wheel Vintiques and probably paid a lot more. How do you plan to lower it?

[wildfifty2]

The tires are from http://hurstracingtires.com/ several of the members from the forum recommended them..

Originally Posted by daveboy

Sweet. I love it. I also have a '52 that is stock. Where did you get those tires? I love those.

daveboy

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by wildfifty2

I am not sure yet but my budget will not afford airbags... Possible new leaf springs but that only gets me 3 inches..

You realize that the 3 inch dropped leaf springs will probably net you less than that since the original springs had already sagged a bit? The new lowering springs will be 3" lower than stock new springs. DOH!

Since you mentioned keeping the original six cylinder and being on a budget, you might like to see THIS:



I LOVE how this engine looks. It's a 250 built by member N2Billet. He ground a lot of the casting smooth and painted it with automotive paint out of a spray gun. But honestly, I think you could make a passable, non-show truck copy with a GOOD rattle can job and similar finned parts off eBay. Anyway, as much as I love my warmed over 283 this photo always reminds me a six can be made to look outstanding - in my opinion.