My 1950 Chev Pickup 3600 Project

[Dodger]

Hey all,

Just purchased this 50 after 8 odd months of searching the net daily. They of course are not as common here in Australia so we are not that spoilt for choice but luck came my way and this one came up for sale about 120 kms away from me.

It was imported from New Mexico in 2008 and has pretty much just sat, locked away in a shed since. It's never been registered here in Oz so the project and rego dilemmas (hopefully not to many) begins.

It must be a mighty dry place over there in New Mexico because I simply cannot find any rust in the body. Very very clean.

Hope it's cool for us foreigners to post here as we just don't have a dedicated forum with the extreme amount of knowledge I've seen here to post on.

Cheers,


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[Dodger]

Here's some more shots taken the day I got the truck home.

Hope they turn out, some may be a little dark.























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[Sillyoldman]

Welcome! Great looking truck.

[Dodger]

The old girl has next to no brakes so Thought that getting them sorted would be a good place to start so pulled the hubs.

Not pretty that's for sure so will rebuild the lot.

It already has a new master cylinder but clearly the wheel cylinders etc need replacing.

Here's some pics of the worst one and the container of dirty junk is full of the busted up wheel cylinders.

Dropped them in to a local brake specialist and they are rebuilding them to, as they say "new condition".










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[Katrina/10]

How's that v8 mounted in there? what type front suspension does it have?

[Chris.]

Looks great! Yes new mexico is a desert
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[Dodger]

Thanks for the comments.

Not sure what you mean re how the V8 is mounted Katrina. Has been in there for a long time by the looks. All suspension is stock for now although with the extra weight of the heavier motor, plus time, the front springs are pretty flattened out.

Be a shame to change the ride height and in actual fact, lower would be better.

The idea is to get it registered and then play with ride height etc.

Our vehicle inspectors don't like too many modifications from stock when approving the licensing of an imported vehicle for the first time.

Once licensed however - we're off and running!
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[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Dodger

Once licensed however - we're off and running!

i like your thought process. i read of people building a truck and then straighten out the title and paperwork,
only to find out that they can't get it reg/licensed/insured.

i can't blame anyone for wanting a yellow truck
looks like a good truck to start with, no rust on the floor is a good sign, no linings on the brakes is not
welcome to the forum

[Dodger]

Thanks Ogre, which is something our vehicle inspectors can be at times (no disrespect mate!).

Rust situation or lack thereof looks really really good. Anything else I should be looking for re the brake condition that might go hand in hand somewhere else on the truck?

Also, has any one got any preference re what to use to cover up, protect the pretty bare metal of the frame and under fenders etc. Will have to do something because down here, unlike New Mexico obviously, If i don't paint with something it will corrode over time.

Prefer not to slop on any thick tar like goo. Something neat and easy to apply would be good.

Cheers
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[Katrina/10]

Originally Posted by Dodger

Thanks for the comments.

Not sure what you mean re how the V8 is mounted Katrina. Has been in there for a long time by the looks. All suspension is stock for now although with the extra weight of the heavier motor, plus time, the front springs are pretty flattened out.

Be a shame to change the ride height and in actual fact, lower would be better.

The idea is to get it registered and then play with ride height etc.

Our vehicle inspectors don't like too many modifications from stock when approving the licensing of an imported vehicle for the first time.

Once licensed however - we're off and running!
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The v8 did not come in the truck originally, so I was wondering what kind of motor mounts and steering setup it has.

[Dodger]

Got the wheel cylinders back from Perth Brake Parts. They did a great job of refurbishing them and making up a couple of hoses for me.

They turned out very well for 63 year old parts. Very happy. Just need to get the drums machined and brake shoes re lined and I should be good to go!

First pic is a container of the wheel cylinders that literally fell apart when I took them off.

The next is those same parts after refurbishment.






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[_Ogre]

nice work on the rebuilt wheel cylinders.
if you can get riveted brake shoes, that would be my choice.
you can see where the glue let loose on the previous re-line of the brakes.

[Dodger]

Good point Ogre but the shop guy says bonding will probably be the go.

Longer term the plan is to swap out front and rear ends with that will include disc brakes. For now, in the shorter term, get it all up and running in as original shape as possible for the purposes of licensing as anything that deviates away from stock on an import that is being licensed for the first time needs engineers report etc etc.

Hopefully bonded shoes will last a reasonable time and when funds allow, I'll do the swap.
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[dug224]

Great condition to start with. Keep the photos coming. dug

[Dodger]

Thanks Dug, will keep the pics rolling. Enjoyed reading your build thread mate. You have skills way beyond my level that's for sure!

By the way Ogre, in Dug's thread - what's all this about??

"At least those Aussie 's didn't steal it off down under"
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__________________
cool, an ogre smiley ogre's 58 truk... ogre's interior build
if necessity is the mother of invention, poverty is the mother of necessity - plato

Can't we call it sharing instead of stealing? Lol
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[_Ogre]

well... since you didn't import it and it was already down under
i couldn't scream ''quick seal the borders, those aussies are stealing our tin''

share away, saved tin is saved tin

[Dodger]

Katrina,

Took some pics of the engine mounts and steering.








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[Dodger]

Seat is out and I'm into the sanding and painting of the seat frame. Then I'll hook into the floor and get that tidied up and painted.

The idea is is everything will be flat paint, inside and out once it's all done. Not for everyone I know but that's how this one will be.





My young bloke getting a bit of cleaning and sanding done.


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[Katrina/10]

Well, it looks like they just welded pieces of steel in there till they got the motor where they wanted it! I suppose that'll work as long as you don't want to move it. Must be a tight fit around the steering box, I can't tell if they moved it or not.

[Dodger]

Looks solid, appears to work and I can't see me moving motor anytime soon. Steering box is tight but looks decent and fits with minimal cutting.
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[Katrina/10]

I pour those old steering boxes full of STP, makes great lube and doesnt leak out much.

[Dodger]

Floors tidied up and painted, ready for carpet.

I've got a new carpet but it looks like it will be a bit of a nightmare. There are no precut holes for the pedals, steering column etc so I suppose I'll need to look at removing pedals to fit. Hmmmmm.




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[Dodger]

Got the drums and shoes off. Will drop these in to Perth Brake Parts tomorrow. Hopefully they can work some magic.




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[skymangs]

nice looking project you have there. Wish mine was that clean when I started!

[xpickup]

Dodger, looks like a very nice clean truck.


Shannon