47-55.1 55 years ago I was given this USAF 54 3100

[vintovka]

It came from my Uncle who bought it in a surplus sale at Edwards AFB in 1964. He passed in 67 and I got it that year. I wound up in the Air Force soon after and it again spent considerable time on bases for a while. Some records show its been shipped around the world as needed. I've had it all this time and attempted various revivals this last half century, It was a 235/6 with a hydromatic tranny, then a 3 speed, then a 4. Needed four wheel drive and did a chassis swap with a 84 GMC k10 (350/700R4). I regret that, but had to. Now its up for its final (for me) restoration and I need advice on replacing the blown motor and such. Goal is a daily driver that i want to be somewhat a USAF tribute truck with the AF emblem on the doors and the names of all the aircrews we lost from the 430 TFS in thailand circa 1972. Advice on stuff like a crate engine and other mods to make a safe, long lasting driver /heirloom is appreciated by this old man.

[mongocanfly]

Looks like a pretty solid body..unless it s still on the stock frame your going to need a complete donor chassis...if you want to make it dependable your best bet will be the s10 frame swap..unless your looking for v8 power you can even use the 4.3 engine and trans from the s10..joedoh has done several of these..check out his builds.. and thank you sir for your service..

[MiraclePieCo]

You're from Oregon? Keep it 4WD, it will be highly admired in the logging culture.

[Midge725]

Originally Posted by vintovka

It came from my Uncle who bought it in a surplus sale at Edwards AFB in 1964. He passed in 67 and I got it that year. I wound up in the Air Force soon after and it again spent considerable time on bases for a while. Some records show its been shipped around the world as needed. I've had it all this time and attempted various revivals this last half century, It was a 235/6 with a hydromatic tranny, then a 3 speed, then a 4. Needed four wheel drive and did a chassis swap with a 84 GMC k10 (350/700R4). I regret that, but had to. Now its up for its final (for me) restoration and I need advice on replacing the blown motor and such. Goal is a daily driver that i want to be somewhat a USAF tribute truck with the AF emblem on the doors and the names of all the aircrews we lost from the 430 TFS in thailand circa 1972. Advice on stuff like a crate engine and other mods to make a safe, long lasting driver /heirloom is appreciated by this old man.

What do you regret about on your chassis swap to the k10?
Just curious makes an awesome looking truck you see a lot of lowered ones on s10 fames but you don't see a lot of them on 4x4 setup.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looks like a pretty solid body..unless it s still on the stock frame your going to need a complete donor chassis...if you want to make it dependable your best bet will be the s10 frame swap..unless your looking for v8 power you can even use the 4.3 engine and trans from the s10..joedoh has done several of these..check out his builds.. and thank you sir for your service..

It was in the dry desert in Las Vegas for many years then in the dry foothills near Placerville till 4 months ago. Now in OR the rust potential scares me

Sadly Its on a 84 gmc k10 frame 4x4 with a worn out 350. I needed a 4x4 for the ranch and the 84 frame was basically a gift. The old frame/engine/trans are long gone. Looking at a GM 350/290hp crate but need to pick a good carb. The 4175 holley has been a problem from day one. The Offy intake and M/t covers are neat but very old.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by Midge725

What do you regret about on your chassis swap to the k10?
Just curious makes an awesome looking truck you see a lot of lowered ones on s10 fames but you don't see a lot of them on 4x4 setup.

Being not a true 54 does make me sad, I fought the 50's technology into the dirt and badly needed a 4x4 for ranch work on steep grades The crappy torque tube drive line, poor oil pressure and brakes about killed me more than once. I still have flightline/ air force related paperwork i found under/behind the gas tank. Apparently they shipped these wherever needed so think its been to asia.

[mongocanfly]

Are you wanting to keep it 4x4? Thats no problem...I thought you were looking to do a frame swap..my bad..my ad body is sitting on a 69 4x4 chassis now for the past 35yrs..but will be coming off to go on my custom built tube chassis.. I've got 4x4s running out my ears around here and want to take mine back a 2wd hotrod cruiser

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by Midge725

What do you regret about on your chassis swap to the k10?
Just curious makes an awesome looking truck you see a lot of lowered ones on s10 fames but you don't see a lot of them on 4x4 setup.

Agreed. It's cool and different in it's own right. It will stand out (literally!) from the crowd.

Originally Posted by vintovka

Now in OR the rust potential scares me

And yeah, don't leave it outside in Brookings. 78 inches of rainfall annually - seriously? Even on sunny days, that salt air rolls in off the ocean so thick you can taste it.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Are you wanting to keep it 4x4? Thats no problem...I thought you were looking to do a frame swap..my bad..my ad body is sitting on a 69 4x4 chassis now for the past 35yrs..but will be coming off to go on my custom built tube chassis.. I've got 4x4s running out my ears around here and want to take mine back a 2wd hotrod cruiser

Yep sticking with 4x4. We retired to a beach community and the weather/terrain here are unfriendly to non 4x4s/awd. Just the wet winter leaves and unpaved roads will stop a 2 wheeler. Its gone to restorer (yesterday) and need to pick a replacement 350 and running gear asap. Think I lost all my mechanic smarts when 65 blew past.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Think I lost all my mechanic smarts when 65 blew past.

Me too. Projects that used to seem simple are now overwhelming.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Agreed. It's cool and different in it's own right. It will stand out (literally!) from the crowd.



And yeah, don't leave it outside in Brookings. 78 inches of rainfall annually - seriously? Even on sunny days, that salt air rolls in off the ocean so thick you can taste it.

You are right about rain and salt. Built a special garage with full 10' doors to accommodate it. We are on the beach about 40 miles North of Brookings. IT rains harder here than during the Monsoons in N. Thailand. The latter helped kill my CO. His name along with 8 others will be painted on the truck along with the old army air corp winged star on the doors. Plan to have it in the Brookings Memorial day parade next year Google "wild bill coltman - F111" if interested. He went down in late 72 and remains found in 2005(?)

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Me too. Projects that used to seem simple are now overwhelming.

It would be easier if my eyes could see what my hands are doing.

[mongocanfly]

Have you given any thought to a LS swap? For about the same money as a crate you can do a swap..of course the 350 is simpler.but the ls has fuel injection ..ill never go back to carbs..I've got a 6.0 in my 81 and am doing the same for my 55.1 ad..on your running gear since you already have it setup for the solid axles just go back with the same setup..is something wrong with your running gear? How much stuff are you looking at replacing..we know your doing the engine so what else do you need to replace

[mongocanfly]

Pretty cool that your doing a memorial truck..

[joedoh]

love the truck, love it even more that you have had it 50 years. good luck!

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Think I lost all my mechanic smarts when 65 blew past.

We did lose the smarts we just realized we can hang a $50 bill in front of a 20 year old and get him to do a $200 job.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

We did lose the smarts we just realized we can hang a $50 bill in front of a 20 year old and get him to do a $200 job.

should have said we didn't lose the smarts

[pvienneau]

I like the 4x4. Great truck.

[whitedog76]

Check out these links.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=710984

http://www.throttleworks.com/projects/65

They're in Garden City, Idaho. Might be worth a day trip for you.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Have you given any thought to a LS swap? For about the same money as a crate you can do a swap..of course the 350 is simpler.but the ls has fuel injection ..ill never go back to carbs..I've got a 6.0 in my 81 and am doing the same for my 55.1 ad..on your running gear since you already have it setup for the solid axles just go back with the same setup..is something wrong with your running gear? How much stuff are you looking at replacing..we know your doing the engine so what else do you need to replace

Curious about this LS you speak of. The running gear is fine. The 700-r4 was rebuilt to heavy duty standards and has less than 1000 miles on it (if that).
My engine tech is limited to old school due to lack of use. Heck i don't even know what "ad" means.

Thanks to all for the kind words and the links. Rather partial to the old Army Air corp symbol for the doors

https://www.google.com/search?q=army...ksovEQSuG0M%3A

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

should have said we didn't lose the smarts

How about hanging $15K in front of them? Still say i lost my smarts but can make up for it in $.

[mongocanfly]

The LS swap is becoming the norm when upgrading engines now.these are the late model gm engines starting around 1999..also referred to as 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, 6.2.. they can have a ton of miles on them with very little maintenance..not uncommon to have 300000 miles on on...you can buy a used ls engine with 150000 miles on it, stick it in your truck and not worry about it.around here i can pick up a 5.3 with 150000 miles on it for around $800-1000...i wouldnt use a small block with 150000 without a rebuild...nothing against a smallblock but with a LS your getting a more modern engine,more power, fuel injection, ,and better fuel economy.. there's tons of information on here about doing the swap..I'm just throwing that out there as a option..oh and ad stands for advance design..which are trucks built between 47 and 55.1 the next gen trucks are called tf or task force.

[Softpatch]

Golly I would have been 8yrs old when you got that truck
Do with it you want It's not an investment.!
Build it to suit your needs weather a parade vehicle a DD
or as a long distant driver,weekend car/show car, stump puller, paint it purple

it's your choice
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again not an investment.!
Let your money by you happiness
Don't let it sit in the bank for a rainy day it may never rain
and you may never have a chance to drive you dream truck
around if you do
Does pw steering power brakes Leather seat make you feel good
or just the smiles on peoples faces as the see that truck on the road
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I just lost my brother 4 weeks before his 60th birthday every bodys favorite Best brother ever.!
He died broke but had many many friend he lived life to the fullest
he lived his dream's
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R.I.P. mark 07-23-56 ...06-10-16
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Me :Saving for a rainy day one penny at a time without a lick of sense
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[Softpatch]

sorry thought this was another what should I do with my truck thread..

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LS3 swap. for the win.!
Get the running gear out of an avalanche 99-04
cheep eazy build 4x4 Fuel injection overdrive thats why every ones doing it
make great power sound cool
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back in the day we did the crate motor swaps because thats all there was
cheep ezy to get now... Forget about it.... LS3 super simple
and they will go 300,000 miles

[MIKESAD50]

Truck is cool as a 4x4. Like the story behind it also. get a gm crate replacement 350 and trans 700r4? then use one of the new self contained throttle body fuel injection units and I think you would have a nice reliable driver for not too much.
LS and 4l60e would be nice reliable just a bit more of a swap I think.