I just registered to this forum today and am happy that it exists. Similar discussion boards have helped me alot with other vehicles that I've restored. I hope to enjoy the discussions. I recently purchased a nice survivor 1953 Chevy 3100 pickup truck and am intending to restore it. Are members allowed to post Wanted To Buy postings for parts on here? Best, Tony in KC
Welcome Toni, basically it's like this, if you can put it in to words then you can post anything. Now let's see some pix of your project....Big Tim
From England Welcome to the mad house you will find friendship and help here in equal parts, good luck with the truck
Welcome Tony! List a few of the things you might need, want or just gotta have! You'd be surprised at the generousity of the folks here! I second Big Tim's motion. We love pictures! Ken P.S. You beat me to it. You musta been posting pics the same time I was asking you to do it. I wouldn't waste valuable windshield time restoring it if it were mine, I'd be driving the crap out of it!
Wow Looks like a real genuine ol truck you got yourself there, I'd be tempted to just run it as it is
Welcome tony ! That's a nice old truck you have there , the huge , gaping hole in the toe board is normal for these trucks . I'm still working my '49 as a Shop Truck ,. I like to Tour the SouthWest in it too . Lotsa good repair info here , the engines in there are incredibly durable so take the time to tune it up and change the oils, drive it a bit before teardown , you'll get a better idea of where to go .
Ooops Oh I forgot, when Nate speaks, listen! Christians have god Muslims have allah or something Jews have cash We have our Nate He can actually drive his truck on water!!!!
I Think You Mean IN the water , it leaks like a rusty sieve thanx to the crappo rubber I got from Chevy Duty.... . Truly though , I grew up working in , on and with these fine old trucks and I still love driving my '49 off to the dead center of " Don't break down here , U.S.A. " any time I can get away , my battered old '49 3100 Series has never left me afoot and it's a true POC . Point being , ignore my crummy Farm/Junkyard advice and you'r old beater truck will in fact , be a nice driver and reliable too . Thery're the best of early 1940's technology IMO .
Welcome, Tony! So~ ya got one of them there "pretty" trucks, huh? (Chevy...) Looks like the brakes always worked 'cause the fenders aren't all beat to heck. What are your plans for it? Keep it stock, or do the zoom-zoom thing? These fellas can help with whatever questions you have. I'm just on here to make brit50's life miserable. (He and Charles REALLY love the look of a GMC, but will never admit to it.) You're safe, you have a Chevy. (And a nice one, too.)
Welcome to the nuthouse Looks like a very solid candidate. As already spoken: get it running, there's plenty of advice on here about that if you use Search and ask questions, and enjoy your truck...
Hey guys. thanks for the warm welcome. happy to be here. i'm really thinking about going stock with the truck. i've seen some really great resto rod trucks out there--all personal choice and taste, but for me, factory is my preference (although I think radials tires are alot better than those pizza cutter tires that the factory used to install...) I got the engine started though it had been sitting since 2003. I had to replace the master cylinder and the third member leaked. Those tires feel like they are square rather than round, so I'll probably have to replace the tires first. There are 'love bumps' in each of the fenders, but the left rear fender (with the spare tire) is the worst. I'm tempted to try and find a nice replacement for it rather than trying to beat it back into shape. Is a left rear fender with the spare tire cut out a tough part to find?? Tony
Tony, you are in Chevy truck heaven. Within a 45 minute drive, you can get to several vendors who specialize in our kind of parts. CP, our host is in KC. Jim Carter Classic Truck Parts is in Independence, Mo. LMC Truck is in Lenexca, KS. Take a road trip and visit all 3 of them. Get a catalog from each of them. Talk to the staff. CAUTION!! Don't go in any of their showrooms like a fat kid going to the Willie Wonka chocolate factory! Too much of their stuff is Chinese reproduction and does not fit well without major cussing and modification. ALWAYS remember that, even though your existing 60 year old parts may look like sh*t, with a little loving care, they might end up looking and fitting a lot better than any thing you can buy from these guys or on flea bay! Rant over. I always say that 95% of the vendors have the same stuff, but only 5% of them have great customer service. Our host, Classic Parts, in my opinion is one of the ones in the top! The tech staff is great too! Enjoy your ride and keep us updated! Ken
We alll understand....we have the same problem. Ask away if you have any questions, and use the search function. I have lots of tech. posts starting with "how to", and will post more as the projects present themselves. Get the truck running and keep it that way as much as possible. That way the fun factor and interest level stay high and there isn't another project truck for sale. some threads to give you an idea of whats ahead.... Assembly: https://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=9530 wiring https://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=9536 Bed wood https://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=12180 Brake lines: https://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=12161 There are many more. We are here as a support group for our addictions/ curses.
Welcome aboard, enjoy the ride. Really like the looks of your Truck, it looks almost a clone for the one my dad had. Again Welcome and enjoy. BTW check out the out section of the Forum alao.
Welcome Toni, Wow, your truck is a survivor, it does have a true patina and that's worth leaving. Its hard to stop fixin' up your ride once you start. Be mindful of what Willard said about getting over $20,000 into a truck that will bring you back $12,000. Don't ask me how I know x 2!! But if its special and your gonna keep her then what the heck. Russ (Old Chebby), has a lengthy post about his total resto. Its worth viewing the whole project as he goes from the ground up on a factory resto. You'll learn a lot and get your arms around what a frame-off is, as opposed to what you may be able to afford or want to do. Lastly don't get frustrated about finding parts, it will take time, soon you will know where a couple donor trucks are and Ebay will help you find the rest. Good-luck. Flashlight
'53 wheels. Mornin' all. I'm just starting to do my research but I have to start somewhere! It appears that in '53, the original steel wheels were painted black? If true, was it a gloss black or semi gloss black? Thanks... Tony
