I may have the oppurtunity to buy a 1954 five window pickup. It truly is a barn find. The truck is complete with radio. Everything is in fairly good shape, even the glass and interior. The truck has a powerglide transmission. Can anyone tell me if this makes the truck even more rare. Does anyone have any idea how many were produced with the powerglide. Thanks
The answer is NONE. There were '54 Chevy trucks equipped with Hydra-Matics, which are four forward speed transmissions, vs. the lowly PowerSlide's two forward speeds.
Probably a 235 car engine and transmission. Probably has hydraulic valves and a oil filler in the middle of the valve cover. You want have to listen to valves or do much adjusting to them. If you like the 54 style how could you go wrong. Blood sweat tears & money really make these look good.
I just assumed it was a powerglide. I forgot all about the slip and slides. Do you know if it helps the value or not. I would think they would be pretty rare. I saw one on this site somewhere. Tom
Wrong Track is what you're on . As you clearly don't like it but want to make some $ off it , just low ball the price , get it running & flip it ~ DO NOT take it all apart like most do , then the value goes in the toilet and it'll wind up scrapped in a year or two . No , they're _NOT_ ' ! RARE ! ' , GM made a zillion of these well designed trucks , many had the Hydromatic tranny , not a whole lot of them remain but don't go thinking you found a $15,000.00 gold mine , it simply isn't so .
I beg to differ, Nate It could turn into a $15,000 gold mine if he'll sink $25,000 into it getting it fixed up.
Pardon My Cynical Reply ~ But , the correct questions would have been along these lines : Is this thing impossible to get parts for ? (no) Is it any good to drive , EG , reliable , fun , etc. ? (! YES !) Should I buy it if I like old noisy trucks that are slow but still good to use for work / play / show , as long as I understand I'll need to work on it fairly often ? (oh , GOD YES !) Should I take it all apart and stick a (yawn) SBC mill in it ? (that's your decision , YOU are footing the bill but it reduces the fun factor by 1,000 %) Is this a SAFE vehicle ? (no but nothing older than 198? is) See ? it's all in how you look at it . -Nate (slightly less grumpy now I've had lunch)
Well ; That was exactly the point I was trying to make there...... ALWAYS buy an older restoration as it's cheaper by 1/2 . Unless of course , you're one of those strange folks that actually _enjoy_ riding in , working on & with , old beat to crap trucks..... I'M not one of those , oh no