Getting started on my 53

[HotRod53]

Well the weather finally broke and the tear down begins. Let's start with a little history. I saw a flier up in a local feed store for a 53 Chevy truck but waited a month to call on it. I was shocked to find that no one had bought her when I did call so I went to look at her. I sent about an hour and a half looking at her and talking with the owner he had told me he bought the brand new and drove it until 1973 when he bought a new one. He told me a lot about of his adventures with the truck but the funniest thing he told me was when a rock hit the passenger side window and broke it out and he drove it that way for many years until he parked it for the last time. needless to say that's when the rats and mice found a new home for the next 40 years.I spent several days cleaning that out, a real nasty job. she is a pretty solid girl, so far she needs cab corners, some floor patches,inner door bottoms, and a lower cowl on the passenger side.There are some dents and dings but none too serious. As I stated in my ifs post she will be receiving an 80's themed restomod. I know we all love pictures so here are a few to get started. the first 3 are when I went to look at her for the first time and knew I had to have her. More pictures to come.

 

[SinclairChevy]

Great job on getting the pictures posted!

Love the story that goes along with your project. Looking forward to many more pictures and following your progress. Keep us posted!!

Damon

 

[Elky67]

Great story on finding your truck, and you?re just the second owner, which is pretty unique for such an old vehicle.

Mice must be really loving these trucks as most new owners find the same surprise under the headliner or seat and the smell is nasty

Good luck with your build and looking forward to more pics to come...

 

[Zig]

Thanks for the photos! Those fenders have the great and manly GMC turn signals in them.
That does look like a mighty straight truck! Congratulations on your new baby!

 

[HotRod53]

And the journey continues. Two weeks after I looked at the truck I called back to see if she was still available and she was. "I had to make sure the little Mrs. was ok with the idea of me getting a mistress lol" you married guys know what I mean, so I hooked up the trailer called a buddy to give me a hand and off we went. When we arrived and approached the PO we will call him Mr W. My buddy and Mr W knew each other. they were related by marriage but haven't seen each other in many years. we talked for hours and a new friendship began. I promised to take good care of his old truck and my new baby and also told Mr W he is more than welcome to come by and visit and check on my progress. So you know my buddy is some 30years and Mr W is 40 years my senior. I get along better with the older crowd more than people my own age. Several hours later she was loaded up tied down and we were on our way. It was almost dark after our 60 mile trip home so the next morning at the crack of dawn I started breaking bolts as we all have done and got the front clip off. Well I have talked enough for now. So here's some more pics with the front end off.

 

[50 Chevy LS3]

Welcome!

We Love pictures and background stories too! THANKS, your gonna fit right in here. I'm waiting for the continued story.

 

[HotRod53]

I guess I should back up a little bit and let you know this all started in June of last year. did you notice the tree down on the left side of those pics? It's a black walnut that fell during the spring storms. I spent two months trying to find someone to buy that tree it would make some great furniture , but no one was interested.I guess things happen for a reason. the tree will have a new purpose as the new bed of my truck. I don't get to spend a lot of time working on my baby because of real life stuff. I get an hour or two a day on a good week. I am working out of a carport so weather is a huge factor. I hope to inclose it this year if all goes ok. I told you all how the rats and mice moved in so here's what it looked like inside.

 

[coilover]

Be SURE to wear a dust mask or better yet a respirator when dealing with the mouse poop. There have been some real horror stories related to this subject. Looks like a really good base truck to be starting on, keep us posted.

 

[deancrozon]

A local farmer nearly lost his life to hantavirus this summer after contact with mouse droppings. Be careful out there!

 

[HotRod53]

Thanks for your concern I did take all necessary precautions when I did the clean up. I was covered in all kinds of safety gear, I looked like I was part of a hazardous material clean up crew even had a few neighbors stop by and asked what I had spilled and I live out in the middle of nowhere.

 

[HotRod53]

Hey guys I don't have a lot of time today getting ready for a small trip. Have to go find some horse power for the Mrs. several months ago we lost a horse that had been with my other half for 29 yrs. he was 34 when he died. It was like loosing one of your kids. She is finally ready for a replacement. I have only one picture to share today I thought it was kind of cool. maybe I will see some AD's on the road trip and get some pics to share.

 

[SinclairChevy]

So far, so good, John! I really, REALLY, REALLY like the back bumper on your truck. I'd like to find or make one like this for my project truck. Does it have a manufacturer's tag riveted to it anywhere? Or do you think it's home-built, perhaps?

Sorry to hear of the loss of your horse. Animals can become like family very soon after they show up at your door.

Keep us posted!

Damon

 

[ol' chebby]

Fairly common aftermarket bumper, I'm shure Joe has a stack.

 

[HotRod53]

Hey everyone got back from our horse power trip today. we went to Oklahoma and I got to drive on route 66 for a little bit but this trip wasn't about me. It was all about the Mrs. and trying to find her a horse. I did manage to take a few pics out there so here they are.

 

[steve]

Great Start

Great find and good to see the potential in working on the old truck, that's may be why it sat so long, everyone looks at what it is; not what it should be or could be.

My one pointer, once the dismantling starts, store, mark and save everything. how days photos are great way for documentation.

Of course ditch the mouse poop....

 

[SinclairChevy]

John,

Looks like you made it out and back safely... I'd call the trip a success! Is the photo of the horse one that you brought home for the missus?? Gotta love the Sinclair station signs... except for the gas prices!!

Damon

 

[HotRod53]

I thought you might like that Sinclair sign, Damon. the horse is a possibility not exactly what she was looking for. but I really liked her she is a real big horse

 

[HotRod53]

Hey all its been awhile since I've posted an up date so here it is. After I evicted the previous residents (the rats and mice) and cleaned up their mess (what a job). the old girl didn't look too bad. As I said before she needs some reconstructive surgery to get her sexy figure back. In this set of pictures you will see what went bad on her after sitting in a field for the last forty years with the windows out. there's a little more rust than I would like to see but I have seen a lot worse. My better half figured out a great way to keep the rodents from moving back in. I think she had a great idea not too keen on the color choice but it works.

 

[cantdrivemall]

After looking at those pictures,,,, Youre joking, right?
?Not too bad to start with?
Im not trying to be sarcastic here, but you'd be better off with buying a California truck and paying the shipping than to start digging into that "nugget" and flushing loads of $$ into a project that you wont get to enjoy for years to come.
Trucks like that don't even stay in the scrap yards around here.
Again, im not meaning to burst your bubble,,just trying to help.
Check out the Craigslist in California.

 

[ccharr]

If the project gets to much, he can send a PM to Joe and get a damn good Az. cab with less.