What I have been told by the owner... Starts, stops, "runs & drives good", doesn't smoke or leak, duel exhaust, converted to 12V with an alt, cruises down the freeway with no problem, body is solid, floors and trunk are solid, little surface rust here and there, needs paint, one small spot of bondo on the right rear fender where someone repaired a dent, interior is fair with a good headliner, needs a new carpet, all glass is good with no leaks, 216 with unknown miles, 3 speed manual column shift (been a long time since I drove one so I may embarrass myself). My plans would be to tune up whatever needs tuning up, go over the brakes, new carpet and drive the hell out of it! Of course with some little tweaks here and there This would be an ALMOST daily driver. I have a buddy that has a running 261 with an S10 5 speed sitting on the floor of his garage doing nothing so I would try to get that off him and drop it in. He is asking $6000 for it but is willing to do a straight trade for my 53 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409864 That is everything I know about the car as of now. I have owned a lot of cars and trucks and currently have a 47 Fleetline that is far from stock and just sold a 27 tall T but I have never owned a 50 coupe so tell me all the trouble spots that I should look for other than the obvious body rot spots. I'm guessing that it has all stock suspension so anything I should keep an eye on? I am going to take a look at it tomorrow after work. I will bring my camera and take a crapload of pics. Here are the pics he sent me...
the place they like to rot is below the trunk down by the rear pan. the front floors also like to rot where the body mount is. once your door rubber wears out the rain gutters pour water right into the floor of the car
Looks like a good deal to me .You could add a front drum brake set up from a 51-54 and make a huge difference .PAUL
I was thinking more along the lines of disks up front and a modern master cylinder, I will be driving the hell out of it in the Seattle area.
these are great cars I currently have two...Disc's make a big difference!!! Drive the hell out of it!!!!
very cool car. I had a '51 coupe for awhile. The trouble spots on that aside from normal rot places seemed to be the steering. The idler arm was pretty loose and they don't make replacements for those that I know of. Had to get creative. Also the sector shaft in the steering box wobbled like a fat chick chasing an ice cream truck. If you keep the stock drivetrain, keep the tall tires and get used to getting passed. Mine was a dog and was in pretty good mechanical condition otherwise. Needed the tall tires to be able to get up to 65mph.
if you'll be driving in the rain a lot I'd suggest electric wipers. and change all your window and door rubbers to keep down the leaks. heaters with defrost are easy to find if does not have one already. oh yeah: chevsofthe40s.com
I think that I will leave the 216 in it until it dies or I get a free weekend that I don't have to work on the 48, 73 or 66 and I will drop in a 261 or 235 and I really like the idea of a 5 speed.
ok...50 chevies were made after the 49 chevies and just before the 51's..now you are schooled... nice car buy it...but don't get made at me if it breaks...
Yeah I have a pile of chevsofthe40's books out in the garage for the 48 I think that if I get it the wipers will be the first thing I upgrade...Seattle this time of year!
My brother ( lonestarmopar) got a 52 over the summer. We took it out to pistons and paint in Denton which is about an hour from his house. Like said, you will get passed, but with a lot of smiles, waves and thumbs up! I had'nt ridden in it on the highway, and I was suprised at how well it rode. And we were just talking about fixing the wipers earlier tonight. His will almost make one pass!!haha
You gotta split the exhaust and run straight pipes, for a little while at least. If you get sick of it put on some mufflers, but you gotta rap that 6 out a bit while you own it!!! Nothing like it. No need for disks, total overkill... Especially with the straight 6. Ive got 53 brakes and a dual under the floor master cylinder on the fiddy.... No complants. Its daily driver for about 2 years with a 261, even made it through bumper to bumper on lake shore one saturday night in chicago..... Which is 350 miles from home. Ive never locked them up in traffic, or felt unsafe... Ever. Once you get the backing plates and spacers off a donor, all the brake parts you need are available at your local parts hut, pretty cheeep. Now that the cost has dropped on em, id would go for the version of the dual master cylinder with the booster on it, just because its about the same price as without. Get a manual. Heres an online version..... http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1949_53/index.htm Id put a toque tube in it out of a 53-54 powerglide equipped chevy. Thats a bolt in upgrade for 3.55 gears and bendix brakes. If sticking with a straight 6, no need for open driveline. These cars were designed to run with a torque tube. Unless they get a big motor, or laid on the asphalt, the swap just isnt needed. Most of all, drive it and have fun!!!
I guess that smokey exhaust bubbling from the coupe is just rainy day condensation, huh? If you love it and inspect it and still want it, do it and see what you missed later.
Nice looking coupe. My 2 cents is keep your 53' offer him $5250 and be happy driving it till you croak.
Just got home from looking at it. The car has been sitting in a garage for the last 5 years (the guy has alot of other toys!). It was cold when we got there and it started right up without even touching the gas pedal, it doesn't make you choke to death in a closed garage while warming up, choke it and it reves up nice and smooth with no vibrations, all the gauges work except the speedo, no radio (who cares), all the lights work except the rear pass running light, the body is ok. The car was in a tight spot in the garage and by the time I got there it was dark and too foggy to take it out of the garage so I will be going back this weekend to take a better look during the day and take it for a spin. The heater and wipers both work, he said he took the car for a spin earlier and the brakes were a little sticky but were starting to loosen up (remember it has been sitting for 5 years). The driver side floor is almost gone but someone has patched it with sheet metal, screws and sealed it, it seems pretty solid but I can weld damn near anything (it's what I do for a living) so that isn't too big of a deal. They will hold up just fine for now. Like I said before, I would give it a good tune up, go over the brakes and drive the piss out of it. The doors don't sag and close pretty damn good, the trunk seal needs replacing and the latch bolted back on but other than that it is a get in and go car. Here are the pics... http://s636.photobucket.com/albums/uu86/autoideas/?start=all
Aside from the funky carpet, that is a cool car. A little maintenance here, a little welding there and it will be a cool cruiser.
AAAWWWW come on, whats wrong with the carpet? LOL It is hiding all the patches in the floor. I have a feeling no matter how long I soaked the bolts the second that I tried to take off the intake and exhaust to put on more than one carb or true split exhaust every stud, nut and bolt would snap right off. If it ain't broke...
Looks fucked up but it is pretty solid and should hold up until I put in new pans. and he told me no leaks lol I would still drive the shit out of her!
car looks complete ,and comes witha visor ,all the patch panels are redilly available ,as is the mechanical stuff seems like a fun driver , find a powerglide rear ,upgrade to 51-54 brakes, and you are set here is my 51 coupe that i scored a few years back ,it is currently apart for a redo when i first got it just before i tore it down good luck with it -joe
if ya wanna be able to get on on ramps and highways and not get killed those 2 carbs and dual exhausts will come in a few weeks after driving it as a daily...only reason i kno is my 47 coupe with a 216 and 1 carb and exhaust
looks good the 50 in my avtar i drove as a daily for the frist 5 yrs i had it but with a v-8 get it drive the shit out of it and have fun
I love the early 50's coupes. I had a 51 that I wish I didn't part ways with. The only thing I can say is ditch the 216 and go for a 235 and throw a T-5 behind it. I've got a 54 Bel Air Hardtop now so trading your 53 is a tuff one. 53 and 54 Chevy's are my favorite year so do what ya gotta do.
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