My girl wants a 50-54 chevy ? what to look for

So my old lady wasn't too into the whole traditional hot rod thing or didn't really understand my obssetion.... until Sunday when we went to the long island street rod show and low and behold she was running up to every 50-54 Chevy and ford and telling me how much she likes them and that she wanted one so with the door wide open after the show i hit the Internet searching ........I found a 54 2dr I'm going to look at today and i just need some in site on what to look for like problem areas etc any help would be appreciated ......

 

Rust in the inner and outer rockers and the floor and braces and body mounts.

 

if its got gravel guards on the front of the rear quarters, look under there.
trunk floor at the very back..where the trunk meets the rear of the car.
inner and outer rocker panels....

 

The straight 6 motors in these cars usually get switched out at some point. Sometimes heads get changed during the rebuilds as well. While the 216/235/261 can loook quite the same, there are quite a few subtle, yet important differences between them over the years.

Dont take anyones word as to what is in it, check the #s on the block and head.

Find #s here...
http://www.1954advance-design.com/Stovebolt-engine/casting-numbers.html

Good I6 info....
http://www.inliners.org/

 

Body supports and rockers. The panel below the decklid. Drivers floorboard. All common areas for rust.

Good trim is a bonus, grill parts on the 53 and especially the 54 are pricey and hard to find really nice ones.

 

Good luck! I have heard stories about cracked blocks on these things.

 

you guys are the best keep it coming !!!!!!

 

Bring a couple fridge magnets along to throw on the car. If they fall off there is bondo.

 

Buy one complete. I bought a 53 2dr a few months ago. Some of the parts are hard to find.

 

Ditto... make sure its all there... parts hunting can be fun, but pricey on some items.

Check for obvious rust issues (floors, trunk, rockers, under beltmoldings etc). If you can find one with good front gl*** that will save you some coin too.

Don't be afraid if the engine is changed out, just make sure its done correctly and is a runner.

Oh yeah, get a ***le with the car.

You can look at the 1949 Chevy too, same body and better looking too

 

I agree the '49 is much better looking!

 

^ Those 49s sure are sweet, but a 50 loooks just a bit better......

 

The rear windows on 53-54's leaked sometimes. Check the quarters just below the window corner for rot, or rot repair. Post photos if you need more opinions. Good luck!

 

also where the trunk pan meets the rear fenders and the bottoms of the doors mine looked good tell i sandblasted it after that there were alot of pin holes it the bottoms of the doors

 

I won't buy a car that doesn't have it's original stainless around the windows. Other pieces will fit, but it's like buying used shoes.. they just never fit right. I've never bought used shoes, but you get the message.

 

Body supports!!!!! trunk floors rockers typical spots.235s run forever but.....they do get switched out.I bought my 54 with a 55 235.There not bad motors new points and rotor and cap all the b/s.The more you pay sometimes the better deal you get obviously.pOST PICS IF YOU GET SOMETHING.