Projects Finally Bought My Dream Truck!! 1953 AD Truck Build

So this last Saturday I went and picked up my newest project. A 1953 Chevrolet 1/2 ton 5 window Pickup.

I've had a few of these trucks over that last 10 years but they were all MAJOR projects. Due to taking care of my family, going to college, and just plain lack of work space they have all found their way down the road. I have lusted after this body style of truck since I was probably 12 years old. So getting one that I could possibly be driving in the near future is a huge thing for me.

Now I'm a kustom guy through and through, but these trucks in their original form just do it for me. So there will be no crazy modding for this old girl.

I do have a current to do list and a future to do list for it.

The way I bought the truck was that it hadnt ran in a few years, and the brakes needed some attention.

So Saturday morning 7am we hit the road. Not 10 miles out something on the road caught and trashed my trailer wiring. I spent the next 30 min. on the side of the road getting it fixed. On we went. We made it to the location of the truck. We loaded it up and hauled it the 50 miles back home.

Heres a shot in our yard when we got home.



The truck has some slots on it now that just don't work for me. So as soon as I have replacement wheels tires for it they will be for sale. I had one old stock 16 on a parts trailer I had. I found another 3 in the cl***ifieds in my area.



I plan to get them cleaned up and painted black. I'm trying to find a babymoon that will fit it. I want the style thats lower profile thats held in by the clips as opposed to the larger style stock caps. I'm going to put on a set of ribbed rings and at some point when cash allows it, wide whites.

On to the other issues I needed to deal with. Actually getting it running. I tried to get it to fire up and run with a new battery but the starter was junk. I had another one in my parts stash. So I put it on. Still not strong enough to start it. On to plan C, steal the starter for my 54 chevy car sled project. Its a solenoid type stater so I had to steal a push ****on start off an old irrigation well motor panel. I got everything hooked up and gave it a shot. It sputtered a bit and then took off running. It ran really smooth. Then I noticed the river of fuel coming out of the carb. Looks like its carb rebuild time. My job sent me out of town for a few days so that will have to wait.

Here's some more pics of the old girl.





She's a little tall for my taste so I got ahold of Sid and will be picking up a 4" dropped axle from him at the Pate swap meet next month. A set of blocks in the back should handle the other end.



I've got to gather up a new mirror.



She also needs some attention in the door panel area. Im going to install new boards witht he stainless trim. and new handles and cranks as the ones in it are a little pitted.



The steering wheel has seen better days. So I'm on the lookout for one thats in good shape.



8 ball shifter is leaving. Not my style. As always the radio is gone. Im going to find one that looks older but has input for the mp3 player. I also have a stainless speaker grill and glovebox door that I need to restore for it.



The wing windows both need replaced as well as the p***enger door gl***. I'm going to get the deluxe window rubber set so I can put some stainless outer windsheild trim I have on. It needs straightened and polished up. As well as the outside door gl*** stainless. I'm going to install the corner and rear gl*** rubber with the chrome lock strip to complete the look.



The bed also needs attention. The rails are rough, but I have a good set so I'm just going to replace them rather than spend the time to straighten these. I also have to clean up the tonneau cover ****ons someone riveted on the box. I plan to install a new wood bed floor with stainless strips.



I want to get her on the road for the summer, but this winter I'm looking at a swapping in a 235 tied to a t5 ran through a 55 car rear end. Im going to swap to 54 chevy car hubs and brakes to get the same bolt pattern all the way around.


I really think this truck has the potential to be one I'll keep long term. I'm really excited to won it and I'm doing the work on it with my Grandpa so I know the work aspect of it wont be a chore, but rather the most enjoyable part of this project.


Sorry for the long post, but I'm like a kid on Christmas morning right about now.

 

Sounds like a fun project, it´s going to look great lowered with the steelies and wide whites.
I wouldn´t mind having one of those myself.

Manne

 

Your truck looks really solid and straight! Nice find!

 

That is too cool. Keep us posted on it. Congrats!

 

Beautiful! Original radios are expensive for these, nothing else I've seen really fits well. Jim Carter truck parts is good people. oldchevytrucks.com

Joe on here (Mothertrucker) has some amazing stuff you may need. Good dude, he is.

 

Bow Tie Bits, a Wichita company, sells a radio that looks alright and fits the stock hole. I'm thinking about getting it.

 

it looks like this minus the tape deck.



Still looking for another option. I could even hide an amp in the dash and just have a wire for the mp3. I would like to atleast find the radio delete panel in that case. Or a clean non working stock radio. i would just make the power switch functional so that it turned on the amp.

 

I guess this is it.



When its off it looks like a regular screen like the one above. when on you see the digital. Not sure if I like that.....

from usa-1's site:

"An awesome looking radio a great price. Radio has no c***ette but comes with auxiliary audio input. If you have a portable MP3 player or Satellite radio just plug it into the Aux input and listen to it through this radio.

This radio features:

● AM-FM Stereo ● 200 Watts (4x50) ● Auxiliary Input (RCA Rear) RCA to 1/8" pin jack included ● Digital Clock ● Electronic Tuner"

 

The fitment of the radio is not as straight forward as you might think. Most shaft style radios that I have seen do not have enough depth to accommodate the curvature in the dashboard. It might be easier to find a block-off plate, and put the radio someplace else.

 

That truck screams "WAY COOL" !!
Great find...
Good for you.........

 

Nice find!

 

Nice! For a second I thought you stole my truck, then I remembered that it's still in pieces all over my ba*****t/garage. And you don't have huge blind spots behind you, hehe. These pics are from when I first got home and cleaned her up. Mine was $5500 with a rough running 235. Mind me askin what yours set you back? Just curious.

Cool truck all the same, hope this one sticks! Happy travels!

 

I wish I had the jack to buy the vintage radio one that's uses a stock radio front. But 600 would be better spent elsewhere right now.

 

I got what I felt was a really fair deal. I paid $4500 for it with a clear ***le.

 

My 52 had a fake radio face in the dash when I got it, looks good like it belongs and I just put the radio in the glove compartment. i was gonna do what you were talking about, just adding an amp with some speakers and the AUX plug. Either way will work.

 

what would be an appropriate p-metric tire size for this truck in 16"?

 

Yeah, that's pretty good price wise. If you can get it running and stopping for under a grand, you got it made. Great cruizer, for sure.

Just don't do like I did and start tearing a perfectly good truck apart, puttin; bags, tri-bar, MII front ends and **** like that on it.
Sometimes liquid courage is a bad thing.....

Mine actually came with the factory radio delete panel, so I just stashed a cheap CD player in the glove box, with a speaker under the dash.

 

Congrats on the truck! was that truck over here in GC?

 

yeah 11th & olive

 

Cool truck at a great price. Hard to find anything like that up here, they are all beat up and rusty. You did well. Good luck with it.

 

...very nice lookin truck; wouldn't look bad lowered with those slot wheels really, but you can't beat black steelies and www's. good luck with it.

 

Nice truck...just got one myself and building for a daily...Check out Cl***ic Parts..they have one very similar but with an even less digital look with all the hook ups for like 160 something!

 

You've got yourself a really nice truck. Just drive it and have a blast!

BigMike

 

when you get ready to sell the wheels PM me your price. Also great little truck

 

Does it still have the Straight 6 in it?

 

250 on the wheels

it's a 216 now but over the winter it's getting a 235

 

Here's a photoshop I just did. This is where I'm going with the old girl.

 

This looks a lot like mine, good luck

 

how much and how is yours lowered?

 

Think those used 700-16s originally, that's an overall diameter of a bit over 30".

Closest in a modern size would be a 215-85-16 which would have damn near identical overall diameter, a quick check on tire rack showed Dunlop All terrains at $124 each and General all seasons at $129.

There were cheaper options but Yokohamas or Kumhos just won't look right on one of those IMO

They will be a bit wide tho, but 215-85s should safely fit pretty skinny wheels.