Projects '53 3600 stuck motor worth the hassle?

'53 3600 has been garaged for past 20 years. Seller says engine is stuck - doesn't know when it wasn't. He wants $800.

Worth the gamble?

 

Got picture


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With a ***le I would pretty easily go the $800!

 

It be worth $800 to me, if wasn't really rusty. How bad is the top smashed?

 

best pic of top smash - it's pretty smashed.

 

Doesn't look that bad to me. Does it have a ***le?

 

Has ***le.

Is the 3600 a feasible daily driver with the 216 and 4 on the floor?

 

It could be a daily driver if you don't ever need to go over 50 mph.

 

This. Rear end swap necessary I take it. But this goes for most 50s Chevy's and Ford's, no?

 

I'll take it!




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Rear end is an open rear in a 3600, so swapping rears is pretty easy. 4 speed is 1 to 1 final ratio so 3 or 4 speed makes little difference. The rear end used was the same thru
at least early 60's so there are some with better gearing but most are at least 4:11, stock in a 3600 was 4:56. 216 is a low pressure oil system that uses splash and dip
oiling so it does not like high rpm. If you must replace the 216 look for a later 235 with
full pressure oiling. Jim

 

Looks like a fair price, rust is the big ? but I'm sure that you know that already. My truck when I bought it also had a dented roof, I was able to get it into "dented farm truck" shape with a bottle jack and a port a power. But it took alot of metal work and a fair amount of bondo to get it to disappear.

With a stuck motor, 4 speed, and slow rear end, this truck would a good candidate for a drivetrain swap IMHO.

 

Heck for 800 you could make a good deer blind out of it of all else fails!

 

Inspect the undercarriage
The stance looks a little off, could just be the picture angle and tire and wheel combo.

Long bed

Make sure what ever number was used for ***le is on the truck i.e. engine number, doorpost number. Makes it a lot easier when transferring if you decide to get it.

 

$800???? How bad is the sheet metal? There are tons of 216s and 235s for sale out there. I'd buy it.

 

I'll have to check the details out in person. It's a couple hours north of me so I'll take the gf on a fall leaves trip.

Right now the fall back is a 66' Ford F100 shorty which solves most of the problems of needing a work truck that can go on the highway but...it doesn't have them curves!

 

I just retired a 1947 3800 from daily transportation. I did change to a 235 motor since the 216 is a babbet bearing and not designed for highway driving. I had 4:10 rear gears. I drove it every day including going to Hershey from St. Louis. I couldn't overload that 1 ton.

 

Being a 3/4 ton to daily drive it you would have to change the rearend and get rid of the granny gear 4-speed but even with that $800 for the truck with a clear ***le ain"t bad.

 

No brainer. Yep I would get it.