Your daily driving habits will determine if it is a practical daily driver. If you are just driving in a 30 mile radius of your home and most of the driving is under 50 mph then yes. If you are having to commute on the interstate in 70 mph for any distance then not so much. Yes I know there are diehards that drive their old junk anywhere and everywhere but that doesn't really means that it is practical. I drive my 49 Ford truck daily,but the longest trip I make is 25 miles one way. Yes it has a Chevy 350 in it but the rest of the driveline is stock so it doesn't really like to go much faster than 60 mph and I rarely drive it over 50 anyway. Like these guys have told you go through the mechanicals of your truck first. Start with getting to running condition. Change the oil replace all you radiator and heater hoses and fan belts. Change your coolant. Do a tune up with new points and condenser,plugs and plug wires. Rebuild your carburetor or find someone who can. Remove your gas tank and find someone to steam clean the inside of it for you. Put an extra fuel filter in the gas line near the carb. After you get it running try driving it around the yard to check the clutch and transmission. Go through your brake system replace all you wheel cylinders and master cylinder. Don't forget to replace your rubber brake lines. Inspect you steel brake lines if they are rusty replace them its cheap insurance against brake failure. Your brake drums and brakeshoes and all related springs and retainers all need to be inspected. Like you have been told in previous posts take pictures of everything you take apart so you can see how to put it back together. In the case of the brakes do one side at a time that way you can refer to the other side to see how it goes together. Replace your tires. Drive the old girl around for a while and see if you enjoy the slower pace of an older vehicle. I really wouldn't worry to much about the mileage . These are very simple vehicles to work on and with basic tools and common sense there shouldn't be any repair on this truck you can't handle. Most of the guys here will tell you they didn't know shit from shinola when they started working on cars but they jumped in with both feet and did it. Are you going to screw up ? Yep but you learn from your mistakes. Don't be afraid to ask question when you are stumped.. You got the desire to do this so that puts you halfway there.
I am blown away by the kindness you all have shown!!!!! Thank you for all the help, kind words, and brilliance you all have shared. I am so lucky to have found such a smart group of people with amazing stories and experiences willing to save me from myself so to speak. The Internet can be a scary place but you all have restored my faith that good people are out there and I am grateful to have crossed paths with all of you!
That is one very sweet truck, and like the others have said, a good one to learn on. Wish I was closer, would love to help get that thing back on the road. Only advice I can offer is to just read, read, and read some more. I don't really come from a gear head family, so when I turned 15 and got bitten bad by the car bug I just read every magazine and book I could find and eventually it all came together. By the time I got to Wyotech (mechanics school) I was able to teach my instructors a thing or two... Also, if you have any future questions, add me to the list of people you can PM to ask.. Good luck, and keep us updated.. Justin<O
This might help: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=699838 No pickup, but maybe the engine and some other info will apply.
If you have a garage or a good concrete pad to work on, then buy some good jack stands, some brake tools and new brake shoes, slave cylinders and hoses. Doing a brake job gets you comfortable with the sort of wrench turning that you'll be doing for a long time on these old vehicles. If you get in over your head, just H.A.M.B. it, and we'll guide you.
any HAMBers live close by her? maybe someone can swing by and give her a hand with the truck in person or help mentor or teach a little. it seems hands on help and teaching would probably help her out alot rather than only words and such coming at her since she has no mechanical back ground. would invite her to our local hangout nights, but would be a pretty long haul for her...
You need a parts manual, Lots of parts can be found on Ebay for decent prices. If you don't know what you are doing, you might need to take this truck to a local independent mechanic preferably an older person.
Just outside of Benton. Good place to be, you will be able to fine a local that will help you get this truck running at a good price. They are good people. There may not be a good mechanic in Haskell as it is a community. Look for one who has worked on these trucks before.
When you get the truck running and you are ready to buy insurance, make sure you go to Grundy or one of the classic car insurance company. Full coverage is dirt cheap, You can probably get an antique tag and have a fine cruiser.
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