Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

So, I haven't informed my better half yet, but I have just bought what looks like a sweet 1953 Chevy 3100 shortbed with a SBC and auto trans. Really want to add A/C and a Fitech EFI system when it arrives from getting shipped all the way from Utah. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I used this forum a lot when I owned a 1970 C-10 stepside and it was invaluable for great information. Hope to be an active user on this site!

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Welcome!

That appears to be a really nice, clean truck. Did you see it in person before you bought it? If not may I suggest you get a magnet and crawl all over the usual places searching for filler instead of metal? Not to say it's not as represented but you may as well know what you've got in order to make long term plans.

Please keep posting with pictures. Especially on arrival and examination.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Nice ride, hope to see more of it in the future (if the better half lets you live)

Holley FI tech is a great set up and will give you a lot of easy starts and the ability to change elevation without issue.

As for A/C you have many options, Vintage air (my choise), RestoMod Air, and Nostalgic air. A lot of options.

Again,
Sweet ride and good luck with the better half.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

thats a great looking truck!


adding EFI is a great idea too



RIP!

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

This was an Ebay purchase, which makes me a bit nervous parting with $14,400.00, but I feel like if it looks 1/2 as good as the photos, I made a solid purchase.

I'm a smige worried about informing the wife, since she's "high strung" under the best of circumstances. But I have great memories of riding around in my dad's 73 Vette as a kid and want my two little boys (currently 5 and 3) to have those same memories.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Havnt told the wife huh?...hope you enjoyed it for the short time you owned it...haha...

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

That is a sweet looking truck, I hope it is as solid as it looks. Maybe the wife will love it too when she sees it, at least that is my prayer for you, LOL. The new HotRod magazine has an interesting article about Ebay vehicle purchases but I hope yours is not like the two that they bought. My good friend owns Dreamers Hot Rod Shop in Savannah. If you want to put A/C and FI in it and don't want to do it your self I recommend him. BTW, it might be a good idea to see what happens with the hurricane (weather wise and wife-wise) before you have it delivered to Bluffton. Good luck on both counts.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

I'll help you out a bit on photos.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

I hope the fact that you found those doesn’t mean I’ve been scammed out of some $$$. 😳

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Found them on Ebay, saw you said it was purchased it on Ebay.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Whew. I did. Purchased on Monday.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Sometimes its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. As I found out when I purchased my first Snap-on tool box when I was just a wee little wrench turner.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

we think alike :D

looks like a nice solid truck, look forward to seeing it on this forum if you survive the 'forgiveness' part

ac is easy, you'll need to move the alternator to the drivers side
removing/selling the stock heater will recoup some of your cost to boot :D

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Looks like a nice truck. I would contact Matt's Classic Bowties for the A/C and FI setup. They're vendors on here and offer some of the best pricing I have found. If you call or email them you will get better pricing than their website.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=642573

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Welcome. Good looking truck.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Don't just send it straight into the shop for EFI and AC; take time to enjoy the truck a bit first. You might find you prefer it as is, or your wife might decide you don't like it and you'll have all that $ invested in a lame duck.

For those skeptical of Ebay purchases: I've sold four classic vehicles on Ebay, so I hope you're not suggesting I'm a scammer, ha ha! Actually the buyers who got my cars got VERY good deals on very nice cars, so it can be done.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

True I've bought 2 of eBay and was plaesed....but no money changed hands until I saw it in person...

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

There is a company called Fitech and Holly has there own EFI sniper kit. Fitech set the budget standard a few years back and now all the manufacturers are dropping prices to match it. Both are excellent setups.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Looks like a pretty nice truck. It has a 54-55 bed on it and was raised just a little to fit the 53 frame.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Update: wife now knows. Wasn’t too happy, but not much she could do at this point. Didn’t get put in the doghouse. I’ll consider it a win.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Haha...maybe she'll come around...
Also the tailgate is interesting...is it a custom?...looks like the Chevrolet script came from a valve cover..

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Speaking for myself and the other guys on the forum, we consider it a win for you too. Congratulations.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

you cant fool us Melnickta's wife, we know he is dead and in the freezer waiting till the truck gets there and you can put him under the axle with a "jack failure"

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Did it arrive yet?

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Not yet. Should be getting on a truck Wednesday or so for it’s twenty two hundred mile journey to the lowcountry of South Carolina.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

lowcountry of south carolina may be under water at this time

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Looks like a very nice truck, congrats. First thing I would do is get it up on a hoist and take a good careful look at everything under there.

BEFORE YOU TAKE THE WIFE FOR A RIDE take it out solo and make sure everything works properly and IT"S GOT ENOUGH GAS. Don't ask me how I know this lol

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

It went farther north into North Carolina so SC mostly missed it. Bluffton is just across the river from Savannah so that's why I mentioned my friends shop in my first post.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Thus proving that there's "no education in the second kick of the mule..."

Luckily we were spared Hurricane Florence's wrath down here. Got barely a sprinkle of rain and hardly a good stiff breeze. Our neighbors to the north were not as lucky.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

I just saw this on FB and they said it is in Florida. I thought it was yours at first.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

No. Those 5 windows are so nice.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

The seller sent me some more pics (for insurance purposes). Truck was picked up this morning and should be delivered on Sunday.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

The seller sent me some more pics (for insurance purposes). Truck was picked up this morning and should be delivered on Sunday.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

looks better and better with every picture.

in the latest picture I saw the bed in relation to the rear cab wall and had a tightening feeling in my chest, because I just set up the bed on my truck and it is lower. thanks for being so articulate, it really pulled me off the ceiling. :lol:

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

so does the wife know about the truck yet? or will you be sleeping in the bed down by the river ? after your wife calms down, take her for a ride. after the waves and looks she just might start to enjoy it.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Welcome, did the truck arrive?

BTW - it looks awesome

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Drive it!

Brian

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Everyone has an opinion for what looks best or right with an AD, mine is, you have the best combination of body and cab possible. Never cared for the 5 window, it looks like an after thought and bothers the clean lines. Don't like a chopped top either, and with the 54 and later bed, standing taller, it lowers the cab height in proportion. Nice truck. IMO

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Truck came in. Love it. Had to charge the battery, but I cranked right up.

Steering box has 3-4” of play in it and driving it is like skating on ice. Need to get that looked at.

Trying to get pics to load now.

Re: Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!
 

Pics!