48 Project

[drummin89]

New to the forum and this is my soon to be project/restoration.







Ill have more/better pics when i get it home.

Its a 48 3/4 ton 5 window. Currently its sitting in my bosses barn, im hoping to have it towed up next Saturday. This truck was used as his parts truck but he didn't use much off of it, in fact he told me there is enough spare parts that if I had another frame and body Id have another truck.
The truck was another guys project, but his wife was frustrated with him alway being in the garage so she bought him a already restored truck and then my boss bought it.
It currently has the inline 6 216, that was just rebuilt, a rebuilt 3 speed trans and nova rear end. and it ran the last time he had it started, which wasnt to long ago). The frame is in great shape, every suspension, steering and braking part has been replaced. And the best thing is , there isnt a spot of rust on this truck. As you can see it needs assembly and wiring but that was what I was looking for, something to keep me busy after work and on the weekends.
Another good thing is that the previous owner, bagged every single part he took off the truck and labled it. The price for this is also amazing, for 1000 I get the truck, every spare part he has for it(which is a lot), a spare drivetrain (motor, trans and rear) spare front and rear suspension/steering setup with axles and a flowmaster true duel exhaust off his race car (not that it can be used on the truck but i have uses for it) and he towing it to my house for free.

My plans for it is to, after assembly and wiring <-- I plan to do myself, is to install power seats, windows and doorlocks with keyless entry, paint it and mostly keep it somewhat original, converting to 12volt as well. So what do you think, did i get a deal or what?

once i donate to the forum, ill make a list of the spare parts that im going to sell.

[drummin89]

I also plan to keep the drive train thats in it since its all rebuilt, and ive been told with the nova rear its now a good highway cruiser, unlike the stock rear that came with it.

[Detroit3100]

looks good, It might be hard to put it back stock since it is taken so far apart. good luck, and keep posting pics

[drummin89]

well the previous owner before my boss, put every part, gauges, switches, cables, anything he took off, including screws and bolts/nuts in ziploc bags and put them in one box, and the box is in the bed. Everybag was labeled as to what it is and where it went.

[Daniel U]

Looks good to me. I paid $1,200 for my '54 and drove it home. That was 16 years ago. So 1k for a project these days is good. All you need is a clean cab/vin/title for a project. The rest (chassis/doors/fenders/bed/etc.) you can get aftermarket if need be. There's a guy on here who put a T-5 behind his 6 cylinder for less RPM's at higher speeds. Keep us updated with pics. BTW, are you keeping it a longbed?

[drummin89]

yeah its staying a longbed, its staying mostly original accept for some modern luxuries. I'm putting after market gauges in and selling the working originals. The dash is going to be smoothed, there is only going to be an opening for the gauges and the radio. Not sure if im putting heat and air in it, Im also get a aftermarket heater/air from my boss but i might sell that too. Im putting full powered bucket seats, powered windows and power door locks w/ keyless entry in it. I have a plan to hook a set of air horns up to the aux button on the keyless. Here is the wiring diagram i came up with for my project and the dash layout as well. Also there is a title/vin for it so im set.



the dash is some what, what i want it to look like, Not sure if Im going to cut holes for the smaller gauges or just put them on a mount one the bottom of the dash.

[drummin89]

Also included is two tilt steering wheels out of a chevy nova, Id like to use that ,if I can find a power steering box that can be used with the stock steering linkage. And also mount the pump.

can anyone tell me if that is an alternator or a generator. Im planning to switch it over to 12v and not sure if the previous owner already had that in the works.

thanks in advance

[solidaxel]

Welcome to the board, and to some fun with the new project.
Why not go the extra step and build the chassis with a IFS for comfort and safety, add a SBC and be good for another 50 years!!
Here is some gauges that fit in the dash with no mods, and the 53 project that I am in the middle of. the IFS is from a a Dodge Dakota 89 and the crossmember is made for our trucks.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Welcome to the board! Looks like a good truck to start with.

[Igotachevyor2]

looks like fun. great truck to restore/mod

[drummin89]

id like to put one of those suspension setups on this truck, but ive never done anything like that before. My father is good at welding and he can always teach me, but we dont have a welder at home, only at his work, but it is always a possibility. Maybe someday I will. I can easily get the front end at the local junkyard, id just need to get it welded up, how much of a project is it to do this swap (not that im looking for it to be quick and easy). is it hard to get everything lined up and aligned.

Thanks for the comments, as soon as I get the truck home, ill post a bunch of pics.

[entourageguy]

Originally Posted by drummin89

Also included is two tilt steering wheels out of a chevy nova, Id like to use that ,if I can find a power steering box that can be used with the stock steering linkage. And also mount the pump.

can anyone tell me if that is an alternator or a generator. Im planning to switch it over to 12v and not sure if the previous owner already had that in the works.

thanks in advance

It's an alternator in your truck now.
Good start for a project keep us posted we love pictures!!

Brian ...

[drummin89]

thanks for the comments and answers, ill definitely have my digital camera on hand for every step of the project so i promise there will be plenty of pictures to come.

hopefully my daily driver doesn't come up with to many problems so i can spend my money on the truck. No girlfriend at the moment so im not spending money on anyone or anything else, no big bills to worry about either.
I just graduated high school this year so ive recently been working full time at a mechanical contracting firm as a mechanical drafter, which pays well, so as long as not to many unsuspected problems come up (knock on wood), this project will be moving at a good pace. I want it to take some time though, the main reason im buying this truck is to use it as a boredom killer, plus Ive always wanted one of these trucks too. Now i just have to wait for a day for my boss to tow it up here.

[drummin89]

did these motor have dual exhaust manifolds or what, I didn't completely look every part of the truck over, mainly just the body and that everything major was there, and now looking at the pics i took it looks like two manifolds.

[Daniel U]

I'm not sure if there was a factory option for them that way, but my buddy has a 54 Bel Air and he's running a 235 inline 6 with true duals(2 headers that go 3 into 1). That may be what you have. I know there are other aftermarket parts that you'll find for the 6's. Try asking around on the stovebolt site too. There's probably for 6's there. Good luck and Welcome from the central coast of CA.

[sevt_chevelle]

Dual exhaust manifolds were not an option those are aftermarket pieces. More then likely those are Fenton headers. There are tons of speed equipment for the straight 6 motors.
Seems you have a 216 probably not the best choice as they have babbit bearings and no real oil pressure. The 6 to have would be the full pressure 235 out of a earlier car/truck I believe around 1955?.

I would love to keep the 216 in my 49 but they just dont make reliable motors for highway driving. If you want to keep the straight 6 and have a good motor I would be looking for the 235, 261? or the 291(found in 60s-70s cars and trucks). Thats my opinion...Eric

[drummin89]

Well this will mostly be a country road cruiser, except for the occasional car/truck shows. From what I was told, with the nova rear end it became alot better for highway driving cause it lowered the engine rpms. Ill see how she works for me and then go from there. Im also getting another engine from my boss, not sure if its the same or not, it would be nice if it is the 235.

[pgf545]

Chris, Welcome to the board. It is really cool to see the younger people getting into hot rods. My middle son is also 18 and just graduated HS. He has been helping me out with my dad's truck and also helping with my Camaro. You have diffently hit the gold mine for help with your truck, there is always someone on here that has been there done that so keep the questions coming.

Bernie

[drummin89]

thanks, id rather be in the garage tinkering with stuff and working on cars then out getting into trouble, not one for crowds either, but racing events and car shows are alright. This is my first time doing anything like this, so i expect i will be asking tons of questions as time goes on.

Ive worked on many newer vehicles, and mostly everyone knows how fun that is with the tight spaces, bundles of wires and puzzles you face when tearing down and reassembling. Ive even worked on a few large construction machinery (cranes, bulldozers and dump trucks) at my last job. Im very eager to get my hands on this truck, especially the wiring, I like doing that kind of stuff so some odd reason, I know most people run from it. Im expecting it to be a worlds difference compared to the newer cars.

[drummin89]

getting the truck this weekend (if no surprises arise) just need to go help him dig the truck out of the barn and gather all the spare parts he has. Cant wait.

I think my plan of action will be to first see what is there and what isnt, decide what im keeping and what I will advertise for sale. Then I will begin the wiring, in three steps or areas, starting with engine wiring, then lights and then the accessories/options I plan to add.

[AB6DO]

From the pictures of the motor it is a 235 with after market cast dual exhaust manifold. If you are thinking of keeping a 6 cylinder, the 235 is a good motor to put some money into.
Larry

[lotussutol]

if you keep the 235 you should keep the dual and run dual straight pipes out the back. it sounds rappy and nice!

that looks to be a really solid truck for a PA barn truck! It should make for a nice truck.

[drummin89]

the truck is quite solid, when i went to look at it (same day I took the pics) i didnt see any rust on the truck. As for it being a 235, i hope it is, Ill have to get the numbers off the block. It would be nice if the spare was a 235 also. As for the exhaust, im definitly keeping the duals, it already has the dual exhaust running to the back. Im thinking of putting the flowmasters Im getting with the deal on it.

whats a good way to tell what motor is in it, I guess Ill find out tomorrow when i go pull it out of the barn.

[drummin89]

i was talking to my boss some more today and he confirmed that the engine thats in the truck at the moment is the 235 (rebuilt) and the spare motor is the 216. Im going bright and early tomorrow to pull everything out, and if enough time left (should be) we are going to haul it up to my house.

[entourageguy]

It'll be just like christmas......
good luck
Brian ....