Just bought a 1953 Chevy 3100!

[Melnickta]

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!

[Dan in Pasadena]

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.

[mikebte]

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.

[joedoh]

thats a great looking truck!


adding EFI is a great idea too

Originally Posted by Melnickta

So, I haven't informed my better half yet

RIP!

[Melnickta]

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.

[mongocanfly]

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

[Russell Ashley]

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.

[mikebte]

I'll help you out a bit on photos.

[Melnickta]

Originally Posted by mikebte

I'll help you out a bit on photos.

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

[mikebte]

Originally Posted by Melnickta

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

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

[Melnickta]

Originally Posted by mikebte

Found them on Ebay, not sure if you purchased it on Ebay.

Whew. I did. Purchased on Monday.

[mikebte]

Originally Posted by Melnickta

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.

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.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by mikebte

Sometimes its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

we think alike

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

[jweb]

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

[8man]

Welcome. Good looking truck.

[MiraclePieCo]

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.

[mongocanfly]

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

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

Originally Posted by mikebte

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.

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.

[Henry50]

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.

[Melnickta]

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.

[mongocanfly]

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..

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Melnickta

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.

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

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Melnickta

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.

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"

[CountofMonteCarlo84]

Did it arrive yet?

[Melnickta]

Originally Posted by CountofMonteCarlo84

Did it arrive yet?

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.