'50 3100 Refresh

[tip]

Hey everyone,

This is a friend's project that I've been working on since September '12. Thought I would share and hope to get some input and feedback.

The truck is a 1950, with some cool history. It underwent a frame off restoration in 1985 and has had very, very little use since then. My friend bought it in around 2009? in Enterprise, OR and the previous owner towed it up to the South Sound of Washington State, where she now sits. It has basically been sitting in his carport since then, as he never had time to tinker on it.

Last summer, he hired me to get it running and make some upgrades. He basically wants to keep it stock, but safer and more reliable. So disc brakes, seat belts, fuel tank relocation, 12v conversion, etc will be done.

When I first started I was out of school (I'm a former mechanic who returned to college) and now that school is back in session I can only devote 3-5 hours a week on the project.

So here she is. I will start at the beginning and catch up to where I'm at now. Any input, advice, feedback is appreciated.

[tip]

Front brakes where completely locked up. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of where it sat, dusty as hell.

We used his tractor to drag the truck to a flat spot where I could get it rolling again. His shop has room for the truck but needed some rearranging. So I worked on it right here for a few weeks while he made some room for it in the shop. Don't mind the pop up shade, it was hot.

The paint is in pretty good condition. Definitely needs a cut and buff. A few small bubbles in the rear fenders, but nothing major.

[tip]

It appears to me that the whole frame and many parts where POR-15'd or something similar, was that stuff around in 1985?

I started on the brakes.

front drum with relatively new wheel cylinder


drivers side


rear drums








CPP front disc conversion


mocked up


old vs new




studs pressed out


torqued




all assembled with new bearings




not a huge fan of the CPP kit, but more on that later...

[tip]

bench bleeding the CPP master


installed master cylinder, and bent new brake lines


bleeding the brakes

[tip]

Apparently the 216 was rebuilt in 1985 when the previous restoration was done. Looks to be in good shape. Another Carter YF was found on ebay and both carbs were sent out for a rebuild. The motor will be getting an Offenhauser dual carb intake and Fenton headers.

some before and afters of the motor







after

[tip]

more progress...

raw headers


this stuff is awesome


painted


more stuff painted

[Chris.]

Looking good
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[Rednek13x]

Did you paint that engine while it was still in the truck? What did you do just de grease it and spray it? What you use to clean it and what did you use to paint it?

[tip]

Yep, I painted it in the truck. Would have preferred to take the motor out but I didn't.

I scrubbed the whole thing multiple times with simple green. Then sanded the areas of loose paint and simple greened again. Then put a light surface on the whole thing with a green 3m pad. A wipe down with denatured alcohol right before paint.

I used some high temp primer that the owner had lying around. Then Duplicolor high temp engine paint and lots of masking tape.

[tip]

Truck is finally in the shop. Got the headers, intake and carbs installed. Made up the MSD wires , installed Pertronix electronic points, new cap, rotor, plugs etc.







alternator installed


New wheels, powdercoated gloss black. Will run a polished smoothy cap with trim ring.

[dubie]

damn fine ride you've got there. I'm loving the fact that you rodded out that inline rather than swapping it out for a small block. The truck looks to be in very nice shape overall.

[northeimcustom]

way to bring it back to life! hopefully someone drives it this time! i would for sure!!!

[tip]

Thanks for the comments.

Not much progress to report in pictures, but lots of little stuff done.

Starting the 12V conversion and cleaning up the wiring. Lots of goofy wiring to get rid of and return to stock.


Got the old tank out. A new in-frame tank will be installed under the bed.


Bent and ran the fuel and vacuum lines.

[chevyboy73]

looks great! love the blue

[Russell Ashley]

That's a great looking truck, and I like what you are doing to it. I love a built six engine.