Steve Carozza's 1955 3/4-Ton Pickup

From Steve:

        After returning from Germany, I got back to work on the truck and tore it apart to the bare frame. After three years of work (and two children later) this is what you see here. Funding concerns caused us to decide on the wooden flat bed and I made the wooden running boards to match. I think they really set the truck apart and it looks much better than we ever anticipated.

        We stayed with the 235 six to provide the power but changed the transmission to a Saginaw 4 speed using the Patrick’s shift kit and also swapped the third member out to get a slightly better 4.11 rear gearing. Now, with the smaller than stock tires, the truck just about goes as fast as the speedometer shows. Top speed is about 55mph (at least that I have been brave enough to drive).

        The interior I tried to keep as stock as I could. We did not have the seat redone yet, but that will likely be the major departure from stock as we plan to have the seat redone in cloth. I covered the old radio hole with a small piece of varnished oak (to compliment the rest of the wood on the exterior) attached with chrome headed carriage bolts. I think it looks pretty nice that way. Much better than having a huge hole in the dash. Eventually I plan to install a modern radio below the dash, but that is a long range task.

        Unfortunate as it is, the military is again calling on us to relocate, this time to St. Petersburg, FL for a year. Since it is a 10-11 month assignment, we are not bringing the truck so we had it shipped to the in-laws garage outside of Chicago (again) where it will sit, unused, until we return. I’ll have to take her for a spin whenever we stop in to visit.

        My son has always enjoyed looking out the back window of the truck. Imagine his surprise the day the glass went in and he could no longer stick his head through the hole! That was pretty funny.

        I owe The Stovebolt Page a huge debt of gratitude for helping in the restoration of this truck. From the Milliman’s first getting me hooked on the old trucking thing (while they were still in Hawaii and The Stovebolt Page was still young) to the wealth of knowledge available in the Forum, I could not have done this without The Stovebolt Page.

Thanks,

Steve Carozza
"stevejumpr"
Bolter # 497
St. Petersburg, Florida

01 March 2001 Update

From Steve:

        I noticed that my truck's pics ('55 first series 3/4-ton) had mysteriously disappeared from the Stovebolt Page (the lightning did it -- Editor!). Here are a couple pictures to replace them.

        We are coming back from Germany in a couple weeks and will send some more updates once we get the truck out to Montana!

Thanks,

Steve Carozza
"stevejumpr"
Bolter # 497
soon-to-be Missoula, Montana

From Steve:

        When I first became interested in ole trucks about 2 years ago I went to your site and you helped me out by answering many of my beginner questions. Well, after I bought our truck you told me to send you a picture. Here it finally is. I hope this gets to you okay with all your moving around.

         It is a 55 1st series 3/4-ton pickup. It is bone stock with the exception of a 12-volt conversion and alternator. I recently rebuilt the 235 and it is bolted to an original heavy duty 4 speed tranny. While it may not look like much now she runs great. Project is currently on hold due to a military move to Germany, but we are saving up and once we return we will be back at it. The goal is to keep her as stock as possible with the exception of possibly putting in a different rear end so we can drive around a little bit more and a little bit faster. If you need any more info, let me know.

Steve Carozza
"stevejumpr"
Bolter # 497