So this build has been going on for a few years now but I am just now really getting the time to put into it. I figured a thread on here would be a good way to document my progress and if any of you get a kick out of seeing it then that's just an added bonus, and I hope you do.
Back story: The truck is technically a "barn find". We found it in a barn behind a house my girlfriends uncle was renting. Turns out the truck belonged to the landlord, it was her late fathers truck. I did a bunch of research on it and really nailed down what it was before contacting the owner. I wrote the owner a letter explaining who I was, my love for vehicles, and a little summary of what her truck was.
One day, between classes at Texas A&M, I got a call just before I walked into Subway. It was the owner, we talked for a sec, agreed on a price, and set a day to meet at the truck. The day I met her I found out that this whole situation was just a perfect storm. The tenet of the house (my girlfriends uncle) just passed away, the landlord had decided to sell the property now that it was vacant (she now lived out of state), her and her daughter had been discussing what to do with some of their contents of the property that had remained their since her father passed away, the 54 truck had some sentimental value and they were torn on what to do with it. Enter my letter. They told me that the owner read the letter, handed it to her daughter, she read it, and it ended with both of them in tears and the daughter saying "Mom, he loves that truck already just as much as your dad did, we have to sell it to him."
So now that all that is cleared up, here is the fun part: PICTURES
Here it the truck the way we found it and how had sat for about 30 years. This is where we start to see why I said it was "technically" a "barn find". Barn find usually suggest that the vehicle is near mint condition, just covered in dust. This truck was not near mint condition, but it was very complete, it just was a little rough because it was used as designed, as a farm truck. Notice the large damage on the rear fender.
http://i.imgur.com/Y9QjvsOl.jpgGetting it in the sunlight for the first time in a long time.
http://i.imgur.com/o0DTtRYl.jpg"On the road" again
http://i.imgur.com/xr8ZFYTl.jpgHere she is in her new temporary home, ready for demo.
http://i.imgur.com/p7He9uKl.jpgI had already decided this was going to be a ground up build, so it was time to start tearing it apart. This involved A LOT of bagging and tagging bolts, and TONS of pictures (still probably not enough). This is what I was left with
http://i.imgur.com/836hwIGl.jpgand this
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http://i.imgur.com/bFmqbGvl.jpgSo this begins the REALLY fun stuff. Making it look like it should. What better place to start than the frame itself. Sandblasting
http://i.imgur.com/LJzJ01Yl.jpgSome Epoxy Primer
http://i.imgur.com/rRFY4GOl.jpgThrowing down some Enamel Top Coat
http://i.imgur.com/w7YEcfRl.jpgFinal Product
http://i.imgur.com/DSpXCzBl.jpgFront axle was next. It got the same treatment, sandblast, primer, paint
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http://i.imgur.com/hHCTv2Cl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/KYt57ypl.jpgThe front I-beam axle King Pins were worn out a bit. I reamed them 0.010 over and installed new king pins.
http://i.imgur.com/Nl2p2l2l.jpgThe front axle complete. The original Ball Bearing wheel bearing were reused. Stayed with the stock drum brakes instead of updated disks. I did however add automatic adjusters to the brakes.
http://i.imgur.com/FXuhrell.jpgThe rear axle was up next. Same sandblast, primer, paint treatment.
http://i.imgur.com/RhfjuqMl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/K14RG2Tl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Kud65Xpl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FX45a4tl.jpg Didn't grab a pic of the rear axle with its black coat
Now that I have a house of my own with a 3 car garage (specifically for having a space to put this truck back together) I am moving the frame and axles to their new home (where hopefully the truck will be finished).
Transport
http://i.imgur.com/sg1vNeal.jpgIn its new home, ready for parts to go back together
http://i.imgur.com/JycRYChl.jpgAnd now we are up to current time.
