" . . .
Cost vs safety vs originality vs how am I gonna use it a 60+ yr old truck vs my risk aversion ......
Another one of those fun decisions , which is a reason why I bought it and will make it my truck . . . "Cosmo is my long-distance daily-driver idol. Listen to him the most.
My 1954 1/2 ton Chevrolet trucks have:
- original wheels (15" or 16") and truck radial tires
- tire psi adjusted to maximize/balance between straight tracking (no wandering) & easy steering
- original-equipment panel-body front sway bar
- completely serviced to original specs Bendix brakes
- all original spec/design front-end parts that are tight, properly adjusted, and regularly greased
- 3.55 R&P in rear-end with all new seals/bearings
- properly adjusted front-end alignment AND properly adjusted steering gear
- added seat belts (I'll have
left/right shoulder-belt (see Deve's write-up) and center seat-belt in the next pickup).
Go to Charlottesville, VA for a highway and a back-road drive in Cosmo's truck, and then come down to NC for another safe/smooth/quiet ride in my Suburban (wherein passengers can talk with each other at normal volume from front-to-back seats (even at very high speeds).
