Hi, just wanted to introduce myself. I am Frank from Massapequa Park Long Island. I have a 1948 3100 that I spent the last 8 months resurrecting from a 45 year sleep. I have been using this forum since the beginning of my project and now that the heavy work is done I plan on "paying back" with some input and knowledge sharing. I think that I have gone thru and repaired inspected replaced overhauled every part of this truck with the exception of the suspension. For a dirt simple vehicle I must say there is still lots of stuff to attend to when dealing with an original truck.
My Truck seems to be original with the exception of the transmission. The 216 motor is correct year / serial. The sm420 4 speed is correct serial number and a 1948 unit but I think it is not original to this truck, Has Huck brakes in the rear and at some point a previous owner upgraded the front to bendix type.
The motor was locked up but after a month of a concoction down the spark plug holes and then finally dropping the pan and a lil use of rubber mallet I freed her up. Motor was not perfect but pretty darn close to spec. Just a sligfht bit over on ring gap but just a hair. New STD rings and a quick hone, AND the head sent out to replace seats and valves (hardened) springs etc... she fired right up and no smoke and not burning any noticeable oil after 150 miles of driving.
Trans was locked up also. The top dogs and internal linkage were rusted up pretty good and there was about 1 quart of water in the gear oil when I drained it. After a full day of playing with it with the covers off I freed it up as well. Cleaned it out added new gear oil and she is working perfect!
I would like to do a write up bc I did make a journal on the project as I did it and took pics the whole way so far. Just gotta decide if I am gonna leave it roughed up body paint etc... or gonna paint it for real. Looks good now and I dont mind that patina look. I redid the inside of here and that was important to me. I like to read the gauges and have a headliner etc...
Anyway
Thanks to all that post because without that most of would never attempt half the things we do!
Frank V
