Ok, just a theoretical question. My truck (1953 3600 5-window cab) is in the "beginning" stages. I've got a motor that is pretty good and can probably be fixed and ready to put in with very little additional cost (since I bought a 1955 235). The starter and radiator are good, I want to put an alternator on it and it needs the smaller water pump kit(?). The transmission (as far as I know) was working fine when it last ran. The hood, cab and front fenders are sound needing only to be stripped and painted (the grill is sound too - but I'd like to have it stripped and chromed). The frame needs to be torn down and all steering components fixed as does any truck that old (everything works, just old and rusty). All brakes except the lines/hoses are new parts my dad had ready when I got it. The interior is shot except for the dash/guages. The box is mostly sound except the fenders have some dents from posts the farmer obviously got to know very well! The tailgate has a dent in the top "round" part and the front of the box is rusted through where the box boards sat on the lip at the bottom.
Now I know about making a budget, figuring out how much everything is going to cost and going through everything systematically. I basically want to put it back pretty much together as it was except for the motor and adding an O.D. or regearing the rear-end for a little more mph. However - Knowing all this about the truck, if you had $2500 to start playing with, where would you start? I realize its not much in the grand scheme of theings, but give me your honest opinion, have fun - I just want to see what others think.
