I like your thinking! Car show just bore me, these truck are meant to be driven and enjoyed!
I have a '57 Suburban which is my 3-season daily driver. It has a '75 Camaro front clip, 250ci L6, th350 and rear end with 2.73 ratio, all from the Camaro. It is fun, reliable, a bit on the slow side in town, but will run 70mph all day thanks to the long rear end.
The Camaro front clip gives you power disc brake (with under floor modern power booster kit), power steering, independent suspension and a Chevy 5 bolt wheel pattern. All parts obviously are Chevy and easy to find at your local parts store, which is really important for a daily driver, you won't find 50s parts locally!). The L6 is maybe a bit weak, most Camaro clips came with a small block anyway: reliable, easy to maintain, gas not as good as the Miata! I am going to put a th700r4 (4speed auto)in mine for the lower first gear and lock up converter, after that I may need to put a shorter rear end... The rear drum brakes from the Camaro are way enough!
To this, you might want to add A/C (easy aftermarket kits, with heat, easy compressor on the small block) and a good radio. And no one will see anything from the outside!
Sure you can put a modern truck seat with seat belts mounted on the seat, that should not be too hard, you just have to spend a bit of time measuring at the junk yard, but make sure it is attached seriously to the floor! No use being held to the seat if the seat goes flying! For me, these seats look too modern...
A bit of insulation, a radio, you're set!
Some people here are very much into originality, but really, that kind of old truck can ride with today's traffic easily, that is where I find my fun!
I guess it should not be too too hard to find a truck that has already all or most of these mods done (like mine was). Just make sure the front clip is welded very well!
Last edited by wave1957; 11/10/2009 3:55 AM.
