I have to say, the thing was FUN to drive. It was a '54 3100. If it had been a little less swiss-cheesy I think I would have bought it, and figured out a way to get it home. But, the driver's cab corner was shot, the other one crumbly, and the floor was patched in several places with what looked like aluminum and pop rivets. What really put me off was the cab itself, where the fenders connect, was missing an awful lot of metal. The frame looked, rustier than I would have liked too. The engine seemed strong, the clutch and brakes worked fine and it shifted well in both directions. Reverse worked too. But it's three hundred miles away.
About five miles from where I live, a guy has a '46 3/4 ton chev, which he assures me I'll like a lot better, because of the bigger cab, open drive shaft, and four on the floor. It is in pretty good shape too. No major rust, just surface, but the windshield is a mess and the seat is springs only. It still needs a generator and tail lights but it does run well. He also fixed the brakes, making the front and back brakes independent.
Thing is, I've really been scouting for a late forties, early fifties model half ton. I think the '46 is a good deal, but I'm not sure it's the right truck for me. The 54 is a good truck, but probably more project than I want to deal with.
Too many strands. The mantra I keep coming back to is that there are a lot of trucks out there, and really, there's no rush. Right?
