The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1953 Chevy 5 window - one of my own finally

I've loved these 5 window trucks for sometime and finally have one of my own to say the least!

My father currently redoing one himself (not a 5 window) was lucky enough to find two (the second a 5 window)however we are a few thousand miles apart I couldn't rush and pick it up. While certainly I've laid eyes on it dreamed of doing so it's a project within it's self it and seems more than I can chew. While this truck still sits at my fathers I continued to search for a project a little less intense. Not that I'm lazy but question my abilities.

Well my searching lead to a phone call about three weeks ago putting me onto a 53 chevy 5 window barn/garage kept for the last 18 years. The truck was driven up to 3 years prior to the owners passing 21 years ago. Needless to say it was a phone call I couldn't believe! I went on a rainy Sunday which was a true bummer as knew I couldn't roll the truck out and really look at it the way I wanted. Still unseen and the unknown of a truck 61 years old I was hopeful. Let me say the story held true the moment I pulled in.

While it took me less than two days to get my money together and the weather to permit I was hooked! So now I'm on in and will be doing my part to post updates and ask a ton of question all after searching first! My goal is to get her running and drive as is for the current as I'm thinking this is original stuff on this truck and would like to work out a resto plan. Take a look and let me know y'all's thoughts.

Thanks so much for having me!!

Nice looking project truck.

Did you see Dennis Richard's new in the Gallery (just added yesterday)? One of his criteria was that it had to be a five window. In all my years of doing these stories, that was a first for me.

Wow, the background on this truck sounds unreal -- garage/barn kept; driven until parked.

Sounds like you've got a winner. Post away with all your questions. The gang will be happy to help in anyway they can.

And remember, no question is a dumb questions. We are always happy to see new blood in the hobby - especially on the Chevy / GMC side!

So, what's first on your plan??

Peg

Welcome Travis, looks like a good one. Hopefully, it won't take too much effort to get her running (and stopping), it would be fun to take it for a spin! Don't be shy about the questions, we're here to help each other out.
Also, check out the 'southern bolters' forum, there may be more of you nearby. Good luck.

Leo

And if you think you'll be driving as you fix her up, we have a Daily Drivers forum. That's a special group to work and roll!!

Peg

That's one nice truck, great body condition and patina. Like you're suggesting, I'd clean it up, get the mechanicals fixed, make it safe to drive, and drive it the way it is. It looks like a wonderful survivor!
John

Travis, welcome to the Stovebolt Page. First, wow, the wait certainly paid off in a nice pickup. Man that's a good one. Has it been in S.C. most of its life?
I know your area code is 803 so you can't be too far from me. I'd say your down around York county or maybe the Columbia area. In either case I have family all around.

Your a Southern Stovebolter now. Visit the Southern Forum and introduce your self there. We are planning a get together for May 10 down in Columbia, right off 26. Love to have you drop by. The details are in the Events section and the Southern Forum.

Drop me a line. Love to get together and talk trucks..... and the folks here are great and knowledge abounds in each forum.

See ya around the garage..........Alvin

In a nutshell, you just defined Stovebolt.com

Leo

Looks like you got a dandy!
Welcome to the Bolt!

First off let me says thanks to all the reply so far as it only solidifies my find as a good one. Second thanks to Peggy for the welcome email regardless where the email came from hat happens with me for work time to time(inside thing lol).

To continue with the story behind my truck; I've done a vin search and know where the truck came from please forgive me for not knowing in this post. That said the truck spent most of its life on a farm on the east side of Columbia with a grape farmer. The steel in the bed of the truck was placed there for additional security for the amount of grapes he would haul to the farms market during season. The farming side of the truck interest me just as much as the truck as in the words of a man I grew up hearing "So god made a farmer".

Friday I pushed the bolt out of the garage and took a little mystery oil down each cylinder. What I had left put in the top over the valves to allow it to mysteriously do it's work. While the goal was to find a battery over the next couple of days then see if it would turn over. Well my phone rang early Saturday morning to my mother calling to inform me she found a six volt battery!!! With my day already booked with God Children's 6 and 4th birthday parties the bolt had to wait till afternoon. Like a kid in a candy store my wife knew I was itching lol.

Let me start with a song from despicable me two before we get into the next paragraph; "I'M SO HAPPY!!!" Needless to say the battery went in certainly no attempt was made to really run the truck more or less an attempt to ensure it wasn't seized up. Can I say she turns over!!!!!! Now I have new plug wires on the way and an attempt to find a coil, points and plugs before next weekend is priority 1 this week. While don't get me wrong I'm not going to run her after sitting as I know I need a radiator after the pressure test failed the fact I can get fire leaves me in a better spot to put her on the road sooner than later!

I apologize about my rambles as I'm truly even more excited knowing what I do and realizing while she's no showroom quality the fact I can put her on the road sooner than later is absolutely amazing to me! Please let me know suggestions of things to do before a good run. Certainly I'm checking the basics and not planning on running down the road but key things to look for!!!!

Thanks again for having me.

Certainly did a little reading before my first official post and have seen the "southern forum" and would love to meet locals face to face as their knowledge only helps me so one day I can return the favor.

I noticed in the southern bolts a thread about the classic chevy meet that happens at fat boys parking lot off one. I've been there with another classic several times and hope to see y'all there. I will probably be at the first one next weekend and if I see a bolt introduce myself! If no one from the forum I'll be back for May with the dreams of mine running!!!!

Travis, that unit is a humdinger!