The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Rare 54 3100?

Hello, I have a 54 3100, 5 window. It has the 4 speed hydramatic, deluxe interior with factory cloth checkered seat cover, and the original factory radio (it works too). Old timers (sorry if I offended anyone with that) that know 54's are fascinated by the automatic, cloth seat and radio. None of them have ever seen these "options" together.

Can anyone comment on how rare it might be?

I drive it as much as I can and everybody smiles when they see it.

I converted it to 12V and installed fenton dual intake with Langdon's dual carbs. I boxed up the original parts for keepsake.

A very nice optioned truck indeed. I assume that the checkered cloth interior (you did mention color) means it had the two tone interior which would have most likely given you chrome vent window frames, chrome grille, the chrome around front and side windows, etc.

I would love to see pictures of your truck. Why not make a photobucket album and post a link?

Amen! That *would* be a nice truck to see a photo spread of.

Thanks for posting and welcome to Stovebolt, Scott!

Hello, Scott,

Welcome to Stovebolt.com

I am restoring a 1954 3104 pickup that will have two-tone exterior (yellow/white) and two-tone interior (beige and maroon), and the associated bright-work (chrome/stainless inside and out, as described by Greg), and a Hydra-Matic transmission, and the bed-side spare-tire carrier. It will have the 1954 radio and deluxe heater. I have the 2-speed 6v wiper but cannot bring myself to drill holes in the dash.

The truck will also inappropriately have the 54/55-only Unison (Ride-Control) seats.

The truck will have the 54/55 accessory complementary-colored floor mats (for "good house keeping"). I do not have the accessory striped seat covers, but would really like to see a photograph of them.

Rare is a word that gets tossed around quite a bit.

The hydra-matic is a nice option that was a small percentage of the total production. The what I have assumed to be deluxe cab option (with two tone interior and extra brightwork) is another option that set it apart from the norm. Radio is probably a little more common although it is essentially a 1 1/2 year option. (54 and 55 1st series only) How did you handle the radio voltage drop when you went to 12V?

Want some other 54 only items?
The unison seats Tim mentioned, a clock and housing that sits on top of the dash between the gauge clusters, a windshield washer that 54 was the first year to have a cable between the foot pump and the wiper motor to make the wipers pass when the squirters were activated, are three that come immediately to my mind.

What color is the exterior of your truck? One color or two tone?

Can't wait to see it. My grandparents used to live in Marsing ID. I see it is fairly close to you. It has been over 40 years since I visited there.

Tim mentioned the deluxe heater. That is another 54 item (although it showed up in 53) It has a fresh air door on the front that the previous deluxe heaters did not have.

I forgot about the clock-and-housing, Greg.

Do you have the whole 54/55 washer assembly? Foot-pedal and cable?
I think we still do not know if the foot-pedal cable connects to the electric motor? Have you come up with any info on that?

Are you enjoying the winter? We will have a high of 0-5 degree on Saturday (not considering wind chill).

As for "rare": I'd say those seat covers are close to being rare?

I have the whole setup for vac wipers. I have a bulletin discussing cable adjustment for the electric wipers but have never found the "different switch" or whatever is needed to make the second cable hook up to the electric wipers.

Scott,
I live in Meridian Idaho. I have a '55 1st series. I'd love to see your truck. Please contact me at:

email, [email protected]
or
cell, 661-406-8496

Larry

thanks for all the replies! i will try to post pics soon.
i'll respond to everyone soon. meanwhile, it has the checkered green cloth seat, factory electric wipers, painted grill, two color interior.
i'd love to have a clock!
Larry, i sent you an email.
i'll be back....

thanks for the info!
radio: 3 voltage reducers from NAPA, the button style. i'll get the part number for you.
clock: i'd love to have one
exterior: ocean green and lots of patina
marsing: i know some folks there. what's their names?
heater: does not have the door opening against the side cowl

The cab just has the standard louvers on the side. The heater itself has a cable driven door vertically to allow fresh air into the cab from outside.

Greg, the purpose of that extra door was not to allow fresh air into the cab from the outside. It was for converting the fresh air heater into a recirculating heater. Pulling the cable knob opened the tall, narrow door while at the same time, an unseen door blocked off the hole in the inner cowl where the fresh air normally comes in. So that means that the tall, narrow door was actually an intake for bringing in air from the inside of the cab and recirculating it through the heater. At least that's the way I think it works. I have been wrong before (earlier today ).
Carl

Let's borrow from Tim's website. I think we might be saying the same thing two different ways. http://www.1954advance-design.com/Documents/Accessories/Booklet/Page1.jpg Click here

...I think we're jumping around from the original thread but...
I have a FRESH air heater and it does not have the tall slender door. FRESH means just that, a heater that draws fresh air from the outside cab vents. Then the recirculating heater and the "plain" heaters.

We've beat this heater thing to death and somewhere, there is a thread with each of them and description. I just haven't found it yet. Then there is always the question of what year had what and when it was available. Gosh, I love it. Keeps my mind active and from becoming, uh, whats the word for forgetful? Dementia, that's it.

Ocean Green is a very nice color. If possible, please post a link to a photo.

It sounds like you have a recirculating heater. It does not use "fresh air" through the lower right cowl.

The other 53-55 heater (named Air Flow in 1954) was different from the similar looking 1952 and earlier heater. That style 1953-55 heater allowed cable-controlled recirculation of interior air (blocking off the outside air) OR intake of the outside air.

Alvin,

I do not have time now to search for a thread with photos/info on A-D heaters, but here is a thread with some information (at least about "de luxe" heaters).

You are probably right about us saying the same thing two different ways. The only real way to understand the design of the Deluxe Air Flow heater is to have one in front of you which isn't in the truck so you can see exactly what's going on when you pull the cable knob. I was surprised when I first saw the one I recently got my hands on.
Carl

You are right about that, Carl.

But, only someone who knows how the 53-55 Air Flow heaters works would understand why based on that illustration in the 1954 Accessories brochure the source of the "air flow" can be adjusted.

It is, however, quite easy to understand how the 47-52 cable-control works - it simply provides varying amounts of defrost to the windshield and/or heat directed towards the floor. The outside, fresh air, is always going through the heater core.

They should have put two cables on the 53-55 Air Flow heaters.
One cable for Air Flow or Recirculating mode or both.
One cable for Defrost or no Defrost mode.
Reaching under the dash to turn on Defrost while driving is a hazard to your health.

I think one of the reason why they changed the design of the 47-52 air flow heater.
And put a door on where the outside air comes in.
It was acting like a vent.
In the summertime air could be push threw the louvers (while driving) across the heater core, unnecessarily heating the cab.
Door, No air flow.

I have a rare truck too. Its rare because I drove it for three months, took it apart to restore it 7 years ago, and it will be a rare day when it's back together and I am driving it again. Gosh these projects take time! Wish mine was a hydromatic and as nicely optioned as the truck mentioined! Can't wait to see pictures of it.

My not-so-rare 1954 all-frills pickup truck that we are restoring is rarer than yours, Tom

These projects always take more time and $$$ than expected.

I drove it from NJ to my home in 2005 (10 years ago) and drove it less than 10 miles since then.

The rolling chassis and drive-train is now restored (235 and H-M transmission and 3.55 rear-end conversion). The sheet metal is almost ready to be painted. The 2-tone upholstered Ride-Control seats are ready to be installed.

It will get done when it gets done.


jorb,

Yes, the 53-55 air flow heater's open-door to the outside and the heater-fan (with the heat turned-off) allows forced ventilation with outside unheated "summer" air.

Always good to hear from you, Tim. I hope to see you at another truck show in the future. My 1941 GMC just got crushed when the snow collapsed my garage. I'm ready for spring as I'm sure the rest of the crew on this site is ripping to go too.

Hello, Tom,

I do not know if I will make it to Macungie, PA (ATCA), but I hope to make it to York, PA (ATHS). I hope to see you again.

I'll be in my 54 Suburban (Unless I get bold and brave and go in my COE).

Yes, I am also ready for Spring. We are above freezing today - first above-freezing day in weeks.

You must be under a lot of snow. I was very sorry to hear about your garage.

You guys know better than to discuss the weather here. Take it to the Spoon please.

That's right, I forgot about that, the air flow heater's have a temperature control rod/valve to
completely shut-off engine heated anti-freeze coolant from circulating through the heater core.

Did all air flow heaters come with a temperature control rod/valve?

They were not all called "air flow" but all the 47-55 heaters of that general style had a Ranco flow-control valve and the temperature control rod (in the same location - straight out from the Ranco valve).