The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Where to begin???

Brace yourself for a wall of text, haha.

So I'm looking for a little insight on where to start. I posted a couple pics in the new guy board last month but I've been traveling for the last few weeks so I wasn't able to get much done.

I picked up my '52 3100 at the beginning of Feb, it has a running 216 and new breaks, but someone else started things so I've got a bunch of stuff in buckets/boxes and the interior is pretty much stripped out. I have no idea when things came apart or if everything is there.

I finally was able to go though the boxes and take a basic inventory of what's in there. Bonus, there's a 12V Delco Generator from something in there.

My initial thought was get the truck on the road as is for now until I come up with a firm game plan.

To do this, I need to remount the seat and gauges, wiring harness, tail lights(non there), wire up head lights/markers, bed bolts/blocks, possibly convert to 12V, hand throttle cable and choke cable.

As I think about this, I hate doing things twice, should I just dig into the truck or am I on the right path with my initial thought of just rolling it for now and saving/acquiring parts.

So, what's the thought?

And here's some more obligatory pics. lol

THANKS!!

Driver side

Pass. side

Drive it now or wait till you get it all done nice and drive it in 7 years. If you wait, the winters will pin you down, you will want to fish in the spring, vacation in the summer, your carpal tunnel will act up, your family will need attention, you will loose interest off and on and father time will catch up. Put it together if you can and drive awhile. That will give you a good memory to keep you going while you tear it down later. (this all kind of depends on the picture I can't see)
Don't buy a bunch of aftermarket parts that sit in a bag for years. It is false to think you are restoring by buying a bunch of fun stuff...not the way to go. Fix things yourself and buy original donor parts as they come up, build your skills along with the truck. Figure what are the hardest to find parts and start watching Ebay, swap meets, Craigslist, this forum, etc.
To answer where to start. I usually start at "stop and steer" items, suspension, wheel bearings and the frame and work "up".

Drive it now, for two years at least, as much as you can. Your long-term plan might have changed substantially by then, and you'll end up doing it so it'll stay done.

Good advice.

You have a conundrum.
The truck appears to be solid enough to put on the road.
You want to have a completely restored truck.
Though the truck is solid, it takes nearly as much time, effort and money to restore it as it does a basket case.
Drive that sucker, I say.
Carl

I agree, drive it as soon as possible. Too many people tear the whole thing all apart with the best intentions and there it sits. After several years they sell the pile of parts or scrap it. This is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby.

Looks real good. Repair and seal any rusted spots while driving and of course safety items (brakes, steering, wiring/fuses).

This is the approach we are taking and couldn't be happier with the decision.

Drive it as soon as it's safe. I've been working on my '52 for 4 moths and I'm still not ready to pass the state inspection. As soon as it passes I'm driving.

Thanks for the replys. Looks like it's about time to throw some cash at LMC. haha

Drive it after you have taken care of basic safety issues. Use original parts when/where you can. There is a great deal of after-market junk out there. Do not let time, $, interest get in the way. Do something with the truck every day, even the smallest of things. Enjoy the journey along the way, and keep your eye on the prize at the end of the road!

Hi Folks-
I'm new here but not to old cars. If this helps, I've always stuck to The Order--- Make it run. Make it safe. Make it pretty. That gives you something to work toward and even if you only get 2 out of 3 you still have something that will get you to work! Bonus!

Sounds like sound advice.

I'll offer up a minority opinion. From your post it sounds like you want to drive it and for that option you are getting good advice. There are some people, myself included, that really enjoy the restoration process and get a great deal of pleasure bringing older vehicles back to as good as we can get them. I enjoy driving my restored '52 but I enjoyed the restoration process as much or more. I know I'm in the minority, just wanted to offer another opinion.

I do want to drive it, but I also want to restore it. Back in my younger days (that makes me sound old...) I used to work on everyone else's vehicles. Mostly low riders at the time, and we did some awesome work for teenagers! I never had my own project truck though. I'm mechanically inclined and have a background in metal fabrication which I haven't really used since joining the Navy in 98. So I'll enjoy the restoration process too. But, until I have an idea of what I really want to do, I do want to drive it. I hate having to redo work and I'm at the point where I'd rather pay the $$ up front to get it done right the first time, I call it buy once, cry once. haha

The nice thing about putting it together first is you get to know what's right and what's wrong with it as well as what's missing or completely worn out.

Joe

You can have your cake and eat it too -- Buy a second truck! That way, you can enjoy driving one while you enjoy working on the other.

Note: This plan has major fatal flaws and little documentation exists of it actually working. But ... maybe you could the one ...

If I can expand on what Joe said.. Not only do you know that the truck is sorted out mechanically, you are not wallowing all over freshly smoothed and painted fenders to replace a fuel pump, gennie, etc. or bleeding brakes you had to redo all over your shiny backing plates. Get it running well and drive the bugs out, repair as necessary and then do your tearing down to get it pretty. HTH

Best-
Mike Burgess
Albert, KS

All good points, thanks guys! Oh and John, there is a 1 ton near by that has had my attention for a while... haha That may spell divorce though.