The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts what is my '55 worth?

so i'm very torn about my '55 6400. i love the truck as-is, it's a survivor! but i also would love to update it for modern driving and hauling to really use the truck. i'm torn between selling this truck and buying just a cab to build a truck under, or parting out a lot of this thing. i think if someone wanted this truck to cruise and keep alive where i wouldn't loose $$ that would be the best. so what would you pay for this?

1955 chevy 6400, grain body.
non-dump wooden bed/box
100% stock, runs amazing drives well
new stock vacuum brake booster, lots of or all new lines.
everything greased regularly it's whole life, everything tight.
no more then surface rust on anything frame down
body is solid, but has a few small spots to patch

needs:
-all new electrical, the wires are flaking off sheathing (this is easy and i will do it this spring)
-wiper switch is frozen, no clue on condition of the rest of the system, i'm thinking of doing an electric updated.
-needs all door window moldings and seals replaced

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa152/jeepnski/6400/IMAG0903_zps628b06a6.jpg

just for reference, i drove the truck home for $2400.

Welcome to Stovebolt, by the way! Usually, when folks ask "What's my truck worth?" we send them to read this Tech Tip

But I think you answered your own question in your second post

Good luck with your decision -- looks like a cool truck.

John

That truck seems way too nice to part out, or to modify, in my opinion. But that's just my opinion--and it's not my truck.

I bought one just like that one maybe even a little better shape with a working hoist this past fall for 1200$.
Sold it a week latter for 1500$, but had to haul it about 300 miles.
I pretty much broke even, had a fun time doing it and it went to a great young family.

http://s893.photobucket.com/user/2-Ton/library/57%20GMC

You should be able to get your money back, maybe even a little more out east. Then get something that will suit you better.

Don

Well my awesome wife likes the truck as-is too, but pretty much what you guys are saying is that these things have very little market value. That sucks since these things are soooo cool!! But I guess that's good for those of us who like em.

It seams that you can get these things running n driving for less a 1500 cab in the same condition. That's why I really wanted to put it out to the opinion of you guys. It might cost more to get a cab then another whole truck.

What do you what the truck to do that it can't do now? These trucks were built to be trucks and are a testament to their durability...it's 60 years old and can still get the job done.

Mike B

mainly i'd like the truck to go over 50mph, but really it needs to do 70mph with a jeep on it's back and towing an airstream. that's going to take quite a bit more then 100HP to go along with quite a bit less gear, and the brakes to stop it all. it would also require i stretch the frame get good weight balance f/r without shoving the jeep's bumper right up to the back glass of the cab. this pretty much leaves me just popping the sheet metal of this chassis and onto a new one.

anyone need a complete chassis?

My 56 tow truck and 57 fire engine will both run 65 mph all day long. The fire engine weighs 14,200 pounds empty. Your 55 with a roll back body and the Jeep on top will weigh about the same. The Airstream might slow things down a bit and you'll slow down on hills, but it can be done. Both trucks have V8 engines (350 sbc in TT and 322 in FE).

Mike B

i would leave it alone and try to sell it for what you have in it, it is a good lookin' survivor.

i swapped a 2005 GM LQ4 6.0L with an NV4500 5spd into my jeep a few years back, the '55 should be even easier to do. but once i swap out everything but the frame and sheet metal, i'm kinda with the guys who say not too.

so obviously the cab is just a '55 cab, i can find that in good shape. but i have NEVER seen a big bolt front clip in good shape for sale. if someone could point me to one, i'd probably buy it today.

As you look for a front clip remember that the 55/56 fenders are the same and the 57 are different (talking about the 4000 & 6000 Series trucks). Chevrolet moved the front axle in 57, 2-1/2" forward so they made the wheel opening bigger on the 57 fenders. The 55/56 wheel openings are about 39" wide at the bottom and the 57 are almost 42".

The 55-57 4000 & 6000 Series Grills are the same.

The 56/57 8000 & 10000 Fenders and Grilles are the same.

The Hoods and Inner Fenders are the same for ALL of the trucks 1/2 thru 2-1/2 ton 55-57 (only difference in hoods are the 2 ribs for 57, but they are all interchangeable).

Mike B

that is some SOLID info! thank you for the heads up.

looks like i need some '57 fenders, and a 55/56 hood.

P.M. Sent

A couple of years ago I bought a front clip for a 6100, just for the grille pieces. The fenders on the clip were either rusted or dented. One fender (I don't remember which one), had a great inner fender and one fender was basically only good for the extension panel behind the front tire (that normally rusts out). BUT the grille was in excellent condition. I bought it to replace the bent grille on my '57 6100 dump truck. Last fall I bought a '57 6400 that doesn't run,(because it had a better body). It is also a v8 truck, mine is a 6cyl. Since then I have bid on a '63 GMC 4000(cab and chassis) with low low miles. I will know by 4/13/15 if I got the GMC. I will then have to decide what to do with the extra trucks/parts. Man have I got a patient wife or what?

yes sir, you've got a keeper! my wife only says something now and then about my stuff, or when i have a friends ride here to fix. generally she's awesome, and is even currently egging me on to replace my '02 TDI Golf with a '55 TDI 1500. i'm having a hard time saying no!

my list:
1991 wrangler - not street legal competition rock crawler
1999 wrangler - street legal 6.0L LQ4, NV4500, custom 4-link rear
2008 GMC 2500HD - to haul the everything
2002 TDI Golf - to save gas on the other hogs
1955 6400 - cuz it's badass

1970 airstream my grandfather bought new and i need to restore
1989 ski boat i "aquired" from my dad
19xx car hauler

and a buddy left a golf cart here that doesn't run, that one didn't sit well with her more then most.