The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun my new 3800 9ft box

Just picked this up, 1955 3800 9ft box.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa152/jeepnski/3800/IMAG1486_zpsjtvtllua.jpg

my plans change daily, but i'm trying to decide between cutting up the stock frame or selling the entire complete rolling chassis with motor. the frame is SOLID, and most of the suspension/running gear even looks perfectly usable, but is there enough of a market for something like this? if i can only get just over scrap value for it, i might as well just use what i have ... but if someone out there restoring a truck could really use this, i'd rather pass it along to them.

More pix in Photobucket

If this is intended to be a parts for sale ad please post in the swap meet section.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm&c=3


If you are planning to keep and drive the truck don't mention seling it in the general forum sections.

Thanks,
Grigg

Yes, once you decide about selling or keeping, let us know and we can move it over to the Swap Meet.

Peg

No parts to sell and no price to post on them, i came here to start a discussion. Discussed why I didn't post in classifieds. Thanx for the help by adding your insightful comments.

... Fail

To answer your one question there is probably not much of a market for 1 ton running gear without a good truck around it. Its the body that most folks need.

What else did you want to discuss or know about that may help you decide what to do?

The truck looks like a good candidate for restoration. Looks to be fairly complete.

Mark

it is a 100% complete truck that i do plan to fix up and drive the doors off it. i don't know why, it's just killing me to think about chopping up this frame for modern suspension ... but it's a solid frame and there's no better place to start building from. i think i just need to get over it and do it though.

after running some numbers, it looks like this frame will be more heavy then i need/want to run. and this i'm sure is exactly why there's really no market for em.

First thing to decide is what is end goal use for the truck and your budget. Is it a daily driver with light duty or will it be used to haul/tow heavy loads. Unless you are a good fabricator with the skills needed putting a "new" frame under the truck is not as easy as it sounds and takes time. Buying a chassis aftermarket gets pricey. I believe it is far easier to keep existing frame and add driveline parts to fit your needs. Good luck

Yuppers I agree, if you wanna close to home daily driver from a money standpoint, fix what is broken and drive it the way it is....

Not sure what you are looking at in the end.....but these things can suck major holes in your wallet in a real hurry...the less you change the less money you will spend on it...

I think it looks cool just the way they it is...

my 2 cents

MikeC

Agree with Bourbon and MikeC -- There's a few of us with AD 1-Tons who drive them a fair amount and find them to be decent drivers in stock configuration.

I echo the sentiments above -- get it running safely and reliably the way it is and see how you like it (give it a fair shake) before you spend a lot of money on upgrades. You may find (as most of us do) that it is just fine (and a lot of fun) the way it is.

One upgrade you can consider that's fairly cheap and easy to perform, is switching out the rear axle center section to get a little bit higher gearing (for a little more speed in traffic). Check out our tech tips for that one. Make sure your brakes work, first!

Good luck!
John