The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre 1954 3/4 ton rescue

I should start by saying this has been a dream for a while. I had a 1954 half ton 12 years ago and sold it when I got married and started our family. I had such wonderful memories of that truck from my college years. It had no turn signals or seat belts and more than once I found myself on the passenger side of the truck after taking a turn too fast.
At the time I had no garage, no funds and no time. Flash forward to now and I am ready for the challenge. The truck I found is actually the parts truck from all those years ago. I used the grill for my other truck, but besides that it is overall all there, but the rust is intense, but I have a garage, a grinder, a welder and the desire.

My truck has been off the road since 1975. For the past fifteen years it has been sitting at my parents house holding working as a storage unit for 6 in line 6 motors in its bed. With the help of a chainsaw, tractor and elbow grease we removed the motors, lifted the truck out of at least 12 inches of rut in the back and got it loaded on the trailer. Amazingly the wheels turned freely and three of the four tires were inflated. Two hours later it was a great feeling to see it coming home.

Since it has been home I have:
-gotten it started
-replaced the differential with a 85 3/4 ton van 3:55
-found an original 2 part driveshaft (missing)
-welded in a floor (rusted out completely from the seat back)
-installed a SM 420 4 speed out of a 73 truck (always have loved the granny gear)
-Rebuilt the front breaks
- Found a grill on Ebay and added it to the parts pile
-painted the interior and installed a seat from another truck (original)

My next steps are to finish the cowl areas and cab corner area, add the glass, shocks, find a fender for the front left and add a DIY paintjob. The plan is to use this truck as it was intended. It will not be a show truck, but to me it will be beautiful.

I have to thank my old neighbor Jim for putting the bug back in me. He is a Stovebolt member in Virginia that has been working on a 55 truck for a while. If it wasn't for seeing his truck going up and down the dirt lane in front of the house, I may not have saved my truck before nature took over completely.

Knighitng, welcome to the Stovebolt. You join many others from your area. Watch for them.
Sounds like a good plan to me. As we can see your no stranger to work and that's a good thing. Keep us posted, and ask any questions in the garage forums for help from the masters.
Oh, and post up a link to some pictures when you can. I'm sure it'll inspire others.

welcome to the site! Sounds like a good start!

Are you sure it is an SM420 and not an SM465? last year of the 420 was 1967 (except for some military trucks). SM465 has a PTO cover on both sides, SM420 only on the driver side.

Welcome Knighitng, good luck with it and be sure to ask here if you need anything.
Leo

I am not sure about the transmission. I do know it bolted right up. I also know that the shifter handle did not interchange from the 1954 4 speed. I had to bend the existing bar to make it clear the dash.

The truck my neighbor around Bowling Green Virginia has is not a 1955, but is a 1957.

I hope this link works to see the picture of my truck right after it was put on the trailer.

Photobucket

Thanks for the shout out Chris, and congrats on finally getting that truck back from the brink. I know we've talked about it many times and good on you for rescuing it. You're going to love the journey.

SWEET and I still live nearby. Between the three of us, I'll bet we have all the parts and grunt labor we'll need to have you rolling down the dirt roads soon.

Please call on us any time. And welcome to the Stovebolt!

Jim

Don't save all of the fun for the west-side gents. The east-side (of the Potomac) is interested in helping out. Most interested in your new floor. Might I invite myself over to investigate how you pulled that off? I have a need for that skill.
Welcome Hambone

Sure! Send me a private message and we can set up a time, but I am no professional and my objective was functional more than cosmetic, though from the top it looks ok!

Finally, I am about to get it inspected. All glass is in and just need to sort out the horn and park lights. It is ugggglly, but will be functional. Look forward to seeing others out and about!!