The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk New to this...should I remove welder from 51 chevy?

Just purchased a 1951 3800 truck. Second owner. Purchased originally as a work truck for welding. A large GE welder (40's early 50's) takes up most of long bed. Original paint on truck and 1st owners welding shop info on doors. Tanks and holders also there.Overall truck in great shape for age... Started right up ect.
My question "would truck be better with all that stuff off of it? Or would it be more appreciated? I really do not need bed for use right now.
How do I post pictures??

Welcome to Stovebolt.

I would leave the truck as is. I guarantee it will attract plenty of attention. Get it running and stopping safely and drive it.

Pictures must be hosted on a photo hosting site and linked to here.

Working trucks always have more character.

I'd sure like to see some pictures!

It'll be more interesting with the welder and all outfitted as it was when earning it's keep.

It'll also ride better with that weight in the back.

If you spiff up the welder, you will draw as much attention as what spiffed up vintage fire trucks do.

Good catch

See if this link works for pics

Thanks all for help
Becky

http://postimg.org/gallery/2bamra3lg/

Also welder in working order.

To answer your post title question, no.
That is a unique arrangement to still have in its original & working state. I like it how it is; thanks for the pictures.

Brad

Pretty neat truck,
Thanks for the pictures.

The background in the photos looked familiar somehow, perhaps I drove by there in my 52 1 ton back in 2004. Scanned through pictures from the trip but none from there.
https://goo.gl/maps/zbaMQu1g3XF2

Grigg

Beautiful.

That truck is a survivor in great shape and gets my vote to keep it the way it is. Jeffrey

That's a great looking truck , I would toss the welder on a trailer , show it off that way , because I would use the truck as a pickup .

Well, it is yours so do as you will...I wouldn't want to be the one that destroyed the cool provenance that is so rare to come by.

Saw the pics. No-brainer. Leave her alone.

Thanks everyone for input! I respect the opinions of those in these forums. Myself and my husband first thought "welder" stays... Truck as is. But since buying it people suggested to get rid if it... It is better without it. So we began to question our decision to keep it. Thanks to everyone that reassured us that keeping it is good. As I said I am new to this stuff,.. Husband not so much but we do have questions and will probably need advice as we start work on this truck. So will see everyone in other forums ! Thanks again ... I am so thrilled to have found this truck and lucky it's in the shape it is... I know it's not a million dollar truck or that rare but it suits us just right...never thought I would find a truck in the woods and actually have the owner sell it!

As cool as it is, I would take it off and save it somewhere. It probably weighs a ton.. The truck would be more enjoyable and you would have a view out the back window. A situation will arise where you need the bed and wish it was empty.

wow, neat truck, one could haul some big mouth bass
in that, take that sucker to the creek, break out
the old cane pole.. how good would that be.

you ever fish like that, hag

I don't know exactly how common or uncommon a one ton pickup is, but I could count all of the ones I have seen on my late Uncle John in-law's right hand, and he only had a thumb on that hand. It is red with black fenders and is owned by a lunch lifting yankee.
Carl

If you will want to haul other stuff the welder will be in the way that's for sure.

But if you just want an old truck to drive around in and take to shows then having the welder, tanks, and torch and any other tools and nifty things all spiffed up and in useable condition will set your truck apart from everything else at the show.
Having been to a lot of truck shows I seem to be drawn to, and enjoy looking at, working trucks and otherwise trucks outfitted for a particular specialty or purpose. They're more fun than just another example of a plain old whatever it is truck like the rest.

I think that's a way cool rig as is, Becky! It will draw a lot of attention at car shows, especially with a functional {or at least functional-looking} welder onboard......and especially with the business lettering on the doors! DIG!!!!