The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1954 Chevy 3100 Pickup Truck - 'Picked from the Farm"

I bought my truck back in 1976, in Southern Illinois. My older brother found it for me, sitting in front of an old railroad station in Cobden, Illinois. The guy wanted $125 for it, as his wife was ready to have a baby and they needed the money.

I test drove it and nearly killed myself, as it didn't have any brakes! I found that out as I started to roll backwards down a steep hill!

I towed it back home to Northern Illinois and with some help and rebuilt the engine. It was my daily driver for many years, both while I lived in Illinois and Missouri, and I took it on many trips. It also got a workout, from hauling building supplies to remodel our home at the time, to hauling gravel.

I moved to Florida so it was stored in a friend's field in Missouri for a number of years. I finally was able to get it to Florida and we built a nice workshop/garage to keep it in.

We are currently giving it a frame off restoration to keep it going another 60+ years. It is staying all stock. It has the full pressure 235 and a three on the tree.

have had the pleasure of finding its previous owners; I am the fourth owner. Some years ago I talked with the original owner, who lived in Ana, Illinois. He had bought it new from the Chevy dealer in Marion, Illinois and used it on his farm. The truck was built at the St. Louis plant. His oldest daughter learned to drive in it.

When I got the truck, it was obvious that it had seen a rough life over the years. The frame had cracked and been patched over the rear axle, among many other repairs. The outside sunvisor was on it when the first owner bought it, and that was one of the things I have always liked about it.

The biggest change to it will be the addition of a side mount spare.

Samantha

Samantha, that is a nice story and thanks for sharing.

Love the sunvisor!

nice, so when will it be ready

Wow, great story. I bought an AD truck in 1976 when I was 18 for $125, no brakes. I can't remember what year it was and it must have been a 3600 because it was a 4 speed on the floor. The only difference in our stories is you were smart enough to hang on to yours. I would love to go back and revisit my decision to get not keep mine. It took almost 40 years but I came to my senses and bought my 54 on January first this year. I think I will keep this one.

Hello, Samantha,

Welcome to Stovebolt.com

I bought my 1954 Chevrolet Suburban in 1971. It also had a 3-speed column shift, which was standard equipment on 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks in 1954 (the four speed transmission was optional equipment). The 4-speed was standard equipment on 1-ton and larger 1954 trucks.

My Suburban was rusting away in 1971 but it was my main vehicle for several years. It sat and rusted from 1979-1994. I did not start a 9-year restoration until 1995.

Be patient and keep at it.

In case you have not found these, here are some 1954 Chevrolet Truck manuals are online:

1954 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual
1954 Chevrolet Truck Operator's Manual
1954 Chevrolet Truck Specifications "Manual"/booklet

Samantha,

That fact that you have kept it all these years is awesome. Thanks for sharing your pics.

John

Thank you John!
Samantha

I'm back in the game! I started a frame off restoration some years ago. but as happens, life had other priorities. Now that I am retired, I am able to start working on it again. The external sun visor and chrome grill are original to the truck. It is also stock, which I plan to keep it that way.

A little addition to the truck's history. Years ago I had the privilege of speaking with the original owner's wife, and learned of some interesting stories.

One story was that the original owner had a calf in the bed and was driving over a levee bridge when if collapsed! The truck suffered some damage, but was repaired (the original frame was cracked above the rear axle and had been welded with reinforcing, thick angle iron).

Samantha, do you realize it's almost been 10 years since you started your DITY? So glad to see you are retired and can get on with the resto and that you plan on keeping it stock.

We are anxious to hear more as you get going!

Glad to see you back in the game!

Allot has changed on Stovebolt since your last post, and you can now include ten photos in each post, so please post some pictures.

Here’s a link to instructions on how to add pictures to a post.

Please tell us more about your restoration and at what point you’re at.

Again, welcome back!

Welcome back Samantha! Very glad to hear you have joined the ranks of the "Retired" and can get back to your truck. Looking forward to seeing some current pictures and a chance to help out with any questions you may encounter as you restart the journey.

Welcome back Samantha. I'm also in Central Florida, in Sanford. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. I'm also available if you need an extra set of hands.

What happened to the calf?

LOL! Dinner maybe, or a family BBQ??