The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (MD, VA, West VA, DC, DE and PA) I need a new daily driver and truck

I wrecked my beautiful 06 GTO in the HRBT, and will be without a vehicle probably by end of next week; have a 59 3100 short bed with running 261 That was intended to be grandsons in 10+ years; I need a daily driver and I also need a truck. I work full time and go top school at night, so my time to fix and replace stuff is limited for now. I'm considering paying a local shop the insurance money to fix up the 59 in a hurry, but the likely means 350 crate, primer black exterior etc... I wanted to leave those choices to grand son. I also have a 70 GTO I am supposed to be restoring.

I am considering:
sending 59 to shop to be chopped up and made more modern/ dependable
buying a 66 F100 as DD truck
trying to replace my GTO, but would still need a truck
or last resort getting a beater like a Datsun or Toyota truck until I determine a permanent solution.

My questions for the forum are:
Opinion on these or other options
and are there any garages around that are familiar with these trucks

Trying to rush a restoration or rebuild isn’t usually a good idea, might cost to much and or might not get the attention to detail it deserves.

Something modern and cheap enough might be best short term plan.

All of your options are decent. If it was mine, and the 59 is complete, running and has no major problems ,do the brakes, tune it up, fix any issues and drive it as is. I drove my 65 daily completely stock for several years it was just as dependable or more so than newer vehicles I've owned . Modern doesn't make it dependable, maintnance and driving it does.

If its not too late and expensive buy the goat back from the insurance company and swap motor and trans into truck if your set on a newer engine.

I don' t know of any shops In your area, but any decent mechanic should be able to work on that. Its simple compared to the over complicated new junk.

FWIW, I like the last option best -- "...a beater like a Datsun or Toyota truck until I determine a permanent solution."

Getting a cheap disposeable may give your self some time to sort all this out without having to rush. Sounds like you are under some stress.

I once bought a throw away disposeable vehicle (at auction on kind of a whim ....) and I've liked it so much, its been my DD for 5 years now. I'd never been a van guy but I have been amazed at just how useful they are ...

But I like the idea of hanging on to the project for the Grandson. I can agree with Richard, an old truck is not necessarily unreliable, having put over 10K miles on a 66 over 3 years, but there are commitments and sacrifices. Economy is one of them, fuel mileage and time for repairs considered.

I'm leaning toward getting the 66 Ford truck, buying back the 06 Gto, and getting some minor parts for the 59 Apache.

I would recommend your last option, as well. Just be judicious/cautious about which "beater" you select. You don't want to be spending all of your available time and resources working on your beater.

I did exactly that recently. Got a 4WD for the winter (I thought). I went through it to fix all the problems (I thought), the then the auto trans. went out because the radiator failed and flushed the tranny with coolant --ouch!

Now I'm just selling the "beater"----and going back to working on the 41 ---which is what I want to do anyway.

Good luck!!

Good luck with your decision. Find all the facts first before making your decision. Remember that old trucks are not on your timeline! So far this year....1 transmission, 1 engine, numerous little things and now dealing with trying to get a broken bolt out of the head. Some are self inflicted and some are due to parts being old (aka wise).

My opinion (for what it’s worth), get a beater and then work on 59 to get it on the road. Start stock and make changes gradually. I wish I would have listened when I was told that!

Good luck!

Chris