The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 1951 3100--"Resto-Mod" ideas

Hi all:

I own a '51-3100 in all original condition...been in dry storage for 20 years...does not run and needs "restoration".

I want the truck to be a safe and comfortable driver for my wife and I...so seatbelts, A/C, and whatever else is appropriate.

This is where I value your input: What would you do to the truck in the resto-mod fashion to make it more driver friendly and safe?

All modifications needs to be doable in a home shop (so no frame cutting, etc...). Budget is $35,000

Thanks in advance for your input!!

I moved this here to silence the “Keep it original” folks. This is the perfect place for this discussion. To start with upgrade the brakes whether power assisted or just a good brake job with all new components. Upgrade the suspension and steering whether rebuilding the original or subframe with a Camero/Firebird/Nova or whatever. V8 or I-6 with upgraded transmission either auto or T5 type stick. Updated rear end with more hiway friendly gearing. Seatbelts and a good sound system. It all can be done in your garage within your budget if you are able to do much of the work yourself or have lots of skilled buddies. Paint will cost the biggest single chunk of cash. Good luck.

Number 1 - formulate a plan. Possibly a much newer 6 cylinder. I personally like the idea of the 5-speed, and the updated differential. Not a big lover of autos, but not my vehicle.

Once you have the basic plan, you can start to implement. Martin placed brakes first; I would put exhaust first, so you have good exhaust while doing other things. Definitely brakes before you start driving. Original brakes should be fine for local driving unless you have low water bridges to cross. For touring, especially towing a camping trailer, I would suggest upgraded brakes.

Unless you are an EXPERIENCED PAINTER, let a professional do the job! (Safety!!!!)

Have fun.

Jon.

I’m currently doing what you are proposing only it’s a 1962 C10. I did as Jon suggested and made a written game plan. I admit I have tweeked it a time or two but having it in hand to cross items off as completed is quite satisfying.

I think the illness has caused all of us to tweak the plans. I have a 51 3100 as well. I upgraded brakes with dual master cylinder and disc brakes in the front. Seatbelts and I upgraded my tail lights and turn signals so that people can see me at night. Otherwise, I am running a 216 with 3 speed and 3.55 rear end. I think my truck is comfortable for Virginia and I enjoy driving it on nice days. I can do 65 on the highway with traffic.

Figure out what you want to use the truck for.....ie daily driver, shows, Sunday cruiser, etc. that will answer a lot of your ideas and questions. Brakes and seatbelts were a must for me!

My two pennies,
Chris

Do you have any pics?

I am going to pitch in with Jon (Carbking) above. Plan your work. Newer 6 plus a 5 speed and updated rear end are good ideas. The brake system your truck was designed with may be fine unless for some reason you want to drive faster than 60 or so. I'd rebuild the brakes with new parts. Front end...go through it carefully. Steering box...same thing. King pins & bushings/bearings. Drag link, tie rod ends, all that stuff. Front wheel bearings? You can add updated style bearings and nobody will ever know it. The old style were fine, but many think the newer type are better. Check the springs and shackles and shocks. Add turn signals. You will need them...other drivers expect them. Backup lights too and a good dual tone horn. Electric wipers? I think so. Vacuum wipers are fun and certainly interestingly nostalgic until you have to depend on them for a few hours in a hilly area. New glass? Depends. Lots and lots of these vehicles are suffering delamination. A good radio. A dependable and accurate fuel sender. Check the seat...make certain the mounts and adjustment mechanism are all right. Some of them aren't and a loose seat can be a real safety problem. Door hinges? The old ones can be shot and new ones will make things much nicer or you can rebuild your old ones in many of several ways. Plus nice tight doors will stop lots of rattles. Also look for the door hinge springs. No fun having one of these doors rap you in the leg and without the spring it will do that all the time.. Door latches (actually technically called locks)? You can get new ones (like the old ones) or you can modify the door and pillar to accept newer ones like Bear Claws or others similar. Window regulators, channels, etc. You'll need new ones. Plus a nice thing is you can find almost all the rubber parts for these trucks and I'd replace all of them. These are just a few things off the top of my head. At this point you're sort of like an artist with a new canvas. I hope you enjoy it and have fun. There is a wealth of knowledge and information around here.
Jon

I'm new to this also but I'm pretty far along now, so I thought I would chime in on my experience so far as a newb.

My first decision was that it was going to be in restomod style like you. Not a perfect bolt by bolt recreation like some others prefer. So you have already taken the first step.

Next, I decided that this was going to be something I drove around for fun and it was not going to be perfect. Therefore, my plan was to get it up and going (looking decent) so I could drive it for fun and then tweek and refine it as I enjoy it. I didn't want it to be in the garage for a really long time. I'm at about 8 months now and I am doing test drives around the empty local school parking lot.

Next thing was budget to accomplish above. Your budget is 10 times what I had for my budget so you are way good there.

I would then set up a free blog on blogger or create a project journal here to document progress and a place to store photos that can be linked to people to see what you have and what you are doing.

After that, I set up a plan with the order of how I wanted to do things the best I could figure out.
Since my first decision was restomod mode----new large wheels and tires was the first step for me to get the stance right, as I personally think the restomod style has cool wheels and tires as part of the theme.
Then I made a checklist on what I knew how to do (I was going to do), what I wanted to learn how to do, and what I thought I was going to subcontract out (things I have no interest in learning-----as an example, I don't want to learn engine rebuilding). Honestly, with your budget of 35k, why do u want to do this project? What do u want to learn?, experience? Create? For that amount of money you could prolly sub it all out and have your truck done by a restoration shop?

Biggest mistake I have made so far is putting the braking system at the end of the list. I thought the brakes were going to be OK and that was a mistake. I would put all road safety related items as a priority (steering components, brake components, emergency brake, electrical lights/turn signals, horn, gauges, fuel tank sender, etc.)

Need to gather some more info. Here's what we know so far and it is good information: your WIFE will be a user so-- ( a/c, p/s, automatic, p/b, and a MUCH improved ride along with handling that instills confidence. This can all be put to pencil and paper but with the 35K limit we need to know about rust, glass, bed condition, desired wheels/tires/sound system, upholstery desired, and whether just driver quality or up the scale to show truck. There are a myriad of other factors but first what is the patients condition---could be anything from an ingrown toe nail to stage 4 cancer and what can be done within your budget highly depends on this. No way meant to be a put down but since this is what we do for a living I assure you all is needed to avoid any misunderstanding or disappointments.