The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Convert or Start Fresh?

Hey all, not sure where this topic belongs so feel free to move it...

Looking for some opinions
I currently have a 95% restored/rebuilt 1954 3600. 1956 235 has been rebuilt and hopped up a bit, 12v conversion, interior is done, swapped rear axle for a a '71 Dana 60 with 4:10s, suspension and brakes are all rebuilt/new, new bed wood, really everything is done except for body/paint. Almost all of the work was done by me with the help of a friendly mechanic looking over my shoulder. I finished my resto a few years ago and have been VERY happily driving the truck almost everyday since, including some 500+ mile road trips and mild 4x4ing on old beat up forest service roads. Safe to say that its 'broken in' now.

Right now its fairly stock as i mentioned, but after driving it a bunch id like to make some changes to make it more of the truck id like to ideally have.
Basically id like a 3/4 or 1ton with 4x4 that has a larger, newer motor/trans with OD (thinking a 350 to keep things simple), a flatbed, and the ability to haul a trailer and comfortably drive across the country or anywhere without sweating a breakdown. It'll be used as a truck not a show car. Im still learning all the ins and outs of working on cars/trucks, which was one of the reasons i chose to buy an old truck and rebuild the 235, but im to the point id like more reliability and power.

With that said...
Since ive put a lot of time and $ into the truck already does it make sense to just change the drivetrain (engine, trans, front axle), maybe change the front sheetmetal to stuff from a big bolt for more clearence, and ditch the bed? Or would i be better off selling it since its fairly stock as is, and using that $ to bankroll a new project? I know the 3600s are a little rarer and less desirable than the 3100s but id basically be completely changing a truck that someone else might be very happy with.

Open to all thoughts good or bad,
Thanks,

Chooglin

Chooglin,

Some people prefer them as stock as possible, and these trucks in that condition are hard to find.
But, other people do not care.

Test the market by trying to sell it at a price that is good for.
If it does not sell, move onto "Plan B".

As Tim says, test the waters by putting a post in our Trucks for Sale thread in the Swap Meet Forum. Craigslist is another spot. If you don’t have any success then start gathering information on making the changes you desire. As a side note, it is not as easy as you might think.🛠

There are probably more than a few project trucks sitting gathering dust, because the owner either ran out of money, time, or patience that could be picked up for pennies on the dollar. Find one of them, and you'll be well on the way. Your mostly complete truck in good running condition should command a good price from an old truck enthusiast whose only "restoration" talent is the ability to write a fat check. Yes, there are a lot of guys like that out there! Take the bucks you receive and use them to build what you would really like to have.
Jerry