Hello all, I am new to the group and am looking forward to being a part of the Stovebolt comunity. I just picked up a 1953 Chevrolet 3/4 ton That spent a good amount of time in a field and then the last 15 years in a garage before I purchased it. The cab corners are rusted out, the floor is rusted out where the it meets the firewall, The kick panels are bubbling where the fender support is, missing the passenger door glass, driver door glass is broken and piece by piece falling out, engine is stuck, bed wood is pretty rotten, bed metal is rusted in corners, 3 out of 4 tires hold air (still sitting on the original split rims). has an old BUICK push button radio someone put in it at some point. But for the most part it's all there.
That truck looks to be pretty straight. Except for the typical rust, you got a good one.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Welcome to the Stovebolt madness. There is no cure!
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
That's a solid start to your project, you won't find anything that rust free down here. Welcome to the "BOLT".
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
That's a solid start to your project, you won't find anything that rust free down here. Welcome to the "BOLT".
I did notice that he's from Utah, which is one of those "dryer than a popcorn ...." states. It'd be nice if we were all that way.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
That *is* a nice truck. Appears wonderfully unmolested. Love the gun rack, too!
~ John
A kid raised on Hotwheels, Matchbox and Tonka cannot be reasonably expected to own only one vehicle as an adult.
1949 Chevrolet 3804 In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum 1973 IH 1310 Dump 1963 Kaiser M38A1 2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie" 2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley)
Nice truck and welcome to the “Bolt”. Is that a plow remote control mounted on the steering wheel I see?
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
Thanks all, I do have a quick question...is there a good place to get patch panels? I know of classic truck, LMC Truck, and Brothers Truck but I do not know whos panels are of good quality. Do you all have any recomendations?
That is a nice old truck, congratulations! That is one of the few GM radios not made for the truck that will fit in there. I scrapped my multi piece rims and put 16 x6 modern rims on my 1 Ton. Enjoy!
53&me, for replacement panels a good place to ask is in the paint and body forum..........however, JimCarter has been Stovebolt friendly for years and Classic Parts has been pretty good to............however, being in Utah I'd check the shipping rates. My postal guy tells me as long as I ship East I'm ok but going west is a different story????? So you may want to check in with the Filling Station or Chevs of the 40's. I find those two a bit pricey but do what you have to do. There are others that sell them so shop around.....most all of them come from only one or two makers.
.....Since your in Utah you may want to check on Brad Allen. He knows LOTS about these old trucks and lives in SLC........ and I have a sister in law, nephews and nieces that live in Provo, Orem and Mt. Pleasant.
Good find. 
