Stovebolt.com Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts New to me 1953 chevy 3800.

Hey guys. I originally thought it was a 50 chevy 3800 but after figuring out how to read the door jamb tag its a 53. Anyways, I got it for next to nothing. Card and frame are excellent, engine runs GREAT. Was told it needed brakes, so I pulled the drums off and what do you know... it's got brand new shoes and cylinders. So I checked the master cylinder and it was bone dry. Turns out the kid I bought it from had no idea how to bleed the hydrovac system and after fallowing the repair manual, I had no issues. It's got great brakes, ones dragging a bit but I think I can fix it.
I would really like to find wheels to fit the rear end. It's got a timken 2 speed rear end with 10 lug. I've heard horror stories about the split rims. I've got all winter to figure it out.
Any recommendations on wheels?

The more of your description I read, I realized you don't have a 3800 series 1 ton truck. By it have a 2 speed rear axle, sounds to me like you have a 6100, or 6400 series 2 ton truck. Do you have any pictures you can post ? You'd never find a 2 speed rear axle in a 1 ton truck, and the only time you'd ever see a 2 speed rear axle in a 1 1/2 ton truck, is if it was special ordered that way. Not all of these trucks had the Firestone RH-5 Split wheels. Some had safety ring wheels.

This trucks like a surprise every day. I didn't know that! If I could figure out how to post pictures I would. It keeps saying the file size is to large

[img]https://m.facebook.com/photo.php/?fbid=4467568373366545[/img]

Looks like you have a 1 1/2 ton, or 2 ton. 14000lb. gvw on the tag in the driver door jamb, it's a 4400 series, 1 1/2 ton, 16000lb. gvw, on the tag would make it a 6400 series
2 ton.

So these rims have removable ring on the inside (back) of the wheels. Are these "safe" and road worthy? I'll try to post a pic of what they look like to me
I havevt had them apart

I'd have to see up close pictures of your wheels, front, and rear to be able to tell you, what you have.

OK I will try to get some pictures tomorrow after work. They are 20x8.50 wheels in the rear

Is there anything I should be doing to this during the winter? I've rewired it, got all brakes working properly, it came with new fuel lines and fuel tank. It need tie rod ends. I'm gonna go through and grease everything. It's parked for the winter so ice got a few months to do stuff. Not sure what all you other owners do as far as preventative maintenance. I plan on draining rear dif and trans and putting new fluid in. I am not sure I'd the 2 speed diaphragm is working or not. I don't have the cable hooked up because I need to make a new cable mount. Other than that, it seems to go and stop really good. Engine boggs when I step on the throttle unless i feather it so I'm assuming it needs to be cleaned/returned. And I noticed it's got a slight pop at idle but I thought maybe it was just the nature of a carburetor engine.
I don't want to sound like a freak but I LOVE this old truck. It's pretty sweet

Sounds like you have everything covered.