The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1953 Chevy 1/2-ton "Baby Blue" - "Starting with a Kink"

Well, this story started with a kink.


I recently bought a 1953 Chevy 3100 from a man in California. According to the date on the title, he had the truck for several years. I live in Indiana and had the truck transported to me here.

I took the title to the BMV and they said that since the truck was originally in California, I had to have an inspection done by the police to check the VIN and verify that everything matches.

The VIN traced back to the original 216 that was no longer the engine in the truck. The number on the door plate was manufacture codes stating where the truck was made and such. The VIN and ID plate had different numbers. The VIN traced to a 1953 Chevy 216. The door plate traced to a 1953 Chevy Truck that was built in California. Those numbers and letters on the title were not the same as the door plate. I had the outdated California license plate, for what that may help.

Found the Stovebolt Tech Tip on registering antique truck to be helpful.

I had the truck inspected by Law Enforcement. They ran a check on the title and it came back as a clear title. They signed the paperwork and said go to the BMV and have the title put in my name. So, after all that, we were good to go.

So, let's get started. Finally.

Here is "Baby Blue" when she was getting ready to be loaded by the shipper in California to bring her home to Indiana. I haven't been able to get pictures of her since I have gotten her home because it has rained non stop. But I will!!!

Good News

Looking forward for more images (and story) of your new truck.

Glad you were able to get a DITY Gallery story going and that things worked out with your registration. Looking forward to seeing the restoration unfold.

It has been a while since my last post. I haven't done anything as of yet to the 53 but that is about to change. The front brakes I have found are a mess. The previous owner went to replace a wheel cylinder and it seems everything went down hill from there. I looked and it looks like a lot of springs and hardware is missing so I figured now would be the time to do a front disc brake swap. The kit is on the way. I will post pictures once it arrives and start adding pictures of the tear down and build up of the new system.

Where did you buy your kit from and what did it cost if i may ask you ? Good luck with your truck , gotta Love it !!!

Kinser, looks like you got some good feedback on your post in Driveline about the brakes. It'll get great to hear how it all works out ... and pictures

I actually bought my parts from Holley which now owns Brothers Truck Parts. But most of the parts they sent me were parts from Classic Performance. You might compare prices between the two and see if one is cheaper than the other.

Started to work on Baby Blue today. I noticed that the kingpins were bad so I am going to go to the alignment shop or the machine shop tomorrow and see if I bring the axle in if they are willing to replace them for me. Once they get replaced I will start putting her back together and start the disc brake addition. I can't figure out why the drum has a spring around it for. Any one have any ideas?

John, The springs around the drum are meant to be noise and vibration dampers. Supposed to help absorb and quiet the squealing/ringing of the drum when brakes are applied. On another note, your existing front brakes are "Huck" style which Chevy discontinued in 1951 with the Bendix style brakes for the 3100 models. Not a total surprise to see an earlier axle may have been transplanted into your '53.

Only reason I bring this up is the lower bolt holes for the backing plate and steering arms are a different size (7/16" vs 1/2") on the earlier Huck brake units and may require drilling out to fit your disc brake conversion kit. Before you start assembly, check the holes and redrill as needed.

WOW, thanks for the heads up. I had no idea! I was wondering why they looked different from picture in the shop manual. I hope I don't have to drill anything out but that is never my luck!! LOL. Other than the drilling, should the new disc brake assembly still fit the same then? I am wondering if that is the problem the previous owner had. He said that he replaced the wheel cylinders and master cylinder and could never get the brakes to work. I wonder if he even put the correct brakes on now since the pads look to be in really good shape and no brake dust came out of the drum. Would it have been possible for him to have put the wrong shoes on as well?

John, There are a lot of things going on with what you describe, what the pictures show us and the related questions you have. It would be better to start a new thread with questions on your setup and the disc brake kit install in the Driveline forum. That's the best place to get answers on what you have and what will be needed to move forward with the disc brake changeover. Then when you have all the question answered and details worked out, you can come back and tell everyone how the upgrade went here.

Not much of an update but I bought a 1954 235 for Baby Blue. I am going to drop her off to the machine shop this week. He said he more than likely wouldn't be able to start on it until Spring. That works good for me because winter is getting ready to kick us in the butt and I won't be able to put her in the truck until Spring anyways. I am kind of worried about the header. It looked like it has a hair line crack where the exhaust bolts up to it. I don't know if these can be repaired or not.

John, I tried to get a closeup look at the "header" with your mentioned "hair line crack' but couldn't see what you are referring to. Can you provide a close up to help us see what you mean? Might be best to ask the question about crack verification and repairs in the Engine Shop forum.

I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow if I can. It is raining here and I have it tied up in a tarp to take to the machine shop tomorrow. Thanks so much and I will try to get a good pic tomorrow

I noticed that I have never really added any pictures of Old Baby Blue (That is the name the owner I bought it from originally called it). I will add the pictures of what he sent me and the day she was loaded up on the truck to get transported to me (He lived in California and I live in Indiana). The last picture of her is when he first bought her. The California Sun was hard on her it looks like

Wow, looks to be in very good shape.

John

John, That was a very good looking truck back in the day and still is IMHO. I will 2nd J Lucas's note about it being in "very good shape"! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Very good shape? What you have right there, is a creampuff! Good luck on your “old truck journey”.