I bought a truck out of Woodland Park, CO and its got a nice patina, runs and drives. I want to make some faked old graphics on it to advertise my business. I'll haul a bit of mulch and plants with it if it can be made safe. I've got a bunch of donor trucks I can steal from to make it modern 2-ton or 1 ton. Just here looking to be guided on what to do. I'd love to just swap the rear end to a f-550 (10 bolt wheel pattern), upgrade the brakes and drive it. I've got a complete hydroboost systems on hand.
I'm here to learn how to upgrade the brakes, later big block swap with a 4-speed and a dump bed to do real work. Or maybe some other combo? I have choices.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the 4 wheel drum brakes that are on it now as long as they are restored to original operating condition. After all, modern big rigs and dump trucks use 4 wheel drums.
I'd figure out what you have and what works before tearing it apart and starting from scratch.
I drive an unrestored 1950 1/2 ton as a regular work truck. I rebuilt the Huck brakes and put proper size tires and wheels on it and have driven over 10,000 miles in the last 4 years. 216cid, 3 spd trans, 4.11:1 rear end.. It drives nicely at 55-65 mph on the interstate.
How much faster would you really like to drive a 70 year old truck?
Interestingly, it gets more attention than the hot rodded AD trucks at shows and such because it's unique by being mostly original.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
my 1968 c50 has very user effort driven brakes, and we use it heavy. im wondering if somethings wrong with it though like a bad "upgrade" was done on mastercylider idk
That seems strange about your '68's brakes. They shouldn't be that bad. I bet there is something not right in a previous repair. It could be as simple as internally collapsing rubber hoses at the wheel cylinders.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
That's a nice looking '55.1 big bolt. I applaud your effort to put some vintage style door art on it. It'll give it more character than it already has.
Please take your discussion on brakes over to the Driveline or Big Bolts Forums. Thanks
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.
