New member from the Rochester NY area. Picked up a 52 and a 54 Chevy 3100 that have been stored in an old barn for at least 20 years and am starting to dig in to them. Dealing with no keys and the typical problems for trucks sitting that long but both are in surprisingly good condition. Short term plan is to get them both running and get a better feel for them. Long term is to get one to a stock condition with some modern safety features and potentially drop a V8 in the other. A definite plus on this is most of my wife's family has worked for Chevy/GM for decades so she's fully on board. Unfortunately, she's also getting the cart ahead of the horse and planning on what color "her" truck will be. Looking forward to any help and advice I'll need along the way.
Last edited by Peggy M; 01/31/20268:13 PM. Reason: add detail to title
You can bypass the ignition switch with a simple toggle switch from Ace Hardware.
You're a long way from turning them over, though. Make sure the valves aren't stuck from varnished up gasoline. Don't even think about putting fresh gas in the fuel tanks when the time comes. Use new gas from an gas can and a hose to the fuel pump.
They at least look to be in decent cosmetic shape.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Welcome to Stovebolt Paddy! Looks like a couple of nice finds. The '52 looks to have a home made platform/stake bed set up, something not often seen. Both look like good candidates for your plans and looking forward to seeing and hearing more on them.
If you haven't already, read through this Welcome - and now where do you go?? thread as it will help you focus and seek advice in the most "appropriate forums" as mentioned by Rusty Rod.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
From the looks of your pictures, you may not need to repaint either one of them. Clean them up good and throw a coat of wax on them and I'll bet they will both look pretty good! After you get them running, of course. Keep us posted on your progress.
First, welcome to the ‘Bolt! Nice find on your trucks. Both look to be in real good shape for the start of your “His and Her” projects. Congratulations!
While she makes up your mind, one piece of advice I can give you, is if the trucks have not run in awhile, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START EITHER TRUCKS WITH THE EXISTING GAS IN THE TANKS”. Doing so will cause the valves to stick and potentially cause catastrophic failure. Far too many ‘bolters in this forum have experienced this first hand. Either replace the tank and lines, clean them out, or use a temporary tank to hear your engine(s) run.
Again, welcome to the ‘Bolt!
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
one piece of advice I can give you, is if the trucks have not run in awhile, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START EITHER TRUCKS WITH THE EXISTING GAS IN THE TANKS”. Doing so will cause the valves to stick and potentially cause catastrophic failure. Far too many ‘bolters in this forum have experienced this first hand. Either replace the tank and lines, clean them out, or use a temporary tank to hear your engine(s) run.
Looks like a couple of nice finds. The '52 looks to have a home made platform/stake bed set up, something not often seen. Both look like good candidates for your plans and looking forward to seeing and hearing more on them. 
