The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Restore it or Rod it

OK... I need to know whether to Restore my old truck to original or Hot Rod it or maybe something in betwixt the two.

What year, what kind, what shape? Inquiring minds need to know! Then stand back because that can of worms can bring on some wonderful discussions.

popcorn The Truth is Out There (Oh I'm going as much stock look until I start it)

Popcorn the 1944 Chevrolet 1/2 ton pickup in fairly good condition overall.. doesnt run but rolls... solid sheet metal "with rust in the normal areas".

Rod it!!! (ducking for cover......)



- Ryan

Rodsteration is the ticket. All the bennies of IFS, power braking and horsepower with the good looks of old iron - Move over Ryan as I jump into your fox hole with you.

Smoky: Sounds like you may a good truck for retsro. usually if the truck is in bad shape rodding is the best option. But, when they are that old and fairly good shape they would be better off as orginal as they can be a better resale if that needed to be done.

We all make decisions what to do or you should before you start what you want it to be. Mine was in pieces, bad shape already had a junk 350 in it. Due to Maws and my age we felt better rodding it for the creature comforts that I can install in the cab. Plus I always have this need for speed. Keeping mine as orginal on the outside as I can if the truck ever get's sold it could be made back to a restoration project.

popcorn The Truth is Out There (Of course you could suicide the doors and climb in it backwards hehee hehee)

Smokey, how do you know your truck is a 1944 model ?

I would go along with the Rodstoration....idea...

Update all the mechanicals...brakes, engine, rearend...yada yada yada..

Then keep the body the same, the Interior the same everything else the same....

You could have the best of two worlds. Plus do you want to be able to drive the truck daily or do you want to drive it once in awhile?

Rusty Rod says to Rod it... how many 44 1/2t pickups are even out there? And how does one know that it's not just a left over 41?

Well if it were mine most likely it would be rodded. But its yours, so build your dream not mine!

Modernize it. More for safety and comfort than speed and cornering. If you can't cruise in it reliably, then it's just a lawn ornament.
Just my opinion, take it with a grain of salt,
Scott

We're rodding the '46 of my son's (with a Chrysler big block!!! ), because that's what we have and it's his truck. Let your personal preference guide you, then go that route. Ours is actually complete enough to restore, but then, we want something that we can drive on the highway at 70-75 and not just on the side roads at 50!

IF you have a 44, think about it before you rod it....Only because not too much is left around from 42 to 45....Almost all of them went to Europe or the Pacific and were painted green....

There are lots of worn out 41 and 46s to cut, chop, paste, or do whatever you like....your 44 just might pay some of the bills for a rod project if it were fixed up a little and sold as "restorable" or a running 1944 non army truck.

But if it were me, I'd throw a 261 in it and make it a driver w/o chopping it up too bad....

I am a rodder myself, but if your truck is indeed a 1944 half ton, I would say restore it. 46 in Progress is correct that there are not many 1944 1/2 ton trucks out there. Restore this one and/or find a different year of truck to rod.

As rare as that truck is -- if it was mine, I'd take the road to restoration.

And I agree again, with Norse, 100%!

Make that four for restore! If it is truely a '44 then that needs to be saved. If you want to rod, then pick a somewhat sold shell of a common year. "Leave the solid rides to the restorers and what ever is left over to the rodders". Ok, now it's my turn to run...

Since Oly know's more then I do about hot rodding, he is going to show me how to restore a hot rod. 1949 chevy panel half ton with a 3 speed on the column, I would afto find a mustang two front end clip with a 350 - 350 combo

If it were mine I would SELL it. That is assuming I could confirm to a buyer that it was indeed a 1944. Then with the money I made off of it (because of its oddball war year) I would buy another year and start chopping.

a 1944??,,definetly a restore project,,how many 1944 Chevs do you see on the road,,,rare as hens teeth,,if it truly is a 44,you have something there,dont cut it up... :p

I thought 45's were rare but, I didn't think there was any 44's at all. :confused:

If you can prove it's a '44, keep it and restore it, by all means! I was thinking about that and the year didn't click until now. In 1944, what little civilian pickup production there was, was strictly for civil defense and limited farm and commercial sales. Production was only a few hundred, at most, from what I read several years ago. I remember a '44 1/2-ton in Tacoma, Washington in 1981 that a guy had. Came off his Dad's farm near Enumclaw, so it was a one-family owed truck at that time. They're out there somewhere!

I have a 45 according to the tile, and a 46, 46 in very good condition, 45 no rust fenders need lots of work. I have a 230 in the bed, #'s indicate its 62-69 and a 235 that runs good. Also 46 has a 216 under hood that is suppose to run. Body on 46 has been redone as has the fenders hood, found very good fenders and running boards. Son wants to put mustang 11 under 46 and 6 in 45. He wants 350 in 46, but I have a good 4.3. Would like to know which to restore and which to rod and how hard to put clip in, as well as bigger engine. Any sights for clip instalation? if so would like email at [email protected] thanks

Just like to add that 46 is an easy restore since all major componets are excellent and there. Son is the welder and blackmails me that he will only do it his way. 45 has all the data plates. Was told to put 235 in with S10 5sp tranny and Nova rear end, and to keep original front end. Any opinions. Also told to put dual carbs on 235 and dual exhaust. Why should I not use the 4.3 chev that was for my flat fender jeep?

AFAIK, there were no 1/2 ton civilian model trucks built in the 1944 production year.

They didn't build any in the 1943 production year, either.

They built 23703 in the 1942 production year, and they built 6202 in the 1945 production year, so perhaps it is one from those years, or a military contract order that was indeed a '44.

What's the VIN? We could probably tell you right quick what year it is.

If it really is a '44, then I'm with the Restoration guys. If it's not, then I say go for whatever makes you happiest. Personally, I'd keep it looking stock on the outside, but maybe do some upgrades.

I HOPE THAT YOU CHOOSE TO RESTORE THE FORTY-FOUR! However, it is your baby, and you can do whatever you want to do to it.

Rod it!!

Rod or restore,it's no ones choice but yours! Build it the way that you want!

Ryan, Did you feel the cross hairs on your back? Or was it the red dot on your forhead?

I wonder what became of Smokeys truck... the Camp Pendleton mobility museum has a 41-46 military pickup... it has the flat fenders ect on it.. but the cab looks the same as a civvy truck.

I am in favor of restoration, as it is a rare find. But like some of the others have said, it is your truck, and you should be able to do what you want. I also agree that there is a lot of iron out there that is very rod worthy. If you want to build a rod, there are many that have been started, but not completed.
I only suggest that you really think it through before you start chopping it up. That is the easy part. If it will be your first rod, here are a few things to consider. Do you have the garage space available that you won't need for an extended period? It could take a couple years, unless you have a lot of extra time. Do you have a plan of what you would want to do to it? Have you figured in all of the cost's that you will incur? Do you have the patience to stay with it all the way to the finish?
It would be a shame,if after all the disassembly and chopping that you would lose interest and it would end up being another butchered project to be sold (usually at a loss).
On the otherhand, a mild restoration can be carried out in phases. Can be done rather cheaply. And for a lot of peple, it can be a very rewarding hobby. You would work on it when you have the time, and extra money. If it were made somewhat road worthy first, it could be moved around, so you would still be able to use the space for other things if needed.
If it was mine, I would try to keep it mostly original, or sell it to someone to restore, and buy a project that someone had given up on, to build a rod.
Whichever you decide, good luck. Now how about some photo's.

You all might get a kick out of this old, old page from the site.

I had just come across it during the week as we are trying to update the old pages.

It's not even dated and I'm not sure if the links work. But was a pretty good piece on rod / not rod / and a good "middle of the road."

Also ... gives you another glance of our old stuff.

Peg

If your truck really is a '44, I vote to restore it, if your skills, pocketbook, and patience is up to it. If not, I recommend a solid rebuild until such a time as it is ready for a restoration. Rebuilding a truck is a terrific way to learn about your truck, enjoy it, and yet preserve the truck as a rare piece of history.

Tom Brownell's book, "How to Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup" has a great section on the rod/rebuild/restore debate.

Personally, I don't see a darn thing wrong with rodding a vehicle and none of my own have been restored. However, the war-year trucks are special and I would treat them differently than the more common trucks.

Most importantly, do what is going to make you happy! It is your truck.

make it a driver that you will enjoy. the way you want it to look is all up to you. if its a solid old truck i would try to keep it that way. fix,drive,enjoy...mike j

My two prides and joy are 1946 trucks and both have lived their lives as farm trucks.. and that's the way they'll stay.

There will undoubetebly come a day with the 216 in the 1/2 ton will give up the ghost, and I doubt i'll put a 216 back in it.. probably a 261 with a updated rear and 5 speed tranny.

Not sure if that's what you'd call a rod or a restore, but for me it's all about function before fashion.

A '44 truck would be a rare bird.. i'd probably sell it and use the proceeds to buy a '41 or '46 thats a little closer to what you're looking for.

But in the end, it's your truck.. do to it what you need to do so it'll do what you need it to do.

True.. but somebody else with a simular situation might come along and find the information usefull.

im in the same delima i have a 42 1/2 ton

Mine is a no problem answer, 1955 first series GMC that is a 74,000 mile original not restored. Just a good cleanup, even buffed the stock 50 yr. old paint and it shines. I have had over 40 vehicles and always rodded everything but this one is too good to do anything but drive! The problem is yours but with such a rare find, if it is in fair shape either restore it or sell it to someone that will and buy what you want. My $.02

As an old fart that was actually around in 44 I remember several things that may clarify the scene. All 43 and 44 models were actually 42's because the automakers had converted to war production. GM was a tank builder, Ford built the B-24 bomber, Kaiser ships, and Packard the PT boat engines. Of course they produced many other items also. One of the few civilians that could purchase a new truck was a veterinarian because production of meat was a vital war effort and a rampant disease among livestock could not be allowed. These few trucks going into civilian hands were registered as the current year even though they were 42 models. Remember this is coming from an "elderly" brain and maybe some others can fill in the gaps. Evan