The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk AD 1 ton...part or preserve?

a guy came up to me while i was putting gas in my 50 the other day and complimented me on how nice it looked considering it's original.

he then told me about a 1 ton he had acquired years ago that was just sitting on his acerage and wondered if i would be interested in it, for free! having 2 italian motorcycles in need of restoration/repair and a recently purchased 64 land cruiser, another project was not what i was looking for. however a neighbor of mine has a 1 ton 1953 that he's been working on and could definitely use some donor parts that this new free one has.

question is, should i cannibalize this truck for original parts that i could use on my truck and give the rest of the body parts to my neighbor, or should this truck be preserved?

i have not seen it in person but the guy sent me pictures and it looks fairly complete with the usual body dents and dings. it's been an arizona truck so there looks to be little to no rust.

any thoughts???

If it has the nine foot bed it is somewhat unusual and I'd want to preserve it. If its a flatbed I'd be more likely to part it out.

If its a dually I want the wheels.

if it can get two trucks running it's not going to waste

here are a couple of pics of the truck.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2789421470099732965tsMmLr

I'd keep it and fix it, hard to find a truck with the long box.

I'd grab it, & restore it. I purchased a '50 GMC 1 Ton 9 foot box pickup, last month. Great trucks. Best of both Worlds. Big Bolt, & lil' Bolt, all wrapped in one.

That truck is quite saveable. See what it would take to make it drivable and sell it to fund your other projects, or sell it to your neighbor as is. I don't think I could part it out,
Scott

my wife is going to kill me...

looks a lot better than some than what a couple of my projects did when I started.

Wish I could stumble accross a truck like that.
I love those one ton pickups. That truck definitely deserves to see the road again!

Yes, it does. These trucks like the road, and LOVE to pack a load.

I'd keep it. In fact I'd be happy to drop by with a trailer. When should I come?

What if I get there first? I suppose I could even offer you something for the privilege of having it sit on my trailer, pointed east of course.

I wish I had a good 1 ton, mine is a good parts truck at best. I would love to find a good deal on some nice sheet metal.

Grigg

Grigg, Lexington is about 600 miles further from Tempe than Seattle is. I'm heading south first thing in the morning.

Only way you can beat me is to leave now if you haven't already!

Except I have to stop in Portland and visit my mother-in-law till Sunday. I guess you will get there first...

I would'nt part it out. It's to complete to rip apart. I'd probably look around at junk yard for parts there's usually lots of trucks that are half ripped apart and great for parts.

Thats a nice truck...Get er runnin and put her back in traffic man-dont cut her up...

After seeing the pictures it,s not bad. Does your wife want her own stovebolt for christmas?

I'd definately fix it, if I had that thing I'd not even worry about working on my old rustbucket. I wish I could find that solid of a truck around here.

You could probably flip that truck for a fast grand on eBay.

The 1 ton trucks with factory beds and fenders are scarce as hens teeth. If the rear fenders are mostly straight and rot free, there's $350 to $400 right there, my man.

Front & Rear fenders, hood, door, cab, just about everything but the bed sides are direct swappable with 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks.

It's free. If you've got the extra room in your lawn, you'd be nuts not to take it.

p.j.
Nice 1-ton, no reason to part it out.
Have a look at mine, before and after
http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/evans_jeff_1951.html

pafarmer, i've looked at your trucka and read your restoration story. i'm impressed. not sure i would have considered attempting bringing your truck back to life, but you've done an amazing job.

i'm pretty spoiled because my truck was in such nice shape when i got it. i've just had to deal with minor mechanical issues for the most part and some cosmetic stuff.

the more i look at this new 1 ton, the more i'm considering keeping it whole. not too many of these tonners left from what i can see.

thanks for all the responses everybody. not sure it's made the decision easier or harder

Go for it, or you'll be kicking yourself later.

John

I can't see the pics from my work computer, but from the responses it sounds pretty good. I saw a 1-ton a couple of years ago with the 9' box, cool truck. If it is still around in a few years I want to get it and build an old looking, teardrop shaped camper to mount on it.

Good Luck, Buddy

working out the transportation/storage issues. god, is my wife going to kill me! she was gracious when i told her about the 41 gmc and then the land cruiser, and now a one ton?!? anybody have a garage i could live in?

one truck that'd i'd eventually like to get is a 1 ton with the 9ft bed it's kinda unique and like Fumblin46 said ain't to many 1 tons with factory beds also thats a really good lookin truck not really any rust from what i can see and anymoney says the one i find will look like swiss cheese which is a common thing in the rust belt
Nate

Yes, by all means, grab the truck and preserve it as is. The 1-ton ADs are not common. I have one and it sure looks cool parked in a line with 1/2-tons and 3/4-tons (it sits higher and the back sticks waaaaaaaaay out beyond the little trucks!)


John