The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Will I really want to drive it daily?

I have a 54 Chev 3100 4 spd that I want to restore and drive everyday. My question is, after I restore to original condition, will it be something I want to drive everyday? I currently drive it to and from the storage unit to continue developing a plan of attack but 90% of the door, fender, window rubber is gone, the king pins are worn out, intake gasket is cracked, the list goes on.. I have never driven a restored one and would like to know if I will think it will be comfortable enough to drive to work everyday and run around to do errands on the weekend? I love the vintage look and feel but also need reliable, somewhat comfortable transportation. Let me know what you think and maybe things I should consider.
Thanks for your opinions.

I drive a '62 Suburban daily. Other than the blown head gasket you mention, it's the same as your truck. AND I LOVE IT!
If you tell yourself that it's an old truck, and take it as such, then you'll enjoy it. Know that it isn't going to drive fast, it isn't going to stop fast, and it isn't going to perform like a new vehicle, and you will do fine.
Vent windows and kick panel vents are nearly as good as A/C, and I live in Georgia, where it's plenty hot in the summer.
I dropped in a crate motor, overdrive manual trans and a dual-reservoir master cylinder, but they've all been done one step at a time, and I've always driven the truck between projects.
Upgrade the radiator, and add a fan shroud. Nothing worse than overheating.
Upgrade the brakes to a dual reservoir, and upgrade the drums to self-adjuster mechanisms (Haven't done the self-adjust conversion yet).
Change the gears in the rear end to something a little more highway friendly. Especially if you've got a Granny Low 1st gear. Is the '54 an open driveshaft, or torque tube? If it's open, and you can't readily get replacement gears for it, I'd just swap in a new rear end...it's not that difficult, or expensive.

Add a little sound deader to the inside of the doors, under the rubber floor mat, on the firewall and the back wall of the cab. If it has a headliner at all, put some up under there too.

And perhaps most importantly, COMPLETELY rebuild the seat. A worn out seat will cause you more unenjoyable hours behind the wheel than anything. I'm doing a full story on rebuilding seat frames for the next issue of Hot Rod Deluxe. It involves burlap and piano wire, and is the key to a decent vintage driver.

I'm also hunting for a decent power steering set-up for my truck. Armstrong Steering gets really, really old in parking lots.

Even with the truck off the road for several months a year since I bought it three years ago, I've managed to put over 12,000 miles per year on it, many of them with the original 283/Granny 4speed.

And finally, get the AM radio restored and converted to modern electronics. There's nothing more satisfying than driving the Home Depot on a Sunday, along the back country roads, listing to a ball game through the speaker in the center of the dash, with the vent windows open, the door windows down and the kick-panel vents keeping your legs cool.

-Brad

I drove 50's GMCs when they were new. They are fun to drive, but require a lot of maintenance. And of course now you may or may not be able to get the part on the day you need it. And I don't think any one is satisfied that they are finished. I have 7 old GMC's and 3 1956 Fords like I was driving when my wife and I were dating. I would never want to depend on one of them to get me around town every day. I drive an 06 Chev 1500 and my wife drives an 08 Colorado. I plan on trading the 06 on an 09. I use my GM card enough to where I always have the maximum they will allow. It costs me less than $3,000 per year to never let a pickup get over 3 years old. I average 18 mpg and my wife averages 25 mpg. You don't get that with the carbureted engines. My suggestion would be fix it up some and drive it for pleasure. but look at it as a hobby. If you need daily transportation, get a newer more fuel efficient vehicle.

Its all in what you want to do. I live in NE Ohio,right in the middle of the so called rust belt.I spent a lot of time upgrading my 55 into a driver friendly streetrod that looks great. I only take it out to cruisins and shows. Cant see it getting road salt on it and oh yeah a bunch of parking lot dings But if I wanted it would make an excellent daily driver. So when you get yours restored ,it will be easy for you to make that decision.

You spend enough time working on an old truck to get it up and running and looking nice, and the scrapes on your knuckles have finally healed, and you're most likely going to want to drive your truck when you want to, not because you have to.
There are some that don't have any problem with taking it out and driving it day after day, but I've found that when you have something thats 50 years old or older, the technology of the time isn't up to the demands made on it for everyday driving, and it takes more work to keep it up and going. Sure, you can put newwer style brakes, better steering, A/C, power windows, etc.etc., but is that really an old truck? Just my opinion, but it's got to have that old truck smell, feel, ride, sound, to be an old truck.

Well since gettin on the road for my sons prom in april Ive put bought 4 grand on the new odometer an love it ! I dont drive it daily maybe 2 or 3 days a week to work but on the weekends it our daily driver.
even go get the groceries in the old gal and ..KNOCK ON WOOD so far mine has great mechanically other than the ignition switch in the donor caddy steering column goin poop wich caused a needed upgrade to a new steering column all ive done is changed the oil an checked the air in the tires.
But I agree with Denny that if your runnin a stocker that it is an entirely different amnimal that requires lotts of attention.
Tim

I don't have my truck ready for the road yet, but when it is I plan on using it as much as possible. My goal is to have it as my daily driver... maybe I'll regret it, maybe I won't. I'm still young and stubborn, so right now I think I'll be able to survive using it as my only vehicle (my current daily driver is a Wrangler, so I don't have to rely on the truck quite yet) For me my enjoyment is not only about restoring/fixing up the truck but driving and enjoying it. I plan on driving it regardless of the weather, regardless of the season. I can't imagine putting this much time and effort into something that I only use a day or two a week. Yeah, I plan on using the truck as a work truck and I know it will get scratches, dings, and rust will form again. But still, I'm working on this truck to enjoy it and drive it...

...but that's just my opinion, and I fully understand enjoying a newer, reliable vehicle.

I drive my 51 quite regularly. I installed a newer 261, a T5, and a Chevelle rear. Now I get 19 MPG and it tops out at around 90 MPH. I don't have power steering, but power brakes are almost a must. I also installed a TCI IFS kit to make things more comfortable, but it's not really necessary. It just depends on what kind of driving you want to do, and how far you want to go. I drive mine all the time and love it.

When I put the new speedometer in BillyBob in 2003, it read 0 miles. Now it reads over 34,000 miles. It was my daily driver up untill last week when I purchased Tony and Joy Pascarella's '37 Chevy pickup with the hotrod 302 GMC engine. Now, I have two daily drivers. BillyBob is stock and I drove the truck to Macungie last year (4,700 + miles) and to Hutchinson this year (3,700 + miles). I just drove the '37 back from New York (1,400 + miles). Yes, they are uncomfortable compared to modern vehicles. That's the point. I drove up to New York in a Hertz chevy "full size". It was a very nice car but if you took the badges off it, I wouldn't have known what the thing was. Very bland.

Agreed. My 64 is my daily driver, I'm used to it, original steering and brakes and all, but sometimes you can't help but to lock up the brakes or do something else silly in the circus that is modern commuting. Stoplights are not compassionate towards these vehicle systems. All the same, I've decided against modernizing mine. The truck makes you feel like you're really operating something, and demands attention and a marginal level of skill. Driving modern is like floating on a cloud to your destination, or driving a bicycle with no pedals. My two cents.

Most of my adult life I have driven old chevy trucks. There was a nice F1 and a M37A1 thrown in there many years ago. When I was younger it was because I could not afford a new truck, but later it was because I just like to drive old trucks. They were my daily drivers and I drove them where ever I had to go.

I now have an 02 Silverado. It is real nice to drive, but when my 54 is back on the road I think the Silverado will go down the road.

If you don't just love the smell and feel of opening the door on a 50 year old truck and doing the little rituals of starting and driving one, then it is probably just a hobby. But if it is in your blood, then drive it and love it. Don't worry about the comfort that a newer truck afford or the greater reliability that you will have.

I lift the hood of my 02 every few months when I change the oil. The hood on the 54 will need to be open on a much more regular basis. If you are going to drive it on a daily basis, it would be well to know how to work on all the little things that come up. Even on a fully restored original, there are adjustments and things to check that do not exist on a newer truck.

So if it is in your blood, drive it; or if you are like my neighbor you can keep it in the garage under a car cover 363 days a year. On that rare day, you can roll it out of the garage and drive it around for a half hour or so then put it away like something it is not. After all it is just a thing and things are meant to be used and enjoyed.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Lonnie

I did drive my '55 1st GMC daily for a while. I tend to change primary daily drivers about once a year, usually because I got something 'new' and want to drive it instead of the 'old' one.

Living in Boise I'd say there are days, maybe weeks, in July and August when air conditioning are almost a requirement. But when I lived near there I spent one year driving truck out of field with no air, and I survived. Probably didn't smell good, but I survived.

My current daily driver is a 23 year old car (with air), my primary alternate is a 17 year old pickup (with air). My '55 1st GMC (no air) is licensed and insured and can pretty much take over any day I choose.

For me one of the keys to having an old daily driver is having an easy alternative for those days when you can't handle marginal defrost, no power steering, no air conditioning, rattles and harsh ride, or maybe the old truck is simply broken. Being able to jump in something else makes almost anything acceptable as a daily. So far this week I've driven all three for various reasons.

As for the cost, I don't drive a lot, probably less than 20,000 miles a year even when I take significant road trips. My alternates rarely run more than a few thousand miles a year, and my primary no more than 10,000. I don't owe money on any of them, pay little insurance, and shop for deals on parts.

If you have enough money to run a cash operation lots of old ones is not an expensive way to go. Month to month payments on something new is probably more cash flow friendly, but impact on net worth is higher.

dont see why you would not want to drive it... thats what they are made for..............

get er fixed up, put some good insurance on it and ride on..

I drove my 52 to work, to play, ever where....from Dallas to Kansas City, Okc, Ark, thru out Tx...........never missed a lick and enjoyed all of it..

no power,no air, no heat, drum brakes, I could drive it as fast or as slow as I wanted..........if you have one...........and you dont drive it.............then the whole deal is a waste..

Right Cletis?

I'm blessed to have found an old truck that was only put away because of body work, and was left in very great mechanical condition, and I have the papers to prove it. With that said, I plan on the '54 being my daily driver once it is fixed up(it needs the floorboards patched, brakes overhauled, and that's basically it, except for worn out electronics) and I get my license mainly because it is probably the only thing I will have until I have the money to get another vehicle. I have no problem with no power steering, power brakes, or going slow. One of the reasons I got the truck was so that I could drive something that was put together with pride and could be driven like it was supposed to be. So, that said, I will still drive my truck even after/if it is restored completely.

I drive mine every day, to work even ( and I get pretty grungy at work! ). Now if the wheater is going to be really nasty, or there's some srt of event that might bring out the stupid drivers (like the circus that the mall owners just had to set up in OUR parking lot), then I drive my 4x4 Blazer. But otherwise, the '55 is the daily driver, stock brakes, steering and all.

I JUST WANT TO DRIVE MINE! Everytime I get closer, another obstacle pops up. This time it's the worn axle,....once that's done who knows. If you have a driver, enjoy it. Don't take it for granted,...some of us still have to pretend!

I drive my 51 every day. In the winter I fire up the 66 Ford f-100 only because the heater/defroster is better and is some fool plows into me, I won't be out as much.

Just got back from pickin up my son an his buddy from the post H.S. Football game after dance at the H.S....now they are both 13 an they strutted up to the 52 in front of all the gals like they was 18 ..HEHEHEHE!!!!!!!!!!!...guess it was a better choice to take to pick em up than the wifes P.T.Cruiser ??
LMAO!...I LOVE MY TRUCK!
Tim

I'm driving my '54 3100 --3 speed column shift, almost every summer day to work...but only if its not raining (vacuum wipers), BUT I only live 2 miles to work! I live in the mountains so drive a Subaru Forester all winter...my truck is very original, top speed about 48 mph, still 6 volt so I also don't drive at night (only a couple of lights work and no turn signals)...I probably get as many stares for using hand signals to turn as I do just for being in this cool old 5 window rig!

There are lots of classic trucks here in the Roslyn area, most of them still in the "beater", farm truck category...we all wave at each other and see each other on Saturdays when hauling to the dump....

Roger.......
Looking at your hobbies, you will need a truck with demisters and heaters at least!

Mine is being built to be a DAILY DRVER.
Rain, hail or shine.....comfortable and reasonably good on fuel.

I would love to restore my truck......but would not be able to use it much at all, and I already own vehicles like this.....that can only be driven certain months of the year, lower speeds, dodgy brakes, steering, during daylight hours etc.

Think where you drive each day, what you are going to be carting around( snowboards, tents etc.) how much it will cost to run, and then build the truck to suit your lifestyle.

Anything else would only be a compromise.

Drive the truck thats what its meant for. Don't worry about the paint or body falling away you will be dead before these trucks rust away. Abide by Danny's advice and it will last forever...

Peter

I drive old trucks daily,my "new" truck is currently a '74 Chevy one ton,and it doesn't bother me at all. As a matter of fact,I drove my '57 GMC half ton daily pretty much all the time I've owned it,until the jobs I began doing required a larger truck. I still use it for transportation whenever I have to work on my current vehicle. As I see it,these trucks were somebody's daily drivers from the tome they were new,and the owners were good with that,so if you restore/repair/maintain the truck now and drive it wherever you want to go,what's changed? I'll bet 99% of these old trucks were stone reliable transportation for at least 30 years,before wear and tear,or neglect,started causing minor failures in their performance. So if you re-new the "consumables" on an old truck,you should be able to rely on it for many more years.
As far as comfort,if you're not comfortable driving an old truck daily because of no power steering or air conditioning or stereo CD player,maybe you should just keep it a weekender and stick with a "modern" car for daily use. I drive my old beaters because I LIKE the way a truck with manual steering drives,and I do just fine without air conditioning,that's why the windows roll down. Another thing I really like is if something DOES go south on my old truck,9 times out of 10,it's something I can fix myself and be on my way. I've only been stranded once in an old truck,when I got a plugged gas line on the freeway and the truck quit. Under those circumstances,the only remedy would have been the same as if a more modern car quit-have it towed. The difference is,a modern car would go to a shop,where they'd charge a bunch of dough to find and fix the problem. I had it brought home,where it cost me about half a day and under 10 bucks to get it running. Hasn't failed me since.
This is all just personal preference;as was stated earlier,once the truck is restored and you start driving it,YOU'LL know if it's what you want to drive every day or not.
Speed

I respectfully disagree. Once you've been through one of these trucks from the bearings up, maintenance isn't too bad at all, breaking is nearly non-existant, and they are a LOT of fun to drive.

I've been through my truck top to bottom, drive it at least 4 days a week, and wouldn't be afraid to go anywhere in it.

Do I have a back up, sure. It's a 30 year old vette that's been gone through in the same manner.

My point is that old doesn't necessarily mean weak. It's all a matter of making the important stuff new again.



See, that was exactly part of my theory when I quit driving new stuff. For a lot less than $3K a year, I can drive and maintain some really cool old stuff.

Anyway, that's just my opinion. We all have different tastes.

I totally agree w/ vette - I drive the red truck 365 days a year, sun, rain or snow, and haven't turned a wrench on it since .... well, I can't remember

I do check the oil and water before I take it outta town, but I've waaaay more important things to do then "fix" something that ain't broke, which is what more than a few folks here seem to enjoy

I've never owned a vehicle newer than a 67 GMC - get an old one, fix'er up right, drive it till it dies and fix it again or have another ready to go .... they're transportation, use'em

Bill

Bill....
I know where your coming from.
Until recently (getting the "family cars")
the most modern I had ever owned was the '76 SS TORANA.
But these were basically a race car with rego plates on them!
No air, no power steering, stiff suspension and bad seats!
http://holden.itgo.com/a9x.html
All the others were '1968 and older.
As you say.....cost stuff all to buy, stuff all to run and repair and yet still provide many miles of enjoyment.

To this day.....I have only ever paid more than $2000 for a vehicle ONCE.
You are right.if they break and the fix is more than that amount...........bye bye....plenty more out there!

Unfortunately, the old chev babbit motor,3 speed and tall diff are NOT going to be high speed, high milage, low cost repair/maintainance performers!

I own 2 vehicles. '72 Toyota Landcriuser and a 1964 K10 'Burb. The Toyota is really my daily driver. Sun, rain or snow. Needs paint, but the mechanics are good. It has power brakes and no ac.

The 'Burb I basically drive when I want to, if the weather is nice. Don't like to get it dirty. When I park it, I do so (try to) somewhere that I won't get any dings.

But basically I consider them both "drivers". That's what they are meant for. The 'Burb has a 350 with a 4 barrel. Other than that, it's pretty much stock. At 70 mph (which is a pretty decent speed on the highway) I'm turning about 3000 rpms. Normally I drive about 60 on the highway. No ac, but with the floor vents and wing windows, going down the highway when it's 90+ isn't that big a deal. Around town, no ac is more of an inconvenience than a problem. No power brakes or steering is just something I got use to. Now, I really don't think about not having ac, power this and that.

I enjoy driving something unique, rather than a ho-hum vehicle that everyone else has. The "Burb has good paint and overall looks good, but that doesn't keep me from driving it. There are a lots of folks with older vehicles that very seldom get driven, for whatever reason. I say if you have an older vehicle drive it, and enjoy it.

i drove my 54/3100 for 20 years before i did a complete overhaul and sometimes wish it was back the way it was because of the time it was in the shop and the money i put in it. before i would jump in and go now i have to decide where to park it out of the way and do i have the time to answer all the questions about it. drive safely and enjoy. Ron

Yes, driving my '49 for 8 years daily now. I really have to disagree with most that has been said with the exception of Larry who has the mileage to prove it. It ain't no rice rocket, you do have to drive her like she's 60 years old (almost) but I do have a '62 3sp+od, rebuilt brakes, do regular maintenance, drive sensibly, etc. I have several 2 grand trips under my belt, use the interstate daily which means coming up to speed, which means enhanced drivetrain. Your results may vary. I have ridden a bicycle cross-country solo so I'm used to (comfortable with) a different parameter of comfort. Also, on days when I don't want to fool with the "cell phone fools" (my term) I can take a surface route that takes me almost the same amount of time to get to work as the great highway. Peace to you all brothers and sisters. Cosmo

i have enough money in my 54/3100 to buy a new cadillac cts but i plan to drive it as a dailey driver and i have been driving it around all day even to walmart. i also talked to a guy today who has a 69 rambler that he has more in than i do my and he says he never drives it in the rain how sad, but to each his own. DRIVE IT!!!!!! ron

Being retired, I don't have to drive everyday. However that doesn't stop me from putting miles on my '56. Last weekend I put 1345 on it going to Kansas City and back. In May it was a 940 mile trip to Hutchinson, KS. In January I drove it 2139 miles to Arizona and back. Add all the local driving and it comes to 5114 miles this year.

I'm having fun with my truck. Get 'em out and drive 'em.

[quote=Cosmo
Yes, driving my '49 for 8 years daily now. I really have to disagree with most that has been said with the exception of Larry who has the mileage to prove it. [/quote]

How about some pics?

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/alb...20work/th_the58andFlaridafront.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/alb.../old%20dogs%20work/th_107_0844.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/alb...20dogs%20work/th_olddogsdowork.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/Avette4me/My%2058/old%20dogs%20work/th_2horse2.jpg[/IMG]

There are a lot of people here that have better pics and might want to respectfully disagree with you as well ..

Just sayin'

Beauty of a 58! What powertrain she running?

Thank you very much.

It's got a nicely built 350 and an SM420 transmission. The rest of the running gear is recently rebuilt stock (bearings, brakes, kingpins, etc.). I trust the old bastich to go anywhere and to do so without being "babied".

Way to be, and I agree with you entirely. I'm getting used to my '58's quirks with stock running gear (235 and 3-on-the-tree) but would rather drive my 68 C20 every day of my life.

Bought that C20 from a guy in Enid, by the way!