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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15
S
Apprentice
Apprentice
S Offline
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15
Hello All,
I recently purchased a 8K original mile 49 & 53 Chevy COE. I am a new rookie to these trucks. I want to make the 49 a SAFE and dependable weekly driver. What should I check/change to make it SAFE and dependable. Thank you in advance for all your help.
Don Jr
[email protected]
413-246-8452
Agawam, MA

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,438
Extreme Gabster
Extreme Gabster
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,438
The first order of business is to educate yourself on these trucks. You've come to the right place. Be sure to check out the tech tips. Then go through your brake system.


"It's just a phase. He'll grow out of it." Mama, 1964

1956 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100
1953 Chevy 6100 "The Yard dog"
1954 GMC Suburban Now with a new proud owner.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,878
G
.
.
G Offline
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,878
With that low miles you should be very close to having a safe and reliable truck as is.

Go through all the brakes, replace all the seals and cups in the wheel cylinders, and be sure the shoes are thick and dry.

A complete service, grease and oil for everything that uses it.

One upgrade I would consider first is a modern brake booster with most importantly a dual circuit master cylinder, sized properly for your large brake system. The dual circuit MC is very much worth the extra factor of safety.

I drove my mostly stock 52 1 ton every day for a few years, never left me stranded, unless I ran out of gas... Later I added disc brakes and PS, but still a 1955 235 and 4 speed, it took me and a friend 8,000 miles in a month, from coast to coast. These trucks can be fun and reliable daily drivers, a number of other Stovebolters here have similar stories to tell. After all, these trucks were new once.

Be sure to get an original/reprint service manual if you don't have one already, and read it from cover to cover, or at least look at the pictures and read a few lines here and there, then when you need to know something you'll have an idea where to look.

With a low mile original truck, best to keep it original, but if you find you need a new or different engine then a 261 would be somewhat close to original in appearance, and a little more reliable and or less maintenance than the old style 235 or 216 you likely have. Most folks consider this an acceptable upgrade even for a mostly original truck. Nothing about the swap can't be undone later, it doesn't have to be permanent.

Grigg


•1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
•1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
•1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
---All pictures---
"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 195
C
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
C Offline
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 195
One other thing that is very important is to post pictures! I think we would all like to see!


Red meat is not bad for you.........Fuzzy green meat is bad for you!

"What happens in the garage stays in the garage!"

1958 Chevy Spartan 100 firetruck in the Gallery

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