The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk hypothetical situation WWUD?

What would you do?

I'm in the market for a 50-53 1/2ton Chevy truck. I am finding all sorts of interesting versions in various conditions. I am thinking that I want to buy a truck that is already a daily driver. My intention is to make the truck a daily driver for me for spring/summer/fall and have fun with it. I'm a "safety first" kind of guy, I view these trucks as NOT being that safe to drive (meaning steering/brakes/seatbelts/suspensions) at todays highway speeds in their original condition. So with those thoughts in mind what would you do to correct these problems. I want to put disc brakes on the front at a minimal, would not mind all 4 being disc. Steering? Suspension? Bench seat with belts? Please discuss.

The versions I am seeing are more of less restored to the point of having all body work complete, in primer and are daily drivers, the owner is just in need of cash or wants to move onto something else. Some are sectioned in front, others are original etc. It is a case by case deal.

Bill, first welcome. Your question is going to be hard to answer because we all have different opinions as to what's safe and qualifies as a daily driver. I suggest you keep looking for someones unfinished project that already has the modifications you want but needs to be "finished". Just my 2 cents. Others will chime in soon.

I was in the market for such a truck about 6 years ago. I have had 69 Camaros forever and my wife wanted a classic for her to drive. We did not want a restored pickup, because you cannot drive them like we intended. I found a 51 chev 3100 that the owner had already done the Mustang II disc IFS (R&P power steering), V8 and a 76 trans-am disc rear. The body and cab were disasembled but 80% there. Picked it up and parked it. Now it time to get working on it.

Future plans are 383 chev with tremec 5 speed, but stock looking. Keeping the bench seat, but adding new 3 point seat belts.

So I would recommend finding a stalled project with IFS and other things you want and finish the build your way. Rusty stock trucks are what I see out there, but it would be lots of work to modernize.

Finding one that has already been modified to your particular wants could be quite challenging, but if you can find one that would be the easiest (obviously). Otherwise there are several conversion kits available, and I'm sure some more knowledgable bolters could point you in the right direction to find those. I prefer '60-'66 trucks so I don't know much about the earlier models. Another option that you can find a ton of info about on here is a full chassis swap. That would give you power brakes, steering, more modern suspension, etc all at once. Later model S10's are pretty common frame donors. It all depends how much money you have to spend on a preoject and how handy you are in the shop and the tools you have available.

Oh yea, craigslist and local ads are better for local projects, then ebay or national cars online.

craiglook and search tempest are good tools to search Criags list regionally.

Luck!

Bill, It appears that you don't want to do the hard stuff. If you don't have a love of making somthing work better by your own hand I would sugest that YOU AVOID OLD TRUCKS.

If you can find a partially restored truck with the improvements that you want you will probably save money but you need to be very knowledgable about the truck. It will likely be unassembled so you'll need to know how to put it back together without the education you get from taking it apart yourself. Also, you'll have to trust the work of the p.o. on some critical aspects like suspension and steering. If you decide to start from scratch, I think you're better off to find the best truck you can and pay a fair price for it. When you start fixing up junkers the costs add up very quickly.

Sounds to me like you want a modern car disguised as a truck. My suggestion is to get a running truck and drive it as is a while then decide if you want to change it to a car disguised as a truck.

I agree disc brakes and a dual MC and seat belts are great improvements to the old trucks but I don't see the need for the suspension changes and other "comfort" mods.

Check out the HiPo forum for discussions of the mods you are asking about.

Well let me ask you this. Do you like beating your head on the wall? Probably not. Me either. Their is no need for me to start from scratch and have a pile of rusty truck sitting on my property for years just waiting for me to figure out and get motivated on how to correct decades of rot. That being said and after consulting with my contacts in the restoration biz, we came to the conclusion that I would rather own/drive sooner than later. Therefore, it means my price of admission to the world of old trucks will be higher. If I want to pay that then I need to make that decision.

What is the highway speed at which you want to travel?

The stock rear end is 4.11:1 and this will get you 55 mph as a high speed (about 2600 rpm, depending on tire diameter) and this can be a safe speed with stock brakes AND front-end parts that are in excellent condition.

Tim

Bill,

I would flip the "George-Washington-decision-maker" and figure if heads you want to buy it, or tails you want to build it.

After designing both a custom IFS setup and starting an S-10 chassis swap, if I build another, it will either be an IFS kit or a Dropped Axle from Sid.

Disc brakes are a given with the idiots down here, however the stock running trucks are plenty safe suspension and steering wise. I would consider an 4.2 ATLAS engine swap with the 4L60e or convert to a 5-cylinder ATLAS manual box.

Scott

About 12 plus years ago I bought a 49 half ton. Going to restore it, put in a SBC, radial tires, disc brakes and a fancy paint job. That was the plan.
Today I am driving that same truck almost as when I bought it. I have rebuilt the brakes, put on new shocks,seat belts and even have new bias-ply tires.
I found that if I wanted to enjoy my truck I would not want a shiny new paint job. I see too many guys with beautiful restored or hot rodded trucks that are basically garage art. Any sign of rain they stay indoors.
I don't have a need to spend my time on freeways nor do I do much mileage, averaging about 1500 per year.
I like the truck the way it is. I lean on it and put stuff in the box and if I get a scratch I don't lose sleep.
While I owned this truck I acquired the ultimate Chevy pickup which I restored. Took me a while and lots of money. Hardly drove it. Was afraid to leave it anywhere and when someone scratched it I could not sleep. I drove it two years and sold it. Living happily ever after with my 49 driver.

More on "my intentions". Buy it, hopefully get it to what/where I am hoping that I envision as paint/interior/mechanically and drive it, drive it, drive it. It is a machine, not a museum piece. And if it has the antique brown fenders/cream colored cab/hood and bed that I envision, then I will have completed my vision. My drive to work is 47 miles each way. Since I have no options there to shorten the drive, I make it as enjoyable as I can. Right now that enjoyment is in a Miata with the top down spring/summer/fall. And having an old truck to do it in might be as fun. Car shows? Not for me. Drive it.

I'll throw my $.02 in. I've got a '55 2nd, and it has, for the most part, been left stock. brakes, steering, and suspension were overhauled to stock specs, no disk brakes, stock master cylinder, stock manual sttering. I have added gas shocks, front and rear sway bars, steering stabilizer, and taller, wider, modern radial tires. I have don a non-stock engine overhaul, with a hotter cam, dual carbs, split exhaust manifold, and a hotter ignition system, plus I did convert to an alternator. The trans got swapped for an SM318 with the Borg Warner overdrive, which was an easy swap as the later trucks have an open driveline.
I drove this truck daily, rain or shine. The only time it doesn't get driven is winter and during the Christmas sales rush time, due to all the idiot drivers out during that time of year. It does get run at highway speeds regularly. The brakes and steering have never failed me.
Having said that, I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't upgrade, nor will I say you have to upgrade. Do what makes you feel most comfortable. If you don't want to do the work, or would be more comfortable having someone with more experience/time do the work for you, I say go for it. In my case, I work on cars for a living, so I'm plenty comfortable with doing it myself.
BTW, I love the "Drive It" attitude you have, I stick to that myself.

I like your thinking! Car show just bore me, these truck are meant to be driven and enjoyed!
I have a '57 Suburban which is my 3-season daily driver. It has a '75 Camaro front clip, 250ci L6, th350 and rear end with 2.73 ratio, all from the Camaro. It is fun, reliable, a bit on the slow side in town, but will run 70mph all day thanks to the long rear end.
The Camaro front clip gives you power disc brake (with under floor modern power booster kit), power steering, independent suspension and a Chevy 5 bolt wheel pattern. All parts obviously are Chevy and easy to find at your local parts store, which is really important for a daily driver, you won't find 50s parts locally!). The L6 is maybe a bit weak, most Camaro clips came with a small block anyway: reliable, easy to maintain, gas not as good as the Miata! I am going to put a th700r4 (4speed auto)in mine for the lower first gear and lock up converter, after that I may need to put a shorter rear end... The rear drum brakes from the Camaro are way enough!
To this, you might want to add A/C (easy aftermarket kits, with heat, easy compressor on the small block) and a good radio. And no one will see anything from the outside!
Sure you can put a modern truck seat with seat belts mounted on the seat, that should not be too hard, you just have to spend a bit of time measuring at the junk yard, but make sure it is attached seriously to the floor! No use being held to the seat if the seat goes flying! For me, these seats look too modern...
A bit of insulation, a radio, you're set!
Some people here are very much into originality, but really, that kind of old truck can ride with today's traffic easily, that is where I find my fun!
I guess it should not be too too hard to find a truck that has already all or most of these mods done (like mine was). Just make sure the front clip is welded very well!

I am (and would) install power dual master brake cylinder, front discs/tapered bearings in front, new tierod ends and fresh 650x16 bias ply tires all around. Everything else is staying stock. stock rear drums, stock engine, stock axles, stock suspension, stock transmission.

A daily driver needs radial ply tires!!!

I will throw in another 2 cents. Old trucks are the most fun to me when they still have that vintage feel. S-10 frames and the like just seem phony. A hot six or sbc can add to the fun. Miata? Think I would have kept that to myself

Dale, I agree on all your points! I am going to upgrade the running gear and suspension but keep the original frame and body. It will look all stock until you drive it! I also do not like the look of modern seats and steering columns. I am reusing original column, bench seat and 4 speed shifter will be used, just stealthily hooked up to modern components! And all the upgrades will not be blinged out, my plan is to make it look like it came that way from the factory.

Maybe if your Daily Drive is on Interstates, but otherwise bias plys (and defensive driving) will do just fine.

Just fine from 50 years ago may not be what everyone is looking for.
The starting question mentions a 50 mile commute and safety: radial tires will make that commute just that little bit more fun, comfortable and safe.
And yes, some people will enjoy living with the old tech and this is fine!
On the other hand, my '57 Burb with Camaro front clip feels pretty rustic/noisy already, my wife does not even want to ride in it, so I can't imagine what it was like all stock!

50 miles daily in an old truck is going be harsh no matter what tire you are running.

Radials would be safer. Bias ply on interstates is scary.

Safety first, old truck and modern highway is a tough combination.

I think you just hit on the idea/plans that I have in mind. I too would like to keep it stock looking as possible but have a few of the safety features available today. I don't want a moded out hotrod, I want a daily driver that I can safely take up to about 70-75 on the highway(my work commute is 60% freeway). My knowledge in the mods is really lacking so I need to do my homework and learn alot.