BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 | I am Hank Ragsdale in Colorado Springs. I have a 54 chevy half ton that was my father-in-laws shop truck. I rebuilt the 235 motor about 8 years ago and finally finished enough other project that the preservation project came to the top of the list.This is not a project to restore or show the truck, this is an old driver that needed preservation. I started in the spring and stopped (you never complete) in Sept.The project included rebuilding the truck bed, repainting the inside, new seat upholstery, headliner,finished conversion to 12 volt electric system, rebuilt the doors with new windows, hardware, new seals and window channels. The exterior was repainted and added the chrome front bumper and the rear bumper with hitch. Lots of rewiring for directional and backup lights.
The old truck looks and runs good,but she is a beast to steer, needs power steering.That may be done later. The 4 on the floor is origional and may get an automatic some day.
For now she is an Old Driver that catches the eye and always gets a story of someone that had or drove one of these in the 50's. Pictures are on shuterfly.
Last edited by Peggy M; 04/24/2025 11:57 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 | Nice work hankrags ... What color is your Dash ? I am only about half way finish with the interior of my 54... I too am not doing show truck but planning on using it... Is yours a push button starter on the dash ?
1954 Chevy 3104 3 Window Hydra-Matic in my family for over 60 Years
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right... "Scarlet Begonias" Grateful Dead 1974
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
Looks good, Hank.
healingbear might be referring to what looks like hole in the dash, above the light switch. That is the location where the push-button for a solenoid-equipped starter would have been installed in a Hydra-Matic equipped 1954 truck.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,185 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,185 | Nice truck Hank, welcome. There are many more miles left in that truck.
Leo | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | Welcome to the bolt. Nice truck and that tint glass looks good. Kind of says "look at me"!! | | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 | The dash is a light bown similiar to the origional | | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 | The hole in the dash is for some old light swithces. I will probable fill them in sometime in the future. The tranny is an old 4 on the floor with a granny gear | | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 | The 54 is still mostly stock 235 6 banger.
The starter is still on the floor.Most people who try to drive it can't find the button.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 | New pictures on the 58. Making progress but it takes time.
check it out
You cannot have too many tools or toys. | | |
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