The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Burnt 1954 3100 V8

An old lady nearby has a V8 powered auto trans 1954 that has had an electrical/gas fire which burned the engine compartment, and cooked some of the dash and interior.

She may sell it. I don't want it, but would give her guidance.

Are "fire vehicles" restorable? Apparently this one was pretty nice before. It has been sitting in high-desert sun, paint looks pretty faded now.

Since parts availability is high I'm going to say yes it is restorable. But unless some pieces that are undamaged are pretty special or it was my grandfather's truck I'd pass.

You would spend more dealing with heat-changed metal than another truck will cost.

I'd value it as parts and scrap.

How bad was the fire? If it was confined to the engine compartment/firewall, the hood may be warped. Did it get hot enough to do engine damage? Did it melt the radiator, burn the tires ect. If the price is right 54's are kinda special, and if it was nice prior to the fire, it may still have potential.

I will try to get back with the camera.

Heat-warped sheet metal is a royal PITA to work with. If there's more than blistered paint, pass up a restoration unless you plan to replace the entire front end sheet metal. It takes a lot of heat to damage major components like the engine, trans, etc., but the carburetor, starter, generator, and any wiring will be beyond help. If dash instruments are involved, the cost will go up accordingly!
Jerry

Not bad! I was expecting a lot worse. That one's definitely salvageable!
Jerry

I has been in the western sun, and all paint has faded and now shows undelying bondo. I do have a few more photos. I'd say the whole engine compartment from the distributor up is really shot, and all wiring gone. It was caused by mice stripping the wire insulation. Bed has rotted.

I would suspect much of the rust at least on the front is in the heat affected zone. What does the firewall look like? If it looks rusty the heat affected zone includes the cab and I'd still be wary of this one. If the firewall is still painted it may be the only affected parts are ones that unbolt and can easily be replaced.