The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 53' GMC 1/2 ton- Very Rusty

Hi All,
I have a 1953 GMC truck and let me start by saying there is not much else in this world that makes me smile like when I driving my truck around the neighborhood. Well my truck was made in Oakland and has suffered 50 plus years of salt air and fog. most rust on this truck is not repairable (IMHO). should I just stop the rust and just primer or flat paint over or should I replace the bed or should I just drive it?
With all the rust its hard for others to enjoy-I'll post pics soon

If the rust is that bad, is it safe to drive?

I have been working on a 1959 1/2 Apache from Nebraska that shows the toll of driving in snow with salted roads. Lots of rust. I am using POR-15 and it is work great. I am doing the the frame now and will replace some body parts or repair as needed. At $44 a quart it is expensive but the pre time is minimal and looks great.

Just an option....

My '53 GMC 1/2 ton is also very rusty, but I like it that way. I thought I might repaint it, but the more people say "you just gonna drive it like that?" or "what color you gonna paint it?", the more I want to drive it like it is. Besides, I'm driveing my truck today, why would I want to take it off the road for a couple years, put that kind of money into the body work and paint, only to be afraid to drive it?
Check my truck out in my signature, but please try to look past the wheels, they are temporary.

I just returned from a 2222 mile trip in my rusty Suburban. I say drive it.

Yeah its pretty rusty but safe to drive. I took the bed off to clean up the frame a bit and maybe send the bed to a shop for blasting-but if that gets done there will be so many holes. I'll just drive it then! thanks.

I dont know twotone, there is good patina and bad patina and I think you are sporting bad patina! I'd do the body work and paint it.

I drove mine for ten years getting just mechanical stuff done on it. About a year ago I guess I got a wild hair and started thinking about getting the old girl to look good. Actually it more likley a wild spring in the seat cushion

GeneBrownLow has the right idea. i drove 54 for 20 years as is. then i put in the shop and spent an ungodly amount of money on it. it looks and drives great and i still drive it but i am more elective. two trips to Kansas City total miles 2600 and 8000 since overhaul. i would love to drive it n the snow but i don't the big fight i will have with insurance company. drive it.

I agree that a rusty ride has a certain character. But likewise, safety first is a good motto to keep in mind.

A rusty floor should be repaired as well as a rusty exhaust system. If it's got good brakes and runs well, leave it as it is until you find something else or have the time and money to fix it.

We live close, I sent you a pm.

Believe it or not, 65shortstep2,
this truck has already been redone once. A little body work, a coat of primer, new paint inside and out, a nice new oak bed, reupholstered seat and fresh engine. Since then it has had three more coats of primer, another engine, and the oak bed and seat have rotted out. I've replaced the seat and plan to replace the engine(heck, the whole drive train) and the bed. As long as it's mechanically sound and I can drive it, I'm happy.

I accept your offer I unfortunately don't have a shop or the time and money to do what I would like.

twotone,
Wow you've had that truck a long time? Yeah if you're happy then thats cool!!! I went back and studied the pictures and it does have character! What wheels have you decided on?

I haven’t had the truck that long, but I’ve done some research on it . I’ll admit the character she has is sort of an ugly character, but it took almost sixty years to get that way.

I would like to find a steel wheel that looks something like the stock wheel, that I could maybe run a stock hubcap on. It would be nice to find something the same size as the (ugly) chrome wheels I'm running with a slightly smaller tire. My brother sold me these wheels with brand new tires for $cheap.00 and they fit(barely).

Then, yes, I would like to do the body work and give her a nice paint job. Probably the stock red color.