The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Restoring a 54 Chevy 3100

I have not posted in some time. I own a 1954 3100 which I am restoring as a project for me and a first vehicle for my daughter.

I'm going to be searching these forums for information on specific jobs I'll be attempting. I will be on a limited budget, so if anyone has information I could use... please point me to the proper forums?

First I will be re-wiring the electrical system. To ensure it is fully functional.

Once I have completed electrical I will be tackling replacing the manual shift 3 on the tree with an automatic tranny.

Next I'll be looking to replace the rear end and front drum brakes with 5 lug and front disks.

Lastly I'll be doing other various small jobs such as putting in new bed wood and replacing many of the existing parts with newer.

My plan is to turn the truck into a fully functioning and comfortable ride for my daughters first vehicle.

She is 14 and will have a couple years till she's driving. So I have a bit of time to accomplish.

Please feel free to contact me if you can provide me with useful information or links to places in the forums where details have been listed.

Hope to hear from you all soon!!!

Mike

BillyBob is a Model 3100 1955 1st Series Chevrolet ½ ton "5-window" pickup truck.

You need to go peruse that page and check out all of the many nooks and crannies. There is a whole lot of documented information there.

LAROKE is a member here on the 'bolt as well.

-W

just keep in mind most teenagers smash their first car all up. not to mention the terrible gas mileage these things get.

The wiring is probably the easiest part of the project. replacing the 3 on the tree is going to be your achilles heal. Other than an old powerglide, the only way to go automatic is to get and engine adapter. With the adapter and later model trans, you'll have to hack your crossmember and maybe even the firewall. Personnally, I would find an SM420 trans, or even a non torque tube 3 speed and move the shifter to the floor. (My Dad taught me how to drive in a 4 speed truck, the granny low is very forgiving) Since you are planning on replacing the rearend, the touque tube shouldn't be a problem. A rearend out of a Blazer or Ford Explorer should get you good gearing, plus finding one with discs is relatively easy. There are quite a few companies that offer front disc kits, I'm not for about the 5 lug converion though. I believe you can use discs off an early model car. OR you can do a MII front end kit, which requires lots of fabrication.

Good luck, I wish you and your daughter well.

Chris

You are not "restoring" the truck. You are modernizing it.

When re-wiring, I recommend a complete universal harness. These are pretty foolproof as each wire is lableld every 6". If you decide to do it on your own, Cabelas sells a marine fusebox that is very reasonable. Use masking tape to lable each wire.

There are complete front end rack and pinion kits - Mustang II front ends that are made for these trucks. Makes for independent suspension, discs, and 5 lug pattern. They run about $2k.

For a soon to be 16 year old novice driver I think I would install bear claw latches, (factory ones pop open in a wreck), a 3 point safety belt set up, upgrade the brakes--nothing wrong with power drums and semi-metallic linings and are much cheaper and easier to install, and have the steering up to snuff. Straight axles are fine if rebuilt to new specs and in the $200 dollar range instead of $2000. Triple this price if going to E-Z Glide springs. Dragsters are running 330mph now and guess what--every one has a straight axle. Would also hunt up a 1947 or 48 under the bed fuel tank and brackets to replace the in cab one. Radial tires of course. If wanting to stay with a six cylinder engine you might consider the 230/250/292 since it's bellhousing pattern on the block accepts all the modern transmissions. A smaller PG or Turbo 350 is a very easy install without altering the floor or firewall. You can keep the original steering column and shifter if desired. If never going to be used for hauling loads or trailer pulling stick a 2.73 rear in it and do away with the need for a 200 or 700 OD tranny. Depending on her driving style this will get it into the 18mpg range or close to 20 if a real feather foot. For the wiring you can't beat the Speedway Motors "Mr Roadster" wiring harness for $130. Each wire is labeled and includes all fuses, breakers, and plugs.

i am putting together 54 gmc,i swapped out rear end from a 1972 chev 1/2 ton 3.38 gears.so i am told.disk breaks from speedway motors.all for less than 400.00 buxs.shop around,have fun.

Put a "big bolt" governor under the carburetor and set it to 60mph.

Bring all the original brake system, steering, and suspension parts up to new condition.

Original style color-coded electrical wiring is availble at a reasonable price from several vendors (Classic Parts, for sample).

Install LT radial high profile tires on the original wheels.

Lap belts are easy to install.

Make everything else look as close to new as you can afford.

Safe & Classy (for your precious daughter)

Thanks to ALL for the handy advice! I am gonna be looking over several of your posts further so I can decide what things I would like to do with the 54. Decisions decisions. But I am all about safety for my little girl. So I have already decided to do bolt-on bear claw latches and Lap/shoulder belts. And definitely move the gas tank out of the cab. I plan to convert the transmission too, but not sure just how far I will be going with that. most certainly want to upgrade the brakes too. Would you believe she is not all that excited about it yet? I will bet she will be once I do much of the work and she sees my vision on what it will be.

Thanks again to all... and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Mike G.

You are correct, I don't specially want to go back to an ALL original truck... I want something That has more of the newer safety features i.e. Bells and whistles, so my lil girl will be safe. But I want to maintain the original look of the old truck.

Don't get your hopes up for a change of heart about the truck. My son turns 40 in 7 days and he has no interest in my truck. look at the pictures. it has every thing a new truck would have except it is a stick.
i have had my truck since he was 11. best of luck.

I had a '80 c10 and I switched bodies and made it a '54 so I have ps,pb,front disc brakes,auto. No ac Parts are readily available and she's my daily driver. Check out my photos. Just food for thought.

If I were lucky enough to have a son or like yourself a daughter I would buy her a Toyota sedan as a first car. Getting into an accident with one of these vehicles is no joke. This has nothing to do with your daughters character, I'm addressing all the drunks, texters, cellphone users, etc. that populate our roads.

That said, shoulder harness seat belts with a lap belt for the middle passenger (so that means 3 belts total), Bendix brakes redone 100%, dual brake master cylinder upgrade, modern radials, LED stop/turn lights, oversize rear view mirrors (BOTH sides, I use 5"), I like the 60 mph governor idea, local driving only for the first few years. If she chooses to keep and drive the truck throughout her college years (very practical for the several college domicile moves she will encounter) she will have acquired the skill set necessary to drive in today's traffic should her school choice be hours away.

I hope others will respond to give you a broad selection of ideas and upgrades. In my signature below you will see that my truck (the only vehicle I own) is capable of 2K round trips with little modification and was done 'on the cheap' w/o sacrificing safety.

Regards,

Cosmo

I'm thinking YOU want a truck. Most teenagers really don't care about the old cars, If not actually embarassed by it. You really should give some thought to getting a disposable car for the first car not a collectors item. Even in factory new condition these trucks were not all that safe. You can install seat belts in these, but there is not a really good anchor point to be found. I put mine in but, I am still kind of leery of how thin the metal is I am attaching myself to. (osha says a tie off point for a person needs to be capable of holding 5,000 pounds) So do your math from there.

Can you link me to this? I can’t seem to find it.

Seems as though Speedway now makes their own harness for $150. Still hundreds less than others and every bit as good, A 12 circuit harness is way more than you need even if you use electric fan, a/c,etc. Part# 91064017.