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Greetings all,
I am trying to decide which direction to go with my '53 3603 with a 216 cu in. It is all original (I knew the previous owners) with 61,400 original miles. The engine was rebuilt about 20 years ago, but since then the vehicle has only been driven about 8,000 miles. It was a farm vehicle and used mostly between the fields and the storage building. This truck is in pristine condition for its age--no rust anywhere. I am at a point where I need to decide if I should replace the existing engine with a newer 6 inline, or should I deflower the old gal and install a V8? I will be using the vehicle as a daily driver and as a tow vehicle for a vintage camping trailer. My wife and I would like to take extended trips while towing our trailer. But, we also want to feel confident that we can get back home. Should we have trouble on the road, we want to get replacement parts easily. What are your opinions and advice on this topic.

Opinions are easy

It does depend on how you like to drive , for example , if you are comfortable in a modern car , traveling at 75mph , and expect the truck to do the same . You have the wrong vehicle .

I think , if you gotta have a V8 power , then getting a later model , factory equipped, matched suspension and brakes etc , will be much easier.


BUT .......... if you have the old truck because you love it .. then you will probably be happy tooling down the road at the trucks original comfortable pace. In which case , the 216 will be just fine.


Regards.

I've been thinking about the 350 reliability thing too..... Like it's the engine that breaks down on those long trips? I seem to recall components going bad not the mechanical,so I've been thinking a spare electrical system would fit nicely down in the rear cab pocket and a carb or a kit at least and some other spare parts in the other one and your set. Slow.
But steady and with a trailer who cares where ya break down? (I'd add elec brakes) Then when your done playing with it in this form a 350 will still fit.
If its this nice and stock now put a few years on it and enjoy what you have.

OOOoooo, opinion? Watch out!!
Most everyone that knows me would say I'd be the first to set it up to GO! I live V8's and I like them fast!

However, since your truck is in such nice pristine shape even I find it hard to "deflower" the old gal. Somehow this one tugs as my apron strings and says "save me save me save me".

For traveling there are still some older models out there that will get the job done in stock configuration. Think long and hard on this one.....PLEASE.

Thanks, Dusty. I usually travel at 55 to 60 pulling the trailer with my 5 cyl Volvo. Speed is not my thing and daily range does not exceed 150 miles.

Thanks, CASO. Putting a few years on it is one of the options. Without a pressurized oiling system, I get a little nervous. We like traveling in the mountains and we are comfortable with slow speeds.

Duly noted, Achipmunk. I have lost sleep over this one and it is a decision that won't be taken lightly. My bride does not want to travel out of the Pacific Norhtwest with it. So, we are limited on range for the time being. Changing to a 3.55 rear end will be an improvement to help with longer engine life. I am really reluctant to make a life-altering decision on this beauty.

Dusty's right really, but you won't be hauling much of a trailer around the PNW with a 216 or a 235, even with a V8, you won't have the brakes to cope with a trailer in the mountains .... be a shame to rod up a pristine original, but if you stick to back roads and don't mind being slower than anyone else you might enjoy doing it the way grandad did, give it a try some weekend and find out .... as for problems on the road, be aware you won't likely find brake parts for a 3/4T AD easily from your computer desk, never mind on the roadside

Bill

Heres my 2 cents. If the truck is "pristine" I wouldn't alter it. Have you seen what their going for at auction? You mentioned that you want to make sure you can get back home from your trips, odds are a 60 year old has a greater potential for needing roadside assistance than a newer rig will. If you do make a daily driver out of it, plan on "updating" the drive train with "3:55 rear end, update the brakes, steering, engine, ect! Make the vehicle safe and fun to drive.

red58,
The trailer is 1800 lbs maximum, so it should not be a problem for our truck. We travel on all backroads we can find. We have taken many trips without the benefit of an interstate. This sort of lifestyle is wonderful. In reality, if my only problem is deciding what to so with my truck, then life is good. Meanwhile, is there any wisdome to upgrading to a strong inline 6 of more recent years?

Thanks, Yakimabowtie. I was born in your fair city so I can relate. I am intending to do the brakes, rear end and front end items you mention.

the best you could do without a lot of changes would be a 235 up to '62 - maybe more dependable, certainly easier to get parts for, not really much more power .... the big problem for "go" is the 4.57 [5.14?] rear gears the 3/4T has, but the bigger problem is "stop" with the old brakes .... like I said, hook up the trailer and give it a test, 1800# isn't light

Bill

Again, it may be a pain but electric brakes get rid of the whole 'Stopping' issue with the trailer. Hell they'd stop you if the truck brakes failed. I hauled a 24' trailer with a LOADED (Tools and more) Chev G20 van and once I hooked up the brakes I would forget it was there sometimes... But as the others have said finding spare parts will never be easy. Maybe you two will just have to explore the PNW first and then when your ready to head farther afield you'll know more about changing the truck or changing trucks?

ps I know super great old Native American fortress/battle field that no one else seems to know about that is up in the Gorge... pm if your interested.

"Without a pressurized oiling system"

Sorry, not sure what that means?

Too difficult?
All auto engines have "pressurized oil systems".
The highest, most important pressure is developed at the bearing/journal interface as the result of journal rotation.
Modern engines have a pump which delivers oil under pressure to replace what leaks from the bearing clearances, but the delivery pressure is only a small fraction of what is present in the bearing.
The pre-54 L6 has oil pressure to the main bearings, but relies on a pressure stream (not constrained by a tube or passage) to supply the rod bearings which then develop the actual operating pressure exactly as usual: by rotation.
Both systems fail if the supply method's (pump or stream) delivery rate is slower than the oil escapes from the clearance.

Thanks for your input, Panic. As you have gathered, I am new at this process and new at engines. When I talked about pressurized oil system, I was following the information in Tom Brownells book about restoring Chevy pickups. On page 71, he talks about "full-pressure" oiling systems available on '54 and later 235 engines. I gather that you think the oil system in the 216 may be suitable to the task as I have described it--towing a trailer. I have no intention of fast speeds on a freeway. Do you think the 216 will adequately handle my application?

the 216 could pull it but not very fast. the 235 are improved over the 216, the 216 used scuppers to splash oil, the later 55-62 235 or 261 are a improvement, no permanent mod is done to you truck ,and you can make it appear to be a 216 to all but those in the know.,if you wanted ( valve cover with 2 studs)

i pull my vintage trailer with my 40. i drive around 50 mph with it hooked up. with no braking system on the trailer i have had no stopping issues at the speeds i drive. to help assist stopping i added a hydovac, so between that and my 4.56 rear i found no issues yet with that combination. the only thing i have to do is swap out the 12v tailights for 6v. since your truck is so pristine id keep it that way and drive it. take with you the normal spare stuff so you can replace it along the road it need be. if its major breakdown regardless of what you have you'll need a tow anyway. so relax and drive on

an original vintage truck pulling a vintage trailer doesnt get any better than that when traveling. oh not to mention the looks from the passerbys

Thank you, 51 ashton, for your words of wisdom and encouragement. Maybe my best approach is to keep everything original and enjoy the ride while it lasts. I, too, can vouch for the attention a vintage trailer receives. When departing a park in the Seattle area, I told my wife of 45 years, "This thing is a real chick magnet." She responded instantly, "In that case, I am not dying first!"

I gave away my original 216 w/ 60K miles on it which ran perfectly. The man I gave it to put it in his 51' 3600 and pulled a heavily laden flatbed car hauler and all he could get in the pickup from Colorado to Virginia with out any problems except the slow speed he was forced to run at. Lots of mountians between those points but it handled it. Probably should have kept it.