I just picked up a very clean 1955 Chevy 3800 farm truck. It is missing the engine and tranny.
Edit August 2023 by PeggyM: Got most of Nate's initial story in his Gallery page, including some info covering his passion for Willys Jeep and antique engines. At 21, he had a lot of enthusiasm.
Last edited by Peggy M; 08/29/20236:03 PM. Reason: added more info to the title
I love my old engines. As you can see from my videos listed on my Gallery page, all but one are rusty or original paint. I sold the restored one. I love patina.
I'm glad to be here! I just want to educate myself on the '55 so I can figure out what to do with it. I have 4 ideas for it, none of which I favor yet. I have other projects I have to finish first, mainly my '49 Willys. So just kicking ideas around.
My 4 ideas are:
1) Take the complete 4WD drivetrain out of an '83 K20 and put it in and make a smaller, more sporty flat bed
2) Do a resto-mod with a V8 and automatic tranny
3) Combine 1 and 2 to make a 4WD dually, keeping original rear axle.
Hi Nate, welcome. I think maybe your Dad has something to do with your interest in old iron. Good that you want to learn, this is the place to do that. Glad you joined up, there are a few others your age on here. Good luck with your projects.
Hey everyone, been a while since I've posted here. Been busy with another project, restoring a 1949 Willys 3A Forest Service Jeep. That project is finally winding down though, so I'll be able to start on the '55!
In the mean time though, I've been doing, what I call "ramping up". I've been gathering parts and figuring out a game plan for the truck. I've got the drivetrain for it, a good running SBC 350 and a 700R4 for it. Also a new set of rear end gears of 4.56 and coupled with the overdrive of the 700R4, the final ratio will be 3.19 or so. I decided that I want to use it for drag racing. I'm going to leave it 2WD and the front is going to keep the stock wheels. I want to make the rear look like the tractor trailers with the double-wide single tire rear wheels.
I'm going to leave the exterior the way it is, but have under the hood all dressed up.
I finally got around to working on my truck. I had a blown up Chevy 305 and I took it apart to use the block to figure out the engine and tranny mounts. So far, its looking pretty good and now I'm pumped to get more done!
To my surprise, the drive shaft from the K20 that I took the 350 out of fits the rear differential yoke perfectly. Only thing I have to do it get it lengthened by 3 inches. The slip joint is all the way out of the transfer case. I decided to leave the transfer case on just in case I wanted to make it 4WD in the future.
Last edited by Peggy M; 08/29/20235:50 PM. Reason: added images / thumbnails
Glad to see you are posting the updates on your progress. Outstanding.
Peg
~ Peggy M 1949 Chevrolet 3804 "Charlie" - The Stovebolt Flagship In the Gallery || In the Gallery Forum "I didn't see this one coming. I don't see much of anything coming. :-O"
Haven't done much to the '55 since My last post. I recently picked up a Dana 60 front with 4.56 gears to match the rear. I got it underneath the truck, but that's about it. Still have to tighten the bolts, swap the steering and redo the brakes. It picked up the front so now it sits level. I didn't have to the spring mounts ether!
Got the steering box mounted up today. Surprisingly, the mount I had bolted right on to an existing shock mount rivet hole and a random hole toward the front on the frame. It is like it wanted to have power steering!
What does everyone do for converting the steering column for a steering shaft? Cut the stock box off, put a bearing or bushing in the tube and put a u joint on the end of the shaft?
Good luck and keep us posted. Great projects.
