Old Workhorse/shop trucks...

[Rocknrod]

Hey guys...

I may be in the market for a 50's shop truck... but I need some ideas on what makes a good one!

I'm thinking a 1/2 ton is probably enough, because they can be overloaded (unlike the new ones... where its just the model name!)

Probably a long bed... a 6 cylinder is more then likely enough as long as it has granny gears! Although I would like highway speeds its not a necessity... at least not at the moment.

So... 40's-60's... what makes a good one? What can ya still get parts for? Who made the most durable longest lasting work horse?

Throw some idea's out on the table for me guys... I dont want an S10! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[choprods]

heres my old one- still use it some......

[Greazer]

Maybe Choprods will sell you what he's haulin in the pic and you can build your own Chevy COE truck. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[choprods]

sorry- thats my plan..... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Rocknrod]

Hehe! Cab over engine... If I'm gonna choose to sit that high I'd want 4x4 under me!

I wonder... speaking of 4x4... did any of these trucks come with it? Would be cool to build a killer surf fishing rig! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Deuce Roadster]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif



I would suggest a 55 2nd series to 57 Chevrolet 3100.
They are easy to work on, came already 12 volt and are decent lookers. I drove one for many years. Simple to fix, simple to find mechanical parts, some came with the V8 SBC (or easy to adapt...that's what I did .. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif). The F1's and F100's are also good but bring more money $$$ around here. I had a 48 F1 and a few 56 F100 big windows also over the past 35 years. The 55 - 57 Chevrolets came with the big back window more often and are easier to score. I prefer the big window........makes changing lanes and backing a trailer a LOT easier. The Chevrolets also seem to have more cab room. I am a big, overweight guy (6'2" @ 290 lbs) and the room is GOOD.

The down side for the Chevrolets are that they came with 6 lug wheels. I put 53 -54 Chevrolet passenger hubs and drums on mine (bolt on) to get 5 lug 5on 4.75 standard Chevy wheels on the front. I redrilled the rear axles .


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Greazer]

[ QUOTE ]
speaking of 4x4... did any of these trucks come with it?

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe 1960 was the first year Chevy/GMC offered a factory 4 wheel drive pickup from the factory.

[Rocknrod]

Hmm... some of the 60's stuff looks ok... But a 50's with a factory small block would suit me well I do believe! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[RileyRacing]

I got a '93 Chevy 4X I would sell ya pretty cheep. But it's kinda not 50's... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Jay

[Deuce Roadster]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmm... some of the 60's stuff looks ok... But a 50's with a factory small block would suit me well I do believe! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


The V8 changeover is easy........I found a V8 bellhousing, a 168 tooth flywheel and a starter. I set a 327 in mine. RamHorn manifolds, a short water pump and you are just about done. I made mounts for the side motor mounts. I even used the generator from the 6 cylinder. Mine was a OD truck (4.11 rear).......the other ratio is 3.90.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~DeuceRoadster/1-4-4.jpg

Sorry for the poor photo image..it's very old and scanned.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


.

[Fat Hack]

Don't let him fool ya...it's already black...you could paint the wheels red and run big white walls...add some flames and you're ROCKIN'!!!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hey 41ratsledrodder...you oughtta buy it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[flamedabone]

You guys have seen this one lots, but it's th eonly pic I have...

I slapped this heap together in a few months, on the cheap. I have thrashed the piss out of it and it has never even whimpered.

-Abone.

[Rocknrod]

Nice trucks!

I'd like to keep it stock height and mild enough for snow use... Daily transportation etc!

I just hate the feel of plastic and depreciation! The throw-away car movement... its not me! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[4woody]

Right from WWII Dodge had 4x4 Power wagons. Mechanical parts pretty easy to get too:
Vintage Power Wagons (http://www.vintagepowerwagons.com)

[dabond]

I've got a 60 Chevy LNB with a 283 and 4 speed, 4.11 gears and Eaton style posi (POS) Some rust, has a 63 GMC hood. Shipping would be a bitch.

[Rocknrod]

No kiddin!

How do these things do on fuel? The truck I'm using at the moment has some stump puller gears, you can watch the fuel gauge move! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Rocknrod]

[ QUOTE ]
Right from WWII Dodge had 4x4 Power wagons. Mechanical parts pretty easy to get too:
Vintage Power Wagons (http://www.vintagepowerwagons.com)

[/ QUOTE ]

Man... those are some ugly ducklings! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Price is on the high end... Might just have to look for a solid axle and build a long bed hotrod http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Roothawg]

I have heard but never confirmed for sure that Ford offered them in the 35-36 years as an option for the farmers who had a mudhole for a farm.It would have to be some kind of chain drive since they were still torque tube drive shafts.

Remember just a rumor....

[dixiedog]

You could get a dealer installed 4x4 option at Chevy in the late 50's by New Process - runs a divorced transfer case and dana front axle, my buddy had one in Iowa that I used to drive up there -loved that truck!
Dodge made the M-38 4x4 rag top, no real wheel choices since it uses a 5 x 10"? lug pattern, but the divorced T-case can make a V8 dodge & manual tranny swap a piece of cake.
Jeep - Willy's - Ran a 4x4 pick up, nice styling 1950 & later had the one piece front windshield. Then there is the FC-150 & 170 series, cab over design the 150 uses a CJ 5 chassis, the 170 is the long bed. Or go with a CJ6 - M170 long bed version of the 5 - very hard to find but 4x4.
Kaiser M-715 from 65-69 rag top, dana 70 rear, 60 front, Hurricane 6 - these are beauties

For my "shop truck" i have a 61 chevy 10 series SWB fleet bed.

[Ayers Garage]

My shop truck is later model. I'm into the late 60s look on it. Wheels are photoshopped. The Cragars are on the way from Summit. It has rallys on it now. I bought it as a 1 owner 6 cylinder 3 speed runner for 1200 bucks. I just slammed it and updated the brakes some.

My wife uses it to haul her seats around that she upholsters.

[Rocknrod]

[ QUOTE ]
My shop truck is later model. I'm into the late 60s look on it. Wheels are photoshopped. The Cragars are on the way from Summit. It has rallys on it now. I bought it as a 1 owner 6 cylinder 3 speed runner for 1200 bucks. I just slammed it and updated the brakes some.

My wife uses it to haul her seats around that she upholsters.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice pickup!

I could go for something like that...

The big deal for me is the hunert dollar pickup apeal... The Dodge 4x4's and the keiser are more then I have/would like to spend. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Barn Yard Chevy]

Here's the House of Rust Shop Truck. Dosen't look like much but even w/ air bags she was piled up like Sanford & Sons at the last Long Beach Swapmeet. She also makes a good chase truck on hot rod runs to cary the tools, parts, grill and beer and stuff...
BYC

[whizzerick]

My shop truck: a daily driver from April to October. It is a WORK truck: the bed is scratched, the body has a few dings and the paint is fading. I NEVER lock the doors or roll the windows up ('xept when it rains). I love it!
I would NOT load it up too much though... An early '60's GMC or Chevy is a great choice for a daily driver.

[Lomino]

Here is a pic of the current shop truck http://www.killerridez.com/images/escadually%20106.JPG and here is one of the up and coming shop truck http://www.killerridez.com/images/48coe6.JPG You can see more pics of it here (http://www.killerridez.com/1948%20CHEVY%20COE.htm) Just an idea......

[OGNC]

Here is a shot of the truck that I use to haul everything from camera gear to engines. It's a 1960 F-100 that I got from killer. The main difference is now it has IFS, disc brakes in the front, power brake booster and dual circuit master, No Limit fuel tank under the bed and a bunch of other stuff that made it drivable. Now all it needs is a logo on the door...any photochoppers out there want to take a crack at it?

http://photo.starblvd.net/ognc/1-5-3.jpg

[Joe Bardell]

I've got a '60 Chevy Apache that I'm working on. Scored it for 400 bucks with 78k orig miles and some heavy lower front rust. Plans are stripped trim, new fenders, new cab supports, red oxide paint with some sort of black (maybe scallops) up front. The 235 and 3 on the tree should do just fine. These are pretty roomy 1/2 tons, and if you score a 60-62(?) you get the cool hood with the snouts up front. Enjoy your hunt!

[Rocknrod]

I like the 60's stuff... actually I like most anything... but I could go for a slammed 60's chevy long bed. OR a 4x4 long bed.

What kind of weight are they carrying around stock? Anyone know off hand? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[whizzerick]

OGNC, that truck is SCREAMING for a logo!
http://www.whizzerick.com/truck.JPG
A little crude, I'm on the home computer...

[Rocknrod]

Thats slick! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[OGNC]

whizzerick, that is amazing! I really dig it. PM me.

[purple]

<font color="purple"> Hey, who let the newbie slip in without an intro???

Joe Bardell, we like intros here, just a new post of your own. Look around and see others that have done it. It's our version of hazing to make you one of us. </font>

[Rocknrod]

Hey... new idea...

Anyone have a pic of a 30's fenderless rpu (or coupe...)with a long bed?

I figure if I cant have 4x4 in this one... maybe I can have an I-beam axle under the hood http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif