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Hard right turn!

C cfuller
Well guys, I haven't posted in a while waiting for the winter doldrums to reside and start to look for a sporty project. Didn't expect it, but my 21 year old son talked me into buying an old truck to work on together instead. You know, if he gets excited about wrenching with his Dad, then I'm game for anything. Looks like it will be a while before a sporty gets back on my radar, but I thought I'd post a pic of the new project and say how much fun it has been to keep up with your dreams as I planned my own. I'll drop in an update on occasion. Quick specs: Old Navy stores had one of these in each for display/ad purposes last decade and decided some months back to refresh their image and let the trucks go. So, I am now the proud owner of an early 1950's great pickup body on a rolling chassis... nothing else. No drive train, no wiring, no pedals, brakes, anything... Get to start with a clean slate on this one! Wish us luck! Nothing but love for you guys and gals... I'll drop by when I can. Thanks!!! Chuck
1959 Intermeccanica(Convertible D)
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C cfuller
Well guys, I haven't posted in a while waiting for the winter doldrums to reside and start to look for a sporty project. Didn't expect it, but my 21 year old son talked me into buying an old truck to work on together instead. You know, if he gets excited about wrenching with his Dad, then I'm game for anything. Looks like it will be a while before a sporty gets back on my radar, but I thought I'd post a pic of the new project and say how much fun it has been to keep up with your dreams as I planned my own. I'll drop in an update on occasion. Quick specs: Old Navy stores had one of these in each for display/ad purposes last decade and decided some months back to refresh their image and let the trucks go. So, I am now the proud owner of an early 1950's great pickup body on a rolling chassis... nothing else. No drive train, no wiring, no pedals, brakes, anything... Get to start with a clean slate on this one! Wish us luck! Nothing but love for you guys and gals... I'll drop by when I can. Thanks!!! Chuck
FM Former Member
Tow vehicle hell! I've seen an awful lot of those babies awarded "Best of Show". Lower it down. A little more modern front and rear suspension. Front discs. Some phat rubber and wheels. Any darn engine will fit. A nice interior. And of course, a set of bad glasspacks. SWEET!

But there are clubs and websites out there devoted to just pickups. Try not to forget us!
C cfuller
Thanks all! Current plans are to do an s-10 frame swap so I get IFS front end and disc brakes, small block and 700R4 transmission for a hint of gas mileage at freeway speeds... The s-10 frame drops it to 6 inch clearance so stance should be good. BUT, in Tom's honor I think first thing is to put in floor boards and seal off any water leaks :) It's shipping in from Baltimore so I'll have my first real look next week or two. I'll try to post a few more pics when it arrives, but don't want to hijack the site with too many old truck posts... Later!
J JohnWeyand
My very close friend and I recently finished the top to bottom restoration of his '51 Chev. PU. It's bone stock with the a period correct 216 "Stove Bolt" Six. That is one of the smoothest sounding engines of its time. I understand there are lots of options including using the S-10, but we cruised the width of Ohio in that '51 at about 55 MPH and no problems. Old sheet metal is extremely difficult to keep in it's unstable form, it wants to return to the oxidized state in very short order, so storage is critical and "dry" is the key. By the way, I have some left over stuff--pedal assembly, instrument cluster, and maybe some other stuff in the barn.
FM Former Member
I have a 700r4 in my el camino Im runnig a 336 GN posi But Id would have prferred a 356 gear from a S10 blazer. Im passing on what I think will make you a little happer drive ratio But I do like the 65 stingray cam in my 350

The 270H h for hydrolic it mild but still a bit thumpy and gas milage is excelent actually better in drive than in over drive. Also explaning my suggestion for a lower gears.

A freind has been pushing me to put in a 373 but I think that would be to much

But that will make one nice ride!
C cfuller
After more hours work than I can count, I've sold my truck project. Those that remember this old post... My son just checked in every now and then to see how I was doing, so the father/son project turned into a me/me project. I decided to quit spending money on something my heart wasn't in and save it instead for the 356 I've always wanted. I'm back to lurking here while I wait for this economy to strengthen a bit. I imagine I'm in good company! The truck project was good for me in one sense... I stocked my garage with some great tools - plasma cutter, welder, good vertical compressor that'll drive power tools all day... I've even learned how to use them! I'm going to build/restore whenever I find the $$$ again :) Nice to see most everyone still around!
FM Former Member
Chuck,

The S10 front end can also take the Camaro LS1 12" dual piston aluminum caliper brakes with a little adaptor. Big huge brake upgrade for that spindle - going from a 9" to a 12"... without changing your bolt pattern. That S-10 is a 5 on 4.75, so the only thing that fits wheel wise (offset and bolt pattern) is S-10 blazer for a couple of years, F-body 80's and early 90's, and G-body.

Use a B-body master cylinder and booster. You'll be hooked up pretty affordably. If money's not an issue, well, all kinds of stuff at that point...

Love that truck!

angela
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