I'm Looking at Truck

[Port&PolishMan]

I'm a Newbie to Classic's , I have had a El Camino and 71 Monte . .
In My Middle Aged Life .

I'm Fairly Handy - But Totally Green thou on these - what should I be Looking 4 , as I don't want to get Burnt . .

1954 3800 1 Ton 4 speed , No 2 speed axle or Spare or any Extra's
which I thought was Off some . .

Shouldn't there be a Tool Kit , Owner's Manual , I don't Know Guessing ..

Dan

Thank You ps: What's Up with 19.5 inch Tires I couldn't find anything on those * 8 Luggers *

[mongocanfly]

Tool kit? Owners manual?..hmmm..that would be quite a find if you found those in a 63 yr old truck..
A 3800 is the same cab as a 1/2 and 3/4 ton truck..if its got a bed its probably going to be a longwheelbase...there's usually always rust in the normal places...cab corners..floorboards..rockers..and mkre when you start digging..as for rims and tires I'd swap all that out to something you can buy parts for...but that's just me..
Are you trying for a restoration or just a daily cruiser?

[Port&PolishMan]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Tool kit? Owners manual?..hmmm..that would be quite a find if you found those in a 63 yr old truck..
A 3800 is the same cab as a 1/2 and 3/4 ton truck..if its got a bed its probably going to be a longwheelbase...there's usually always rust in the normal places...cab corners..floorboards..rockers..and mkre when you start digging..as for rims and tires I'd swap all that out to something you can buy parts for...but that's just me..
Are you trying for a restoration or just a daily cruiser?

Thanks for Your response .. Looked like the truck had been around Farm a Long time . . so I thought Maybe . .

OK, I get It !

AHhhmmm Not a Daily Cruiser , but certainly Usable , Driver , Kept under cover and Cared 4 : Got Bed & Hoist - which I think is Cool .
The Owner said Wheels Off a UPS Truck would Match Up , Not sure about that .

It has been 12 Volt Updated & Power Steering - Certainly No Trailer Queen
Thou - Thinking Trading a Tractor some cash.
Dude says it will rock 2 Tons - Think the Transmission is Good enough for that ?_?

I have trying to Care for this Property I Own & Whip it into shape and the Yard needs a lot - thought I could bring in some Trees , Top Soil
Fill and all that - has a Old Hickory Bed & Oak sides . I Think I'd only Go 3000 Lbs Maybe ,but have No Idea about these Transmissions - Sure Looks Like the Rear Gear will Pull Stumps - but I wouldn't actually do that .. !

[mongocanfly]

That's rear probably got something along the lines of a 5.13 to 1 ratio..you won't be going anwhere in a hurry for sure..

[Port&PolishMan]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

That's rear probably got something along the lines of a 5.13 to 1 ratio..you won't be going anwherd in a hurry for sure..

Yeah, I realized that as I have driven many Farm Trucks , but Not this Old
Well since I was 14 yrs. Old - I did Drive a few Very Old Trucks - with Either Start Up's and Split Ranges . . Those were 5-10 ton tucks ..
Farmers always over load the Dam things - We'd be so Over Loaded
I Swear on some Old Curved Roads - Banked and Crowned the Wrong Way
Truck was going to Roll over - as it Shifted from Side to Side . .
I'm Talking Shifted in Load of 18 inches way above the Cabs - Have to Turn an Go with the Shifting Load or
just Might Roll ..or Bend the Framing of the Box ..

I Don't No anything about these 1 Ton Units & Transmissions . .
other then 45 50 mph . I have been Talking through Pic's Long Distance
Have Not had a Chance to Drive 3 States away Yet .. to Inspect ..
Guy Placed Gauges in it for all the Fluids & Pressure = COOL . .

PS : Just using for Landscape Locally mostly for Me , and Lumber Yards - but - I don't want to Rip out the Trans
I have seen Young Puppies on the Farms do that with the Clutches ( Mostly Break the Joints ) . .

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

That's rear probably got something along the lines of a 5.13 to 1 ratio..you won't be going anwhere in a hurry for sure..

this is the most important thing in this thread, top speed will be in the 45mph area and it will sound like shaking a bag of hammers at that rpm. one ton springs ride like a buckboard with anything less than 1000lbs in the bed, I dont know what your driving needs are but dont compare it to anything modern. it will ride like an oversized underpowered redwood log with solid rubber tires. if you are ok with that, you will love it! good luck!

[mongocanfly]

"oversized underpowered redwood log with solid rubber tires. "

Love it!!!

[Port&PolishMan]

Originally Posted by joedoh

this is the most important thing in this thread, top speed will be in the 45mph area and it will sound like shaking a bag of hammers at that rpm. one ton springs ride like a buckboard with anything less than 1000lbs in the bed, I dont know what your driving needs are but dont compare it to anything modern. it will ride like an oversized underpowered redwood log with solid rubber tires. if you are ok with that, you will love it! good luck!

Well It's 1 Ton Truck with Dully , so don't expect it tot ride Nice ..

Bag of Hammer's - I Suspect Your talking about the Engine .

How about the Trans ( Sound ) & Anyone use First Gear ?

[Port&PolishMan]

Here are a few Pic's of some of My History - that became a Hobby .
Seeing many Moons ago we use to Kick the Factory Teams Butt _ over @ Yamaha
Kalamazoo Guys !

1000 ft Drags , that lead to 2 Stroke Bikes - which - went to 4 Stroke HD's and
Turbo Motors .

Link to the Guys :
https://youtu.be/lLGv-l-Zbhk

OK Fast Forward 25 Yrs. - Life getting in the way some USAF for 1 . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy74OS1hxHs

[Port&PolishMan]

Last Week :
Manifolds : Jusr Starting on these .
[IMG][/IMG]

This Week : Another Turbo - First Cut and some Sanding smoothing - By
No Means Done :

https://youtu.be/MVpJiEtNH0U

[mongocanfly]

Snowmobiles in tenn?..dang ..I'm gonna have to move a little futher south..that's to close for comfort

[Port&PolishMan]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Snowmobiles in tenn?..dang ..I'm gonna have to move a little futher south..that's to close for comfort

LOL Brahhhaaa

I Guess I should have selected : Mountain Man - Dan

You may call Me that -as- a few do ..

Grew up in Adirondacks , No Kidding aside - they don't even have Snow
like they use too .. I have seen Drifts 8 ft a lot back then .
Drive down Roads over the Tops of Stranded Cars .
It would take 3 Snowmobiles to get Help out to Folks stuck for a 10 Days
No Power or Food .. 1 to Break Path and 1 Occasionally Pushing the Other
When they had Trouble like a Hill coming up the Third Hung back
Ramp'd Up some Serious Speed to Break out and around . . just so the Others wouldn't get stuck ..

After the USAF - I went back to school - Dam - Calculators went from 8 inches down to Process
Math and Trig - 4 inch - Then Hired on as a Quality Assurance Inspector in Machining Groups and never Looked Back ..
Now that Life has slowed down here in TN - I'm picking up where I left Off - with 20 Yrs. of Machining Experience
Computer Skills , Fabrication & Manufacturing .. as We Built it all from Cray Computer Housings to
High Speed Paper Paths Xerox - to Special One Off Prototypes Nasa . .

[Port&PolishMan]

Oh, and this looks like a Cool Site , some of the Builder on Here
Fabrications are Mind Blogging

[mr48chev]

You could go a lot of ways on a truck like that but pretty much stock with the working hoist and not being too fancy to haul a load means that your significant other will soon figure out that it will haul, mulch, top soil, gravel, brush and stuff to the dump and what ever else it needs to to earn it's place to park in the driveway. O'l Bertha out in my yard a 77 1 ton with a 454 and a hoist with a 10 ft bed earns her keep doing those things and the wife knows that there isn't anything she might want hauled that it won't haul.

[Port&PolishMan]

I'll run lower Air Pressure then the 85 PSI Tires recommend . .

50 PSI should be OK shouldn't it ?

So No One is making a Gear for the Rear Axle for these - Hoping - like the 3/4 Ton ?

Lumber Yard is on the way to the - Meet @ Drive IN Theater .
Dump is on the way to Car & Coffee Show . .
Top Soil is on the way to the Local Truck Show . .

I See Ya ~

[dsraven]

the first thing to do is check to see if the wheels are split rims. if they are just junk them or find somebody who wants original equipment stuff. they have killed lots of people when the ring that locks the 2 halves of the wheel together comes off under pressure.

second, before you buy new wheels, if you plan to drive it faster than 45 mph you may want to look into a diff from something newer to throw under it or possibly something with a 2 speed axle already equipped. that will allow twice as many gears and a faster overall speed at the same given RPM

third, you can run the tires with less air but not with much of a load on them. the sidewalls will flex more, causing heat build up and may be a factor in a flat or blow out at the least opportune time. you may want to check the age of the tires before too much loading takes place. a more readily available tire size may be available with a diff swap if you went that way. try a tire/wheel shop for swap over wheel options. a bigger truck wrecker may be the place to stop first. a dimension for the spring centres would be good to know if that is the plan.

fourth, check to see if you have a single system master cylinder in there. if the PO upgraded to 12 volts and PS then maybe the upgrade was done. if not consider doing it. a vac brake booster would be a bonus as well for power brakes and are available from newer trucks that have drum/drum brakes.
fourth, there should be a label on the door jamb that tells gross vehicle weight. try these sites for info or, if you get the vin, try the gm heritage centre for info.

http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0024.html

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...to/54index.htm

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...to/54index.htm

[Port&PolishMan]

Nice Info DSRaven - so it sounds like No Modern Gearing being Made for these - Trucks to be switched out - Dam . .

Yes, I have seen the ( Tire side wall Flex ) - Accelerate Heat Very Fast in fact 20 miles
Very Good Point !

If No Vac - Add Booster - this Won't Blow out the Brake Cly. ?
anything on Line Pressures ? ( Will Need to Check ) OK


I Guess the Most Important Item to Start would be Gearing - so - 2 Speed
Vac - would need to come from 1.5 Ton or something like that - I'll
Need to Know Gearing ( Chevy / GMC Rear Ends ) Tag ID's . .

So a Smooth Spinning V8 made to Run 6500 RPM's with Reliability - Fluid Dyn Balanced
Under Drivers Pulleys - Roller Cams .
so it could be used @ 4800 RPM's like a Boat ..

What do the 6 cly Run 3000-3700 RPM 's - Thinking - another
1000 Rpm for short 5-8 mile Hike , Probably wouldn't be worth much
Maybe 50-55 Mph . . and Chew through everything and Fuel ..Oil etc.

I did Note last Night Late - Over Drive Units - Then I remembered this Rich Farmer I drove for
just to Pay for the Move to TN - He owned 8148 Acres or so ..
He paid a Mechanic to Install Over Drives in all His Potato Trucks as some of the Fields were 30 Miles away .
I'll Give Him a Call / Also - Hoping to get some Good Pointers on
Over Drive Units

It would be Nice to Roll up to a Show cruising @ 65 Mph - Low RPM ..
just listen to the tires Sing & V8 Spinning .

[dsraven]

check out the hydrovac system, like a chevy c60 or a school bus,would have. the video below is a bit basic but it gives an idea of how it works. the smaller original brake master could possibly be used to operate the hydrovac for power brakes.
check this youtube for an old time explanation. it'll take you back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnuZ1hWMA_M

[Port&PolishMan]

Yeah , sounds like the Road ahead - Disc Brakes maybe - Costly . .Thou . .

[Port&PolishMan]

Doctor - DS Raven - I Assume - well that puts Me under the Truck in the morning.
As I can see - .005 Off on a 8ft Sheet - which everyone else says looks good to go ..

Tire wear of tire is also saying something - ?

Checking ?

OK - Just Crawled from under the 1 Ton Rock `\ : - )

Pictures Soon :

Picture 1 - Looks like the Delivery ( Travel ) didn't Go to Smooth
[IMG][/IMG]

Chains was way to Tight or He had to Hit the Brakes Freaking Hard & Fast !

Resulting In :
[IMG][/IMG]

We took it for a Short Test Drive : Didn't Notice as just on side Ruff road and Busy looking at all the other Area's ..

[IMG][/IMG]

Wonder How Time & Cost this is Going to Be :

[dsraven]

looks like the spring pack has shifted. check to make sure there are no broken leaves in the packs, then block the wheels (fronts) for safety and loosen the spring u bolts slightly, enough to allow the spring pack to be hammered back where they are all lined up, then retorque the U bolts. you could, while the U bolts are loose, check to ensure the spring pack centre bolt/pin is sitting in the spring pad correctly (on the diff) that would take care of the possible dog tracking issue. the u bolts would need to be loosened off a bunch to allow some gap between the spring pack and the diff pad so ensure you block the front wheels. you will also need to jack the truck up or the diff up to get some gap there. some will say the U bolts should be replaced, which is probably true, but there are lots of retorqued spring U bolts out there. I guess you would be the judge of that since we don't have eyes on the bolts so don't know how old or rusty they are.

[dwcsr]

Almost always when the spring shifts like that the u-bolt is loose and the center pin is broken and maybe a leaf is broken. It should come apart and repaired. Get a center pin from a spring shop do not use a bolt. Center pins are a special grade and made to shear at a particular stress. Don't try to clamp the spring stack together with the new center bolt it will damage the new bolt, clamp it then bolt it.

[dsraven]

yup, what dwcsr said. if you try to clamp the spring pack down with the centre bolt it will just strip the bolt threads.
is the housing leaking as well? pic?

[Port&PolishMan]

Slight Seeping .

Long Day . Insurance , Paper work , DMV - Sales Tax , Go to Bank etc.

OK First Up - I'[m so Glad I caught this Early before it Cut a Good Tire ..
Then Thanked My Granddad for Giving His Favorite Jacks , as Your able to work them
in Close Quarters - these - Crank Easy are Strong .

Tthe Information Given or I may have Never tried to do this . .

[IMG][/IMG]


[IMG]<a href="http://s1263.photobucket.com/user/CustomTrim201/media/1%20Ton%20-%20Like%20A%20Rock/IMG_2903_zpscaieb3hu.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii637/CustomTrim201/1%20Ton%20-%20Like%20A%20Rock/IMG_2903_zpscaieb3hu.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2903_zpscaieb3hu.jpg"/></a>[/IMG]



Just Getting Photo's Up -
[IMG][/IMG]

Jacking :
[IMG][/IMG]

[dsraven]

nice jacks. they look like building movers would use.
can't see by the last pic but it looks like the spring centre bolt is gone. by the rust in the area I would say the U bolts were loose for a bit. rust running off like that, or powdered rust coloured dust if it is dry out, are indicators that something is moving or needs lube. since the area doesn't really have anything that would normally "move" it would indicate things were a bit loose. guess that's why the spring split out the side into the tire. lucky you found it.
check the spring centre bolt and the pad it fits into to make sure all is good.