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11-22-2023, 06:38 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Lucas, TX
Posts: 610
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Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
I've posted questions in the past about my unique 1953 Chevy (3100) pickup, but today is the first day that it has actually started and run under its own power in nearly 20 years.
First, a little background. This was a one family car from 1953 - 2016, when my friend purchased it from the widow of its former owner. The former owner had inherited from his father. After it had served as a work truck, it was used for a while as a pusher truck on the Bonneville Salt Flats. At some point, the son decided to a full restoration and make it a period correct hot rod. He had the cab and bed removed, sandblasted and powder coated the frame, purchased new metal bed sides from Mar-K and made numerous changes to the mechanical. For starters, he installed a 261 cu/in inline 6 engine from a 1959 Chevy school bus, a four-speed transmission from a 1967 Camaro, a Vertex magneto, a supercharger from a 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, and a Hallibrand quick change differential. He never finished his work before he passed away, he had just had the engine re-build with new crank, cam, pistons, etc and reinstalled the drive train but it hadn't ever run. After he passed away, his widow had the truck and the bed stuffed with boxes of parts, the front fenders and tons of misc things and loaded onto an enclosed trailer that the former owner had purchased. She moved everything from California to here in Texas, where my friend on the lookout for an enclosed trailer for his business ended up buying the trailer and all its contents. He intended to make the truck his 'retirement project" but in six years never touched it. He was aware of my interest in the truck from day one, so he made me a great deal on it. I've now been working on it for the past 20 months and have swapped out the single leaf spring on the front and back for a lowering set of leaf springs. I've also installed a new wiring harness, Vintage AC, four rotors and calipers and electric hydraulic power brakes, electric power steering, rebuilt the Stromberg carb, McCoulloch super charger, Vertex magneto, and installed a whole new interior. While I'm not done with it yet, today was the first time that it was backed off the four post lift since I got it and run up and down the street. I had cranked the engine for the first time since its rebuild a few weeks ago and had jacked the wheels up to ensure that the transmission worked, but today it actually started and ran under its own power in a very very long time.
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1953 Chevy 3100 - 5 window 1/2 ton pickup My 1953 Chevy Work-In-Process Photo Gallery "I don't have a carbon footprint, I drive everywhere." Last edited by TX3100Guy; 11-22-2023 at 07:55 PM. |
11-22-2023, 07:06 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Jenks, OK
Posts: 235
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
What a great day! I like that story. Gives me a little bit extra momentum to get where you’re at someday. Thanks for the post.
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11-22-2023, 09:49 PM | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,710
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
That first drive is something you always remember. Congrats on passing that milestone.
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
11-22-2023, 10:31 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Salem Mo
Posts: 656
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
Great story, great to have another old truck rise back up again. Earlier today I was just thinking of my first ride 8 years ago with my 57.
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My 57 Chevy truck build.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=541132 |
11-22-2023, 10:46 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Lucas, TX
Posts: 610
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
A couple of more pics of the truck
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1953 Chevy 3100 - 5 window 1/2 ton pickup My 1953 Chevy Work-In-Process Photo Gallery "I don't have a carbon footprint, I drive everywhere." |
11-22-2023, 10:58 PM | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Ontario
Posts: 852
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
Very nicely done, looks great.
Congrats, and keep those pics coming, and the wheels turning
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https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...=797726&page=3http://https://67-72chevytrucks.com/...=797726&page=3 51 Chev 5 window on S10 with SBC 1958 Pontiac Wagon build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=849781 |
11-23-2023, 10:37 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Eagle, ID
Posts: 3,063
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
Wooooohooooo!!!!!
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11-23-2023, 10:56 AM | #8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Wylie
Posts: 38
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
I know that is a great feeling.
Cool!
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Take Care, Dave |
11-23-2023, 02:07 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Surrey BC
Posts: 916
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
well done!
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11-25-2023, 01:49 AM | #10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,710
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
Wow, very nice indeed.
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
11-26-2023, 08:09 AM | #11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 3,626
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
That's quite a setup! The 6 plus supercharger ought to be plenty of fun.
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11-26-2023, 08:39 AM | #12 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Jackson SC
Posts: 113
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
Congrats..
Awesome truck JT from SC |
11-26-2023, 02:46 PM | #13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Las Vegas - Nev. aka Sin City
Posts: 1,835
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Re: Moved under its own power after nearly 20 years!
excellent !!!! enjoy the ride for years !!!!
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