54 Chevy 3100

Well it isn't a hummer it isn't a 4x4 and it will never have 37 inch tires. But it is cool and has great history. My grandad bought himself a new truck in 1954. A green Chevy 3100 with a tan interior. 3 speed on the column and a inline 6 cylinder engine. He kept the truck until 61 and the family outgrew it so he traded in on a bel-air. He missed the truck dearly and was surprised by his dad going and buying it back as a Christmas gift. The truck was kept in the family and passed to his oldest son who drove it a few years then parked it in favor of a new car. Fast forward to 2013 and a wind storm blowing a tree onto the hood and my uncle getting a couple hundred bucks for the damage. Then a insurance agent said the truck could no longer be on the property due to "liability"issues. So in January of this year I was delivered a 1954 Chevy 3100 with a perfect rust job a STILL RUNNING inline 6 cylinder engine and a 3 speed on the column I had no clue how to operate. Actually I didn't even know how to start the truck until my dad showed me the ignition mounted on the floorboard! But yes it runs!! Now of course it needs things redone like brakes, seals, bushings, hoses, fluids, etc etc etc but it does start and will move under its own power.
I'm in the military so i really haven't had time to mess with it much(hense my dad spraying round up to keep the grass from overtaking it like he does all our old vehicles)however he cleaned out the carb, installed a new fuel system and got the truck running better recently. Given its history I feel obligated to fix it up and hopefully keep it in the family for another 60 years. My plans for the truck are simple. I want to keep it as close to what you see as possible but still making it drivable. So far these are my ideas

-rebuilt engine and trans
-new brake system
-clr the body to restore some of the paint for the patina look not the rusting away in a field look
-refurbished interior like door seals, seat, dash pieces, and wooden bed
-put a new hood to fix the trees damage(hoping to score a old one off a field find to stay with the look)
-lastly throw some modern sporty wheels on this thing and enjoy it being old rusty and slow!

Now I'm not dumb. I know things are gonna pop up that aren't on my list like lighting, something rusted beyond repair and needing replaced. Things of that nature. But the truck will actually start up and drive around the yard after sitting for so long so that gives me hope for a fun project I can pass to my kid someday!

Here are a couple photos of trucks kinda set up like I want to do. These have gone a little farther with air ride, v8 engines, things like that but you kinda get the idea.

sounds like a rad project. my former father in law gave me a 1937 Chrysler Royal that he started restoring but never finished, problem is he lost it and I never actually got it. It would be cool to keep it totally original.

I love the old 50's era GMC/Chevy trucks. I'm hoping one day i can own one.

That is a beautiful truck with tons of potential .... I am jealous!!!!!

love it. I'd keep the motor and trans if it runs and drives fine. the 232 6 was a pretty solid motor that GM sold rights to produce to Toyota who put them in their FJ40s. They never have much oil pressure, and they have no hp... but, it will easily go 65 on flat ground (eventually) - which is about as fast as you want to go with the suspension. brakes were adequate... honestly, fix it, drive it, enjoy it. Someday you can do a cost-no-object rebuild, but at this point, rock it as is.... and that hood doesn't look that bad, if you want to save patina - work the dent out.

On the other hand, swapping a front suspension from a Mustang 2, Chevelle, and a 10 bolt rear end along with the ubiquitous 350 chev/350 TH tranny - and it'd be a DD.

Thats an awesome truck. Good luck with the project.

SuperBuickGuy said:

love it. I'd keep the motor and trans if it runs and drives fine. the 232 6 was a pretty solid motor that GM sold rights to produce to Toyota who put them in their FJ40s. They never have much oil pressure, and they have no hp... but, it will easily go 65 on flat ground (eventually) - which is about as fast as you want to go with the suspension. brakes were adequate... honestly, fix it, drive it, enjoy it. Someday you can do a cost-no-object rebuild, but at this point, rock it as is.... and that hood doesn't look that bad, if you want to save patina - work the dent out.

On the other hand, swapping a front suspension from a Mustang 2, Chevelle, and a 10 bolt rear end along with the ubiquitous 350 chev/350 TH tranny - and it'd be a DD.

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Yep it runs and drives so for now it will just get rebuilt. Inside I want to go all out and throw the body on a bagged s10 frame with a v8 modern brakes and everything. But I also feel some respect for the truck as is since it has been in the family for so long. But as time and years with it go on I'm sure my plans will change and it will get the works. Found a hood today out in houston I will be going to pick up. I actually got lucky and it is the same green this truck used to be! 1 in a million right. I know you've worked with quite a few old cars so you might can help with this. Have you ever cleaned "patina" vehicles before?

Very lite sand and spray it with clear. You can also watch Gas Monkey Garage. They are big into the look you are trying for. I would do the same thing. Clear it,set of rims and tires,air bags,and make it reliable. Then go and enjoy the chit out of it.

Yep I've seen that, some say clr works good, I'm honestly kinda skittish of that one, a guy on another forum said to wash it like a regular car then wax what paint is left. Idk. I have 3 weeks before I will be back home with the truck so we will see what I can figure out. Definitely gonna put a matte clear on it once I get the look I want to preserve what's left. I'm thinking a set of gunmetal wheels with a chrome lip in a stagger setup will look menacing, no one has to know the truck is only rocking a I6 and 3 speed lol

Very nice....

zackcrum said:

Yep it runs and drives so for now it will just get rebuilt. Inside I want to go all out and throw the body on a bagged s10 frame with a v8 modern brakes and everything. But I also feel some respect for the truck as is since it has been in the family for so long. But as time and years with it go on I'm sure my plans will change and it will get the works. Found a hood today out in houston I will be going to pick up. I actually got lucky and it is the same green this truck used to be! 1 in a million right. I know you've worked with quite a few old cars so you might can help with this. Have you ever cleaned "patina" vehicles before?

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scrub brush and water - but most times I'm just trying to get the moss off, what that means is sometimes It's scrubbed with Ajax, other times just a mild rinse with soap and water. As for preserving the patina, I think clear or matte clear changes the look of the car. Honestly the best way is to simply clean it, then don't let it get wet again (or damp, or moist) by putting it in a temp controlled garage. The rust itself provides a protection to the underlying metal - the trick is not to disturb it so that it has bare metal exposed. I've heard good things about bare metal coating, but I don't know what it would do with patina (whether it'd change the color)

As for the motor, you can actually go from the 216 to the 250 and they all look the same, the 292 is taller, but still a bolt in proposition... and if you don't tell anyone, only 1 in a 1000 would ever notice.

I just noticed the Power Wagon in the back ground. That could be your next project. They look cool as hell,with a small lift and a set of 35. I hope you have a 30 day leave. You now have two projects.:thumbs: I guy around the corner from me has a 50 something Suburban,with a 250 and a 5 speed. He can cruise 75 down the high way all day long.

Woodtick said:

I just noticed the Power Wagon in the back ground. That could be your next project. They look cool as hell,with a small lift and a set of 35. I hope you have a 30 day leave. You now have two projects.:thumbs: I guy around the corner from me has a 50 something Suburban,with a 250 and a 5 speed. He can cruise 75 down the high way all day long.

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Hah I was waiting for someone to say something about that truck. It's actually a running driving farm truck now days. It is the "snow commander" model. Came factory with a fully setup snow plow emergency lights and stuff like that. We have more projects than I will ever have time for. Right now it breaks down like this
88 supra turbo I want a 2jz in
06 h3 in need of a sas
54 Chevy that needs freshened up
Dodge power wagon needs attention
Ford bronco 2 I want to lift and wheel

But I dont see myself ever having time for any of this while traveling in the military. So for now I just collect parts for all of them little by little. I'm not really concerned about speed in the old truck. I'm used to going slow since I never take my h3 over 60. Plus its cooler when people are taking pictures as they pass you lol

A few pics of my buds trucks . The Suburban has a great look,the ford was just sold,the silver 48 was sold for 120k last year. Every thing this guy touches,ends up in a mag,and sells for big$. I will have to get a pic of the guy next stores cars. SuperBuickguy will have to towel off. He owns a skylark convertible ,restored to perfection. One of 100 hand made,and only 25 known to be left. I think he got it out of a collection in Canada .

There you go SBG,some car porn for you. I found his car on the web. This thing is amazing in person. He bought it over the phone,after it didn't meet it's reserve at RM.

Wow what impressive collections! I would love to have that Buick to cruise around in!

Picked up the new to me hood today! The guy had it on craigslist for 150, I left with it for 150, bucks and a picture with Henry the hummer![emoji2]

You're right on the towel off, however, I've driven one and I can borrow it any time I want from someone who owns one near my parents. It's sky blue, drives like an old car

As for the S-10 frame. I've done that swap, I won't do it twice. It's so cheap to buy a Mustang 2 front suspension that will bolt into your truck (without destroying the frame), and the 10 bolt rear simply swaps under the current rear springs. It's about a 75% time savings because you don't have to do the brakes, body mounts, firewall, steering column, and somehow figure out how to fit a frame that moves in 3d (the 3100 frame is basically flat) fit under the truck. Most cut the bed out to make it fit and if they want a bed, raise the floor... or you can simply bolt in a front suspension and rear suspension... I also like the clean firewall of trucks that have the brakes under the floor - and all it takes to make that work is a 3 lb anti-revision valve in the front and rear lines.

as for motors... the V8 is pretty wide for the frame - consider a straight 6 from a Trailblazer or a 5 cylinder from a Canyon or Colorado - they're dirt cheap, and others have already figured out the electronics.

example... this guy's truck
http://www.bangshift.com/forum/foru...art-s-1951-gmc-half-ton-now-with-teaser-video

starting about post#296 (the first itneration was simply a turbo'd straight 8 Buick motor)

Maybe I'll look into the mustang and 10 bolt option. I'm on my way home right now so I'm pretty excited to mess with the truck this weekend. I also need to put my snorkel on the 3. I didn't know the s10 swap was bad when I first posted that. After researching I can assure you I will not be going that route. If/when the engine lays down I'll probably go with a 250 just to keep the classic look of it.

zackcrum said:

Maybe I'll look into the mustang and 10 bolt option. I'm on my way home right now so I'm pretty excited to mess with the truck this weekend. I also need to put my snorkel on the 3. I didn't know the s10 swap was bad when I first posted that. After researching I can assure you I will not be going that route. If/when the engine lays down I'll probably go with a 250 just to keep the classic look of it.

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one of the best parts about the uber high hp cars is there is little need to even bother on DDs, get a motor that works good and leave the street racer stuff to them... the 250 is an excellent motor and stone-cold reliable. They do have some performance upgrades available (offenhauser intake, cam, headers, dual carbs, HEI or pertronix ignition) that really do wake them up (call it a 250 hp motor)... you won't win any races, but you won't also be hunting for the right gear on ever small incline on the highway or really break the bank doing the upgrades.

put the new hood on today and took the truck for a drive! It is an amazing feeling to push the floor mounted ignition the truck start up and take off driving something that my grandad who I never met drove years ago! Found out the engine is a 235 so I was pretty excited! Next up is the brakes! But that has to wait a few weeks since I go back to work tomorrow.

Replaced the master cylinder, brake lines, wheel cylinders, and all brake shoes this weekend. Stops better now and nothing leaks anymore! Also picked up some temporary wheels since the ones on it are seeping air due to rust.

Those old Jeep hub caps maybe worth some coin? That's what they look like from the pics? May help finance the wheels you want. Restored Jeepsters are fetching good money.

Woodtick said:

Those old Jeep hub caps maybe worth some coin? That's what they look like from the pics? May help finance the wheels you want. Restored Jeepsters are fetching good money.

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That's exactly what they are. My dad has an old jeep truck looking thing, idk eat it is exactly, and he put these on my truck for giggles and I never took them back off.