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Well, It is officially mine.
First question (of many to come) What do I need to do to switch from 6 volt to 12 volt other then the lights? I'm not sure without looking if it has a generator or alternator.
I will be taking the bed off. I will be taking the cab off. When taking the cab off, Where do I start? windshield and back window, doors, running boards, front bumper, grill, hood, left and right quarter panels, cab? Is it better to use my 2 ton engine lift with a board placed inside the cab from door to door and lift arm inside cab on the board to push up on the board to lift the cab? Or is it better to use the same board, put the crane above the cab and pull the cab off?
Going to strip frame to bare metal. What is a good primer, rust proofer, and paint to use? Rustoleum? Tractor Supply sells Magic brand I have used for all my tractors. I like it. Not sure about using on a truck though. The sheet metal looks to have been sprayed underneath with an undercoating that is flaking off (looks like tar).
Some the sheet metal had some dings that look be filled with Bondo or something. Is it best to grind that out or leave it there, add a little more, blend in and smooth out?
I'm so excited to dig in. I appreciate any and all help.
I am 6 foot 4 inches tall. I noticed when I sat in the truck, It will be hard to push the pedals. Seat is as far back as it goes. I am thinking of taking the gas tank out and using mounting a barrel type tank under the bed. That way I can move the seat back. Can the pedals be shortened?
I am 6 foot 4 inches tall. I noticed when I sat in the truck, It will be hard to push the pedals. Seat is as far back as it goes. I am thinking of taking the gas tank out and using mounting a barrel type tank under the bed. That way I can move the seat back. Can the pedals be shortened?
I am 6 foot 4 inches tall. I noticed when I sat in the truck, It will be hard to push the pedals. Seat is as far back as it goes.
I am thinking of taking the gas tank out and using mounting a barrel type tank under the bed. That way I can move the seat back.
No 1948/55 truck has an in-cab fuel tank (see pic below), 1956 was the first year.
And...even if you had a 1956, removing the tank gets you ZERO extra legroom, because when the seat is all the way back, its backrest hits the back of the cab.
This is a common lament in the 1961/66 forum. I tell them (I'm 6-5), they take the tank out anyway, then are PO'd when there is no additional legroom.
Not that I'm aware of and if you don't like tight cabs, be thankful you don't have a 1948/52 truck. I've never sat in one, because I doubt I would fit.
Guess I’ll have to do some research. The registration says 1953. There is definetly a gas tank behind the seat. How else can I tell the year of the vehicle? Vin?
The space between the two white horizontal bars go all the way to the lights. The space on a 56 does not touch the lights. On the 53, the vertical space with the silver star thicker, The 56 is much thinner.
Last edited by HVFDFIREFIGHTER1618; 06-18-2018 at 07:48 PM.
Reason: Add
Oh, that is definitely a 53! The 53 to 55 trucks are called slant cabs because the winshiled slants back. The 56 windshield does not.
Show us a picture of the tank in the cab. It must have been put in by a previous owner. The tanks for 53 to 55 are under the driver's side floorboards. The filler is in the driver's side cab corner behind the door.
Well, It is officially mine.
First question (of many to come) What do I need to do to switch from 6 volt to 12 volt other then the lights? I'm not sure without looking if it has a generator or alternator.
I will be taking the bed off. I will be taking the cab off. When taking the cab off, Where do I start? windshield and back window, doors, running boards, front bumper, grill, hood, left and right quarter panels, cab? Is it better to use my 2 ton engine lift with a board placed inside the cab from door to door and lift arm inside cab on the board to push up on the board to lift the cab? Or is it better to use the same board, put the crane above the cab and pull the cab off?
Going to strip frame to bare metal. What is a good primer, rust proofer, and paint to use? Rustoleum? Tractor Supply sells Magic brand I have used for all my tractors. I like it. Not sure about using on a truck though. The sheet metal looks to have been sprayed underneath with an undercoating that is flaking off (looks like tar).
Some the sheet metal had some dings that look be filled with Bondo or something. Is it best to grind that out or leave it there, add a little more, blend in and smooth out?
I'm so excited to dig in. I appreciate any and all help.
I enlarged this picture and do not see the filler tube in the cab corner. But I see a depression where it should be. Where is your filler tube?
By the way I like the color of your truck under all that dust!
Oh, that is definitely a 53! The 53 to 55 trucks are called slant cabs because the winshiled slants back. The 56 windshield does not.
Show us a picture of the tank in the cab. It must have been put in by a previous owner. The tanks for 53 to 55 are under the driver's side floorboards. The filler is in the driver's side cab corner behind the door.
I don’t have a picture of the box behind the seat right now. It is a big green rectangular shaped box. I thought it was the gas tank. What else could it be? I’m concerned now because it is such a tight fit for me to operate the pedals.
Mine must have a behind the seat installed. In one pic you can see the fillet hole by drivers door patched up and a gas cap up high by the passenger door. Should I keep behind seat or go back to original?
06-18-2018, 07:51 AM
and using mounting a barrel type tank under the bed. That way I can move the seat back. 
