New to the Board - Hoping to Dive In!

[TAQuickness]

Howdy,

I'm contemplating purchasing a '53 Chevy truck to start a new project. This would be my first retro project and I was hoping you guys could help out.

When selecting an early 50's Chevy truck, what are some of the things I should be looking for? Such as, common rust areas, tell-tell signs of previous hot rodding, other problematic areas?

I'll get to searching now, and thanks in advance for any help you can throw my way.

[Stu Cool]

Hey Welcome to the board, glad you made it here. Hopefully some folks with early truck experience will join in. Is the truck you are looking at one of the early 5 windows? Or am I in the wrong year group? Floorboards are almost a given for rust, as are the rear corners of the cab.

Do you have any pictures to show us?

Pat

[FMXhellraiser]

Welcome to CHR! Look at the floor boards, the VERY back of the frame as well and the rear fenders. Under the bed too. The rear parts of these trucks and the back part of the front and rear fenders get the most rust because water sits in those area's after they had been driven. Just look all over the place though. Look at that chassis carefully though in the rear. If it's bad then a good donor chassis that is cheap if you find a right one at a junk yard would be a S10 frame. Good IFS front end and rear end will be great as well. Good luck on the project!

[Dave Severson]

Welcome to CHR, TA. If it is just the usual minor rust in the cab corners, rockers, and the bottom of the fenders weld in patch panels are readily available from various sources. If all the cab mounts, floor supports, and door pillars are rotted, I would keep looking for a better one.

[Ives Bradley]

Welcome TA. How stock will it be? And how far can u go to purchase a good truck? There are still some good old bodys around.

[TAQuickness]

Thanks for all tips! I haven't seen the truck yet. In fact, I haven't even talked to the owner yet. Just heard about it thru a friend of a friend.

If all goes well, I should be making the trip to check it out before the first of the year and have a lot more details. I'll be sure to snap lots of pictures.

Thanks again for all the help