Otis Nice Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 My great granddad (the one who lived to be 103 years old) originally bought this 1952 five window Chevy truck off of the West Union (Adams County) Fire Department in 1972 for $300. It's a 3/4 ton long bed with a 216 inline 6 and a 4 speed transmission. It's geared so low that dad says 1st gear has never been used by my family and its top speed is 55 mph. The rear axle is 4.57:1. It was originally purchased by the FD and hauled a single ladder and small water tank. Granddad intended to use it as a farm truck on the family farm in southern Ohio. He gave it to his son-in-law (my Grandfather that was USAF E.O.D.) at Christmas time in 1975 when he got back from overseas. It wasn't running and didn't have brakes so papaw got it running and eventually offered granddad $300 for it. Granddad decided to give it to him since he got it road worthy. Papaw drove it for many years including out to New Jersey when he was stationed out there. Dad often tells me of times in the winter when many vehicles wouldn't fare so well in the snow and papaw, being an E9 E.O.D. and getting calls left and right at times, would drive this thing through the snow covered roads without an issue. Apparently the flight line to his shop there on McGuire AFB was his daily route and this truck carried him back and forth for 2 years reliably. It never failed to fire up even on the coldest of days. After driving it back to Ohio he would DD it from Dresden to Mt. Vernon and never got stuck or had an issue. It's duty eventually lessened and it was just a fun truck to drive until it was hardly driven. Every once in awhile my dad would take my mom out on dates in it, but aside from the occasional trip it sat idle. In 1989 when my grandpa moved to Indiana to pastor a church he gave it to my dad. We lived on the west side of Columbus at the time and the truck was definitely starting to show its age. It sat outside our house for awhile and then eventually in the garage. When my family moved to Circleville around 1995 the truck came with us. In both Columbus and Circleville I remember my younger brother and I often sitting in the truck pretending to be going somewhere all while never leaving the garage. I only got to ride in it a couple of times around our block in River Bend off of Clime Rd before dad deemed it unworthy to be on the road. After sitting and not being started for sometime greater than a decade dad got it to fire up while sitting in his pole barn before papaw passed though. Still a reliable heart even if the body isn't road worthy. The frame is also solid and straight believe it or not. My dad has always been a hard worker. I think it runs in their blood. He just never had time (or a bunch of extra cash) to dedicate to the truck. Well, papaw and granddad are both gone, but we're finally getting around to restoring this truck that both men used extensively. We'll likely need some guidance along the way for any willing to offer information. We've both been doing R and D and research and development since I was a teenager but I know the value of this community and wanted to bring you guys along if you're interested. I know I can't wait to see this dream come to fruition as we bring back a large part of our family history and also an homage to two hard working American men who showed me what it means to be an honest, hard worker myself. We don't know 100% for certain the route we're going to take but since it's an original numbers matching truck (even though it's not a highly sought after numbers matching muscle car) we're trying to keep it as original as possible. Here's a few pics I recently snapped. I wish I could find the ones taken before we started working on it. Cab pulled. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8279 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8280 Seat. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8281 Body off. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8282 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8283 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8284 Ballin', 1952 style. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8285 Geared to reach 55 mph. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8286 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8287 Straightening a minor dent in the frame from pulling something decades ago. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8288 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted September 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Dad and younger bro working on getting the wheels off and brakes unstuck. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8289 Battery tray. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8291 Engine pulled. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8290 Rust protector applied to chassis. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8292 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8293 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson1647545504 Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 respect ... will be interested to see this develop ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 I like seeing these builds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Nice, looking forward to this thread. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokey Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Completely awesome. Good luck with the build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Was the frame sanded/blasted before rust protector application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeesammy Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Was the frame sanded/blasted before rust protector application? I think you already know the answer to that question Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 respect ... will be interested to see this develop ... I like seeing these builds! These. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted September 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Was the frame sanded/blasted before rust protector application? Yes Tom, it was. I think you already know the answer to that question Tom. Not sure what you're trying to imply here Grant, but if you're coming into this thread to attempt what you often refer to as "trolling" or "joking" save it for the kitchen or chatbox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeesammy Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Yes Tom, it was. Not sure what you're trying to imply here Grant, but if you're coming into this thread to attempt what you often refer to as "trolling" or "joking" save it for the kitchen or chatbox. Considering he has a background in metals it was far from trolling. Good luck on the build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buelliganx1 Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Outstanding. You should check out "Vintage truck" magazine, they are based out of Yellow Springs OH and have lots of good articles on old vintage trucks like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted September 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Considering he has a background in metals it was far from trolling. Good luck on the build. Well then please accept my apologies. I never know which Grant I'm talking to. Outstanding. You should check out "Vintage truck" magazine, they are based out of Yellow Springs OH and have lots of good articles on old vintage trucks like this Haven't heard of it. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Lookin' good, Randy! Dem bias-ply tires doe...:fuckyeah: Make sure the rear tires are knobbier than the fronts!:thumbup: Maybe it's not worth a ton, but 5-windows are still more sought after than the traditional 3 window. Don't break those corner windows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted September 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 Lookin' good, Randy! Dem bias-ply tires doe...:fuckyeah: Make sure the rear tires are knobbier than the fronts!:thumbup: Maybe it's not worth a ton, but 5-windows are still more sought after than the traditional 3 window. Don't break those corner windows! Don't know what kind of tires will go on it. We're a long ways away from that point. Currently the rears are as you can see. The 5 windows and history of it being a fire truck makes it pretty unique I'd say. Also being a 3/4 ton long bed. Don't see many. Of course the history means a good bit to me personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted October 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Engine cleaned up, tranny removed, got a lead on getting the rear end rebuilt so it will go a bit faster than 55. LOL Love seeing this thing getting done after a lifetime of seeing it sit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Any plan to alter ride height? Wheels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKilbourne Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 How did I miss this until now. This is awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Any plan to alter ride height? Wheels? I sure hope not, and hopefully stock. I have grown to really appreciate restorations like this, and I have a lot of respect for the family aspect of it. I hope it goes well for you guys and look forward to watching this thread so please keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Karacho1647545492 Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Oh man this makes me miss my '59 1/2 ton. GL with this build, that thing is a beauty. And I too know the pain of a granny gear, my '59 got to about 2mph at redline in 1st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted October 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Any plan to alter ride height? Wheels? Nope on altering height. Trying to keep it stock as possible while still safe to drive decent distances. Don't know on wheels yet. Originally I wanted to drop a SBC in this thing and go nuts, but now that I'm a bit older I'm pushing the other way. I didn't want to change ANYTHING but 55 mph top speed isn't feasible for longer hauls. Wheel will be period correct if we can help it. How did I miss this until now. This is awesome! Thanks. I have more pics to upload when I get time. I sure hope not, and hopefully stock. I have grown to really appreciate restorations like this, and I have a lot of respect for the family aspect of it. I hope it goes well for you guys and look forward to watching this thread so please keep us updated. Gonna do my best to keep this thing current. Been hectic. I would say "lately" but I'm always busy it seems. Thanks man. Oh man this makes me miss my '59 1/2 ton. GL with this build, that thing is a beauty. And I too know the pain of a granny gear, my '59 got to about 2mph at redline in 1st It's rough. I want to keep this thing original since almost everything is bone stock straight from the assembly line. Some things need adjusted though. Still gonna be number matching as much as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted November 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8306 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8307 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8308 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8309 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8310 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8311 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted November 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 Progress. http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8337 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted December 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8382 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8383 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8384 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=951&pictureid=8385 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTaylor751647545500 Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 How did I miss this until now. This is awesome! +1 Much respect to you & your family and the honor you're showing them through this project. I'm sure they're right there with you during every turn of the wrench. Having learned to drive on a '51 3100, I am very interested in the rebuild. Congrats on bringing your childhood dreams to reality. That first drive will no doubt be full of laughs, tears and smiles! Keep up the good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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