GB SISSON
Well-known member
In the last few years I have sold two really original, unmolested survivor trucks because I use them in my business and wanted more driveability, better gearing and brakes for the loads I was hauling. The '53 even had ford script plug wires. It had belonged to a crop dusting service in Minot ND and had a plane and the company name on the doors. 9' express and it was actually quite useable as it was but I was hankerin' to do a diesel swap with a junior sized turbo'd inline six cummins. I had two of them and they are called a 6at. 120 hp, 210 cu. in. I sold it to build my '59 9' express with a '92 f350 rear axle and a gm sm465 4 speed manual. It does a handy 75 mph and I run it up and down I-5 on lumber runs. The other one I sold last spring was my '37 1 1/2 ton. I had hoped to mount a script bed on it that I had, but the frame was tapered and it looked like a tough job. This was also a beautiful rust free truck that had been in a barn in Ferndale Wa for 26 years. For my big truck I wanted juice brakes, a bit more power, 12 volts with an alternator so I could have trailer brakes and of course a truck that would accept my very nice 9' script bed. I bought a '47 two ton cab/chassis, also from Minot. As the '59ab was badly stuck it got a locally bought 500.00 8ba. What I'm getting at here is that for me, I would rather sell a rare and excellent survivor truck than modernize it. Both trucks went to people who had no intention of painting them or modifying in any way. I lost two great trucks, but have had a ball building their replacements and I love to solve problems and engineer motor mounts and drivelines and all that goes along with building a franken truck. It's a fun hobby and neither of the resto-modded trucks are very rare. I still have a few that I will keep 6 volt, positive ground, stock all the way. Just a way to get some upgrades, that's all. I'm glad there are no rules as I'm not very good at following them.
