Wow I'm signing on to follow this. Way Cool and I hope it's salvageable. If not there will be parts to use on another or sell.

 

That'll all just buff right out!

Actually I have to agree with Bob and Ross. The body, anyway, is pretty shot.

But, cabs are plentiful and inexpensive, F1 beds can be bought aftermarket (not the raised panel type this truck originally had but VERY close) so it could be done.

But I think short of sentamental value, you'd be better off finding one in a little better shape to start on.

Or if th esentamental value is pretty strong (let me plant an eveil seed) you could buy a fair donor truck and transplant all the body stuff over.... Also, if it wouldn't tear you up, there are some parts you could sell and make a few hundred bucks!

 

Wow, great eye! The truck also has a 51/52 bed. This truck definitely appears to be a late 50. I wonder what's the story behind the dual shifters too. I wonder if the steering column was replaced or the transmission. It could also have been ordered with a floor shift transmission, but the factory left the column shift as well...??? Very interesting.

Loxias, if you can, please take and post a picture of the metal Data tag that's inside the glovebox door. There should be the VIN. We'll be able to tell the year and manufacturing plant from that number. I'm also curious as to what kind of data tag it is.

I would agree with Bob on his assessment. If anything, pull the truck out, clean it up and park it in front or side of your house as yard art. It'll remind you more of your grandad when you see it in front of the house than in the back 40.

By the way, there are still some salvageable parts on that truck. The front suspension, transmssion crossmember and steering box/column are worth at least $300-350 if you decide to part out the truck.

 

If you have a Home Owner's Association I say plant it in the front yard while deciding what to do with it.

As for transmission I would bet that the column shift transmission either went out or there were problems with the shift linkage and a floor shift transmission was installed. I also bet grandpa just left the column shift in because he did see the need to remove the column shift, it was just a truck back then. Maybe he rigged up some home brew overdrive with dual transmission shift, that would be cool! I think I'd go with just the different tranny.

Loxias, I bet you thought your grandfather's truck would ever generate so much interest, did you? We're kind of obsessed bunch around here.

 

Obsessed is an understatement Bob. Like Havi has said we are MENTAL.

 

Wow, left for a few hours, and I got more excitement and interest than I ever would have expected. As for the column shifter/floor shifter questions: If you look real close at the dash pic, you'll notice what appears to be a string or something attached? Yeah, that's a clothes hanger, holding the old shifter to the dash. It's just a stick on the column, the floor shifter is attached to the tranny.

Also, I'll be certain to get out there and get a picture of that data tag tomorrow. It's a tad dark for me to take a walk out back in the woods tonight, but tomorrow evening around noon or so I'll probably post a picture.

Also thanks for the tips on pulling it out. I'll see if I can do that tomorrow maybe.

To answer the headlights questions, yes, they're just reflectors as far as I could tell. I saw no bulb behind them.

 

Sorry for being a little late on this one. Busy day I suppose.
http://i55.tinypic.com/o7n3id.jpg
That's a shot of the data plate for y'all.

 

If my memory serves me right, that is a late 1950 serial number. And it had a flathead v8 originally (as it does now). Cool!!! Go up to the top of this page and look at that "sticky" thread dealing with the 49-50 serial numbers. Submit your data there along with any firewall stampings you might be able to read. You will be amazed what you can learn about it's original color, place/date of manufacture, etc. you might find out. Those guys have done an excellent job in translating those numbers. Good luck pulling it out.

 

Mountaindoc, you're right. That's a very late 50 production number. That's the first 50 I see with the 51 bed and column shifter.