Original 52 I6 4 speed 80,000 miles.

 

Sweet Coast Guard Truck

 

That is rust and algae

But a panel that could look good when you are finished

 

I don't think that's algae, it appears to be original army green paint that is showing thru where the house paint "primer" is peeled away. That truck needs a lot of metalworking.

Edit: yeah, that's algae, only on the north side.

 

I usually draw the line between rust and patina when you can see light through the fenders.

 

If that is patina then my truck before body work and painting was just slight patina!

 

Maybe there's something to be said for leaving the "patina" as-found, Abe. Complete mechanical restore, but everybody will stay back, way way back, on the highway and no worries about door dings. Stop by the food bank to pick up some last minute items with no guilt! J/k

 

Here are a couple more pictures. It runs and drives--sort of. No lights or gauges.

 

I like the SMV (slow moving vehicle) sign on the back!

You got both original seats including the optional passenger seat!

 

I see about a 5-7 yr. $15- $20 K project .

 

Yikes Firstrider, those are some scary numbers. I'm 67. Not a lot of time left. Not so much money either. This truck has been in my family since 1958. My dad bought it when he retired from the Coast Guard as a memento of his years of service. It was a base truck in Sault Ste Marie. I learned to drive on this truck. I inherited it 2 years ago. My dad intended to restore it, but he never did. My goal is make it look a little more presentable and get it safe to drive again. So far brakes, tires, exhaust, carb, plugs, and fuel pump have been re worked. A fellow FTE member said he may be able be able to repair the front fenders.

 

52 Coast Guard Panel, that looks like a paddy wagon truck that MAY have taken me back to the ship in San Francisco after an entertaining night on the town in my young Navy days! Good luck with the project. It will be worth it. I just turned over 110,000 miles on this build of my 52 Panel. Use it as a daily driver to advertise my real estate company.

 

52 Panel-

It does have a bench in back. Maybe you sat on one like it.

 

The holes are rust, the rest is patina. Your plan is a good one. Scrub it down, pop rivet some patches on the fenders with galvanized sheet metal. Recover or replace the seats. Fix the brakes first. New wheel cylinders are cheap these days. Don't forget to check the brakelines and hoses. Clean or replace the fuel tank. Buy a 4 hole gauge bracket and put a row of aftermarket mechanical gauges below the dash to keeps tabs on everything. 12 volt conversion with an alternator is a good idea too. New tires I usually buy them at wrecking yards or on Craigslist. Brush paint it if you want. The foam brushes work well. Then drive it around and enjoy it. Just don't expect trophies if you take it to a car show. And don't let people call it a rat rod. It's just a nice old truck with family history that you wanted to fix up a bit and enjoy. Many of us have been doing that all our lives. Then let the next generation do the IFS and digital gauges, or restore it to factory new for 30 grand. All of what I suggested is reversible, so no harm done for the next guy. Lots of ways to skin a cat. It's a very cool truck by the way.

 

I'm digging it.