59 winter use
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 910
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
The problems I had were, the front wheels would lock up on the ice, carb would ice up and make the engine stall, The wipers freeze up easly, the defroster wasn't the best but worked I noticed that if I cracked open the wing it would help a lot. But it always started, It never made me walk in the snow, I pulled out many 4 wheel drives. It does go throu it. I had to drive mine in the snow it was my only ride for a while. I hated to do it just knowing it would make it rust away. Good luck, and you may want to put some 3 point seat belts in.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Mitch,
I'm insulating the floor, headliner area, firewall, and the cab above the gas tank in my 48. I'm not doing it for warmth as much as for sound deadening. I hope to have the truck on the road sometime this year.
Vern
I'm insulating the floor, headliner area, firewall, and the cab above the gas tank in my 48. I'm not doing it for warmth as much as for sound deadening. I hope to have the truck on the road sometime this year.
Vern
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 908
Likes: 0
From: Lindsborg, KS
These older trucks do need to be driven with care. I don't like driving the new vehicles, nothing but the same thing. The old trucks ya learn to drive with care. I'm 16 and know my 57 like the back of my hand. Learn the truck before you drive it at high speeds. I know my front right brake likes to pull sometime so i've learned to slow down before then, although, i've had to slam on the brakes once and was going at 30 mph but the person that had the stopsign wasn't paying attention and almost pulled out in front of me, my buddy, in his 1955 Chevy heard my tires squealing from a block upahead of me. I hated having to do that but me and my truck didn't wanna cremmate that car. It takes a lot of alertness and awareness. I'll have to learn my truck once again after i put the MerCruiser 302/M5OD tranny in. I'm actually putting mufflers on, believe it or not instead of glasspacks. I hope to have my truck back on the road after this summer/beginning of next school year. I'm taking it on a long long cruise in 2 years so i'm geting it ready for that.
Happy driving, and stay aware.
Dustin
Happy driving, and stay aware.
Dustin
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,423
Likes: 0
From: Colonsay Sk. Canada
To start with I am Canadian. This year we have had above average warmth for winter. Last night it hit -24 Celcius, today it could climb as high as -18 Celcius. From expierence from driving various aged vehicles, that with manual choke a truck of that age will start were fuel injection won't. Once my neighbor got stuck on a Sunday, even though my truck was not plugged in it fired quickly, that day was between -30 or -35. Even though that was a International I know my 57 Ford would do the same. I say go for it a 59 with a good battery, and block heater. I do suggest using Synthetic oils however.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 936
Likes: 25
From: La Ronge Saskatchewan
I too am Canadian and i live in northern Canada !!
I have driven my 59 223 for 3 winters now and i can tell you i have plenty of experience with cold. Last winter was 3 weeks of MINUS 40 (C & F)
-Manual choke and a good battery are great.
-Defrost....not too great but it does work. I have cleaned the ducts and the fan. The front window will eventually clear but never the side windows and never the rear.
-If the trans has weak a syncro it will be worst in winter, i changed to a synthetic gear oil just; pause briefly on a 3rd to 2nd downshift.
-Block heaters are a must
-when it goes to 30 C or colder i lift the hood and cover the block with 2 old blankets (remove them before you start up in morning)
-I have removed my engine cooling fan for all but the hot summer times and for the winter months i use a rad cover, cardboard with a round hold cutout in the center.
-Do all you tune up work before winter hits and the truck will last the winter.
-Run a 195 thermostat
-IMO insulting the floor and cab parts won't help with heating too much as the whole inside is steel and at minus 30 there is just too much steel (this is where plastic might be nice)
-Have good door seals and no drafts inside and maybe the heater will take the chill off down to maybe 10 C, any colder and all heater does is keep the windshield clear
3 winters for me now this truck has never let me down.
I have driven my 59 223 for 3 winters now and i can tell you i have plenty of experience with cold. Last winter was 3 weeks of MINUS 40 (C & F)
-Manual choke and a good battery are great.
-Defrost....not too great but it does work. I have cleaned the ducts and the fan. The front window will eventually clear but never the side windows and never the rear.
-If the trans has weak a syncro it will be worst in winter, i changed to a synthetic gear oil just; pause briefly on a 3rd to 2nd downshift.
-Block heaters are a must
-when it goes to 30 C or colder i lift the hood and cover the block with 2 old blankets (remove them before you start up in morning)
-I have removed my engine cooling fan for all but the hot summer times and for the winter months i use a rad cover, cardboard with a round hold cutout in the center.
-Do all you tune up work before winter hits and the truck will last the winter.
-Run a 195 thermostat
-IMO insulting the floor and cab parts won't help with heating too much as the whole inside is steel and at minus 30 there is just too much steel (this is where plastic might be nice)
-Have good door seals and no drafts inside and maybe the heater will take the chill off down to maybe 10 C, any colder and all heater does is keep the windshield clear
3 winters for me now this truck has never let me down.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 97,647
Likes: 2,012
From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Originally Posted by GreatNorthWoods
I live in the frigid north too and I would not think of putting my 48 in the ice, snow, and salt. I have too much work in it to see it eaten up with salt or have it slide off into a ditch on the ice. My advice is either move south or plan on using your truck only during the fair weather portion of the year like I will do (from about May 1st to about Nov 15th here)... 
Vern
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 194
Likes: 1
From: MTNS of NC
I used to use my '59 as a daily driver,and heater/defroster worked fine.Now I'm rebuilding it from ground up as a resto mod.So far I've done the engine,cab interior(shortened steering column 4",aluminum accents,B&M shifter,carpet,headliner,sound deadening/insulation,Peterbilt door handles & window cranks,electric leather seats from an Accura,tinted windows(front&sides)and hand made door panel upholstery,pro comp gauges.I,ve also done several mods to suspension and frame(ladder bar and coil overs in rear with wishbone locator,moved gas tank from behind seat and put one out of an Isuzu Trooper in frame rails in rear of frame,electric fuel pump.My next project is to install disc brakes all around.