QUESTION: Recommendation For An Old Vehicle.

Me | June 23, 2012 | Yosemitest

[Yosemitest]

Question: If you were going to pick a vehicle from the 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s that you wanted to actually use for a daily driver,
what vehicle would you choose that might be economical, not computer over mechanical, easy to maintain, and easy to get parts for?

I'm so sick of having a vehicle that is nothing but a computer controlled headache.
My thought are along the lines of a 1952 Henry J with AIRCONDITIONING, a 1948 Ford 2 Door Sedan, a 1951 Willys Woody Wagon,
a 1964 Ford Falcon Convertible, or maybe a 1963 Mercury Meteor.

I'd like to be able to tow a small trailer with maybe 1,500 pounds on it, and not burn up the transmission.

[old school]

Look around and see what’s still on the road. I’m bettin’ it’s going to be a GM product. Parts availability is going to be an issue. I think GM offers you availability and interchangability across its different automobile lines.

[bk1000]

I haven’t read all the replies, but whatever you get remember the older cars ran on leaded gas. Unleaded will ruin the engine. You have to add lead to the fuel. That may be increasingly difficult to find also.

[Eye of Unk]

I would take a more modern vehicle like a Chevy Lumina van which is all fiberglass, remove the engine up front, get a mid sized Perkins diesel from a forklift and mount it amidships. For something a bit bigger I would look for an older Peterbilt cab, make an aluminum frame and build my own Peterbilt pickup, engine can be almost any decent non electronic diesel.

I say that because I happen to have a 1984 Peterbilt conventional cab that I am indeed making into a pickup truck/toy hauler.

[nascarnation]

Or you can pull the head and have hardened valve seats installed. I did this on my 67 Chevy. Pretty much any auto machine shop can handle this, it’s fairly common.

[nascarnation]

1984 Peterbilt conventional cab that I am indeed making into a pickup truck/toy hauler.

Now that's impressive. What power, Cummins B series?

[Smokin' Joe]

It doesn't hurt to be part machinist if you are going to work with older vehicles, and to get the shop manuals for the vehicle in question (not just a Chilton's or Haynes' but the factory shop and service manuals). The less common the vehicle, the less common the parts, and salvage yards often have crushed older inventory.

Vehicles which remain ever popular, like the Mustang, the '57 chevy, the Camaro, and others have the benefit of being popular enough that new sheet metal has been made to replace rusted out panels, and a tremendous number of 'New old stock' parts are available. Pickups are the same way. A web search for specific parts for the year and make will turn up suppliers for everything from Model T parts to the latest stuff, but if yours wasn't a popular vehicle, it gets considerably harder.

[Bshaw]

For all you old school car buffs out there, if you like American muscle, here’s the place to look:

American Dream Machines in Des Moines Iowa:
http://www.admcars.com/inventorymanager.php

[meatloaf]

I always liked the idea of turning a single axle Mack daycab into a pickup.

[silentreignofheroes]

http://www.carsrotting.com/blog/

I’d get a late 40 thru 50s’ year model.Dennis Carpenter could provide some parts

http://www.dennis-carpenter.com/

[Yosemitest]

You can buy additive that will replace the lead into todays fuel.
Also some of the rebuild kits will have the capability to allow use of unleaded fuels.

[Yosemitest]

If you're really interested in doing something with a large truck, look at the Low Cab Forward (LCF) or Cab Over Engine (COE) trucks, to turn into pickups.
Watch all these COE Pick-ups on youtube.com.

[Yosemitest]

Check this 1939 Ford COE Truck out.

[meatloaf]

I doubt that I’ll ever do anything. Converting an R model Mack is a fantasy. Thinking about putting “Little Red Pickup” on the tailgate does brings a smile.

[Yosemitest]

Take a look at these two truck.

Custom 1956 Ford C750 COE Truck



1938 Ford COE Crew Cab

[Yosemitest]

It can be done, but you need to be a good bod man, with a steady hand.
Also a good shop to work in helps, but if you don't have the skill, you can hire the labor done,
and some of these T.V. shows might give you a discount just to have something special to do.

[Iscool]

Falcon with a six cyl. will give you 30 mpg...And they are EASY to work on...

[Teflonic]

[Tau Food]

I like that!

Looks like a 90 something Grand Prix and an old truck cab - a Trontiac.

[PeterPrinciple]

Willys wagon is a good choice. Lots of parts available. You can still order an overdrive unit for it. Repower it if you want, lots of adapters. Many for sale right now. I have 4 of them in various stages from orig to modified. Plus there is a good group of people on the Internet.

http://www.oldwillysforum.com/

[metalurgist]

Buy a 1972 Chevy pickup, 350 engine, 4 speed. Most 350’s in trucks were 4 bolt mains. Lots of parts for Chevy trucks. The engines still had point and condenser ignition systems. Air conditioning was available. You can easily put a tilt steering column in them. They came with disc brakes. A 4 speed tranny will last almost forever. I don’t ever remember having to change a differential on one of these trucks. Gas milage was around 15 or 16 miles per gallon.