Lightning Lewie, the owner of the 1956 stake-side 3/4 Chevy brought it out to California from Alabama a few years ago. The truck had been in the family since 1966 and was surprisingly well-kept, with minimal rust. But he wanted this beast to look good, and he wanted a few conveniences, like power steering and power assisted brakes.
Okay, so far that’s pretty straightforward. But as the title of the post says, this is a farm truck. Six cylinders, 235 cubic inches, 3-speed manual transmission, and a 4.57:1 rear end ratio. For all intents and purposes, about a 50 mph top speed.
Follow us as we address all of these issues.
Getting Started
Engine assessment and flat bed removal
Sandblasting
What is under the paint
Improving the Brakes
Adding vacuum assist
Fixing the Fender
Daddy musta hit a tree
The GM 235 Six
Assessing the engine, on the stand
Farm Truck Update
Painting begins; shortening the steering shaft
We See the Light
We spot the air leak causing the low vacuum and rough running
Interior Restoration
Making it comfortable
The Six and Muncie
Installing the drivetrain; wiring the overdrive
Rebel Wire 9+3 Kit
Rebel Wire comes through again to make it as simple as possible
Finished and Awesome
Restoring the Farm Truck was a pleasure, good friends and good times with this one