richardb

That is actually the color I am going to paint the truck. The body and the frame will be painted to match. It is just the right thing to do. I will offset the orange with another color which I have yet to pick. You will definately see the truck coming.

Has anyone ordered the box sides with curled edges from Robert's? Are they accurate? They advertise that there fenders are fiberglass which I am not a fan of but are the box sides accurate and metal? If so it might be better to order new ones than restore my old ones. I would like to start with the front and the tailgate of the box but if they are not genuine and look like a reproduction are they worth it? Just looking for opinions.

I am glad you bought something great and are not like the rest of the poeple who buy Ford and Chevy products. There are so many Ford and Chevy products on the road that they are not very intersting. In my opinion you are heading down the right path.

The next step in the project will take a while and about another 12000 dollars. I will post as the progress proceeds.

Just thought I would post a few new pictures of the updates

Here is some continued progress on the truck. It is starting to look like something.

Thank you for the reply. It means a lot for Dodge Lovers to realize and acknoledge the effort I am going through. Thanks. I am just a poor person working a million hours a week to realize my dream of getting a true hot rod classic done? This has now brought me to a new idea. If everone on the site helped others out everyone could realize their dreams come true. Let me ask you a question? If you were restore your truck but were finding the funds scarse what would you do? You would do what I do. You would would 80 plus hours a week. You would sacrafioe family and friend to help accomidate your dreams. I am not a rich man by a far streach. But if everyone was to band together and give 2o bucks to the project we could complete a project. Then I would also donote to the next guy. If we all banded tothether we could build all the Dodges left in America. Just a thought but I am very independent and have spent thousands recently. Would the people of this board like me to start a charitable fund to help complete trucks. Rules and regulations would have to be laid out but we would work on a truck a a time until it was done. It would be strickly regulated. If we hd enough funds then we would do more than one truck at a time. Would you rather donate 2o or 30 dollars to truck or have them pay thousands. When it came time to is since that individual saved thosands they would be required to help out. Think about me ideal. Let me know. Richard.

I appreciate all the effort everyone has put into their restoration projects. I have chose to go a different route. There have been so many Ford and Chevy projects that have been hot rodded out but very little Dodge's. I think the early dodge line was far supperior to others. That is only an opinion but I will continue to post some pictures. I am also dissapointed that only afer a couple of days people are starting to chose the color I originally chose. Remeber I was the first. Hope you can all appreciate the effort I am going though to update a great classic truck. I would also like to point out that I am not a rich guy who can jujst throw money at a truck. I work about 80 hours a week and have most of my life and now am spending a little money on this project.

Just thought I would post some updates to the project. The frame has been stripped down. The bodywork has been done to the frame and it has been primed. It should be painted by the middle of next week. It should start to look good soon.

There are not that many 53 dodge trucks out there. I have a Canadian model which is even more rare. I have started to restore the truck this year and am adding a few modifications for comfort. Here is a pic. Keep up the good work. Hoping that this might help inspire you.

I read a quote today that I can relate to and I think is great. It was quoted by Knuckleharley: It costs money if you do it right,regardless of what it is. I cannot agree with this more.

To quote Knuckleharley: It costs money if you do it right,regardless of what it is. I cannot agree with this statement more!

I have a 1953 Canadian Truck Model. There are less of these than the southern model. They are the same except of where they are made. The 53 model has the flatter fenders. I understand that the earlier models have the rounded fenders.

TheMoose: The front end is not from a donar truck. It is a custom front suspension. Also the truck has a custom rear suspension. Four wheel disk brakes have been added. New master cylinder with all new brake lines have been added. A new tranny cooler lines, cooler, and fuel lines has also been added. The frame has been boxed in for added strength. New engine and tranny mounts have been added. All in all I am making this 53 into a modern and nice ride. I do not plan to have it done for another 4 years but after the last 20 it will be nothing. I would like to see more people customizing and modernizing their vehicle. Lets keep the classic trucks on the road but upgrade them to make them safe for today's roads. I would really like to thank everyone for their great input and knowledge. Please keep in mind I am still looking to new grill bars to keep the truck looking original if anyone can help me out. Thank you everyone.

Your grille bars are perfect. Are you reproducing them or are those original? I am looking a quote and picture #17. Those are awesome.

I have owned my 1953 dodge truck for that last 20 years. I bought it when I was 16 years old and thought I would be done in a year. LOL. Boy was I wrong. Back then I said "I am not going to be an old man and be driving a classic vehicle". Then life got in the way. I have read many threads by many great people and seen a lot of great advice. Unfortunately I am not really interested in owning a truck that rides like a 53. So I am doing a few upgrades. I am putting on indepedent front suspension, rear suspension, new brake lines, new master cylinder, ......... Basically it is going to be all new. Yes, it does hurt the pocket book but if you are going to do something you might as well do it properly. I also forgot to mention that I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where there are very few of these trucks around that makes it very rare. The truck I own is a Canadian version. I like this fact because everyone owns a chev or a ford. There are millions of those and nobody really is excited to see those. Where I am I am probably one of the only people in the city to own one. I will post some pictures of the progress. I do apoligize for some of the pictures that are out of focus... bad picture day. I hope that my efforts will encourage people to take on such projects and restore these great trucks. The next pictures I show will show some great progress. The frame will be painted. The exhaust will be fitted and coated. The engine will have some upgrades such as matching paint to the frame and a few more chrome accessories added. Soon the rollling chassis will be done. In a few months I should be able to sit on a five gallon pail in the cab and drive it around. Stay tuned to updates......

Don't feel bad about the time it takes to restore a truck. I have owned my 53 dodge for the last 20 years. I am now starting to restore it this year. Sometimes life just gets in the way. Six years seems like nothing.

I would just like to say that your paint job is great. I have seen many hot rod magazines and and thousands of pictures through the years. Many people offset the main color with another and I have never seen one that I really liked. How do you offset the main color and have it not be overpowering and look good. I believe that you have found the right amount and the right parts to offset. Great job!

I have to agree with you. The majority of people restoring dodge trucks are down south. I am in Edmonton Alberta and I am restoring and 53 dodge with a few upgrades and I think I one of very few. Keep in there. It should be worth it when done

I am just wondering for those of you who seem to be experts. What kind of investment would it take to make these grill bars. I am just curious to what it would take?

I am hopefull that someone has the time and equipment to make this project a reality.

I think this is a great idea. Especially since I am in the need for new grill bars from my 53. Is anyone actually planning on reproducing them or is it just a brilliant thought. It is beyond my ability but I am a supporter of the person who can reproduce them.

Is anyone going to follow up on this great idea? Or is anyone capable of reproducing the grill bars?

As stated before I will definately take a set

I think this is a fabulous idea. If someone were to fabricate these bars I would gladly purchase some. I am sure I am not the only one. I am sure that even people who have them would replace them with replacement units. As previously stated they are prone to dings. I would probably even purchase a spare set just to have them on hand. This is one of the best ideas I have heard in a while. I just hope that someone proceeds and follows through with this great idea.