Help me make a decide !

[Happyhewy]

I have a 1956 D100 truck, with six and 3 speed trans. As best I can determine the truck is stock and appears to be not molested. The body has a little rust at the bottom of each door and a small cancer spot at the running board attachment points to rear fenders.The bed wood needs to be replaced as does the windshield glass and rubber seals,and of course repaint. Only one small dent in front fender. That's it.

So with a good body to restore, I'm at the point of what to do with the motive power. Do I rebuild the stock engine with the standard gear box or go to extreme and install a V8 and auto.

As it is now the engine will turn over by hand , the head is off, the clutch dose not engage and pedal is sitting down on the floor. All components appear to there, ie generator carb ,starter etc.........I removed the tangled mess of wiring.

So my real question is what is the best way and control cost ( I'm on a budget ) in order to rebuild that engine myself. Are parts available ,if needed ,like bearings pistons, rings, cams. ? Looks like the decision is being made as I write to skip the V8 conversion:D

The way I intend to use it ,is just a nice cruiser, I already own a 1964 D100 for serious hauling. It has a 318 poly in it.

Any thoughts from you guys?

[greg g]

If that were my truck, I would make it mechanically sound and just drive it, withthe bed repair of course. I loke the looks of trucks that have some character about them. Looks like it has done some work in its life.

Parts for a complete rebuild of my engine 6 years ago cost me 800 plus the machiing cost. So yes parts are available and costs are reasonable.

If you haven't looked at the rest of the host site of this forum, I would recommend looking at all the reference material found here. to find the good stuff, click on the button on the tool bar in the page header that says return to P15 -D24, and also look at the Dodge Pilothouse site linked here also. there is a vendors list imbedded in that info.

Most folks have found Egge, Terrill Machine, and Vintage Power wagon sites to be reliable parts suppliers.

The flathead 6 is a very reliable power plant. It is a torque engine not a power engine.

the decision of what to do will have a lot to do with what you plan to use the truck for. If you are going to do a lot of highspeed cruising, you might want to consider an engine trans rear end transplant. If you are gong to use it to putter around town, haul some garden or home improvment supplies, then the stock running gear will be right at home.

Also check the members list, lots of Cali truck guys around, somebody might be near you.

[RobertKB]

I would stick with the stock six and original transmission. Parts are plentiful for the engine and as mentioned, they are reliable and easy to maintain.

[Joe Flanagan]

Everything you need to rebuild the stock flathead is available. Check the sources mentioned above. I used Vintage Power Wagons. Also, there's a wealth of technical information about the flathead six on this site, and a bunch of guys who know them inside out. The truck looks really cool, by the way.

[Plymouthy Adams]

this is a question only you yourself can answer..you will have support on these pages about anyway you wish to go...stock/mild/wild the actually use of the vehicle is the main consideration followed second by the 'envisioned' end product you see in your head..if you have not already got a mental image of that in your mind..it may be best left in its natural state.

[Young Ed]

Not sure about an auto but that truck could have had a v8 from the factory so if you want to go that route it should be a fairly easy install. If they had an auto it would have only been the 2 speed powerflite.

[Norm's Coupe]

Usually, when I buy a car/vehicle I have a mental vision of what I want to do with it. So.........the question here is just that. Why did you buy the truck, and what did you think you wanted to do with it, when you bought it? Normally, that first vision is the one you really want. So........whatever that was, is what you should do. Otherwise, if you do the opposite you probably won't be happy with the results after spending all the money and time on it.

So.........as mentioned. Only you can really answer this question.

[Robert Horne]

I have a 1956 D100 truck, with six and 3 speed trans. As best I can determine the truck is stock and appears to be not molested. The body has a little rust at the bottom of each door and a small cancer spot at the running board attachment points to rear fenders.The bed wood needs to be replaced as does the windshield glass and rubber seals,and of course repaint. Only one small dent in front fender. That's it.

So with a good body to restore, I'm at the point of what to do with the motive power. Do I rebuild the stock engine with the standard gear box or go to extreme and install a V8 and auto.

As it is now the engine will turn over by hand , the head is off, the clutch dose not engage and pedal is sitting down on the floor. All components appear to there, ie generator carb ,starter etc.........I removed the tangled mess of wiring.

So my real question is what is the best way and control cost ( I'm on a budget ) in order to rebuild that engine myself. Are parts available ,if needed ,like bearings pistons, rings, cams. ? Looks like the decision is being made as I write to skip the V8 conversion:D

The way I intend to use it ,is just a nice cruiser, I already own a 1964 D100 for serious hauling. It has a 318 poly in it.

Any thoughts from you guys?

You will have a very nice cruiser for sure, no matter what power plant you have. Does your engine have the 2 barrel carb? My 56 engine has the 2 barrel, going into a 37 Coupe, trying to mate up a 5 speed. Your stock 56 had around 130 Hp, so would have plenty of power for a cruiser. Good Luck, Bob:)

[Tony Cipponeri]

Happyhewy, When I decided to put a V8 in my coupe, one of the biggest things was that I wanted A/C in it. Where abouts are you in Riverside? I am a little Northwest of the city.

[Happyhewy]

Thanks all for the input. I am inclined to use the stock six, which is a 230 ci with a single barrel carb.1956 models went to 12 volt system, although I do like the idea of and alternator I have to rewire the whole thing anyway.

Going to other places on this forum I found conversations about rebuilding in the frame as well as pulling engines out.

My preference is to get it out along with trans so everything can be checked and redone.

I mostly wanted to find out about parts availability for the engine.

The only "WORK" the truck will do is pull a small 13 ' camper trailer once in a while.

[Happyhewy]

Happyhewy, When I decided to put a V8 in my coupe, one of the biggest things was that I wanted A/C in it. Where abouts are you in Riverside? I am a little Northwest of the city.

Tony I also live in the Northwest part but in the city. Would like to meet you.

Send me a pm or email at vintagehewy@dslextreme.com

[Happyhewy]

Not sure about an auto but that truck could have had a v8 from the factory so if you want to go that route it should be a fairly easy install. If they had an auto it would have only been the 2 speed powerflite.

Yes they did have V8 as an option. I found a restored one in Los Angeles and he wants about the same amount of money I was planning on putting into mine, but I kinda want to do mine as I want to.

[Reg Evans]

Happyhewy,

I'm a Happyreggie to hear that your are staying with the original power plant. You can always hop it up a little with a shaved head and dual intake and exhaust.

[albolton]

your best bet is to sell me that 56 and forget about it

[Happyhewy]

your best bet is to sell me that 56 and forget about it

I'll keep you in mind:cool:

Here it was when I bought it in LA. Sat in sellers back yard 5 years after he bought from original owner just 10 miles from me. So it came home I guess:rolleyes:

Last pic is on my trailer in front of my home. Now it sits in my back yard:D

Ya Reg I was thinking of the dual "in and out" hop up rather than the V8.

[wayfarer]

I like the idea of keeping the flat six but I might be inclined to use a big Chrysler version and maybe use a 5-speed...

.

[Charlie Olson]

I have noticed that original, stock, repaired and well maintained, unrestored "survivors" garner a lot more attention at car shows than do fully restored vehicles. They are original only once. My two cents and thanks for asking.