1950 Dodge pickup, winter startup

[bacelaw]

I have opportunity to buy a very rough '50 dodge pickup.   While it's a rolling project, I may make a couple Winter dump runs here in cold MA.  How likely will original flathead startup?  Block heater perhaps?

[soth122003]

These old flat heads were used all over the world in various climates (WWII). A block heater couldn't hurt depending on the oil used. I think the bigger issue is to make sure the antifreeze is good. That's what cracks the blocks in cold weather. Also a battery tender for it.. As long as the temps don't drop below -5 for extended periods of time, a good anti freeze and maybe a 5w30 oil should be ok IMHO.

 

Joe Lee

[Los_Control]

I think it really depends on condition of the engine. How much compression, a good working carburetor. Proper tune up.

 

These engines ran in the winter time when they were new .... If in good condition they will run fine now also.

 

I had a 1960 slant 6 truck ..... I sometimes needed to put a heat lamp under it to get the oil warmed up before it would start on very cold mornings.

To be fair, the oil was probably closer to sludge then oil ..... I never changed it, just added to it when low.

 

I had a 1951 Ford truck flathead V8. I needed to throw a rag over the top of the carburetor for extra choke to get it to fire up. Carb was Just wore out.

 

Just suggesting that you can get the old beaters started without too much trouble .... I imagine if block heaters are normally used in your area, then use one.

 

Might be a fun project, to have one that you can enjoy and use as you want. Not be so worried about parking lot dings or other normal issues that arrive with a daily driver.

 

That is the whole goal of my truck ..... something safe & dependable to drive.

[Sniper]

My 51 had no issues running during snowmageddon a couple years back.  Got close to zero here for about a week.  To be honest though, when it gets that cold with snow on the roads I don't generally go out at all.  But I had to get groceries, no power at my house, power in other parts of town, lol.  Needed more gas for my generator, unless I wanted to siphon, no thanks.  Heater was so so, still need to address that.

[Ivan_B]

1 hour ago, Los_Control said:

These engines ran in the winter time when they were new ....

I believe that the key word here is "new". I would not use an old vehicle for errands in adverse weather conditions because most of the older cars (I am thinking 15-20 years) are never properly maintained these days. And a "very rough '50 dodge pickup" definitely does not sound very promising ?

[soth122003]

I'd still take a rough 50's dodge to a 15-20 year old car any day, I can work on the dodge. As far as errands in adverse weather...not scared. However, it's the other drivers on the road that scare the hell out of me. 

 

Joe Lee

[Sniper]

14 hours ago, Ivan_B said:

I would not use an old vehicle for errands in adverse weather conditions because most of the older cars (I am thinking 15-20 years) are never properly maintained these days.

 

Wouldn't that would be your vehicle that was not properly maintained?  Not too hard to find the source of that problem, fixing it though is another story,

[Los_Control]

Here is what I consider a rough 1950 Dodge. Straight out of the field it sat in for 20 years..... Really took little work to get it running. The cooling system needed a lot of attention.

I feel a experienced person could have gone through it and made it a safe dependable driver in less then 6 months of spare time.

 

 

Not me though ..... Having never painted a vehicle before .... I just had to try it.    ?

Seriously, if it had some paint or  bad paint ..... I would have been fine. But no paint .... I would feel guilty for being a bad caretaker.

So while piddling around learning to weld & paint, I have been going through the undercarriage cleaning & painting everything.

Inspected the front end, greased everything ..... upgraded the master cylinder, new wheel cylinders & lines. New fuel tank, lines, carburetor.

Wiring was garbage, generator wrong & non working. New GM alternator and a universal wiring harness.

 

I admit I was very lucky that mechanically the truck was in decent condition .... just needed a lot of neglected maintenance.

I am not restoring it, just repairing it ..... fixed all the rust, took out the big dents left the little ones.

Still a ways to go yet, when I hit the road with it  "I" think it will be a dependable driver that is well maintained and have about $4k - $5k into it?

She is the official Hound Dog Hauler. I live in a small rural town and expect to daily drive it for everything .... including dump runs when needed.

 

 

 

 

[Ivan_B]

1 hour ago, Sniper said:

Not too hard to find the source of that problem, fixing it though is another story,

That is true. An old car, even in great original condition, still needs mostly everything to make it comparable (in terms of reliability and proper operation) to a newer vehicle. And we are not even considering the ~50+ years of technological improvements between the two vehicles, and the metal fatigue (I am thinking - broken axles, tie rods, cracked leaf springs, etc.).

 

10 hours ago, soth122003 said:

I'd still take a rough 50's dodge to a 15-20 year old car any day, I can work on the dodge.

Well, the ease of service is an important consideration. Although, I personally prefer fuel injection and other fancy electronics. If you become a bit familiar with how all these things operate, they are actually very convenient to "service". You just mostly replace the worn-out parts in accordance with the maintenance schedule/as necessary.

Are you seriously going to choose a 70-year-old truck versus a 20-year-old truck to drive for work, in adverse weather?

 

Technically, you can drive any rough old vehicle in the cold snowy winter. Given enough skill, time, and a place to do the required maintenance. I've done it myself. However, I would much rather prefer to just make sure that the fluids are fresh, battery is good, and a turn-key-and-go operation of the new car in the morning. Vintage vehicles are much more fun to enjoy on good sunny days

Edited November 15, 2023 by Ivan_B