'53 Project List

The following list was put together shortly after the truck arrived here in Raleigh. It was an attempt to capture all of the things I thought would be a good idea to do to the '53, as time and funds permitted. The list has actually changed very little in the last month or so. Now, before you get excited about my deft ability to plan a project, I can assure you that the lack of churn is the direct result of starting with a very short list.

The short list was made possible by a grant from the buy-it-as-close-to-the-way-you-want-it foundation, a 501c status, non-profit group that helps buyers unlock the potential of purchasing vehicles that require very little additional work to finish. More importantly, these vehicles minimize the amount of changes required and work that must be undone or redone to meet the buyer's desired finished product.

Now, even short project lists need to be prioritized and sequenced. Well, don't they? I had no intention of falling into the trap of changing the oil the week before I performed the engine swap. What you've never heard of that classic gaff? Actually, my list was no where near that detailed. Sorry to dissapoint all you micro-manager types, but you may as well surf over to your favorite bean-counting website, if you want Gant charts suitable for wall-papering your garage with.

So I opted to define several categories of projects, in hopes that some logical priority and precedence would emerge from the chaos. But I didn't have a clue what those categories might be, so I started by scribbling down all the things I could think of, on the not-so-proverbial back of the envelope. When I didn't have to flip the envelope over to finish the list, I knew I had a prayer in hell for getting them sorted. Thanks buy-it-as-close-to-the-way-you-want-it, I couldn't have done it without you.

With the list in front of me, I noticed that the projects could be grouped in a few major areas. The areas were already familiar to me, but I didn't recognize them right away. When I set out to buy a cool old truck, the criteria was that it had to be safe, dependable, fun to drive, and cool looking. Funny that the list sorted itself into three of those four categories, without much effort on my part.

Safety

1. Dual Master cylinder (stock location)
2. Front Disc Brakes
3. 3-point seat belts
4. Relocate gas tank from cab to under bed
5. Gauges and Speedo
6. Rear View Mirror
7. Turn Signals

Driveability

1. New rear-end with better highway gears
2. Auto tranny (so wife can drive it)
3. Convert to open driveline
4. Upgrade front/rear parallel leafs
5. Install door poppers/solenoids
6. Hidden stereo and dash speaker

Appearance

1. Door panels, headliner, carpet, firewall cover
2. Replace cracked/worn steering wheel
3. Complete side glass install
4. Chrome interior window garnish mouldings
5. Door seals and all weather gaskets/seals
6. Door handles and window cranks
7. Dome light, shift knob
8. Replace wooden bed, strips, and hardware