1954 Chevy 6400 - My New Toy

[58limited]

I know I haven't been posting much lately but life has been really busy. I paid off my mortgage at the end of December and decided to buy a new 'toy'- a 1954 Chevy 2 ton grain truck with dump bed. This is meant to initiate a new phase in my life: I plan to buy some multi use agricultural land within the next 5 years. I plan to raise cattle, hay, and eventually to open a Meadery (honey winery) - I'm a home brewer and have won awards for my meads at the state level. I want to relocate to a small town rural area. I decided to buy this truck as a farm truck (a new truck of this type would be very expensive, these old two tons are reliable and are pretty cheap - not many collectors want something this massive, won't fit in a regular house garage). It has been restored but was still a working grain truck until recently (there was still about 3 pounds of wheat in the back when I received the truck this past weekend). I have it stored in a barn at a friend's farm 150 miles north of me. The sides of the grain bed can be removed so the truck can be used as a flat bed.

 



 



 

 

 

[travis]

Very nice

 

[ken]

Very nice truck. Cant beat that old iron. Dependable and straightforward in design. And you can work on it yourself when needed. 1954 models finally received a new front end on what would be the last year for the "Advance Design" body that was introduced in 1947. 47-53 models all had the same front end. First year for a one piece windshield. And first year Chevy offered an automatic trans on the pick up which was the GM four speed Hydra-matic. Looks like its wearing Transport blue which was an original 54 color offering. Same color as my 54 Chevy 3100 1/2 ton that originally came from St Louis, MO.

 

[kevin313]

It's a beauty!! All best wishes as you begin the next wonderful chapter in you life!

 

[rp2813]

I've always liked the '54 Chevy truck front end design.  I suppose since that and the dash/instrument panel were only produced for a single model year, related parts might be more difficult to find than for '48-'53 models.

 

It's a beautiful truck, and will no doubt handle whatever tasks you can throw at it.  Enjoy!

 

[58limited]

This design actually survived into 1955 - the big changes occurred half way through the model year. The 1954 and 1955 first series are the same. The 1955 second series had major design and styling changes. Parts aren't too hard to find.

 

I have a 1953 pick up and other than the grill and the engine they are pretty much identical.

 

Ken,  Yes the 2 ton is Transport Blue. Please post a pic of your truck.

 

My '53 is painted in 1999 Ford Light Blue Metallic

 

[ken]

Right you are. Just like the previous 46 body style was carried over into 47 before the new 47s arrived mid year the 54 body style was carried over into 55 before the totally new 55s arrived. Im not 100% sure now but I believe the 55 1st series was equipped with the new style open driveshaft as opposed to the earlier torque tube.

David, my truck hasn't seen daylight in a few years. I have some actual photographs (remember them?) of it. I would have to dig them out, scan and post.

 

[wayupnorth]

I have owned a Chevy truck for MANY years and they have not once let me down. The one I have now, although it wont dump itself, I am very happy with it. My place was all paid off in December too. Welcome to the club. But your credit score drops immediately after you have no more mortgage.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

What a beaut! Congratulations!

 

[58limited]

Oh, I have a lot of other debt - hopefully the credit score doesn't drop