I found an early 50's long bed 5 window pilot house pickup recently. It's setting in a open ended barn. The body looked to be in good shape from the back and all the glass was good, also had the huge wrap around rear bumper that attaches to the back of the stepside fenders. I didn't get a chance to see much of the rest because no one would answer the door and I wasn't going into the barn without permission. There is an issue with the truck though, I don't know how long it has set there. My guess is probably 35+ years, and the bed is now belive it or not at least half full of old horse shoes and its mashing the heck out of the suspension. My question is how bad is this on the truck and what all do you think will need replaced if a person was to try and get it road worthy again? If it hasn't been driven with all that weight in it do you think it could have done anything to the frame?

It won't make a difference, they won't sell it anyway.

You are worrying too much, the springs and frame will be as good as they were before it got loaded up.

Something that old will require all new brake parts, including hoses, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, etc.

The reason that it got parked in the barn was because it was worn out, and it'll need a total going through eventually. By this I mean either you replace every rubber part now, or replace them as they fail or leak.

Sounds like fun, anyhow. My '64Dog gets about a compliment a day, yours will stand out more.

R.

Dont bother them.. They are going to restore it someday..

I believe the place to start is to see if you can actually buy the truck. If it comes with a title, that will make life a lot easier. The early 50s trucks can be found in reasonable condition for $1,000-$1500 in the condition you describe. Mid to late 50s are more expensive because fewer of them were built. Body parts are hard to find for any of them.

Once you have the truck in your possession, you need to figure out what you expect the truck to do and be. The Dodge trucks of the 50s were work trucks intended to haul loads, at low speeds, with minimum passenger comforts. As would be expected with anything that has been sitting a long time, everything will need to be rebuilt. The great thing about a barn find is that it is an open canvas that you can build whatever way suits your purposes. If it is the original things you expect the truck to do, you rebuild it like original, but if you want it to be a highway friendly driver, you rebuild it that way, or if you want it to be a hot rod, you rebuild it that way. As long as you choose only one direction, costs are going to come out reasonably close, as long as you don't get radically carried away with any path.

I've had 3 of the 50s Dodge trucks, early 50s, mid 50s and late 50s, and loved them all. I prefer the modern day work truck/daily driver style. Gene

Not my 1st Rodeo with them either. But I just have a good feeling about this truck, after all just one of them horseshoes has to be lucky for me. 72*birdman

done some, sold some.