partstrk

Parts Truck?

Chuck is a guy I've met through some after hours network consulting I've done. In a lunch conversation some weeks ago, I learned he had a '54 Chevy parts truck he was ready to part with...

Well Saturday I called Chuck and said I wanted to see it. He described the truck as rusty, and said he was keeping the grill. I'm looking for doors, so I don't care about the grill.

He didn't want me to drive out and be disappointed. Stu and I headed out.

Well what we saw was a very mossy red '54 Chevy. My first thought was that this thing would be trash. That much moss it must be rotten clear through. But I started checking the doors, and the bottom inside edges are in good shape.

And as I looked some more, it seemed that every piece I looked at was at least as good as what I have. Now this is a pickup, so some of the pieces I need worst aren't even part of this truck, but the bed and fenders are there and straight. I can't find any wholes in the cab...

Chuck and I negotiated. Actually he said it needs to go because he wants to build a new driveway where it is sitting, and his wife is tired of it. I can have the truck if I won't make him clean out the bed. I agreed.

Next step is to get it home. I called Gene and asked if I could borrow his car dolly. Sure, I just have to find it... Bob had it, but Chris was going to get it from him... Neither Bob nor Chris answer the phone. Jared has an implement trailer so I tried him. No answer.

Gateway towing has a flatbed wrecker. They answered and agreed to meet me at 4:30. I run back out to where the truck was sitting and proceed to wait. At 4:45 I call and find the wrecker will be another 45 minutes. At about 5:30, when I expect them to arrive, Chuck and family have to leave, so I ask Chuck to write me a bill-of-sale just in case the wrecker guy doesn't believe its my truck. It says one dollar, so I gave Chuck one dollar.

At 5:45 I call again. Another 45 minutes... And I call again, and again. The guy arrived about 7:15. While I can't claim to be amused I was so happy to see him that I put it behind me and let him load the truck.

Like a dummy I ran off without the camera, so there are no pictures of it in its native habitat, or of it being loaded. The wrecker guy followed me home, and shortly had it unloaded. By now its dark, and though Stu took some pictures there is not much to see.

Sunday afternoon I get outside (only because another network project fell through) to really look at what I got. I was starting to wash it down with the hose when my neighbor stops and offers his pressure washer. Of course I said yes!

A couple hours later a red pickup emerged. I even pressure washed the inside of the cab to get rid of pine needles and cob webs. I washed several inches of pine needle crust out of the bed, and yes he did leave me some treasures there! That's why God blessed us with trash cans!

Nicole spent some time cleaning, and now claims to have adopted the truck. Teri says it has a nice shape and that it would be a shame to cut it up. My friend Jeff stopped by riding his new (1982 Yamaha 750) motorcycle, and he agrees, its too nice to cut it up.

So I have a dilemma. Look for more parts for the sub, and make this a driver (it does lack a few parts...) or make everyone wonder about me, and get out some cutting tools.

Feel free to add your vote. Send me a 'yea' or 'nay' at Steve@OldSub.com and you too can think I'm nuts when I make my own decision about the future of the 'parts truck'!

Last updated: December 31, 2006