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Old pickups

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
I know this is suppose to be a "tractor talk" board but I don't know where else to go to talk about old pickup trucks. I have always wanted an old pickup, preferably a ford or chevrolet around 1950 but I never would pay what they go for. Now I have run across a 1951 Internatioal which runs and looks to be in good shape and I am strongly considering buying it. It is original with a two tone green paint, short bed with 3-speed on the steering wheel column. Only rusty spot is just above the windshield above the glass. Bumper is missing and a headlight broken. It will smoke a tad when you crank it up but that disappears once it gets running good. I was told that you could never put a V8 in it because of where the steering box is located but I think I would rather keep it original anyway. If I should run into problems, are parts available for these old boys? Are there many collectors out there? I can get this little feller for $1000.00 and I am trying to talk myself into just doing it. What do you think?
 
go get it, ih pickups were actualy well built and as reliable as any on the road, if memory serves, [ ive only been around 1] the hood on these was a unique design, you could turn the handel on one side and lift it or leave it down and go to the other side, and open it [ butterfly hood] but 2 people could also turn both handels and lift the hood completly off the truck for more engine access, at least the '51 i was around did this
 
I have a International R190. One of the big trucks that I refurbished. That makes parts a little harder. Most of the auto part stores carry parts. Tractor parts are far easier to find. They are fun to drive around and watch people give you a second look.
 
If you are trying to talk yourself into you really don't want it.

But trucks like that don't come around every day.
 
I've been thinking of something like that to put on an old 88 Dodge chassis 4WD I have with the V 6 auto trans.
 
I have a 1939 GMC AC-102 1/2 Ton Pickup. I love driving it around, just like my old tractors. Takes you back to a time when things were much simpler. I get a lot of looks and there is always someone around who wants to talk about it when I go to the store, etc.
 
I've got a '50 International that's just like yours. If you haven't done so, keep the 6, rewire it for 12V and leave everything else the way it is. My opinion.
 
I wish I could find one such as you have . In my life time[72yrs.] I have owned 5 IHC Pick up trucks and 4 larger ones. Finding such as you have ,probably a L100,would bring back a lot of memorys,mostly good ones. I forget the years of the L Model,R Model or C Model. I owned at one time or another a L120,R120,R130,B110 and a C120.I also owned a KB160,a B180,both conventionals and a Sightliner V8 single axle and a 200 V8 tandem,both Hiway tractors.Spent a lot of time behind the wheel of these old girls,a long time ago now.Hauled lots of grain and gravel with the tractors and straight trucks and went a lot of places in the pickups.JH
 
I own two L-series International pickups, a '51 L-112 and a '52 L-112. As Paul directed you below, the OldIHC.org website has plenty of information on these trucks...including modifications to them, including engine swaps that folks have done over the years.

Mechanical parts are readily available, but reproduction body parts simply don't exist. Restoration Specialties and Class-Tech cars sell just about any weatherstrip you could imagine, and NAPA and CarQuest can usually put their hands on any of the mechanical stuff to keep you running.

One caveat on these Internationals has to do with wheels for the 3/4 ton models. They use a nearly-unique 6 lug on 7-1/4" bolt circle wheel, and replacements are rare...and pricey. Best option there is a place called Stockton Wheel, but lately I've heard horror stories about Stockton making "replacement" wheels for the one-ton duallys that end up having the wrong backspacing and won't fit the trucks...even while having one of the original wheels in their possession. But the half-tons use the more common 5 lug on 4-1/2" bolt circle, and they're not that difficult to find.

Happy Binderin'!
 
Get a good set of ear plugs, they weren't called cornbinders for nothing.
Walt

Personally i liked the early Chevies had a few of them from a 37 up to 67 the 37 was the most fun.
 
I grew up in those old IHC pickups. They are solid as tanks, made of real steel, and easy to work on. Just keep seeking and you will find a whole network of IHC lovers to find old parts. And forget about retrofitting a V-8....keep it stock inline 6. Just remember if that old I-beam front axle has a little king pin bushing wear-keep your eyes on the road, cause it will head toward either ditch in a heartbeat. Paul in Mississippi
 
There's a pretty neat book, titled 'Truck", that came out in the 70's, by John Jerome who was an editor at a car magazine, about restoring an old worn out pickup. He was thinking like you were. The book is a lot like Pirsig's book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance". He talks about first looking for just the right pre-technological pickup, the philosophy of restoring it and just mechanics and life in general. He settles finally on a 1950 Dodge, which was 22 years old at the time. Makes a really good read. Kind of quaint now. Can you imagine writing a book today about restoring a 22 year old (1987 model) truck today? There was another similar book with a similar title that came out a lot later about a guy restoring an 1951 International. You might be able to find these books at Amazon or one of the old book sites like Alibris.
 
We had a 1956 International R-190, John Bean equiped, fire engine that I drove a lot until I was promoted - the non-syncro transmission was a real handfull until you learned how.
 
Hi JRT,

In the mid 80's the daughter's first boy friend bought a 50's Int pick-up. It really was sharp looking. He said the only thing bad about it, that it was difficult too find OEM parts and expensive when he did find them.

T_Bone
 
We had a 1956 International R-190, John Bean equiped, fire engine that I drove a lot until I was promoted - the non-syncro transmission was a real handfull until you learned how.
 
Here are some pics you might enjoy. The first two were pickups up at the Bridgeport sale last year. That red IH was as perfect as it gets, I could not find a single scratch ANYWHERE on it. I think it was a state pickup or something - seems like that black tank was a "sanding" attachment for putting out sand or salt...

The Stude and '38 Ford are mine:

<a href="http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p268/case600lp/permanent/?action=view&current=DSC_0025-2.jpg" target="_blank">
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<a href="http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p268/case600lp/permanent/?action=view&current=DSC_0026.jpg" target="_blank">
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</a>

<a href="http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p268/case600lp/permanent/?action=view&current=DSCN0102.jpg" target="_blank">
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</a>

<a href="http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p268/case600lp/permanent/?action=view&current=DSC00679.jpg" target="_blank">
DSC00679.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket
</a>
 
Yesterday's Tractors actually has a classic truck forum that you might enjoy. I have used it in years past but my interest has kind of waned.

I just looked on Ebay for International pickup and there are a fair number of them in the early to mid '50s as well as others.

One there with a Cadillac engine in it so a V-8 can be done. With modern steering apps it shouldn't be too difficult although I would leave it as is.

The one you are looking at seems to be at a comparable price. Take a look for yourself.

One nice thing about the old Chevys is that so many, many parts interchange over a wide range of years. Sometimes have to change flywheels and starters but many are simply a bolt in exchange for engines.

Have fun, now go buy that truck before it gets away from you.
 
I always liked the looks of Studebaker pickups. That blue one would have been hard to pass up.
 
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