A very stylish Chevy 1-ton resto mod truck caught our attention at a large car show, and we were fortunate enough to catch up with its owner so he could fill in the blanks on the 70-year-old workhorse.
The ’55 Chevy truck belonged to Bob Gaiger, and he explained how he became its latest owner when it was offered for sale.
The former owner was a dedicated car guy who gathered plenty of project vehicles over the years, including the vintage Chevy 1-ton.
Jim Sutherland
The truck was modified into a flatbed with a fifth wheel towing package, but Bob devised his own game plan to resurrect the neglected old workhorse.
The Chevy’s reliable but underpowered straight-six engine was not enough to power it down modern roads, so it was yanked in favor of an unusual Cummins 4-cylinder diesel engine donated by a forklift tractor.
Bob told MyStarCollectorCar the truck’s engine compartment was too small to jam a conventional Cummins 6-cylinder engine into it, so he chose the smaller 4-banger version. It is a versatile engine that could also be found in smaller delivery trucks as well as forklifts, according to Bob.
He had to remove the truck’s front clip and build custom-build engine mounts so the diesel would fit into the designated area. Bob mated the Cummins engine to a Chevy automatic overdrive transmission provided by a newish pickup truck and then continued his resto mod with a dual rear wheel setup donated by a 1985 Chevy motorhome.
Bob widened the truck’s rear deck and attached sides, along with wider rear fenders, to accommodate its dual wheels. The truck’s gauges are original but have been rewired to register the new diesel engine’s vital signs whenever Bob gets behind the wheel. The electrical upgrades include a shift to an alternator charging system instead of the original generator system because the more modern Cummins diesel uses an alternator.
The Chevy 1-ton has power steering donated by a Dodge Cummins diesel truck, along with a tilt steering column, because Bob intends to use the truck for longer excursions and likes their enhanced comfort factor on a road adventure. A good example was his first major trip in his ’55 Chevy truck from his home in Alberta Canada to a show in Montana.
The truck performed admirably along the way and provided enough information for Bob to formulate his future plans for his ’55 Chevy 1-ton. For example, he would like to boost the Cummins engine’s horsepower with beefier aftermarket injectors to get the most out of the diesel’s performance.
Bob chose a suspension from a Chevy Heavy Half donor truck to improve its ride quality, but he won’t change the truck’s seat because it provides good passenger comfort on longer trips.
The truck’s new powertrain can easily handle current highway speeds, but Bob added it still has its original kingpin steering assembly, so he respects the truck’s ability to handle the higher speeds and does not push it too hard at this point.
Bob called his ’55 Chevy a “tow truck-not a show truck”, given its trailer towing capacity and the fact that he loves to drive it.
It is likely both of Bob’s descriptions in our opinion here at MyStarCollectorCar.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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