Can You Daily Drive a Chevy 3100?

Ferrari Eater · May 26, 2020

Completely stock, can you daily drive a 3100? If not, what modifications are necessary to make it drivable?

Daly · May 26, 2020

When it was brand new someone daily drove it. Provided it's in good shape, you should be able to, too.

JimCost2014 · May 26, 2020

With todays traffic, upgraded brakes, steering, and cooling system for starters.

Grumpy Bear · May 26, 2020

57 minutes ago, Ferrari Eater said:

Completely stock, can you daily drive a 3100? If not, what modifications are necessary to make it drivable?

Absolutely. I ride an Royal Enfield that is 70 years old without issue. I just don't ride it like it's today technology. Mindful of longer braking distances and such. I certainly don't ask it to do 70 mph so I stay off the interstate. Big deal. You're in control, not the technology. If you wanted disc brakes and power steering why would you buy it to begin with unless 'resto-rod' is your thing. But ability wise. Sure and if you don't want to, let me know. I'll take it off your hands.

1958 Chevy Apache · May 26, 2020

You could daily drive it, you would just need to winter proof it. Older cars rust a lot in road salt.

Ferrari Eater · May 27, 2020

21 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Sure and if you don't want to, let me know. I'll take it off your hands.

Thanks, but I don't actually have one. Just wondering.

Grumpy Bear · May 27, 2020

52 minutes ago, Ferrari Eater said:

Thanks, but I don't actually have one. Just wondering.

I had, up to a few years ago, a collection of motorcycles. Three of which were antiques. I've ridden everything from a Honda step through Campus 50 to a Hurricane. Sport. Touring. Roadsters. Trials. Purpose built Drag bikes. Bonneville lake bike. Last two both gas and fuel. One to six cylinder. Nothing makes me smile more than a 40's to 60's Britt half liter single roadster on a wooded back lane doing 50 mph. That Enfield had a 5 gallon tank and got 92 mpg at 60 mph. All day between fuel stops. That was good because a fuel stop was at minimum an hour long. Everyone wanted to talk about the bike. EVERYONE. :crackup:

We've been looking for some years for the 'right' 28/29 Model A Tudor to tour in across the USA. There are actually clubs for this sort of adventure. A 53 3100 216 babbitt beater would feel like a light year jump in tech over the A.

alodawg26 · April 18, 2022

Why not? Depending on how fast you want to go, definitely doable. I think Chevy 3100 was the naming prior to the c/k line, so maybe not the right forum? Either way, these trucks were not built for speed. My 63 tops out at about 55mph, but I also have the original 230, 3-speed column, and original rear end. If you want speed, you would need more gears. Also, they have tons of suspension upgrades for these old trucks.