If you put $20,000 into it, you'd have a solid $5,000 truck

These 50s trucks always look so cool even when the earth is reclaiming them.

It's not throwing in the towel Wes, it's prioritising what's practical for you and the channel 👍

Wes is a master of understatement

"The interior could use some work..." hahaha! Thanks for the laughs!

This thing needed attention long before it was parked there.

"Tighter than a dutch wallet" 😂 greetings from the Netherlands😅🇳🇱

Brother,I imagine that it becomes difficult to find new interesting material to post. But you do a fantastic job keeping it fresh. I appreciate your efforts!

Saturday morning and I couldn't be happier about this video. This is the FUN kind of content. Thanks Wes. Much appreciated. Hello. Mrs.Wes, Jr and Pup.

A great look back in history to see what had to be done in difficult times. Thanks for the insight that you don’t see in a musium. Well done! Thank you.

Another cinematic masterpiece. Thanks Wes. If these 'ol girls could talk! Somebody out there would give her a home.

You know I'd totally forgotten that I found your channel watching you wrench on rusty junk out there in those woods.

Your channel is by far one of the best on KZfaq! Thank you for giving us what we want! There are no good revival channels anymore. Don't ever change Wes, you've got the magic.

A shame but reasonable decision to walk away. Someone could probably use the cab tho if theu desired. But I'm glad your doing revivals! Its why I started watching you

You make the decisions here. We get to watch for free. Love your videos. You are the finest mechanic I’ve ever seen.

Success or not, its always a good time hangin out with ya! Love the old machines!

I am amazed how many abandoned engines you and other KZfaq creators can get running after many years. This one is just too far gone. It was interesting to see the details of the customizations when it was operating. Thanks. Dave.

Hi Wes, great vlog as usual, a man that knows when to walk away is a great deal smarter than a man that knows it all👍

That truck is the perfect project for someone out there. At least you made an effort to save it. I sincerely and genuinely appreciate people that try and preserve our automotive history. That's not a common truck. Again Wes, thank you for your content.

My favorite chanel and here is why... Wes finds odd ball garbage and then works on it. Your knowledge of all things mechanical is outstanding. I love to listen to your diagnostic thought process and you have a wonderful sarcastic flavor of humor.

Back in the 50's my uncle purchased a CJ Jeep brand new, came with a half cab and a dual wheeled rear end and a backhoe attachment that is very similar to the one that you have shown in this video. Although not quite as big in size (since it was mounted on a Willy's Jeep) But it looked the same. Ran off a PTO from the t-case, and you stood in the bed of the Jeep to operate.

"The interior could use some work" You're a master of understatement Wes . LMAO

If Wes doesn't already have some sort of engineering degree, I would gladly give him an honorary one if I could. He has earned it by me. 50 year old EE here. Greatly enjoy watching him debug and improvise on both electrical and mechanical systems.

Enjoyed the video, especially all the crazy workarounds the original owners used to keep the old beast running. Reminded me of my Dad's bodgercraft. He never threw away a bolt or a scrap of metal. At times the only thing new parts on the the equipment after a repair was the bailing wire. Also your video provided a reality check for some KZfaqrs. Some old equipment just can't be fixed and you have to close the hood, put your hands in your pockets, and walk away. Well done!

Entertaining all the way through. Even though I kind of knew it was not going to start. Thank You

Nice-something to watch while I brew my coffee!

That was great even if don't get it to run. You've got know your limitations and when to though the towel in. Thanks Wes . I always enjoy your videos no matter what you do.

I remember as a boy seeing these type of trucks. Back in the day people didn't worry as much about doing it by the book. Great video thanks for sharing

Thank you Wes!! I always enjoy your vids and most of the time wish I could find the cool stuff you Do!!!

I love “eye of newt” formulation for freeing engine I laughed so hard thank you ,it helped

Hahaha eye of newt! Thx for taking the time to mess around Wes, appreciated

Great video...I always learn something when I watch them. Whether it be mechanical or new vocabulary....”craptackular!” That was the best!!

You didn't try putting it in a swimming pool full of evaporust. I'm so disappointed in you. Lol

Maybe you, Andrew Camarata, JunkYard Digs, Mustie1, and ViceGrip Garage could join forces to do a revival on it. I'd love to see that series.

The BACKHOE part is neat, the SWING very different. On a FORD 420 use to run had a chain rap around with Cylinder's system kind of like that. It sure would have been neat to see digging ground in its day. I wish those car rebuild SHOWS on MOTOR TREND would take on a project like one of these, all those TALENTED old time CLASSIC car guys. Watching them rebuild her Thank you for showing this old great piece.

Thanks for sharing Wes, some of the stuff you find is crazy. Now let's do what the last guy did and slowly Walk away.

What a cool old truck!

Would have loved to see the Backhoe working again. Looks like a hybrid worth seeing in action. Great video. Keep 'em coming.

I get very little time to watch these great videos since our twins arrived three weeks ago. Makes watching these even better.

I wish I had the same time/reward analyzer - mine is broken. Good to see the old dame and definitely no point in going any further. Thanks for finding it to look at.

I agree with you! Close the hood and walk away. It will probably cost you an arm and a leg to get that beast to ever run again. I love your channel and looking forward to your next project! 👍

Ahh man i love that. Beautiful old truck. I dont see anything coming out nowerdays that makes me feel the way that does.

I use a 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone. If that wont break it free nothing will. Great video!!!

Love the antique sculpture in the woods tours! 😁

Next week on Mustie1: Forgotten 1950s GMC Truck

Oh my... After high school, before I went off to Canoe U., I went with my folks to visit family in Alton, Ill. Then we drove up to Wisconsin to see my dad's brother. Somewhere along the way we stopped at a burger joint/drive in... with car hops and all... I swear I remember seeing this monstrosity sitting in the parking lot with 3 guys sitting on it having lunch. They fired it up and drove it away and you could tell the steering was real light. That would have been the summer of 78??

Great news, Wes goes hunting, not if you're expecting food though! LOL. Very interesting vehicle, partial Hybrid, "plant and machine". Love the ballast resistor, no hidden inside a loomed wire jobbe!. Great vlog Wes, thanks for sharing. Regards John.

Was cool seeing this old truck thanks for bringing us along @Watch Wes Work

I can remember when there were a lot of those rigs around the area I grew up in. They dug everything with those- foundations, cellar holes, shallow wells, septic systems, etc and an awful lot of woods roads were built with something like that and maybe a small crawler. Different times, different expectations.

Perfect candidate for a Cummins conversion!

Wes, I remember when I was young and had more energy than was good for me. I don't know why you even considered this truck for a project other than having excess energy to burn off. Like Kenny Rogers said, you got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, and know when to walk away. I think you made the correct call. I enjoy your videos quite a lot. Thanks.

You have yet to fail me yet, I am always honored to be able to get to watch. Great evening to you

The lovechild of a breakdown truck and a JCB!

TOOLS EXPLAINED DRILL PRESS : A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it. WIRE WHEEL : Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, 'Oh sh*t' DROP SAW : A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short. PLIERS : Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters. BELT SANDER : An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs. HACKSAW : One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle... It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes. VISE-GRIPS : Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand. OXYACETYLENE TORCH : Used almost entirely for lighting on fire various flammable objects in your shop. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.. TABLE SAW : A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity. HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK : Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper. BAND SAW : A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge. TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST : A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect. PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER : Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads. STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER : A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms. PRY BAR : A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part. HOSE CUTTER : A tool used to make hoses too short. HAMMER : Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit. UTILITY KNIFE : Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use. ADJUSTABLE WRENCH: aka "Another hammer", aka "the Swedish Nut Lathe", aka "Crescent Wrench". Commonly used as a one size fits all wrench, usually results in rounding off nut heads before the use of pliers. Will randomly adjust size between bolts, resulting in busted buckles, curse words, and multiple threats to any inanimate objects within the immediate vicinity. Son of a b*tch TOOL : Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'Son of a b*tch' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

I give you credit for even taking a second look and even considering getting it going again. Pieces ,parts only now.

That cab is probably the only salvageable thing on there. Thanks for trying to bring it back to life Wes!

My hopes and expectations started out lower than that rear end😂

This is the first time I've turned the channel on you man

That was fun. I'd leave that thing right where it is. Outside museums like that are cool to visit - a little walk through the trees looking at old junk is relaxing.

As cool as this truck would be running again, got to be practical on these projects. You've clearly got the skills Wes but there's all the $$$ involved. Give Jay Leno a call..he has the deep pockets to do a full ground up on this!!!

I always wonder why people never try evaporust in the cylinders? I mean, you’re gonna change the oil anyways. Lol. I still love the content, you’ll get it next time!!!

Eye of newt! Surely that would work. Heh. "Locked up tighter than a Dutch wallet". Man that had me laughing. My son-in-law is from Dutch stock, really fun fella, but brother, I've never seen anyone like it for pinching the pennies.

I appreciate this kind of work! Wow, that would be too much of a challenge.

I like how you revisit the old truck. Who knows what the future holds. The body has potential.

Holy smokes Wes, I was expecting to see you digging up the yard back home with that machine by the end. Loved the video.

Andrew Camarata would love that truck :-P

You cracked me up about the ponytails. Thanks for the video

U are a brave man doing these projects.......and a very smart guy

Just made my day Wes. I’ve been wanting to see a video on this for quite a while!!

That would be really cool to have as lawn art in my yard.

Wes, put it up for bid. Rare find, Number 1 of 2 built, 302 Jimmy, original paint, was restored by Chip Foose, and the reserve is off !!! GOOD LUCK.

Always fun to watch! Love them old trucks!

The world would be a much cooler place today had the “backhoe all the things” idea caught on. Sad to know that won’t be part of the resurrection.

Yes the old field of forgotten things my favorite wes episodes

As a regular fan, I have faith in you, next year you will be back with a plan of action. I can't wait.

Probably best as a donor or a project for someone with a LOT of time to fiddle at it. Loving the angle iron / spring arrangements :)

Eye of newt and rendered sunk fat made me laugh🤣

Totally expected to hear you say "there's your problem lady." But where would you start.

Please take it back to the shop. It deserve another life and be nice project for upcoming videos..... please please please dont leave it for another 20 years....

OM-G I just cant say enough words regarding your sense of HUMOR, the video is absolutely pure entertainment in multiple avenues, from the "12" volt Spark-GMC-Tronic modification, to the block of wood cab mount repair, the non existent carrier bearing. The backhoe attachment that obviously exceeds the entire gross weight of the truck X3?, the all thread ROD modification for U-Bolts always does the trick no matter if its 1/2 INCH or 5/8, THIS absolutely pure entertainment and Thank you for taking the time to do it, I say offer the cab to a RAT ROD DONER -Builder and send the rest of her to the crusher... ONLY if you have NO Sentimental attachments...!!

Excellent for lawn art..

I think you went “far enough” 5 mins in... a year ago. That’s what’s called “countryside art”

I'm always amazed at what you will even look at.

Just fun to watch !...I had a similar truck well...cab style when I was 19... Bought a 1953 GMC 450 with a 4 yard low profile dump body....had a straight 6 engine and 4 speed with 2 speed rear.....ran good for about a month until the 6cy became a 4 ! Lol... needless to say...I decided to take it off the insurance policy and use it as a woods truck to haul firewood from the farm behind me. Had the best paint job around....took me, my dad and my brother 2 hours with brushes and a bucket of I.H. red !. Thanks for a few good laughs too ! I love your sense of humor. Stay safe and Merry Christmas. Tom

Looks like who ever owned it tried to get every plug nickel they could out of it before it went to the field. Just walk away....

I know that one is a lost cause, But in a Jay Leno's garage video , the mechanic added Acetone to his witches brew to free up rings. But you gave it a good shot and i like you inspected the whole truck for those who have interest in it.

I love your videos featuring old iron. We know you are busy in your business but these videos are very special. Thanks for posting. One good thing is that it’s too cold out there for Copperheadedrattlemoccasins.

I like you working on the old stuff

Yeah, another watch wes work in the woods

There goes the hopes for this being your next daily driver...

This GMC 450 restoration will be epic!

Awesome peace of history thanks for sharing with us

Good try CAN NOT WIN THEM ALL Wes

Would make the most bizarre and coolest rat rod, though!

Someone out there has the loot to restore this thing...imagine the cool factor! GREAT video Wes...this was a hoot!

A right royal money pit! Walk away- there is no snake oil in the world that could make something on it go and then return at least a little of your outlay! The arse-end of it looks like something taken from a Bucyrus shovel! Many thanks for the walk-around, Wes; it is sobering to see someone's once pride and joy mouldering away in a forgotten graveyard.

Hey Wes, what are your thoughts on filling the cylinder with evapo rust?

put the cab on your daily driver since it is solid, that metal would take years to riot out

Just soak the entire rig in Evaporust! Easy fix! Lol. Good video, Wes!

thanks for the content, great assessment on the truck, Keep up the good work, always enjoy seeing your videos