Franklin Brown's 1950 3604 3/4-Ton Pickup

22 May 2006
# 1532

From Franklin:

              I�m Back! I got another old Stovebolt truck (Franklin has had another 1950 and a 1955.1 in the Gallery ~ Editor) and I want to share it with you.

              Here are some pictures of my 1950 3604 �-ton pickup with (I think) the original 216 motor (AHCA serial no.) that I awoke from a 27 year nap.

              When some friends helped me haul this treasure home in fall '03, it had '76 license plates. The engine was stuck. I was patient and applied liberal amounts of Marvel Mystery Oil, (WD40), etc. in the spark plug holes and waited two or three weeks before trying to start it. I was doing some other stuff to it -- oil change, etc. When I did put on a new battery, it turned over great. After an ignition tune-up, carb cleaning and temporary gas can, I got it started and running good. Sweet, actually.

              Since then I have worked on everything on this truck to get it roadworthy -- new clutch, U-joints, everything about the brakes re-done, new wiring harness, lights, all glass except driver�s door is new, new interior, new plywood bed floor. The list goes on.

              It still needs lots of work but I�m having fun. The engine starts quick and runs good and the truck drives good. But it does smoke �. a lot. A couple of weeks ago I drove the ole girl to a Cruise-In about 35 miles from my house - and back!! without incident. It used one quart of oil on the trip there. I put in a quart for the trip home and all other fluids checked OK. Only trouble on the trip home was a noisy, whining speedo. I stopped along the way and disconnected the cable.

              A friend followed me there in his '56 Ford F100. He said he only saw smoke when I took off after stops. This trip did add a few things to my to-do list. The picture is me at the Cruise-in.

Thanks,

Franklin Brown
"Frank 50 "
Bolter # 734
Central Illinois
Amish Country