Owned by Mark Haner "Markiemark9" Bolter # 40421 Nebraska

1951 Chevy 3100 1/2-Ton

More pictures of my old truck on Flickr

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From Mark :

I wanted to document my build on the Stovebolt site. (And it was good timing as we are starting a forum just for this kind of detail ~ Editor)

I picked up a 1951 Chevy 3100 1/2-ton in late August in various forms of disassembly and I aim to get her back on the road by Thanksgiving!

There is a short backstory on my acquisition of this pickup.

I first starting working on older cars around 14 years old when I got a 1972 VW Super Beetle (which I just finished a frame-off restoration this past August). Also, at about 16 years of age, I got a 1964 Chevy C-10 Fleetside that I completed a partial restoration on. I then completed a 1974 VW Super Beetle and after selling both that and the '64 Chevy, I took a 10 year pause to get through college and start on a career! I wasn't working on old cars during that time but I never lost the itch!.

I have always been a huge fan of the Advanced Design and Task Force Chevy pickups. They just have that look I love.

Mark's 1951 Chevy 3100 Stepside restoration and re-build is one of the first entries in our new forum -- The Project Journals. For regular updates and progress on this re-build, be sure to check out his thread.

After finishing my pan-off restoration of the 1972 Super Beetle, I was already itching for another project (my wife was not, however, but she lets me pursue my second love). I took my time and discretely started flipping thru Craigslist and Facebook ads of local projects for sale. I was shocked at how readily available these pickups still are!

Unfortunately, I had to weed thru lots of ads asking for what guys had invested in their unfinished project or projects that were just simply too far gone for me.

Then one day it happened. An ad showed up on Craigslist for a 1951 3100 Chevy that had no pictures and only a price - but the seller was responsive and very close in proximity!

I grabbed a buddy and we went to go see it one Thursday night. The pickup was all I wanted it to be. Solid and straight frame, decent body (although completely disassembled), a stock motor and transmission (that supposedly ran) and even a Mustang II clip included but not yet installed!

I left knowing I'd buy the pickup and played the game with the seller. He needed it out of his storage shack to store another project that his son had lost interest in, and he just didn't have the time to deal with it. Lots of guys were making offers on parts and he just wanted it gone as a whole.

I made a fair, yet lucrative offer and after about a 30 minute discussion, the car hauler was on its way and I was the proud owner of a clean titled 1951 Chevy 3100 1/2-ton.

Let the games begin!

At this writing, I've completed the following:

• Installed the motor
• Installed the radiator
• Installed the transmission
• Pulled and cleaned the gas-tank
• Assembled the various bolt-on body panels
• Started the motor and tuned it to idle (first time since the mid-80's!)
• Began painting the motor

Items remaining before initial road test:

• Finish painting motor
• Replacement of motor gaskets
• Replacement of motor mounts
• Reinstall gas tank and sending unit
• Go thru brake system

The next week was a busy one! I got a lot of work done on the pickup and things are really starting to take shape!

I have worked to paint the block, valve cover, push-rod cover as well as replace the fuel pump and all relative gaskets for these items. I have also painted the starter and the generator. I'll be painting the other bolt on items (oil pan, water pump, harmonic balancer, distributor, oil filter and air cleaner while breather tube will be getting replaced) and replacing their gaskets in the coming days.

I also spent a night out in a farmers field picking thru about five cabs / partial AD trucks for parts. I scored big time, coming out with the following for peanuts:

• Air cleaner
• Door glass (both sides)
• Front hood emblem and brackets
• Headliner rod / bow
• Visors
• Glove box door
• Speaker grille trim
• Lower metal door panels
• Windshield center trim (inner and outer)
• Throttle cable
• Complete exhaust
• Wiper arms

My floor pans are being delivered so that will be a fun time of working on the motor items listed, cleaning up and installing the above as well as cutting out my old pans and hopefully putting the new ones in with tack welds for a test-fit!

Mark

PROJECT BUILD JOURNAL! Mark is participating in the Project Build Journal portion the the Restoration forums. He'll be writing, wrenching, illustrating, and photographing as he documents his rebuild. Keep track of the restoration project details in the DITY Gallery and check for new photos to his photo album. Any and all questions welcome! If you post in the forum, others can share in the discussion. Thanks ~ Editor

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