1953 GMC Half-Ton

Owned by Jason Jennings "58Evinrude" Bolter # 21655 Rodessa, Louisiana Talking about this truck in the DITY Gallery

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From Jason :

Here's my submission for the Stovebolt Gallery. My classic truck is a 1953 GMC 1/2-ton that I bought about a year ago. I have always wanted one of these 5-window trucks and hope to have this one for a long time. I towed it all the way home from Dallas, Texas.

This old truck was already mounted on a 1976 Chevy pickup frame and therefore has power steering, power brakes, and IFS. It has a 350 v8 and 350 transmission with what I believe is a 3.73 gear ratio. However, I like the looks of original Stovebolts and don't like the way the wheels look -- especially how the front tires stick out of the fenders about three inches. It does drive pretty nice.

The truck was lowered when I bought it, so I raised it about three inches to a ride height I could live with.

The truck was in primer when I bought it and had a lot of dents but the frame and underneath was in really nice shape. There was little rust except in the passenger side cab corner. I replaced it with a patch panel that came with the truck.

This vintage truck also came with a cutout fender and side spare mount which I may use one day.

I just did the bodywork and painted it in my back yard just recently and I don't even have it all back together yet. It took me quite a few hours of work over the last couple of weeks while I've been on vacation. I still hope to ad a splash pan and front / rear bumpers soon.

I'm now trying to work out all the kinks and get it in good running condition with help from fellow Stovebolters here who have been really helpful. I hope to use it to tow my fishing boat and duck hunting boat with all my old OMC outboards which I love to restore. You may notice the trailer hitch I fabricated underneath the rear bumper.

I'm only 36 years old, but have always admired the 1950s automobiles, outboards, and guns due to the fact that they were all fine examples of American engineering that were made to last a lifetime or two. I am heavily biased toward GM products, Browning / Winchester / Remington guns, and Johnson / Evinrude outboards. I just love 'em.

I have gotten a lot of fun looking at everyone else's Stovebolts here and hope you enjoy a couple of my pics. Here's a pic I took of my GMC with a few of my outboards that I hope to haul in my truck to an Antique Outboard Motor Club meet one day in the future. I also have my two of my three children in this picture that I'm quite proud of as well! -- Larsen (driver) and Katy girl on my right. My Grand Nite Champion/Professional Kennel Club Champion Bluetick Coonhound (whose name is Katy, too) is in that family shot. Hopefully I'll get one with my wife, Beth, and other son in a shot or two, but someone has to take the picture!

You have a really neat web site that I have greatly benefited from. Thanks for taking the time to get all this together. I look forward to seeing my truck in the Gallery.

I've really been enjoying my old truck lately and am steadily improving it's appearance and drivability. I'm working on the interior now and hope to update with some interior pics soon.

Thanks again,

Jason Jennings and family

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