1942 1/2-Ton Chevy

Owned by Rick Mayabb Bolter # 10515 Piedmont, Oklahoma Talking about this truck in the DITY Gallery

From Rick :

Here is a video from YouTube of getting the 1942 Chevy running.

I bought this classic Art Deco series Chevy truck with a 1950's model 235 sitting in it. We still don't know the history on the motor. So I took a chance and didn't rebuild it, just added some paint, new plugs and a carburetor.

I did all that work getting it ready and it was a great sound! 

Just a few more things to do and it'll be off for paint soon! 

Thanks to my Dad for spending a few minutes getting the firing order correct (153624 in case anyone is looking). And my wife for her enthusiasm!

Rick

03 April 2006
# 1490

From Rick :

       Hello Stovebolt members. Here are some pictures of my classic Chevy -- a 1942 1/2-ton Chevy Truck.

       I acquired the passion from growing up in my Dad's plumbing and welding shop. I saw my Dad work on our go-carts and motorcycles and I had to learn quickly when, at 15 I acquired my first car for $200 -- a '72 VW Bug. It needed constant work to get me to and from high school.

       This is my first attempt at restoring without needing it for transportation (some of you may know what I am talking about). I am the third owner of this '42. I picked it up from a guy in Phoenix in January 2006. As you can see, it came in pieces and was in need of some work.

       The truck started out in Minnesota on a tree farm and was parked in the back of an orchid for years. It was transferred about six years ago to a relative in Phoenix. The body had been primed but from what I can tell, it wasn't prepped or sanded. There is evidence of this when I took off the original manufacturing plate and some gaskets around the fire wall.

       For your information, I found the truck when searching through The Stovebolt Page. Three months later, I brought it to my Dad's welding and plumbing shop in Piedmont, Oklahoma.

       The original manufacturing plate was still attached and I was able to trace this back to the Kansas City plant. The motor was swapped in its career to a 1950's 235 that had been recently rebuilt but still needed some elbow grease. I was able to get it running within an hour of having it home. I sealed up all the holes and used airplane paint stripper to change it from blue to black. It was quite a transformation! It's also amazing what $200 in chrome will get you.

       (Speaking of what chrome will do ... this is a good shot of the '42 with a new chrome grille. Great motivation I bet ~~ Editor)

       I live in Houston, Texas and have gone up once a month to work on it. Lucky for me, my wife is very understanding. (Actually she didn't want the "pile" in our garage.) There is a reason that you don't see me in any of the pictures. According to my wife, I am on my own with this one!

       So far, it looks like all the major components are there. I have had to make a few adjustments to get the body to line up. Once all the hardware fits properly, I will unbolt and send the frame off for sandblasting while I finish the motor and work on the interior and drive train. I don't want to replace the floorboard with fiberglass so I am searching for a metal replacement. If you have any suggestions, please email me!

       Feel free to also email me any suggestions or items to watch for.

Enjoy,

Rick Mayabb

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