New Owner: Ray Papandrea "greenmtman" Bolter # 32084 Vermont

1949 Chevy 4400 (1.5-Ton)

More pictures of my old truck

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From Peggy :

John and Peggy sold the old '49 to Ray back in December 2011. He flew down from Vermont, after seeing the pictures on-line, plus some others that were Projects section of the Tech Tips.

They closed the deal. Ray went back home and sent a transport down to pick it up. The picture here is the '49 in its new home.

As of February 2012, Ray was fixing to sell it. He needed a regular pickup and found one on eBay out in California. He got a nice 1/2-ton. Not sure what has happened to Ol' Blue but maybe we'll hear from someone who now has the truck.

"For the time being, I still own the truck.  I sold my '67 Camaro yesterday so I now have the space I need for the new one I got.  Selling the '49 might not happen at all now.  I really do love the truck and might just hang on to it.  If not and I sell it, I will not only put you in contact with the new owner, but also ask him if he minds continuing the history of the truck." ~ Ray 

Previously owned by
John & Peggy Milliman
"Stovebolt Staff "
Bolter # 1
Mechanicsville, MD

23 February 2008

From John :

          We've made excellent progress over the past 12 months! The truck is pretty much complete at this point except for the grille, headliner and bed. Other than that, we just have a lot of tweaking to do -- hood, doors, re-installation of the manifold to cure an exhaust leak, the rear window locking bead, cowl vent gaskets, etc. But I have all of the interior re-installed and I have taken the truck for a drive! It drives far better than I remember!

06 March 2007

           I got the engine back from the shop in early February 2007. Here are the latest shots -- taken Saturday, February 17, 2007 -- my neighbor, Bob Frey, helped me get the transmission installed.

           Actually and technically, this is Peggy's truck. For more on that, you have to read the "Two guys in search of a truck" series in the Features section.... Anyway... We came by the truck because fellow Stovebolter Sam Fugate sent that email (see the original Gallery submission below).

           As anyone knows who's done a frame-off resto, the moment when you get the engine back in the frame is a major milestone! I had hit the wall and it seemed like I was stuck there for a long time. Long enough that I actively tried to sell the truck twice.

           But now I'm over the wall and on my way! I'm re-motivated and back in business. It's even fun! Can't wait to hear it run!!

           Here are a couple of additional pictures: the tranny installed; the rest of the front; another view of the work done on February 17; and another. You probably get the point...

           For more details, see the Project Trucks in the Tech Tips Section. John has more details and pictures there. (Actually there are details here, there and everywhere on John's stuff ) John has a second 1949 Chevy 3800 1-Ton and a 1965 GMC 4400 Fire Engine Tanker ~~ Editor

From John :

           We came by the truck when Sam Fugate sent an email Swap Meet ad submission for this truck (ahem, that's one of the perqs of being the guy who puts this whole web site together -- I get first picks of the swap meet ads!). Sam had a friend who was trying to sell his Dad's old tobacco hauler. From Sam's description and the digital photos he sent, we just had to go see it. At the time, we were living in Georgetown, Kentucky and the truck was located in Mt. Sterling -- about an hour away. We wasted no time. The photos here are the ones Sam took and sent us. The truck is shown just as we first saw it. What a great truck, but it was clear to all of us that it wouldn't last too much longer out in the elements.

           Except for one tiny little pin hole on the bottom cab corner behind the driver door, there is nothing worse than a little surface rust on this truck. Even the battery box, battery cover and floorboards are solid and just need paint. A few weeks later when we went back to get the truck, we had high hopes of driving it home. Despite it's appearance in the photo, this is an amazingly solid truck and gave every appearance that it would run.

           We tried putting the battery charger on it to start with, but as the battery has been dead for at least a year, that was doomed from the start. The best we got was a slight hum from the starter. So then we got the bright idea of pulling it behind the Dodge. Dodgezilla's tires are a little too worn for pulling old trucks out of their ruts on frozen ground (with the duals, it's too light in the back). So then Mr. Gilvan got his Ford 7600 tractor out (could pull both trucks). As the 4400 was sunk pretty good in the ground, it made the turbo on the tractor whine pretty good. We got it free and then went up and down the driveway. No joy. So, I juiced up the brakes, got good firm response with no fade, hooked up the chain and off we went towards home (John Hancock driving the Dodge).

           As soon as we got out of the driveway, I started popping the clutch. After a couple of miles, I got a cough out of the engine. After another mile or so, she was running! We pulled over, unhooked the chain and went the rest of the way unassisted. John fell in behind in Dodgezilla because we had no lights, no turn signals and, of course, no license plate.

           Halfway between Paris and Georgetown (in Thoroughbred Farm country) at another intersection, I braked to a stop and the brakes froze! I just backed up a bit and they came free. Once we got it home and in the driveway, we were able to crawl under it and take a really good look around. Other than surface rust on the frame, it's all solid and all there.

           The truck came with us when we moved to Maryland. You can see we got a little use out of it at our new jobs. Here, John is power washing the paddock fences with a 500 gallon water tank on the back of the '49.

           After a couple of years of doing nothing except look at all the disassembled parts, I've recently gotten back to work on it. I should have the cab, hood and doors back from the body shop soon.

John

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