Owned by Dave Shirlin "Dave3100" Bolter # 3946 North Carolina

1955 Chevy 1st Series 3100

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From Dave :

I have been away from the site for some time but people have contacted me over the years from my Gallery page. Most of the questions related to THAT COLOR!! It's been neat when guys reach out to me and I've been able to help. Many people have wanted to know that paint code -- "Mariner Blue." You can't miss it when it's rolling down the road. She's quit popular in this area.

The Stovebolt site has really grown! Great job to everyone who helps make it happen. Now that we have a website of our own, we realize how dynamic it can be!

On the truck, the mechanicals were doing okay in the beginning when we got the truck (2003). About 18 months ago, we decided to re-do the whole works!

We just finished a two year complete mechanical restoration. Fresh (full) rebuild on the 235 engine, transmission rebuild, front end rework, king pins, brake line, master cylinder.

We pulled the front axle, etc. We kept stock 390 gears in it. I thought about changing out but I didn't want to change the rear end -- then it would become another project. We don't drive on the interstate, so the slow speed is not a problem for us.

We tackled another house renovation that we started a year ago. So the truck was staying in a single-car garage in a ramshackled building. I had to staple tarps on the inside of the roof to keep water from leaking in.

We are going to try to build a new garage for her. When renovating an old house, we have to wait for some extra money to show up. It will be good for her to have a spot of her own.

Dad and I worked on this together. He probably won't be around much longer. I have a snapshot of that period of my life.

This truck was also featured in Vintage Truck magazine back in December 2004. The mag was formerly called "This Old Truck" -- a perfect name for the magazine, too bad they couldn't use it any longer. I was also subscribing to This Old House.

Our old truck turned 60 last month (October 1954) so we think this she will probably be around long after we will. I am glad to have her back on the road! I'm actually driving it to the office a few days a week. It sure gets a lot of attention, especially since my office is in town.

The kids still enjoy the truck. They see the truck as part of the family. I started on the old truck when my oldest son Kyle was 3 years old. He's 17 now and a senior in high school. Our middle ones ... well, we've had the truck as long as they have been around.

Being in real estate, when the market crashed, times get tight but we never considered putting the old truck out for sale to pay the bills. We could make it work. If we sold the truck, we could never find another one like it.

I have had so many opportunities to sell the truck, it amazes me. I had a neighbor who's friend was dieing for the truck. He had a blank check and said, "You just fill it out." I told him I couldn't do it. One guy at Lowes had a $40,000 truck that he wanted to trade even for this truck but I told him, "No, couldn't do it."

All the best!

Dave

13 January 2005

Dear Fellow Stovebolters,

Thought it might be a good time to update my pictures of our 1955 1st Series 3100. She is even beautiful in black and white.

We have added Red Oak bed rails to achieve the farm truck look. We are still amazed at the attention this truck gets. She is still running like a top and very reliable.

We have owned this truck for 4 1/2 years and she is part of the family.

Dave

19 December  2003  

From Dave :

Well, finally ... I am at the point where I can send some photos of my old Chevrolet pick up.  She is a 1955 1st Series 3100 1/2-ton truck. 

I purchased the truck in September of 2000.  The project took three years to complete.  During this time, I have also restored one house and am currently undergoing another house renovation -- a 1885 Farmhouse -- but that is another story. 

When I purchased the truck, she was in Cary, NC.  The truck had been in an accident that destroyed the grille, right front fender and inner fender.  The owner basically told me the truck is "as is" and "as is" meant it was sitting at a service station not running.  I had the mechanic who knew the truck well install a new gas tank, fuel pump, and filter.

I went to pick her up on a Friday afternoon and had to drive it 55 miles in the rain.  I got a quick introduction to vacuum wipers and shifting a 3-on-the-tree, in Raleigh-Durham rush hour traffic (where folks still drive 70 mph in the rain).

When I arrived home, my wife and kids were waiting. The first thing my wife said, "Is that it???" The damage made the truck look worse than it really was.

Once I learned where to source parts from, the restoration progressed along fairly well.  I have to get props to the folks at American Classic Truck, Ron's Chevy Truck Parts, Oldie Goldie, Brothers, Golden State Truck, and special thanks to our Stovebolting buddy, Joe Mendola at Mother Truckers.  Joe helped me out with the stuff that you can't get.  You guys be sure to support Joe as those hard to find parts unavailable in repro can be a real challenge, and Joe came through a number of times for me.

I also have to send a thanks out to my buddy, Mitch Causway in Tarboro for the moral support as well as the help.  My Dad, Dave Sr. also was a big help on the body work.  Lastly, I have to thank my wife for all of her support and patience ... especially patience.

I did all of the work myself on the restoration with the exception of paint.  I had a fear of painting it after stripping four layers of paint and working many hours on the body work. 

She is not a show truck but a pretty nice-looking driver.  We already enjoy riding around the mountains of Western NC.  My kids, Kyle and Emma, love to ride in her.  My little boy Kyle, age 6 is already planning his restoration. 

Anyhow, I would appreciate adding my truck to the Gallery.  I have visited your site many times during my restoration when I needed motivation or needed a link. Thanks for the great website.  I am (was) a rookie to the hobby and the links were a great source.

Take care and keep up the great work!

Dave Shirlin

Dave - Beautiful job!  Thanks for the great write up and I'd say you would easily give a few pros a run for their money. ~~ Curator

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