The Stovebolt Page	New Stuff -- June 2007
It's a "Never-ending Newsletter"

After 12 years, we're saying 'Good Bye' ...

      To "The Stovebolt Page."

      WHAT???!!!!????

      Over the next month or so you'll be seeing a transformation of the site! We are retiring our old name of "The Stovebolt Page" which has served us well since the beginning. But the Internet, as well as those who use it, has changed since the heady days of Listservers and non graphical user interfaces! We've come a long way! This site is no longer merely a "page" (that's soooooo '90's, anyway!) we have truly become an online community! Users of this site refer to themselves as "Bolters" and the site as "Stovebolt" or "The Bolt." To reflect that, as well as the amazing way you all have evolved the site, we are going to embrace change as the future brings it to us. We are what we are:

Stovebolt.com
The best doggone site going for old GM trucks

      Because YOU continue to make it so!

      So, with all these GABfests (see below) and what not, we are moving ahead with redesigning the Stovebolt logo and Flag. We've been working with Rob "Ezhaulin41" Carney (1941 Chevrolet 3/4-Ton pickup), an outstanding graphic artist, to come up with a new representative theme and look for the site. We'll be launching the various updates to our theme throughout the rest of the Summer. (We'll have more information about Rob's work. But if you want to see some neat stuff, check out his submissions for the Poster Contest from 2006!)

T H E    E V E N T     H O R I Z O N

      LOTS going on ... everywhere! Stovebolters are into the summer-work schedule ... working on that truck and getting her to the show! Or working on the truck, and going to the show with pictures! Whatever works! Whichever is the case, the constant theme seems to be ... Everybody's wanting to get together! This is GREAT.

      George Moniz, our Event Forum moderator, has been super BUSY keeping his event calendars up to date, tracking down as much information for us as he can! Kudos to you George, from all of us! He'll want feedback from you all ... so please feel free to contact him.

      It's great that Bolters aren't waiting for HQ to organize them ... they are just doing it! We say: Hurray! So we're calling them GABFests! Here's some info and handy items for you this Summer -- The Stovebolt Summer of Gab!

What's a Stovebolt GABFest?       GAthering of Bolters Fest. As the site grew in popularity and size, it was a normal progression for some of the blokes to want to meet each other. That happened on a tiny scale, especially when one Bolter lived fairly close to another. But for the last few years, it's gotten more serious than that. The British Columbia (Canada) Bolters have been meeting for several months now!       And rather than all the trouble of creating a Stovebolt Event, we have just piggy-backed on existing major truck events.       Check the Events forum for folks who are planning to meet up at various events around the area.       But we've set aside a few specific events that we hope will be key ones. So, if you have to pick and choose, and want to meet with as many as possible, this is the place to check.     Don't forget to take your camera with you. We hope to capture as many of these events and the great Stovebolters as we can and compile them into a music DVD!! This should be fun and great to look at when winter starts rolling back in at the end of the year.     As you are coming / going to some of these gigs with a camera, you never know when you'll run into a candidate for the It Ran When I Parked It contest...		Your Stovebolt GAB Toolbox       With the GABFests already happening (but not yet given an official name), we thought we'd better get some nifty neato handouts for you all to pass around and share. We'll try to change out these images every month so more of our Bolters can have their truck showcased.       Our latest handout is the Stovebolt PLACARD. Last time we all met at Winchester, Virginia, John made these up so we'd have some of the pertinent information about our trucks for all who stroll by and drool. Helps us (initially) to remember each other's names, too!       The sought-after FLYER. See a cool Stovebolt parked on the street but have no idea who it is or where to find the owner? No prob! Just stick one of these flyers under the windshield wiper. OR if you happen to meet the owner, hand him or her one. It'll be an easy reminder ... and a quick peek of what goes on here and just why he/she might want to join the Merry Band of Bolters.       The BOLT BIZ CARD. It's a generic card so that you can keep a few in your wallet. Just print and cut! If you are computer-saavy enough, you can include your name and phone number on the card. Pass 'em around.		Expansion -- More in the Works       With all this stuff on the horizon, there'll be more things changing on the site. Probably little by little. Be sure to stop by often to see the latest:       * We've working on a comprehensive Events / Calendar that can be easily accessed, sorted, and read. George has most of the data; Steve "OldSub" Hanberg is working on the scripts. We are tweaking -- or should we say BETA testing!       *There'll be a big shuffle in the forum line-up. We will try to encourage folks to post in the Calendar / Events forum. Before AND after. We wanna see those photos!       * Tim Lederman has volunteered to put together a Stovebolt DVD of the GABFests and other informal gatherings so we can have a nifty slide show by the end of the year. If you want your event included. We have details (BETA testing). It won't be hard or complicated. It will be cool to be able to site back and watch a huge Virtual Rally on your telly. Bolt after Bolt after Bolt!       * The Where in the World page will also be automated and incorporate the map that Frank "Fumblin46" Anderson made. So, when you are looking to put together an GABFest or informal gathering in your area, you'll know who's nearby.       * Bill "Red58" LePage set up a Stovebolt Account on Webshots so we can use one location to hosts all the event photos, with various albums. Then with one-stop, you can do your Bolt-buster screening! (More info on this is coming.)     *See the GABFest page. We'll be updating it also.

Stovebolt "Dress for Success"

    One Stovebolter has solved the hassle of asking 900 different swap meet vendors the same question!

   When the Coastal Vintage Truck Swap Meet was coming to town last May, Trevor "Trev" Jensen decided "to make a t-shirt complete with a "real" picture of my truck on the front of the shirt.

    "On the back of the shirt (actually a tank top because it was supposed to be very hot out there that weekend), I had a stylized (painted) photo of a 1937 Chevy Truck that I did from a real picture.

    "My primary reason for doing this was that I knew there could be as many as 900 vendors at the Swap Meet and didn't want to have to ask each and every one of them 'Do you have parts for a 1937 Chevrolet pickup truck?' I also didn't want to do what I had seen before at this swap meet. It is common for guys to walk around with a piece of cardboard hanging around their neck with what they are looking for written in felt pen. It looks goofy and uncomfortable and is NOT my style. I felt any vendor with parts for a truck that 'looked like the one on my shirt' would come forward. The shirt also says '1937 Chevy Truck Guy' on it so it was obvious it's MY truck.

    "I added 'www.stovebolt.com' and 'The #1 Online Info Resource for Pre- '73 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks, Since 1995' because I wanted to give the site some exposure for alllll those vintage car and truck guys out there.

    "Then I made up the shirt! I had the graphics and I got a couple of Canon bubblejet T-shirt transfer sheets, and a $5.96 white tank top from Walmart. In a few minutes with the iron, I had my shirt! While it is not perfect, I wore it for two days at the Swap Meet and had lots of guys talk to me about Stovebolt.com and my truck. I even had offers for some truck parts that would fit it. Possibly the best contact I made was with a vendor who has a 1936 Chevy truck. He referred me to a friend of his who has been in the glass business for 45 years and is now retired / self employed. I can get the front and side windows cut for my truck for $110 for all the windows combined ... a great deal!

    "So, the concept sure seemed to work! In fact, I came across a vendor with some fenders and other parts for a '37 who didn't know what they were from. It was very handy to be able to point at various features of the fenders on my shirt to show him that what he had were indeed from a '37. He was pretty grateful!

    "Here are some more pics of the t-shirt I made."

~Trev
37ChevyTruckGuy
1937 Chevy 1/2-Ton Pickup truck

SUPPORTING THE SITE

New Links

       Some of these have been sent in by the sites owners themselves. A few of them we picked off the "Google link" at the bottom of some pages. We were just curious to see where those links headed! Some looked pretty interesting. We will try to stroll down that Google-path now and again. But our best links are ones that the Bolters recommend. Always appreciate a recommendation!

• Hyde Products -- Hood holders (hood props) for 1940-1948 Chevy cars and pickups (Parts)
• Engine Factory -- Performance turn-key Chevy crate engines / tech center (Parts / Performance)
• Airbagit.com -- Air ride suspension, tech tips, parts, plus steering wheels, bear claws, more (Parts)
• Painless Performance -- Electrical parts - wiring harness and components, relay kits, circuit protection, etc. (Electrical)
• Zig's Street Rods -- parts and accessories 1955 thru 1957 Chevy trucks (Parts | Street Rods)
• The Ding King -- Paintless Dent Repair Training - Campuses located in CA, MO, TX, FL and MI (and other stuff) (Services)
• Express Wheel and Tire -- "Large selections of wheels and tires at discounted prices" (Parts / Tires)
• GM Performance Parts -- Peformance parts, catalog and power shop tour (Parts / Performance) ...
• Classic Auto Air -- Air conditioning for 1947 - 1952 pickup trucks, "Perfect Fit Systems" product line
• Veridine Performance Products -- 1947 - 56 - parts, headliner, front end, fenders (Parts)
• Mill Supply -- Replacement Panels and restoration parts; catalog and on-line store; tech tip for installing body panel
• Automotive Restoration Parts -- Restoration, Mill and Panels (Parts)
• National Chevy Association -- Preservation of 1949-1954 Chevrolets cars
• Masse Performance, Customs and Restoration -- Used parts and restoration service in Nevada (Services & Parts)

Gallery Additions for June

• Grant Dupee's 1959 Chevrolet Apache 3100 -- The fam has put 4500 + miles on it already
• Curtis Sutherland's 1955 Chevrolet 1st Series 3100 Update-- "Elmer's 55" is F I N I S H E D !!
• Eric Johnson's 1966 Chevrolet C-10 Shortbed Fleetside -- "66rustyratrod" loving every minute of this
• Jasen VonGuinness' 1948 Chevy Loadmaster -- Gonna be doing some work on this one
• Jasen VonGuinness' 1971 Chevy C-10 -- Folks at Home Depot love to seem him come rumbling in
• Chad Stillmunkes' 1942 Chevy 1-Ton Truck Update -- "old truck lover" is loving this truck alright!
• Bruce Johnstone's 1954 Chevrolet 3800 1-Ton Stake Bed -- “55 1st Suburban” Big Bolt
• Steve Poulo's 1939 Chevy 3/4-Ton Stakeside Update -- "Farm Boy" made it to the show!
• Bud Perry's 1930 Chevy Roadster Pickup -- "buds 35 ce" gets another very vintage truck
• Ron Steltz's 1954 Chevy 3100 1/2-Ton Update -- "WE b OLD" has some new info on his ride
• Raynor Mendoza's Chevy C-10 Shortbed Stepside -- Young Bolter has a love for old iron
• Tim Dale's 1955 1st Series GMC Pickup -- "clyde55" is on his way to a hot rod
• Shaughnessey McArthur's 1948 Chevy 4400 1.5-Ton Update -- "S McArthur" is thinking of diesel
• Strat Kingrey's 1957 Chevy 3100 NAPCO Update -- Strat's restoration is in high gear
• Cheyenne Morin's 1953 Chevy 3800 1-Ton -- "Lost1953" introduces us to "Thing"
• Craig Kirsch's 1954 Chevy 3100 -- "3100" has just recently completed his old truck! Way to go!
• Matt Droege's 1956 Chevy 6500 Update -- "tri5trucking" has this one painted and she looks good!
• Mike Rocheleau's 1953 Chevy 3100 Shortbed -- "65PanelMike" shows us where he's gonna put that Topper!
• Jeff Lauber's 1947 Chevy 2-Ton Update -- "Iowa trucks 59" took her out for her first test drive
• Bill Pogue's 1950 Chevy 3100 1/2-Ton Update -- "wizard50" beginning to see light at the end of this restoration tunnel
• Scott Ward's 1954 Chevy 6500 -- "48bigtrucks" adds yet another Big Bolt to his collection
• Dean Lewis' 1941 Chevy 3/4-Ton Update -- "Louie 41" has done a lot in a year
• Brian Kansky's 1953 Chevy 3100 5-Window -- After 48 years, "kanskybrian" is driving a Stovebolt again
• Todd Coggins' 1951 Chevy 3100 -- "tabdoo16" - 10 years - "let's fix her up!"
• Lisa Clement's 1951 Chevy 2-Ton -- "Tempest" has brought home another Big one!
• Jim Kruize's 1963 Chevy C-10 Fleetside -- "Kruizeag" has Fleetside #2
• Don Thela's 1963 GMC Suburban Update -- "DThela" has put in new sheet metal
• Greg Lampman's 1942 Chevy 1.5-Ton 4 x 4 NAVY Panel Truck -- What a transformation!
• Collin Pacholek's 1965 Chevy C-10 LWB Fleetside -- He got a FREE truck!
• Peggy Perry's 1958 Chevy Apache Fleetside Custom Cab -- Big transformation here!
• Tim Grauer's 1951 Chevy 3100 Advance Design -- "Tim G" thanks Stovebolt for help in this resto
• Steve Stanton's 1952 Chevy 1/2-Ton 5-window Update -- "Racer" has been doing some woodwork!
• Mary Hodges' 1949 Chevy 3100 -- "WestTexasBowtieGal" sends in her story about "Pancho"
• Shane Walsh's 1936 Chevy Holden Update -- Walshy is really moving along ... so shiney!
• Jack Folk's 1965 Chevy Pickup -- "Chevytrucknut" sends in his #2 '65 ... that he drives about every day
• Jeff West's 1951 GMC -- "J. W." got some Stovebolter help and has some big plans
• Scott Sheets' 1934 Chevy 1.5-Ton Farm Truck -- "nodak" has a little work to do on this one
• Scott Sheets' 1946 1.5-Ton Chevy Truck -- "nodak" has a farm truck that's original from top to bottom
• Tony Smith's 1966 Chevy K-20 LWB Flatbed Update -- "4-5-6 Chevy Trucks" been working on BIGBLUE

The Alternative Gallery

• Ron Rancatti's 1961 White 2000 -- Something to keep the 1952 Chevy COE company
• Shaughnessey McArthur's 1940 Farmall H Tractor -- Completely restored and working hard
• Lisa Clements' 1952 Mercury M5 "Truck" -- A little of this and a little of that
• Jeff Botts' 1964 Ford 3/4-Ton Pickup -- Nice!
• Tom Lovejoy's 1927 Henderson Deluxe Motorcycle -- "80 cu in of America's best from the old days"
• Wayne Rogan's 1957 Chevrolet Nomad and 1961 Chevrolet Packwood -- Nice collection!
• Tom Taylor's 1988 Mercedes 32-Foot Stake Bed Truck -- Working!
• T J Wheelman's 1916 Mack AC BullDog Facsimile -- And a little history on the Mack Bull Dog mascot

Old news is still good news!

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