The Stovebolt Site Forums The Forum Gallery 1955 - 1959 (Task Force) Trucks 1959 Chevrolet Viking 40

Rich Winter
Janesville, MN


I was approached this last fall (2020) and asked if I might be interested in this truck. It was located about 5 miles from my place. I had seen it in the past and it always appeared to be in fairly decent shape so I went to check it out. It was in a shed and had not been used since 2014, as their farming operation outgrew it. At some point the fellow's dad had replaced the original 6 cylinder engine with a 283 V8. The cab is in remarkably good shape for its age--a couple of small rust areas, but I've seen much worse on trucks of this age. It has 19.5" tires with the 5 and 10 lug bolt pattern.
We agreed on a price and my wife and I towed it home with our pickup. There were no brakes on it so I rode the hand brake as necessary. After getting it home it didn't take too much to get it running. Mostly a matter of cleaning the points, freeing up the linkage for the manual choke which had rusted, and putting some fresh gas in the tank.
So far that's about all I've done with it. It needs a new water pump, plus getting the brakes fixed, and a few other things. These will be addressed when the weather improves next spring, along with a good clean up.

Nice Viking Rich, yours is in way better shape than mine. Looks like yours has a dump bed as well.

Thanks for posting.

John

Yes, it does have the dump bed. Have not tried that yet, as the cable which engages the PTO is also rusted up and not moving--something else I need to take care of when the weather warms up!

Got the cable freed up. The hoist works great! Fuel pump, water pump and exhaust system have all been replaced, plus extensive work done on the brakes. Currently have the generator off getting rebuilt. I also re-did the tail lights and rear turn signals so everything is now working as it should back there.

Very nice.🤤

Had some more brake work done. Also had the transmission replaced with one from a donor truck. Some of this was discussed in the Big Bolts forum.
Also had the seats reupholstered, but they won't get installed till next spring.

I added a couple photos to the original post. Got the new seat installed. also removed the grain sides from the bed and replaced them with 12" sideboards.

Rich, After loading the side boards that came with my truck I fully intend to do as you have and build my own.

I hear ya! Those things are not light! I had to get help to carry them inside. I did keep them though, in case I or someone else ever wants to convert it back to a grain hauler.