Welcome to the Stovebolt garage and more particularly the Big Bolts corner of the garage.
Of course, everybody is going to tell you, "Get 'hold of yer Big Bolt! What the heck are you waiting for?"
You are in good company. I have a '46 ton-and-a-half and there's a feller in Round Rock with a ton-and-a-half, also, although Fahr (actually his name is Mike) may not be on the street with his truck yet.
The fellers have covered 2-speed rear end and split shifting. The rest of these old trucks is just common as an old boot.
You will soon become adept at double clutching, if necessary. That is one thing soccer moms couldn't do in a million years, with apologies to Joy, Peg and others). You will enjoy the little quirks common only to old stovebolts, and folks you least expect will start a conversation with something like,"You know, my grandad had a old truck just like that out on the ranch by Llano."
Don't be afraid of tires, brakes, body parts, and such. Around Central Texas there are lots of shops that are glad to work on old trucks, and you can find parts. So far, everyone I have dealt with in the Austin area has been fair, honest and willing to work with me.
I recently had brake shoes relined, and the shop in North Austin re-arced them and gave me some pointers on getting new brake shoes to fit (they WOULD NOT fit, first time around).
There is a shop in Georgetown where I get my annual inspections and a once-in-a-while oil change (givin' the good people my business), and even though they don't let anything slide by on the safety and functioning sides of the annual inspection, they always offer suggestions on any fix needed.
Get to know your local Napa man, take your truck to the same shop every time for an oil change (and find one with a pit so they go over the underside real good), and you will have a lot of fun.
There is a chevy truck club in Austin that caters to old trucks, too. E-mail me and we'll talk.
