My first post was in the Welcome Centre and I was encouraged to start a DITY Gallery thread. So here I go.
1951 GMC 100My husband (Russell) found this truck on Facebook Marketplace and we recently brought it home. I had been looking around for information and parts when I came across the Stovebolt site.
We are the third owners. The truck first belonged to the Father of the guy we bought it from. His comment: "This truck was passed down to me when my Dad died. I tried to hold on to it in hopes of restoring it one day. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. So, I need to sell it." It last ran in 1989.
Russell was the one to talk to this guy and here's what I understand about what happened. After the guy's Dad passed away, the sister took the truck, probably thinking $$$$. The Will said the guy was to get it. He had to take his sister to court to get the truck from her. When he got the truck, she wouldn't give him the missing running board. I think she may have vandalized the truck. 🫣😯🫤 Almost all the glass had been broken. The vent windows were spared, but the gauges weren't so lucky.
Hubby told me it took the guy over an hour to un-bury the truck in the storage unit.
We were so excited that the motor turned over! YES!!!! However, I almost ran over my husband when I pressed the starter pedal.
I've never done a restoration before so this will be interesting. My husband is a mechanic. He only works on stuff here. My 38 year old son also does mechanic work. We also have a neighbor that knows a bit about old vehicles. I'm just the go for girl. The neighbor showed us where the brake fluid goes and a few other things. I think we need to get a manual for the truck.
This is not going to be a ground up, all original restoration. Hubby isn't as into that as me, but I'm pushing to keep it as original as possible.
Finding the correct gauges is not easy. Reconditioned gauges are expensive and they say battery instead of ampers and speedometer say 90. We've started posting in the Swap Meet with high hopes.
The guys discovered that the master cylinder was bad. Got that. Need to install it soon. I have ordered glass, seals and handles. The floors, in the front corners are holey! They're going to have to wait a bit. The bed of the truck has a metal plate bolted over the wood. Husband looked under the bed and said all the wood is there and doesn't look bad.
Great thing happened today. I found a "wrecking yard" that has a lot of these old trucks. Hubby just found a pair of rear fenders for $200. He might have the gauges we need also. We'll be going back to look for more parts soon.
I also linked in and
posted in the Whole Wild West section letting them know we are Stovebolters now. If you are in Washington state and want the information, PM me.
I'm posting pictures of the truck as is and will post as we go. She's going to be a flat black beauty!
