Hi All-

Found the Stovebolt site through another forum, and thought I'd jump in...

I have a '53 Chevy 1/2 ton that I bought with lawn mower money in 1981 at the age of 14.

I've been tinkering on and driving the truck regularly since. I drove the truck through high school and college in stock form. It had a later model 235 with four speed, and topped out at about 48 mph.

After college, I swapped the six for a '91 350 and TH350 auto. Drove it with the stock steering and suspension for another 4 or five years, and then did a Heidt's MII front end.

I've been driving the truck since, still using it as a hauler, without doing anything else. I've been side tracked for the last 8 or so years on a '50 Plymouth, check out www.50plymouth.com.

Here's a few recent pictures of the truck. Still wearing the paint that it had when I bought it, which was about 10 years old at the time. It needs some body work in the fenders, new bed wood, and a paint job, but otherwise is still in great shape.

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When I bought my truck, the internet was still a figment of imagination. There was very little information available on parts, etc. When I needed something, I had to comb the local junk yards. When I was in High School, I found a magazine that had an article on these trucks, and a list of about half a dozen parts suppliers. I sent all of them postcards in the mail, asking for catalogs. Only 2 or three of them responded, with 4 or five page xerox copies of their stuff. I felt like I was re-inventing the wheel when I did anything, as there was no support group like this forum... Man, how times have changed!

Looking forward to the discussion...

Pete

Last edited by Joy; 09/11/2008 10:01 AM.