The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Re: What did you get done on your 'Bolt today?

Considering the possibility of a future need to remove the pan I might be tempted to bust the rivets and bolt it back.

All the frame cross members are probably the only riveted frame members that I would be hesitant to bolt together. I would think to resist frame twist, the cross members need to very securely fixed in place. Bolts might allow movement.

GM chose to bolt-on the rear motor-mount frame cross-member and the rear transmission-mount frame cross-member on 1954/55 1/2 ton Hydra-Matic equipped trucks.

On other 54/55 1/2 ton trucks, the rear motor-mount frame cross-member was riveted on, and there was no rear transmission-mount cross-member on manual transmission equipped trucks.

If movement was not an issue with H-M equipped 54/55 3100s, most likely bolting earlier (47-43) riveted cross members would not cause movement problems?

It's a custom built 350. It's got heavier plates in it and a shift kit w 2200 rpm stall converter. The guy drills out the ports etc and does the whole thing for $800.

Started on the bolt-ons this weekend:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...mp;_suid=1389705059116007348006943277496

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...&_suid=13897050935210666161222331486

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...amp;_suid=138970512672209447513225573549

I'll be painting the underside of the cab that same green color and with the black tranny it will stand out more (at least in my opinion) with the polished aluminum deep pan and flex shield.

Thanks for the pics.

What did I do on my bolt? I have a lead on fenders for my 54 1Ton. happy happy happy! Go and see them tonight.

Well that was worth it! I now have 2 fine fenders for my beat up 54. and lovin it!!!

Keep on Rollin!

Ordered my drop axle kit from SID!!!!!

slapped in a new generation inline 6, the Chevy 230 last night. Need to finish hooking it up now!

Just received my wells fargo money box.I design a money
box for my Good Humor truck.Very limted storage area.
need to secure my permits and money.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s554/icecreamman55/19680021_zps24b7091d.jpg
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s554/icecreamman55/012_zps393f80e2.jpg

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s554/icecreamman55/013_zpsc7e464ed.jpg

Added a cig lighter socket so I can charge the cell ph.

Got new tires. 255/50r17 nitto in front, 305/45r18 in the rear.

Drove it to work

Red Ryder wants Quads sooo bad. He's just gonna have to be happy with the new Edelbrock air cleaner he got for Christmas!

pic

Took the front axle out today, ready to pack it up and ship it off to Nostalgic Sids! Came out rather easy i was surprised at that

Picked up the new motor for the 37 today,its a shame the rebuilt 235 has issues but this time I am going with a good used motor.

I should have fixed the front right side running board bracket and replaced the rear main seal but instead I took it on a nice 100 mile cruise. I guess I'll fix those later

I took apart my original Rochester Monojet carby and cleaned it ~ filthy and had several big vacuum leaks .

These are terrific carbys having a metering rod you can adjust and aluminum bodies so they last and last .

Lucky for me , this one had never been overhauled by those ham fisted boobs who chuck carbys into the bead blast cabinet....

It's done but I have other under hood & engine things to address before re installing it .

Worked more on the IFS on the '41.

Springs and shocks installed:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...amp;_suid=139022757908108831812250442392

Upper control arm installed:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...amp;_suid=139022763343808471005132155317

Spindles, rotors and calipers on:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...&_suid=13902276854820292327611712986

Had a good weekend of work (wife out of town): installed headliner, sun visors, windlace cab and lower cab windlace rubber, windshield trim metal, a/c vents, fuse block (for added accessories), hard fuel and vacuum lines, battery cables, carb and related cables/controls. And, a few other small odds and ends. But, the cedar pollen was kicking my backside the entire time!

Ended up removing the front motor mount bolts and loosening the rears to lift the engine - no problem slipping the pan out, cleaned and repainted after that. Now, getting the engine mount bolts to line up again on install...that was another challenge

I sand blasted a few parts ,and ordered a cam from Howard cams.

Just put a 230 in my 54... i know what youre talking about. Took forever by myself

Still working on the front end of the '41.

Got the rack centered and installed:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...mp;_suid=1390494528668001211229108471551

Then aligned the two rotors:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...mp;_suid=1390494592774031118684281375036

And installed the tie rod ends:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...amp;_suid=139049465750601463987537922648

Tonight I hope to get the caster set.

The air scoop came in, painted it, and installed it:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...&_suid=13904947542520654014769951593

Nothing but awesome!!

Really enjoyed taking the photo tour of your project.

John in Raleigh, NC

I swapped out the gas gauge and ammeter. I also installed the fresh air heater, need to hook it up still.

Did nothing to the truck but spent some time on the computer trying to find out what a correct fan for the motor looks like,I have a 49-54 car fan on it and there is only 1/4 inch between the fan and radiator. If I would have to change a fan belt on the road I would be screwed as I do not think I could get one on,I do not think I can remove the fan without taking the water pump off with it so it might have to get changed when I install another 235 in it.

I had a 57 with a 235 that was like that, just used an open end or box wrench to remove the fan, tedious to change a belt, but how often ya gonna do that?

Bill

I found a fan on ebay that looks like will give me another 1/2 inch,this fan looks identical to one that was in some pictures someone with a original 37 posted on the VCCA forum.

Since I do not have the throttle rod coming up to the carb I made a little bracket to attach the throttle cabe to and bent a extra throttle/choke cable bracket so it would work.

Connected choke and throttle cables to carb. Routed/measured all a/c hoses so I can get ends crimped on. Worked on seemingly miles of wiring for added accessories: a/c, electric condenser fan, radio/speakers, subwoofer (under seat), turn signals, cigar lighter, and PA system. I added a fuse block and terminal board for all added circuits and a dedicated ground circuit from frame/engine ground strap to terminal board under dash. The positive side of terminal board is energized via a heavy duty 30 amp relay active from accessory post of ignition switch. The cigar light is always hot via the light switch battery post. This way, I don't put a large load through the ignition switch.

Got the tapered bearings and races hammered out of the old hubs and finally got around to getting the truck up on stands so I can do the brakes.

Tight fit on stands.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/12174543965_425cc0dc74_c.jpg

Wrapped up the IFS install.

Power hoses installed:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...amp;_suid=139091737169209178420114697318

Installed sway bar:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...amp;_suid=139091743953300700831827880174

Power steering pump:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...mp;_suid=1390917514561023768488755642902

And the brackets for the alternator and a/c compressor:

http://s783.photobucket.com/user/jo...mp;_suid=1390917598573043486513830771506

Finally got the fresh air heater all nicely bolted in place. It took a bit of prying and levering but it finally fit. Hooked up the coolant hoses, vent hoses, sealed up the motor/firewall. I tried out the motor, nothing. It worked perfectly on the bench. I had to walk away from it, at least for now.

Try a ground wire from a motor bolt to a good ground. My units did not have a ground wire, but I saw a ground wire on New Design GMC units (from the case to a screw in floor or dash?).

With the subzero weather we have been having in Iowa I have been getting some thing done indoors. I got new decals installed on my gauges. Thanks for the advice in the forum on how to get at the odometer. I did manage to break the speedometer needle pin but a special thanks to "Bluedot38" for a quick response to my request in the swap meet for a replacement. I am rally happy with the way they turned out. Before and after photos are here:
=138478344&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=4]gauges before
=138478344&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=5]gauges after
The next project was the steering wheel. I again followed the advice in the forum for grinding out the cracks with my Dremel tool and filling in with KBS epoxy. I hope it still looks good five years from now. pictures follow:
=138478344&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0]steering wheel before
=138478344&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=2]wheel after grinding cracks
=138478344&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=3]wheel after grinding 2
=138478344&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=1]steering wheel after epoxy

Next project is reupholstering the seat.

Looks really great!

Just about to do both of those myself.

Nice work. I like the detail photos on your steering wheel. I think they give good reference for someone who has never done that project.

Nice work Bob, glad to be of a help to you. Stay Warm, Mike

I took my heater back out, the wire to the one brush was disconnected inside the motor housing. Got everything back together and installed, goes much faster the second time.