The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1959 GMC 860

Ken, being a Texas man, are you familiar with Acco Feeds?
Apparently they were the original owners of this truck. I'm not sure how it got to Ohio where I found it. I have thought about reaching out to them to see if they had any original photos of it.
http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/M.../146_zps07466f31.jpg.html?sort=6&o=1

I am very familiar with Acco feeds. In fact we still haul ingredients into their plant in Seguin, Texas and haul sacked finished feeds out of there in dry fans. When I started buying and selling feed ingredients in the 1960's, it was still Anderson Clayton.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/dia01
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02631777#page-1

http://www.accofeeds.com/acco/en/our-story/brand-history/index.jsp

Back when I sold them grain and ingredients, I used to send bills to their office in Abilene, TX. The whole way ingredients are traded changed in the last 10 or 15 years. Large resellers merchandise trade the ingredients and hire carriers such as us. And the sacked feed is sold to dealers and we haul it for hire. Back in the 60's, I did unload a lot of grain and ingredients at their Abilene plant with my 550 gas GMC. I do remember them having company trucks to deliver finished feed, but I don't remember what kind of trucks they had. GMC aggressively sold trucks to companies like ACCO who owned trucks and weren't really in the trucking business. It could have well been that every ACCO plant had 860's at one time.

An act in 1937 gave the Texas Railroad Commission regulatory powers over trucking. The common carriers were given authority to haul feed from the mills to dealers, but small carriers were restricted against dealer to dealer and were only allowed to go to ranches where the common carriers didn't want to go. By the 50's, common carriers had lost interest in hauling sacked feed, but the regulation still stood. For this reason, feed mills such as ACCO had to have company trucks. In the 70's, the Railroad Commissioner, who was a good friend of my uncle and my father granted me the first statewide authority to haul from dealer as a specialized motor carrier. Soon other carriers got the same authority and feed mills got rid of their trucks. In 1996 the federal government took regulatory powers away from the states and trucking completely changed again.

Seeing all those copper air lines reminds me why I had to learn to flow brass. Vibration used to cause them to split and brazing them was the only option. In the 70's I thought Aeroquip was the answer, but salt got in the braided steel and rotted it. Synflex nylon came out in the late 70's and that fixed it.

Ken, you are a wealth of information. Who knows, you may have even seen this truck before in its previous life.
I enjoy reading about your experiences in the trucking business and your knowledge of these old trucks.
Thanks for your contributions to this site!
Billy

Very nice work Billy! I'd say you've made a lot of progress.

The radiator hose I can probably help with. If you can, bring one of those complete and pictures of the engine and radiator where they attach.

The valve cover looked like this, though I can't find a true before picture.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-6VpKgRsFgs6PnqBbaJ28dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nWr4RF_lS4E730XwnlN2eNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Grigg

Thanks Grigg. I will bring all my parts and pieces to the JYT.
If I could weld better, I would try it myself. I can get stuff to stay together but the last time I tried to weld something water tight.....not so much!

Oh and Grigg, thanks again for the beautiful job on the valve cover.

So, when does the ODSS meet there to help with the cab mounting party?

I was thinking of a quiet SB drive north to ready for spring. Billy you need help shoveling or drinking your DB?

Mike, the cab will hopefully go back on soon! It will be nice to finally have it back where it is supposed to be and just as nice to have it off the floor taking up space.
HB, plenty of snow to shovel up this way and some DB to go along with it. The shop might be a little nippy for a sleep over this time of year though. I long for the weather we had when the ODSS was here last summer.

Went to check on the progress of the trans install ( and to fork over some hard earned snow plow money, ouch) on the 860. Coming along nicely. There has been some delay of course due to the weather as it was supposed to be ready this weekend. Bruce said it should be done by next weekend for sure.......which may interfere with the JYT if it goes as scheduled.

Billy, Say the word and I'll come up to help.

Been a long time since I updated this thread so here it is.
Still sorting out the shifter and transmission details. Thanks to Mike Roach and his buddy Josh, and a special thanks to Pat Guy, I was able to get the shifter off of a Top Kick that Pat was scraping on my way home from Homecoming. The shifter will work perfectly on the new 9spd Road Ranger trans we put in, and it will even work out well with the existing hole in the floor.
With helpful (as always) advice from Grigg, I replaced the isolator in the shifter and rebuilt the shifter tower, taking all the play out of the used parts.
http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/M...1_zpsc41240a9.jpeg.html?sort=6&o=126

Before I installed the trans, I took it outside suspended it from the tractor bucket and power washed it best I could. Big mistake. The mistake was I didn't get it 100% clean. I just told myself that the rest could be done after install. I was in a little bit of a time crunch that day. Well, what was left on the trans was a bear to get off and laying on the floor scraping and wire brushing and trying not to get the rear section of the frame (fresh paint) dirty again was not fun. I should have done it right the first time (lesson learned....again and the hard way).
The next step was do a little more painting on the front half of the frame. This was necessary because the shop that helped me with the air ride install, painted the back half of the truck this winter. It looked so much nicer than the front half was probably done 6 or more years ago (by the previous owner) so I had to do something about it. I have little experience with a spray gun but did not want to go with rattle cans so I went to TS and got some of their implement paint, built myself a makeshift paint booth in the shop, took lots of time taping things off and am happy with my rookie results.

http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/M...2_zps0afae686.jpeg.html?sort=6&o=127

http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/M...3_zpsb260c791.jpeg.html?sort=6&o=129

So with that done, the big day was finally here. I think it has been 3 or 4 years since I asked my wife to help me lift the cab off the truck and yesterday evening it finally went back on!!
I called my friend Mark to give me a hand and he was as excited as I to finally get this done.

http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/M...5_zpsab554637.jpeg.html?sort=6&o=130

http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/M...6_zps968d195b.jpeg.html?sort=6&o=131

http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/M...7_zpsec5cb48a.jpeg.html?sort=6&o=132

http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/M...8_zps640d9bf1.jpeg.html?sort=6&o=135

I know that my home made 6x6 gantry crane made some here nervous but it worked beautifully. A bonus to setting the cab finally was the end of the need for the crane and freeing up some more shop space. We took it down and apart last night too. Another bonus was not have the cab taking up space on the floor anymore. It probably has 5 miles on it just from me pushing it around the shop for the last 3 or 4 years!!
All in all a pretty big day in this long road that I have been on. Not saying I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but should be able to make some steady progress now.

Looks nice Billy. And to think I was going to bring my own beer to the cab install party. Glad to see you are making progress.

That was a big day, nicely done!

I can only imagine how it feels to have your cab on the frame for the last time.

Grigg

All I can say is WOW! I bet the old girl never dreamed she would be restored to a condition better than when she left the factory.

Look'n good Billy! Makes me want to work on my project truck...

Mike B

HB, you can share your beer with me anytime!
Grigg, very big night. I thought of a couple things at the last minute that I probably should have done before the cab went on but I told Mark that I wasn't going to put it off any longer. So on it went. I put the shifter on and I will have to cut a little out of the hole in the floor. Not much though. And, wont have bend the shifter all that much to make it just right either.
Ken, so do I have to give "her" a girls name now! ?
Mike,yours is next, you just have to get the hot rod done first!
Thank you guys!

Well, I heard trucks referred to as girls from the generation before me. And I had guys driving for me as late in the 80's who had started driving in the early 30's. I think the consciousness was that while we were behind the wheel, we were in complete control. And that was something we never quite accomplished when we got home to mamma.

Congrats Brother!

About the whole naming thing ... just a data point ... Even ships with masculine names are still referred to as "she." As Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz once said, "A ship is always referred to as "she" because it costs so much to keep her in paint and powder."

I truly believe our trucks are no different

Grand weekend, Brother Marlow -- Bravo Zulu indeed!

JM

BTW -- Smedley D let me down last weekend -- Died at the fuel pumps in Leonardtown. I had to call my SIL for a rescue. Imagine my shame, having t call my SIL ... and he shows up in a Ford product .... But at least I got to show him how we jump a 24 volt vehicle from a 12-volt vehicle without ruining either one ...

Really nice Billy! I finally took the time to tour all of your pictures and progress that you've made on your 860. You've done a great job!

Thanks Victor! Hey, can I get the name of the windshield wiper set up you used in Dough Boy when you have a chance?

On to the wiring harness next. Sort of torn on which way to go. I have the original that the PO took out of the truck, long before I got it. I also have the wiring diagram for the truck. I thought about building my own or buying a Painless kit or have a harness made by YNZ's. The last option is the most money but probably the least amount of work.
After that is the air line plumbing which I will most definitely need help with considering the addition of the air ride.
Then seats and head liner, tires, 5th wheel etc. So I still have a way to go. I would love to have it ready for KC but I think that is a long shot considering the money tree is about all out of "leaves"!

Some progress on Billy's heater valve.

The old one was rusted through as well as being stuck and badly deteriorated seals. After lots of searching could not locate a good replacement.

This is as close as could be found, and the original shown disassembled.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NhQLfz-fFo6fjmwuhptD6tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

The plan is to take the new one apart and modify it to look and work like the old one with both hose barbs pointing straight out. Also reuse the square mounting plate from the original.

First I disassembled the new one and cut off the barb from the side port. Then made a die to clamp around the valve and allow me to form the tube end into a birdsmouth or saddle same as the original was.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lJGYe6OlMX80B0A2cdTgBNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Then using a body hammer with a radius I formed the tube (only partly done in this picture).
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9gzXZTmKkqF8i41o5gMQN9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Finished by laying a piece of 3/4" rod in and whacking that with a mallet.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MPwYvxSjVZmOouRD4sCc4dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Then made a new nipple from a piece of bar stock. Not shown but I also cut off the other one (it was 5/8") and made a new 3/4" nipple for it as well.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mSh9aoi91tdSoSUyBNz0fdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Finally silver soldered it all together and cleaned off the flux.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cbeqxe9W_DSdX--qJVFlLdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Next I drilled and tapped the new valve spool for the handle retaining screw (new one only had pressed on handle).
Still to do is reassemble the valve and figure out where to file the flat on the valve stem for the handle so it operates properly.

Grigg

Beautiful work, Grigg!

Unbelievable Grigg, I think I might still have to get an aftermarket generic valve for the truck because that beautiful work is too nice to hide on the truck. I'm thinking under glass on the mantle!
I can't thank you enough for all the help on this project. The valve cover repair which was truly art in itself, the custom nipples for the radiator hoses, and even the repair on the air cleaner plate. Plus all the advice and guidance. I am sure I would not be this far along without you.
I guess I am a little behind in updating this thread (I'm sure you had to dig way back to find it) so I will try and get to that this weekend.
Thanks again.
Billy

Darn, how could I forget the door handle. Again, I really hated to put that on the truck and felt like it should have been proudly displayed.
Again, thank you!

When I see the work of Grigg and others I am in awe of the skill and patience they exhibit. Just went thru the pictures. WOW.

DITTO!! Great work,Grigg!

Hello everyone!
FYI I recently viewed a 1960 CBS television documentary hosted by Edward R. Murrow and concerning transient labor and their strife. Titled: Summer of Shame. To me very interesting to date the article in time. This as a side bar for the Stovebolt reader I noticed the trucks that were filmed. Att. my Captain Bill Marlow and our other 860 aficionados, check out the black 860 hauling produce, highway style. Hope you see it, hope you like it. Take care, Charley.

Wow, I would like to see that.....for that matter, any 860 that will move under its own power! because mine aint a whole lot closer..
Thanks SBC

Found it, Harvest of Shame. Not to ignore the importance of the video subject but the cool 860 is seen at 14:391sh!

This video link will start with the 860.

GMC 860 in 1960 video

Thanks,Grigg!

Bill, thank you for correcting, the docu is called the Harvest of Shame. My mistake, it had been some time since I viewed it. Thank you also for noting the minutes where the 860 appears. Will go back to see our truck! I'm going to learn if I can download stills from this film. I crave "new" pictures of the Brutus 860, a REAL truck classic, ornry-nasty foul mouthed beauty! I Love it! Charley.

Billy,

I think everyone would love to see some pictures of your progress if you'd care to share...

Hy guys, I don't know where I was or what I was paying attention to while this was originally happening but I seem to have missed the whole thing. I have always wanted an 860, the uniqueness of the design has always appealed to me. I would dearly love to see the build album. I believe that the 860 was the model that GMC chose to unveil there truck air suspension on. Bill Marlow I am exceeding jealous.

Ok so my plan throughout my project was to do like a lot of folks and keep an updated log and timeline in this thread but being that it took way longer than I ever would have thought, with way to many dead times when nothing was worthy of an update, that didn't happen. I threw together a quick little album that in no way spans the 8 years that this took or all the trials and tribulations along the way but, it shows where I am today. Getting close......hopefully a road test will be soon and if nothing falls off and it moves and more importantly stops, then maybe we are getting somewhere.
There is so much I could write about, air line issues, the air ride rear, compressor fiascos, the journeys far and wide to accumulate needed parts and all the great folks that have helped me get to where I am, it would take up quite a bit of time and space, that's for sure.
Let me know what you think and if you have any questions I will do my best to answer them.
Click on the link under GMC 860 in my sig and that should get you to the album.

Oh and hear is a little video of the first time it moved under its own power......
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Da9SECVi9iKENxxeA

Great job, Billy, hope to see it sometime.

Ed

Hy Bill marlow, I can't seem to access either the video or the photos my confusilator is saying it is taking too long to load. But thank you very much for trying and I'm still jealous!

Looks great Billy!

Are you bringing it to Tri-State?

Mike B

Thanks guys. 3B, I just opened them here at work with no problems. Maybe one of the computer guru's here will a suggestion on what to do.
That is a hap hazard album for sure. I have tons of other pictures on an old laptop. I need a rainy day to get them all together. The ones on the google album are off my phone and IPad.
Mike B, that's the plan but I still have quite a few things to do. There are several temperature sensors that need to be wired, the amp gauge, air lines for the trailer brakes, inspection cover for the trans, etc. I also want to fab a frame cover to go behind the 5th wheel (no, I am not copying Moe...mine would of course be different

Video worked for me. Boy that truck is a beauty. The bullet grilles on those era GMC's are the best. Thanks for sharing.