The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Early 'Bolts (1916-1936 1st Half) My wife's 1936 Chevy 1.5 ton

This is my wife's '36 Chevrolet 1.5 ton short wheel base truck. Here We found it under a shed in Bellingham, Wa. I bought it for $650.00 and we trailered it home. Toni, my wife immediately decided it was her truck, and since I love her to death, I agreed. We took it down to bare frame and started the rebuild. I love old trucks and had heard of the Stovebolt site, and when I got into it I must have asked thousands of questions and each one of them has been answered with respect and humor. You all are fantastic individuals and I can't tell you how many times I've been bent over laughing at the replies and just plain good ole humor you folks put out.
I replaced the blown 207 with a custom built 1955 235 full pressure engine from my awesome Brother Dan (Baldybenny) and using a bell housing from a fellow Bolter, Bobb (3B) was able to keep the entire drive line original.
Toni can double clutch and shift square gears like a pro, and the little 1.5 tonner feels like a half ton pick-up. The Chevy can do 55 mph all day long and I know we've gone faster. It took 3.5 years for the rebuild and Toni wanted the original Patina, so no paint or body work was done. I insulated the entire cab under the interior sheet metal and that makes all the difference when you drive it.
It has a 12 volt system with 1970 alternator and wiring harness. It is extremely dependable and a blast to drive. I have a total of about $4K in it but it's invaluable to us. On a sad note we lost our little yellow lab in the picture to cancer last week, Kobie will be missed, She love riding in "Murtahg" as the wife calls the truck. It was a memorable character in a novel she read.
To all of you at the Stovebolt, this could not have been done so well without your support and thank you all who have helped build my " Wife's Beater "

Hy 1936only, don't you love it when a plan comes together! You did a great job and you and Toni deserve to be very proud! Any chance you'll make my picnic this year???

Looks great. Very cool.

I know nothing about trucks from that era, so this might be a dumb question. Are the red accents considered correct? Or just a personal touch? They look good either way.

Jw51,
We have our own sense of what we want our trucks to look like. I am not really trying to replicate a 1936 Chevy to original. I love to change subtle things for our own personal tastes. The truck had a lot of changes to it over the years before we got it. The red is my wife's choice, I like it. I am in no way getting down on stock restorations, that's why I love this site, there's something for everyone.

3B,
Thanks again for the help, I hope I can make it to the pic-a- nic, but I can't promise. We'd love to come though.

Your truck looks great, very nice detailed job getting her to work again. A very clean 207/235 frame motor mount modification. I need to try that on a 1936 1/2 ton frame I have that has an ugly modified mount. Thank you for sharing.

Hey 1936only, you dont have any relatives on the east coast by any chance do you?

Both the truck and your wife are beautiful. They make a nice duo together.

Jeffl, not that I know of, most of us are on the left coast.

Tom Moore, Thank you very much, I'll pass it along to the wife.

Grizzly, if you need any info on the engine swap please feel free to PM me.

What a stunning truck, beautifully done , I love the proportions and the detailing.

Thank you Dusty, I'm really glad it turned out as a good example of a 30's era truck. Thank you all for the help in building it....Rick and Toni.

1936 only, just curious, my wife comes from a family of Bensons.

Hug the truck - but kiss the wife!!!

Tom

Gotta love a woman who can double clutch and quick shift one of these old trucks!

All the best to you both and may you enjoy many happy miles together

I really lucked out Doc Bob, my wife grew up on 40 acres and drove old tractors, she's a natural. thanks for the wishes!

JeffL, Come to think of it my whole family started out in Annapolis, Maryland. HUGE Navy family, they moved out west along time ago. PM me if that strikes a cord. My Great Grandfather was the first Commander of Naval Operations, William Shepard Benson.

great looking 36, nice to see something older then me...I am a 41 model..lol

take care my friend, enjoy the ride Toni
regards,

Fred from Tx, previous Navy guy

FYI, Believe there was an Admiral Benson CommSubPac in the 60s. My cousin Dennis T. was aboard the SS-351 was his flagship.

Love the truck, my wife took her first driving test in my 36 pickup. The grumpy DMV guy was more interested in the truck than her driving skills.
Jim

wow, what a sweet looking 46...

And now she's on the cover!

Thank you so much Peg, Toni won't believe it.....awesome!.....thanks again, Rick.

It's a great photo!

Thanks Jimerit, there was the Benson class Destroyers named after my Great Grandpa also, DD 421 the first one.
Love your '46 and '53....Rick

Rick, So was this Admiral Benson also your relative? I'm thinking this man's name could have been Roy Benson, but not 100% sure.

Just looked up your Gr Grandpa's ship in my old copy of Jane's Fighting ships. Shows USS Benson DD-421 had been transfered to Taiwan in 1954 also lists 22 DDs of the Benson-Mayo class, that is wonderful, what a great history you have.

And thanks for the kind words on my trucks. I've always liked the 36s, per the story I mentioned of my wife's driving test.
Later
Jim

My great Grandfather was William Shepard Benson, My Grandfather was Admiral Francis Wyse Benson, it goes on and on ending with me a 4 year Navy Vet during Viet Nam....off subject. If you have more questions, Please P.M. me.

Took the '36 out last night and I'm pushing a dragging brake on the left front, time to tear it down and find out what's up.

John will be happy to see this thread, when he gets a chance to get in here. Besides being former Navy (then USMC), his family worked at Bath Iron works. Not sure where the Benson class ships were made, but as Jim knows, John really likes his stuff. And I'll stop. LOL We could move this discussion to the Spoon!

Peg

Yeah Peg, I was just waiting for the axe...lol.

Looks like the brakes are a little sticky from sitting over the winter, it's working fine now.

WOW!!! What a beautiful truck! You did a top notch job

Thanks Iron Clad, many thanks to all the Stovebolters for the help.

Lookie, lookie. Murtahg is in the Galllery! (Check 1936's signature line.)

Peg