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

Well I finally got the H02 4:11 in my 59 this weekend and its a happy driver. You can feel the pickup and i think it was worth the work. Next stop Cab.

I cleaned the engine and primered it! It will get another coat tomorrow (after i get more primer) and paint the day after that! I can't wait until i can see a clean Engine sitting in a my frame!

Jockboldter50,
Ever since I have had the truck, it's been garage kept. You can tell where the problem spot were at. Thanks for the kinds words on the progress of the truck. If you are ever over in the area, stop on by and maybe we can get a few others in the area to have lunch or something.

Skip,
Thanks for the compliment. I got sick as a dog this weekend and didn't finish what I started. It will be forever continuous.
I like to see that your truck was put together so fast and is on the road. Good on you.

Props to everyone who has kept this post going. It is enjoyable to read up on and follow along.

Bread
.

Worked on the speedo a little. It'll have to wait now. Spent the rest of the day getting 'big orange" ready for leaving in the AM for the Reunion. All is on go.

..jockbolter, if you make it to Newport News let me know. I'll drive up and make it three of us for a gab. Bread is a super guy. He and family stopped in at my house on his way to Va.

I worked on the 54 3100 yesterday after work. Installed two new tail lights, removed the shift lever from the column so I can free it up. Also removed some more debris from the cab. As soon as this shift lever is loosened up it will be time for the first trip around the block.

I have been working on the truck's lighting as time has permitted.
Headlights:
Taken buckets apart, cleaned, shined chrome clamps, new aimers, original T3s. Rebuilt the crudded-up headlight switch.
Directionals:
Added back an original loud metallic sounding turn signal relay, new cork gaskets, bulbs and clear lenses.
Fogs
Re-wired fog lights with a proper relay, took the housings apart, cleaned them up. Added in a fog light switch and made an stock looking light-up knob.
Brakelights:
Took housings apart, cleaned, replaced bulbs, gaskets and pigtails.

Fixed a stress crack i'd conveniently overlooked in the rush to get on the road,it was on the angled bed side section before the bed roll at the rear stake pocket.
I'd lightly tack welded it but hadn't gone deep enough,10 minutes with a grinder and subsequent weld has cured the problem.

Installed new front brakes on the Good Humor Truck.All new parts.Install brake lines next month


http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s554/icecreamman55/032_zps02ba83d3.jpg[/IMG]

Ordered some extra rear door hinges for the bus. Figured the price was right & I had the extra cash so why not get them while they stil can be gotten....joe

Cleaned all the old padding off the seats (oh boy did that stink), acid washed them, and primed and painted them (forgot to take pictures). They are at the upholstery shop being re-foamed and covered along with the door panels, kick panels and headliner. I'll post pictures when they come back.

fat matted the cab roof

2nd view

and the floor

2nd view

painted and installed rear window panel

and rear window

added new fuse panel

2nd view

and now will start the rough in wiring.

Amazing work and creativity there Steve!!!

Got new trim screws for the missing ones on the window and windshield trim on the '48 Burb. Went to put them in the empty screw holes and found there is no hole in the body to screw into. Modifications were made when the top was chopped 3" and the original holes no longer line up. Out comes the drill and new holes will be my goal. Ordered new full coverage door panels. Now I have a big hole in my wallet.

Thanks Jim, The one front drum on the truck had a wobble.Indicated by the machine shop, on turning the drums. Sure
enough I installed it on the axle and it was spinning in and out. I purchase a new one from Rockauto. The old drum looked good with no grooves. But intill I spun it on the Axle and could see the warpness. Don't take nothing for granted, check all the
parts.

got the hood stripped of paint! Making progress to priming!

Amazing how addressing a couple of small rattles can radically change driving the truck.
My heater (Austin Mini) was rattling due to the foam seal on the 'door' deteriorating,10mins later fixed,part of the seat frame too.
What a difference!

Who said 'real' trucks rattle?

Installed a few trim screws in the windshield and door frames. Found out I didn't have long enough screws to finish so ordered more. Also ordered panel screws to install the door panels when they arrive.

Installed my new windshield, rebuilt the carburetor and changed the oil.

Did some prep work to get ready to install the rear window, removed the hood and drilled out a twisted off bolt,reinstalled and adjusted. Also replaced the shifter bushings and mounted new tires.

You've been staying busy.

Got the rear axle bolted back in, need tires to set it on the ground and started installing my dropped springs & spindles in the front....joe

Have to keep chipping away at it everyday. Only way all these projects will get done in one lifetime.

I started on my project this last week. Stripped the paint on the first fender:

http://ssrjim.wordpress.com

Ordered a voltage reducer so I can hook up my heater. Replaced the door weatherstripping in the passenger door today and replaced the door glass that got broken by slamming the door with no weatherstripping.---Jack

Finished installing the trim screws on the windshield molding and door molding. Raised the driver and passenger seat up 3 inches. I'm 6'2" and could not see over the steering wheel. Now I can and it feels more like the proper position. The Burb goes into the shop tomorrow for a complete front end rebuild and a full front/rear brake job including a new master cylinder. More to do at my place when it comes home from the shop.

Moved my rear axle back 1.5" . . . I don't think I like it.

Well, twotone, move it back.

Well I don't think I'm going to move it back to the stock location (and have to shorten the drive shaft) because I don't like it there either, but I might move it forward a quarter to half an inch.

Just finishing up a T5/open rear conversion and getting tied up on the little things.

Finally got the drivers Door installed. Yes it lines up and the gaps are even. HAPPY DANCE.

What's the issue you're facing?

My only real issue is one of aesthetics. The wheel "centered" in the wheel opening by way of measurement etc. looks out of sorts as opposed to the "too far forward" or stock position. I'll give it a couple weeks before I make the call.

On the bright side I took a short test drive around the block and I do like the T5 and 3.90 rear.

I understand; It's gotta look right.
I was using the original gear set that came with the Chevy 10 bolt 2.73 thinking gas mileage would be so much better. I finally switched to a 3.73 and the difference is amazing.

Started working on a patch panel for the front of the DS front fender.

Got my right rear fender in to epoxy primer:

http://ssrjim.wordpress.com

I repurposed some left over 1950 Chevy 3/4ton frame I had laying in my "Pile O'Metal". We're expanding our back deck & screening it in and I needed some angle iron to support it above the concrete footings. Since I very seldom throw anything away I found a 14" section and cut it down the center to get the two pieces of angle iron I needed. I figured I saved some $$$$$$$$, I recycled an old piece of American Iron, it will serve its purpose & as thick as it is that I would be dead & long gone before it would ever rust/rot away....joe

I got the interior of the cab painted the aggie maroon yesterday. With just a little luck I can get the outside of the cab painted today - and then the cab is ready to set back on the chassi. progress. ken

How about some pictures Kin?

Got the rear fender into filler primer today, seven hours:

http://ssrjim.wordpress.com/

Got the yard dog running today. It hadn't been started since before I started my cancer treatments a year ago. I've been working a little each day since Sunday on it.

Of course the battery is shot. Luckily I had a spare. I pulled the entire fuel system, including fuel pump and cleaned it all. The carb wasn't as nasty as I expected. Replaced fuel with fresh.

Pulled the plugs. They still looked new after I brushed the soot off them. I was running R43. I swapped them for 46x. A little hotter plug since this never gets on the highway.

Also pulled the valve cover to be sure everything under there was moving and getting oil.

It took 2 starts on starting fluid before she got gas to the carb, then she ran sweet.

Got it safety inspection today and it passed!!!

I found a couple of springs in the driveway last week. I couldn't figure out where they came from. I looked under both my old trucks and the springs in them don't match the springs I found. One of these has rounded ends and the other has 45 degree corners. All my truck's springs have square cut ends. So I assumed they didn't come from my trucks.

Saturday we drove the Suburban to Gordon for a show'n'shine. Took the interstate there at speeds up to 75 and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. But took the farm roads back and noticed the front end was 'funny' on some of the bumps.

Sunday morning I got under the Suburban for another look. This time I counted springs. The right front was missing 2 and the caster shim. And there was no alignment pin in the spring pack. Apparently the pin had rusted away sometime in the past and a couple of springs lost. The PO found a couple of springs from who knows what and stuck them in there. I have been driving it that way for nearly 30,000 miles.

Last night I pulled a couple of springs, a shim and an alignment pin from a parts truck and put it back together right.