BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.
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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 8 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 8 | First of many questions to come. Just starting restoration of '51 1/2 ton.
The firewall has JB (script) written on driver side.
What does this represent?
I will post picture once I figure out how to!!
Ken | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,440 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,440 | No one knows what it represents. There have been various markings reported here over the years and it's anyone's guess what any of them meant. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 | I have a large X on my driver's side firewall marked in yellow crayon. Truck was assembled in Oakland in early 1953. The X was placed there after the body had been painted its coppertone color.
Last edited by sstock; 01/21/2015 1:18 PM.
1953 Chevrolet 3100261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY GalleryVideo of the 261 running1964 GMC 1000305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 8 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 8 | | | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,436 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,436 | Somebody told me years ago, that markings on the firewall like that, are the final inspectors mark when it came off the assembly line.
Don't know if it is true or not, but it does make sense.
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck"The Flag Pole"In the Stovebolt Gallery'46 2-Ton grain truck | '50 2-ton flatbed | '54 Pontiac Straight Eight | '54 Plymouth Belvidere | '70 American LaFrance pumper fire truck | '76 Triumph TR-6 Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most! | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | ...and a recent article by an assembly line worker from the later fifties said sometimes it was the previous workers initial signifying his job was done.....in one case the markings were under the fender on the inner fender and to keep from bending over they would hold a mirror under the fender to see it.
Many have reported that some marking also indicate trim, engine and so on, or other options as it went down the line.....and that it may vary from plant to plant. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 | | | | | | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 119 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 119 | The X was placed there after the body had been painted its coppertone color Digital photos can be deceiving, but your pickup appears to be Yukon Yellow (code 234M) rather than Coppertone (code 234R). Of course, the exterior was likely refinished a few times over the past six decades (time flies) while the firewall could have been left untouched | | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 8 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 8 | Interesting,,,I dident notice it until you mentioned it...could be.. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 603 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 603 | Yeah, my 57 Bigbolt LCF has all sorts of markings on the firewall. "STD", which I guess was standard transmission, "deluxe heater" self explanatory, and several numbers that make no sense. I just think it is neat that those have survived for 57 years. I am changing colors on mine, but do not intend to paint over the firewall with the markings.
57 GMC LCF 370 55 John Deere 40-W 59 John Deere 430-W 2000 GMC 4x4 56 John Deere 420-W Pix on Photobucket | | |
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