The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre New from Oklahoma

Hey everyone, Oklahoma checking in.

I stumbled across this site looking for information on my 67 c20 that I purchased in February of this year. Everyone at work was giving me a hard time about buying an old junker and they didn't understand why I didn't buy a new truck. But this website has only made me want an even older truck. (Hopefully I can get the wife on board). Raise your hand if you have a few projects running side by side.

My name is Daniel and I am 23 years old this June. From everything I've read, this is the place for me.
Did I do this right?

Daniel
Welcome to the Stovebolt group and by your description, you have found the right support group.
Great bunch on here and ready to help out.
Ask questions in the related topics and you will get answers.

Don

Hi Daniel, welcome to the club. A number of years ago I was looking for a 67-72 pick-up truck for my business. The more I looked, the more I wanted something older. I finally ended up with a 1953 Chevy panel truck. It took a few years, but I got her back together and I use it for work, also for pleasure. It's even pleasure to go to work in it. My son ended up purchasing a '67 pick-up, but that's another story. If you need help with anything, just ask. Good luck with it.

Leo

Daniel, welcome to the "Bolt" from a fellow Okie. Check the "Events Forum" for the early June shindig in El Reno. Would love to have you drop by and meet the rest of the Oklahoma Bolters.

Daniel, welcome to the Stovebolt. Your dang right your at the right place. Best old Chevy and GMC site on the web. Congrats on your truck. I had a 69 back a few years ago and wish I still had it. A truck will pay its way but a car is just and abcess on a man's billfold
Keep us posted and start you a DIY thread in the DIY Forum where you can post progress and we can read up on it.

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I will definitely start a thread when I get a little time to start the tear down on the 67. I cant decide if I want to spend the money on the 67 or save a little and try to find a 47-53 1/2 ton. As I'm new to old trucks (I'm about the only mechanic, if I'm even that, in my family) could I find a decent 1/2T to start with under $2000 47-53? Or do I need to keep saving?

This place is the best.

I bought my '48 for $1800 and drove it home. The bed was missing, there was plenty of surface rust, the brakes were shot and the passenger side floorboard was rusted through as well as the cab corner. (Very common with these trucks.)

Here's what it looks like now: '48 1/2 ton 5 window

Daniel
Check out this thread.
I may be able to help you out on your search.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1100548#Post1100548

Don

I think I could handle that. I love the truck Paul! It's almost exactly what I had in mind myself. I paid $1300 for the 67 in February and I had to trailer it home. I started another truck fund when I got it home. I didn't mean to mislead in my last post, I'm not quite to the $2000 mark yet. I'll be there this year.

Don, I really appreciate the link! I have to work that weekend though and not to mention that I've never been to an auction so I guess you could say id be clueless how it works. I'd like to buy one this year though. I would appreciate any help I could get when I have a little more saved. How did you guys start out?

A friend of mine called me and told me he found a truck for me. He was "into" old cars and trucks and knew a lot of people. I went to see the truck, which was owned by a guy who I'm now friends with. He was going to restore/rod it, but he decided to sell it to me instead, because he came across a car he really wanted.

Just curious, what was your biggest hurdle or unexpected speed bump? And how long did it take you to finish?

For me it was the brakes. I originally wanted to keep the truck stock, but my brake drums were shot and I couldn't find new ones. I finally decided to put a disk brake conversion on the front axle. After that, I basically decided it was more important to build a truck I could drive than to keep it stock. So I built it trying to keep it looking stock while using components that would make it drivable.

I replaced the rear with one out of an '89 Camaro, so I have a 3.73 limited slip rear and four wheel power disc brakes. The tranny is a 5 speed with overdrive. The front springs were broken at the shackles, so I replaced them with the monoleaf springs from Patrick's in Arizona. That lowered the front end 4", so then I had to lower the rear 4" so it would sit level.

The shocks were also shot, so I switched them out for gas shocks and fabricated mounts plus repurposed some from other vehicles.

And so it goes. I've had the truck about 17 years now, and it took 12 or more to get it to its current condition. And a ton of money.

Biggest hurdle??? I'd say mine was M O N E Y...

Turns out my pain in the neck was the rear end. Did away with the torque tube, put in a 3.90 which was shot, found a 3.38 which whined like crazy, put I a 3.38 from Yukon gear which whined..... put in another Yukon gear which was worst than the first.....Need I say more.