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

I converted my distributor to Pertronics electronic ignition.

It removed the slight miss I had at highway speeds.

I have to get a new engine for the 1956. The one that is in it is about shot. I found a 283 for it, that's whats coming out. so I have a job ahead of me.

Sanding, sanding, continue sanding! You can do it if you try! Good grief I'm getting forearm pump!

I got the engine and transmission out and on the dolly. Going to open it up it up in the next few days to see what's going on in there!

Sanding, sanding, keep on sanding! My fingers hurt.

Pulled the whole front clip to access some dubious welding at the front of the truck,one of my front shock upper mounts had come adrift from the chassis after encountering a pothole.
It turns out the front shocks were 'topping out' i.e. over-extending.
This also allowed a full health check of other much more important and structural welds i.e. crossmember,boxing plates etc.

If it hadn't been for the welding the shocks would have burst so a lesser of two evils! I think?

I removed 1 and a half inches from the top mounts effectively increasing suspension drop when unloaded and preventing the shocks from reaching full extension resulting in a very much smoother drive.

I'm getting there!

Called the mechanic Saturday to try and schedule the transmission work on my truck. He said it would be early to mid October before I could bring it. Said he's really busy lately. Meanwhile I took the flywheel I bought to be resurfaced so it will be ready when he says to bring him the truck.

Yippee! Added brake juice yesterday, bled brakes, adjusted emergency brake, fired it up... and MOVED it after sitting in the same location for over a year and a half!

I noticed my amp gauge is obviously working backwards (complete rewire... easy fix) and confirmed brake lights work; I installed a pressure switch on the new master cylinder so I couldn't really test it until I got brake fluid added. Oh... and I need to roll the leads on the headlights. The high-beam indicator lights up on low beam.

I got my hands on a used oil filter assembly, so next weekend's goal is to clean it up in preparation for installation.

Greg,

How about some pics of that fine looking piece of steel?

I'll second that......

replumbed front brake lines and got the hoses hooked up to the calipers.


Weeds

I painted POR-15 over the stop lamp switch terminals last year thinking they were mounting screws, so I replaced the stop lamp switch. There was no way the wires would ever make connection on those terminals. I also replaced the horn relay, headlight switch, & I reconnected all their respective wiring.

Postponing the inevitable cab-drilling for seat belts, I made a center seat belt mount for inside the cab & under the cab. Not that anybody reads this, but I was very pleased with the 1/2" drill bit I used--- it was a 'throw-away' I saved from the trash and re-sharpened on a bench grinder. It drilled through the 1/4" stainless bar with ease. I'm beginning to figure out this "project" is less about the truck and more about me learning how to do things. Link to various pictures.

Brad

I feel the same way. I have learned more by rebuilding my truck than I ever thought I could.

I got the motor torn apart and sent down to the machine shop.

Then I just sat in the truck and dreamed for a few minutes.

Me three....
I've heard that exercising our brains helps offset alzhimers so learning new things is good for more things than one may realize. My problem is that I think my brain is already saturated and to learn new things I've got to forget other things, you know to free up memory

The 49 got washed, the interior Armorall'ed, all fluids topped off and all tires filled to 40 psi. It's not going anywhere just want it looking presentable for the youngest grandson's birthday party tomorrow .
Dave

Repaired the Lokar throttle cable on the '48 Burb. Kept slipping out of the sleeve at the carb bracket resulting in a 45mph idle. Little concerning but is now fixed.

I got me a new 283 from Rich Sisneros.

Connected the shifter mechanism. Installed the e-Brake pedal. Started thinking about the throttle connection from the pivot on the block to the center Stromberg carb.

I just left the house & went to Sonic to get a milkshake for the truck's 60th birthday. I almost forgot it today while I was installing 3 pt seatbelts. Seatbelt install up on the pillar was a breeze; I used a floppy piece of 2" metal strapping & taped it to the backing plate I made earlier today. I had already cut, and intended on using, a rod to weld to the mounting plate--- I was surprised this strap metal worked.

Oh--I just looked at the sales receipt and the original purchase date for the truck is September 29, 2015 1955. I'll hopefully have the seat installed, my son's car seat installed, & we'll drive in the truck to get a milkshake on its actual birthday.

Brad

Epoxy primed part of my truck. Will start stripping the paint on the bed next. It's comin' along.I'll be Movinon soon.

"Oh--I just looked at the sales receipt and the original purchase date for the truck is September 29, 2015."

Your 60 year old truck was born on 09/29/2015?

Yep.

In 1955, they post-dated the sales receipts so people buying 2nd series trucks felt modern & ahead of their time. New body style & all.

Brad

I put insulation material down on the floorboard in the seat location, and covered it with the 'under-seat' mat. -Pictures-
I am trying to think out the order to do everything, i.e. I don't want to have to remove the seat to do this or to do that. The seatbelt install was definitely convenient with the seat not being there, but I did have to throw it in for measuring.

I think I will go ahead with the rest of the flooring & insulation install- and anything under the dash I need to do - prior to installing the seat.

Brad

Looks good Brad. I particularly like the red gas tank. It reminds me of a fire truck. lol

I had to buy a quart of RED to paint the little bow ties on the dog dish hubcaps, so I figured why not...
I got that silly 'red red red red red red neck' song stuck in my head the day I painted the tank. It was awful.

Brad
Edit-- Compared to last year's picture, the tank does stand out...

I put down insulation on the cab floor, cleaned & painted the steering column, replaced the speedometer gear 'thing' at the transmission's port side, replaced the ignition switch with a NOS switch, and I cleaned up the glove box lock cylinder. I can't get the key cylinder out of the old ignition switch even though I could (and did) when I cleaned it for the engine run-in. The thought crossed my mind to chunk it in the river, but it's the original one- need to save it...

I slowed down some on my progress to make sure I get everything I can done inside the cab & under the dash before I put the seat back in. The extra space while working is turbo convenient. Here's a couple insulation install pictures . I used a magnet & some HEAVY steel chunks to "iron" the insulation down to the 3M adhesive-saturated cab floor.

Brad

Seems I have found my mystery 60mph vibration,i'd checked tyre balance,drivetrain condition and pinion angles etc,i'd convinced myself it was from this.
Long story short,my alternator recently took a dump the other day (bearings).

On removing the offending item I found a crack in the mounting boss,which it seems had caused the bearing failure in the first place.
On installing the new Bosch alternator and subsequent road test,the vibration has disappeared!
My local FLAPS did me a storming deal on a rebuilt unit. £60 all in (about $90USD)
Great for a model specific item,even more so being for a 'Yank' here in the UK.

I love it when things like this happen,now onto the next 5500 miles!

I hammered off the old drive shaft support bearing to find out I needed to replace the spline itself too. Happened to find a machine shop that happen to have three units on their shelves left over from the sixties....lol I'd call that a good day...

Tim

after more than 5 years of on and off work on our 50 pu I decided a couple of months ago to strip all the paint to bare metal. Several coats of epoxy primer and the high build. So yesterday put three coats of top coat on the cab and now I have a big smile. the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer..cheers

Blanch;

We need to see pictures!

Last night, I removed & insulated my temporary(?) fine oak headliner in my 55.2 truck . Materials used: reflectix, industrial strength velco, and 3M Auto trim yellow adhesive. I will probably use some leftover weather stripping to frame the installed headliner around its perimeter. I don't know if I'll leave it there, or not. My seat is a buckskin/palomino color, so it may look pretty good this way.

Brad

I have been building the framing on my truck for the stake bed using step van bumpers.

I finally finished the outer frame after month's of rain,its a bit heavy duty but my intention is to actually use the truck to transport equipment with.

I posted more details with pictures in this thread,I figured that was the place..

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...71/Building_a_stake_bed.html#Post1128571

Of course I had to paint the back of the cab first and purchase the rear window and gasket,that was not a part of the listed complete truck when I bought it.

I guess complete for sale is now as long as 60% of the parts are there it is complete.

Another good sales pitch, 46, is "All the hard work is done."

I bolted the transmission to the engine, bolted down the manifolds and the starter. Also some other stuff.

I worked on some rust.

I got a good coat of epoxy primer on my window regulators. Just some 'good looking out' for some of my previously neglected truck parts.

Brad

Removed rear brake drums from the 66 axle, bought replacement spring kit, wheel cylinders and brake shoes from FLAPS, checked springs, found that I was missing more than one, returned to FLAPS, bought self adjustment kit for both sides, replaced all hardware on one side. Bought drums for both sides and will get replacements installed when time permits.

Both rear brakes have been completed! It's amazing to have everything work better after taking a breather and having the proper tool for putting those retaining springs back in!

Worked on carb issues on the '48 burb. Helped it some but still not right. I will get it right or switch to a Holly.

I welded patch panels on my fender.