The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (MD, VA, West VA, DC, DE and PA) Road trip! Help me find a truck

Adam and I are presently driving to Denver, CO hauling a friends 48 GMC.
Then Wednesday morning leaving for Coeur d'Alene, ID by Thursday evening. Empty trailer in tow.
Sunday we head home likely through ND.

I've lined up 3 trucks and one or two junk yards to look at.
Anyone have leads on 48-53 GMC or Chevy 1 ton pickups I can add to the look at list?
Preferably nice original or decent paint and as close to no rust as I can afford.

Thanks,
Grigg

Have a safe and productive trip!

Wish list: Pristine '49 Chevy AD cab, priced accordingly

1/2 ton grill guard, the full grill and headlight type, as above

any number of artillery wheels, prefer 16", priced as above

Will keep an eye out.

Stoped for super just west of Saint Louis right now.

Grigg, Cosmo.
Check out this one that is in our field right now.
Rough but the price is right $600 and with a clean Mo. title in my name.
48 3/4 ton that has been bob tailed to haul hay. Motor and trans in it. 80 plus year owner said he drove it to where it was parked some 15 years ago.
Pick it up on the way back east if you are empty or I could bring it your way next April, for the cost of fuel one way.

http://s893.photobucket.com/user/2-Ton/library/1951%20no%20bed

23 miles off I-70 at Kingdom city.

My cell is 573-544-5595
PM me or call, if even a little interested or just want to stop by and visit.

Don King

Thanks Don but I'd like to find a useable and presentable looking truck, much less of a project this time.

We're about 45 minutes west of you now, just finished a little nap and ready to hit the road again, need to get past Kansas City well before daylight.

If timing were better would have loved to visit on the way!

Grigg

I have an overdrive for Doughboy just north of KC that needs to come this way. Wish I would have touched base with you sooner. No biggie....I'll get it come spring.
Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

We drove by in the wee hours of the morning, wish I'd posted our rout sooner. It's been a real busy week getting ready for the trip and wrapping up a weekend community timber framing project too.

We're in Russell Kansas now, probably going to take slower roads from here to a junkyard Ed Pruss recommends outside Denver. See what we find along the way.

Wow, you guys are making tracks! I'm envious. Nothing like a good road trip to clear the head.
I will keep looking around to see if I can find something interesting to look at. I just looked at where Coeur d'Alene is, that is a hike!
Hope you guys have a blast.

hey Grigg, I am looking for any 16 in wheels for the half ton as well. thanks.
good hunting.

Alec

I like this thread! It's gone from you asking us to help you find a truck, to us asking you to find some parts!
I need some rear fender braces for my 41 3/4 ton if you run across any. Thanks a bunch!

We're leaving Denver headed west on I70 so Adam can see some mountains. Then on up to Idaho to view two trucks tomorrow, Thursday.

Grigg, how many miles did you tack up already?

How was the junkyard outside Denver.
Here is a 1954 GMC 630 in Boise.
http://classiccars.com/listings/view/715820/1954-gmc-630-for-sale-in-boise-idaho-83705

I need a good western brew. Have a good trip Grigg.

Would you settle for a good MC Punch??

Were about to Twin Falls Idaho now. 2528 miles so far

Grigg, any pictures of what you've accumulated so far?

No, not much more than a radiator cap and a present for the wife.
Do have pictures of old trucks to share later

'Present for the wife' = sewing machine

Actually a circular knitting machine, may or may not be restorable but is worth a try.

Well today we looked at a seemingly nice 48 Chevy 1 ton pickup that had a lot of problems. Real poor old paint job covering up and adding to old problems, not even a hint of a restoration, just paint. It however was quite sound for what we're used to seeing, but need a complete restoration.

Then this evening looked at a 1951 GMC 1 ton dually. It is real sound and an old exterior repaint. Otherwise clean, straight, and near original. Nothing to undo that was done before. New glass and rebuilt brakes. Needs an intake gasket, all new weatherstrip, and not much else to be useful.
Bought it and already loaded on the trailer ready to start home on sunday.

I'll reconfigure it to be a single wheel pickup with parts I already have.

Grigg

Schedule wise today we had a very nice drive north through Idaho on rt 55 and then 95, a pretty state and lots of variety.
Attending a TImber Framers Guild conference now through Sunday Noon.
Then driving home through North Dakota with lots of flexibility and a full week available, might go a little slower home.

So far about 2930 miles on the odometer.

Grigg,

Great score on the 1 ton and thanks for the update.

It sounds like you are very pleased with the purchase. That's great. Can't wait to see the new truck.
I envy you guys. Sounds like you are having fun.

Billy ... that could be *us* in a couple of years ...

Congrats Grigg!
Your were always one for an adventure! (AKA road trip)

We've seen a lot of trucks sitting and in junk yards, and one that was supposed to be pretty nice but wasn't. I was starting to get discouraged as nothing we've seen was anywhere close to as nice a condition as what I wanted.
Decided that even though the trucks out here are overall in better shape than ours at home there is still a reason they end up in junk yards, they're old and get to be partly junk for one reason or another.
So finding a real clean truck on a road trip might take a lot of luck. Increased the odds by scouting out possible good ones before the trip. I first called about this truck about 6 months ago and luckily enough he still had it.

On our way home still have a lead to follow up with on a 1 ton pickup bed and keeping an eye out for a Cosmo cab.

Left Idaho Sunday mid afternoon. Right now we're about to Bismarck North Dakota. Pretty wide open and good scenery, nicer than some of the lower states.

Grigg

I was thinking about you guys a little while ago. I was wondering if you were back on the road. Where is the next stop?

About 6:00 afternoon east cost time Monday we stopped in Frazee Minnesota and picked up a single cylinder Detroit Diesel for a friend.

Next stop is Knoxville, Tennessee to stay Tuesday night with Adam's sister and family. Then Asheville Wednesday morning to get my car from the shop. Home Wednesday evening.

Grigg

PS
Back in Idaho we picked up a small ice cream dipping cabinet.

Anyone have a set of Virginia 1951 plates or leads on where to acquire a set?

Thanks,
Grigg

Wayne Tyler in Montpelier VA 804-883-5520 before 9:30, [email protected]

He usually has a booth at some of the local shows. I have bought several tags from him.

Thanks, I'll have to look around first and figure what a reasonable price range is before I call. Last set of old plates I got were for my 48, unnailed them from the wall in my grandfathers barn.

We're in Knoxville having spent the night with Adam's family. Asheville, NC next to fetch my car from the mechanic. A stop in Roanoke at a junkyard and home this evening.

Grigg

Grigg, we have a local guy who has about every year imaginable. I always get my plates from him. I'll see if I can get ahold of him. Are you looking for truck plates, or any '51 plate?

Truck preferred, any would do.
I'm going to try to register it tomorrow or Friday, give me a ring with what you find.

Thanks,
Grigg

All registered, still on the lookout for some 1951 plates but no rush.

Here's a map with very nearly our entire rout except we clipped the southwest corner of Nebraska before getting to Colorado. Google maps now now only allows a limited number of stops and alterations otherwise I'd fix it.
https://goo.gl/maps/xJLJ9qhcprP2
The odometer shows 5,700 miles.
Fuel mileage loaded was about 13.5 in all cases. Total weight 18,400 lb leaving Idaho, similar starting out headed east, and another 1,000 lb or so on the truck bed from Minnesota back home.
Mileage for about 1,200 miles with empty trailer running on only two wheels from Denver to Coeur d'Alene: 15.3 MPG

Grigg

Friends, truck, beer, ice-cream, good.

Yes, we did have a good time.
I must say it's nice to be driving an old truck again!
Thanks to Tim, Cosmo, and Phil for coming by, lending a hand, and otherwise making for a great Saturday.

First thing Tim and I made up and replaced the rear brake line, no troubles with that. Cosmo and I bled the system. Then Phil arrived earlier than expected and helped diagnose and improve on the carburetor troubles. I was thinking an intake gasket leak based on the sellers evaluation but we pretty much ruled that out. Seems the carb has seen better days and I'll fit a replacement soon.

We wrapped up with a cozy tour to the DB.

Today I'll adjust some brakes as several were dragging, and investigate a funny parking brake cable.

Doesn't seem like it'll take much to get it reliable and ready for longer trips.

Grigg

I've started a thread in the Project Journal section to continue the discussion and updates on this truck.
You can find it here
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...C_1_ton___-_Improve-Dri.html#Post1133775

Grigg

Really jealous of the road trip, looked like a lot of fun

awesome scenery along some of that route