I found this truck on Kijiji out in the Winnipeg Manitoba area. I've been looking for some time now and I really like the look of this year, condition and the fact that it's a 3/4-ton.
It was located on a rural farm in Grunthal, MB and the owner originally planned to fix it up just enough to be able to run into town with it and drive the property. It did have a grain-box on it at one time, but it's from factory without a box\bed. Here is the history that the previous owner shared with me:
The truck belonged to a family in Woodmore, MB from 1948-2003. A gentleman from my community runs a septic truck business and had asked casually about the truck for about 15 years, having seen it in a shed while pumping on the property. In 2003, the owner asked if he was still interested and he purchased the truck for $450, the price the owner requested. Along with the truck, the owner threw in a Honda moped as well.
The only issue with the truck at the time was a sticky valve and rotten tires according to the business man. He drove it for a short time, not licensing it though.
The truck then went up for auction; an estate auction for the business owner's aging parents. Before the sale, an offer of $2,000 was made on the truck, however legally it had to go through the auction as it was listed on the auction poster. A $2,000 reserve was placed on the truck, and although the bidding came very close, it did not sell ... after which time it was sold to the fellow who had made the original $2,000 offer. The truck, to that point, included all the original paper work and had just under 50,000 miles.
I bought the truck in '07 for $2,500. The guy had a second similar truck (a 1949 1 ton) with a metal box which was not running. Although he wanted $500 for it, I could not afford to purchase it for parts and often kicked myself for not making the extra effort for a solid parts truck. The '48 had been sitting in a tarp type garage for a couple of years and had become mouse infested.
The guy I bought the truck from said that he would get me the original paperwork, but that never materialized (I don't think he knew where he had placed it).
I changed the oil, added brake fluid, put in a new battery and drove it around the countryside a number of times. It ran so quiet the first time I started it, that I didn't even realize from inside the cab that it was running.
I put about $1,200 into the truck with the brake cables being the major repair. It also had a loose part in the front end that was replaced. Before it was replaced, I had to watch carefully around 40 mph that I didn't shake right off the road.
I took the grain box off with the intention of placing a stake side deck on the truck, including a lift (which my Father-in-law) had. I did do one major haul with the truck after placing all of the around 2009 when I re-roofed our house and placed all the old shingles in the grain box. The suspension is so solid, the truck hardly dropped at all. No half-ton in this day and age would have hauled that load. We moved to a acreage in May 2011 and I could no longer justify another dime or any time into the truck from that point.
Here are a few pix of the truck when the previous owner had just purchased it.
And here on the left is a pic of it as it was delivered this morning. There are a few more pictures here, one showing the bare bed!
I will post more as I progress, but that's the history of the truck as I understand it. Next step, VIN decoding!
This is the info that I've been able to decode so far. I haven't found much on the Engine code or Body, but I will keep looking.
I put some fresh gas in the tank, with a little fuel-saver additive, cleaned the points, cleaned the wires and cleaned the plugs. Couldn't get it to fire, even with a couple shots of ether. Gas is going to the carb, so that's not the issue. That's as far as I was able to get today, since I drained the battery. Any advice is appreciated!
Are you sure your points are getting fire? fire to the plugs? Was any OLD gas in the tank or did you drain it before putting in some good stuff? Double check the "fire". You may want to ask the question in the Engine Forum.
....the DIY Forum, in my opinion, is to post what your doing so we can follow along anytime we want to look. I'd suggest "all questions" be ask in a specific forum. Am I making any sense?? You'll get a LOT more response's there. Just trying to help.
welcome to the site! I agree with Achip, make sure you are getting voltage to the points. Sounds like no spark, if points are good, and getting voltage there, coil wire could be bad. Both my 55 and 58 had bad coil wires! They were corroded internally right above the coil.
Finally got around to tinkering again. I've replaced the cap\rotor and wires. Still no spark! When I put a voltmeter between the coil-cap wire and turn it over, I don't see any voltage. Coil has voltage on + side and continuity to the Dist on the - side. Also, checked the ohms on the coil and they all seem to check out. I do get a spark between the points as well. I've ordered a new coil and condenser to be safe. We'll see what that brings us. Not much else I can change!
Well, it's been a few months since my last post, so I figured I better do a little updating.
For the electrical system, it seems that my spark was there, but not strong enough. In the end, I had to replace the spark plugs and wouldn't you know, she fired right up?!
Since then I've been working on the brakes. Although everything looked pretty good, all four wheel cylinders were stuck. While I was waiting on them and new rubber lines, I pulled the hubs in front, cleaned everything up and painted the backing plate. Same in back, except that I just pulled the brakes and left the hub.
I tried ordering new wheel seals for the front and got a set too small from Rock Auto, so I'm going to snap in some new felt in the originals and keep my eyes open for the proper seals. One of the races (I believe) of the outer front bearing has a bit of a rough patch, so I will be replacing the bearings and bit too soon.
I've run new NiCop lines throughout, with two more to flare and install. Then I can pack my old bearings and actually take her down the road and back. I'm really looking forward to this, as the closest thing so far I've had to a drive is standing on a running board, steering with one hand while it was being pulled in reverse out of a yard.
Ontario is changing it's vehicle safety laws come July 1st, so I would really like to be able to get it road-worthy before that happens. I have no idea how the changes will affect antique vehicles.
So here's what I 'Think' is left to do:
Driver's windshield is cracked - Replace with new and full rubber Emergency brake - can adjust when brakes finished Lights - Just have to get brake light figured out, rear signals are working Tires - Rears have chunks missing, fronts probably too old to pass Box\Bed - I believe the rear wheels need to be covered and since it's just cab and chassis, I will have to find myself a bed with fenders Choke Cable - It's broken, not sure if necessary
Other than that, something seems to be up with my accelerator pump, as it stalls it I push the pedal, but a gradual increase is fine. Sounds like a carb kit to add to the list.
Love the Stovebolt, where would I be without it's members?!
Progress is progress. Keep punching at it. Its amazing what just 15 minutes a day will get done. ....and it certainly sounds like your "putting in your time". Thanks for the update, just keep them coming.....and your right, where would any of us be without the other members!
Goach2 and “Poncho” DITY story is continued in the ” Project Journal” forum here.
Despite the fact that Goach2 hasn't made any recent posts, the 383 replies in his Journal contain extensive info on installing a 261 engine in a 1948 Chevy 3/4-ton. These have proven to be an invaluable resource for fellow ‘Bolter’s.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
It was located on a rural farm in Grunthal, MB and the owner originally planned to fix it up just enough to be able to run into town with it and drive the property. It did have a grain-box on it at one time, but it's from factory without a box\bed. Here is the history that the previous owner shared with me:
The truck then went up for auction; an estate auction for the business owner's aging parents. Before the sale, an offer of $2,000 was made on the truck, however legally it had to go through the auction as it was listed on the auction poster. A $2,000 reserve was placed on the truck, and although the bidding came very close, it did not sell ... after which time it was sold to the fellow who had made the original $2,000 offer. The truck, to that point, included all the original paper work and had just under 50,000 miles. 
And here on the left is a pic of it as it was delivered this morning. There are a 
