The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk I’m an official Stovebolter now – Brought my new baby home today

Hi All, I have been asking questions for a few months in these parts and finally found a Stovebolt, took a deep breath and bought it.

I was lucky that the owner was only 35 miles away, so I drove her home today and snapped a picture ( URL below if I do it right). She is close to OEM, with outside mirrors,rear bumper and rail posts being main visual differences form pure OEM

She is a 1955 C3100 short bed, first series, with inline 235 and 3 on the tree (was interesting relearning 3 on the tree hadn’t done one of those since the early 70’s)

Already had my first problem on the way back ( beside shifting like an idiot) — An guy who drove beside me for about 5 miles smiling informed me that the brake lights had stopped while he was watching.

I am now debugging it and it appears the switch failed on the drive — It was almost certainly the longest drive it had in a while.

I am beside myself and just stared at it in the driveway so long that my wife came out and asked if I was OK.

I was exceptionally lucky for this Michigan winter — so mild that there is no snow in February and it is actually warmer than 32 out — the stars aligned for me today as I brought it home on dry and bouncy Michigan roads — definitely a truck ride

I have lots of questions now that I have a specific bolt, but that is for other posts — time to get plates, and fix the brakes and pray the weather holds for a while — otherwise, she will sit in the garage on battery tender until spring comes calling again
I will post more images when I can gather some up — forgot to steal the ones the original owner published before he pulled his ad

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/JoeStine/first_day_home_1_zpsrixhmvl8.jpg

Joe Finkelstine

Great find. Looks like she's in great shape.

Nice looking truck. Welcome to the family.

That's a nice looking truck you found! I'm sure you'll enjoy driving it with plenty of smiles.

Well that's just cheating right there! Buying one already done, how are you ever going to skin all of bark off your knuckles, and get good with cuss words and the creative combinations of same?
That's a beauty. I think the lighter colors really show off the beautiful curves on these trucks.
Carl

Welcome

Looks great, really like the color!

Mike B

Wow!!! That is a really good looking truck! Great score! I like the way you put it Joe:

"I am beside myself and just stared at it in the driveway so long that my wife came out and asked if I was OK."

Sounds like you have a bad case of A.D.D.....Advanced Design Disorder! There is no cure. Welcome to the club!

Just saw the pictures......Nice.

Looks like you got a nice one!
Welcome to the Bolt!

Nice truck and the very best AD to easily make into a highway cruiser since it came factory with an open driveshaft. A tip on three on the tree shifting; hold your hand on the shifter with the palm up and your fingers curled upward. This will make you move the shift lever straight up towards reverse and then let it drop in the neutral gate before putting into second. With palm down one tries to move the lever at a slant from first to second, a real no-no with an AD. Try it.

Wow, that is a nice looking truck. Welcome to the Stovebolt! I can't wait to see more photos. I think winter is going to wither away and give us an early cruising season.

Welcome aboard - Enjoy the ride, and drive it. Great truck !

That's a fine looking truck. When I was cleaning up my truck when I bought it I found some paint under the seat that looks like the paint on your truck. Always wondered what it would look like if it was painted that color. I don't have to wonder anymore. It looks great. Have fun with your truck and welcome to the "bolt." Best web site I know. I love it. Steven

Hi All
First off, Thanks to all for your kind and encouraging words on my new 55. I appreciate the good thoughts my way. Now for a few individual responses.

To Carl, Well, it wasn’t all fun and games, brake lights failed upon pickup and I just spent all day today (Sunday) finally getting the old light switch to work — Every available replacement I found on internet and in person at Orielly’s is mirror imaged, including to OEM one form AC Delco — I suspect that AC Delco made a goof and all the Chinese copied the goof — Getting to the switch to remove it was quite a challenge. Because of the problem with all the replacement switches, I cleaned and reused the original — the lever was sticking a bit and I got it freed up. If I ever have to go to replacement, I will have to drill two new holes in firewall to mount the new ones upside down

To CoilOver ( Evan ) — thanks for the shifting advise — I will certainly use the palm up — I probably was making more than a few direct 1st to second shifts the wrong way you describe

To Red 49 Truck: I also like the color, but the original truck was a light blue (interior is still this same color, I think), and I also don’t think the current color was a factory color - I like it nonetheless and will keep it — The paint is drive quality — it has its share of nicks and dents — I am ok with this — I bought it to drive, not live on a trailer

I have added a bunch more pictures to my photobucket, which I think all can peruse from the starting image URL below —

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/JoeStine/IMG_0676_zps79vixssw.jpg

Thanks again to all who responded!

Joe

Congrats on a great acquisition!