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

Yay! Installed new thermostat, hoses, water, etc. and temperature gauge is fine!

Used a come along from inside the cab,a jack underneath to adjust the angle and one guide bolt, the passenger side of the trans has a cast boss in the way.the transmission slipped right in,attached clutch linkage and set up small amount of free play ,clutch appears to disengage correctly.Not a bad weekend, a couple more days and this should be mobile.

GMCkid, I can see the smile from here. It is a great day when things go right and we don't have to do them twice.
We need some pictures!!!


....are you getting to know the B.C. bolters. I know they have some gathering a few times a year. If you see them just tell them the chipmunk said hello.

Installed the new 350 heart in my 53 pickup this week and fired her up. Dont know how to put pics or vids on here yet

Upload you pictures to a photo hosting web site like Photobucket and paste the link here...

Mike B

Got signal lights working, but will need to rewire or replace fronts. Also got gas tank out to get rid of rust buildup and possibly sealed. Hopefully wont be long so I can get 'safety' for it to go on road!

I finally found and stopped an oil leak on the Suburban that was driving me nuts. It was coming from the front of the engine and soaking both sides and the pan. I'd take it to the car wash and clean it and by the time I drove the 15 miles home it was so oily I couldn't find the source.

I pulled the alternator and radiator and gave it a good cleaning in front of the shop Friday. Went back today and fired it up and stood by with drop light and mirror until the little booger showed up. It was at a fitting on the tube going to the oil filter. Tightened it up and it is holding.

Reinstalled the alternator and radiator, filled it with coolant and brought it up to 180. Shut it off and checked the fitting and it's still dry. Glad that is over.

Two weekends in a row working on this thing!! How's that possible?!?

Got the old master cylinder mostly pulled and halfway sized up for the new dual one going in it's place.

Lost, bought another, and then found the original 7/16's inch box wrench.

Pulled the grill off to disassemble, fix dents, and repaint. Was able to get one of the supports off and painted before I realized my clutch head bits are still in the truck across town. But I did figure out what size rivets to use when it all goes back together.

Beat another dent out of one of the rear fenders. 16 more or so small ones to go before I try my hand at bondo again. I've used it once and already don't like it! At this rate though, I shouldn't need too much of it anyhow.

Well this weekend was productive.. figured out signals had no power, fixed that to find rears OK but fronts wires aren't. Easy fix there. Also got gas tank out in order to clean inside, outside in great shape. Found sending unit is pooched,as expected.
Moving closer to driving day!!!

Replaced the intake and exhaust manifold gaskets on the 58 today. Noticed a leak and it was getting a little noisy. It made a huge difference in performance on the 235 and a lot quieter.

Started the truck for the first time since the frame off. Started first crank. I amazed and delighted. Getting close to first drive.

The fender bender repairs are gathering pace,I got the torn shock mount removed and replaced,the new lower suspension arms are being painted silver and rear fender is at the paint shop getting 'massaged' back to shape.

I'll get the arms tomorrow which will let me button up the front suspension,then I can consider installing and realigning the sheet metal.
Just hope I can remember where it all goes!

Yippee! Another victorious weekend... and it's only Saturday! Took the carburetor apart (again) to find out why it keeps flooding. Decided to do another complete overhaul, but this time with a more critical eye. Discovered one of the float pontoons had fuel in it (hairline crack through the inside middle). Removed the solder vent plug, repaired the crack and closed the vent: fixed! Finished the overhaul and reinstalled. Set the timing, made final carburetor adjustments and then made a few test runs through the neighborhood... smooth!

Before the day ended, I ground off the rivets holding the spare tire channel and removed it in preparation for installing a contemporary chain hoist (from a Nissan Xtera),

Off now to find the correct metric bolts to install the hoist!

got the brakes done and the drive shaft support bearing installed on my 58 today! Now all I need is a seat and I can go for a ride! BUT, I also ran into the back of it with the 55. No damage to the 58 but the 55 did not fare so well. Coming down the hill approaching the shop, the 55 has no brakes but the park brtake works fine. I turned it off so I could use the clutch as a brake if I needed to as well, something is messed up in the chifting of the rear end though, with the engine off, (no vacuum) the rear came out of gear (in between lo and hi) now, I have no brakes, and let the clutch out, nothing at all! DANGIT!! ran right into the back of the 58 (while the front was up on jack stands, and the front wheels off) Here is a link to the damage on the55, LF fender smashed a bit, pushed it back and now the door won't open. I might be looking for a fender, or repair this one, we'll have to see. This is an almost rust free truck too!
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p494/69B-Cuda/dented%20LF%202.jpg
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p494/69B-Cuda/dented%20LF%201.jpg

Ouch.....trying to figure out if the big bumper helped or hindrance!

on my 55? I ran into the back of a steel flatbed, the front fender of the 55 hit directly on the back of the bed on the 58. Not much back there...

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p494/69B-Cuda/New%20Tires_01.jpg

I understand your frustration but it looks like it could have been a lot worst. Glad its not.

I was asking about your bumper comment, I didn't understand it.

yep, it could have been really bad. At least the 58 was there to stop me from plowing into the center wall in my shop and possibly bringing it all down!

Got some more garage time on project fender bender,inner fenders refreshed,the replacement rh front fender (rattle can) painted satin black and POR'd underneath.
It still looks way better than the rest,so I may have to add some 'pateener'.
The right rear fender still undergoing a massage at the paint shop.
I have also finally got myself a hood centre strip (never had one before) so hopefully no more soggy spark plug wires from water drips.

I then discovered what I now know to be a T-bird steering rack,the rubber mounts were completely fubar (more 'quality' ROC rubber no doubt)so new urethane ones are ordered and speeding their way here as I type.
They should be here next week some time.

I'm also determined to set the front end geometry myself as my experiences with alignment shops here has been poor to say the least.
That way if it's still not right I can only blame one person....

I was hoping to be rolling by this weekend but as usual fell at the last hurdle...

I've been trying to get the grill torn apart and repainted, but ran into an issue when working on 2 saw horses and a 1" x 12" board. The issue is, I'm just tall enough to really kill my lower back by working on this rig. So, I decided to make my own work bench. Technically, not a 'bolt thing, but it'll be used for 'bolt related projects. So back to grinding, hammering, and painting with less back issues!

Not a fun job at the best of times,I (literally) feel your pain.
Glad you seem to have found a solution though.

My own original grill is most likely repairable after my recent prang but I basically lack the skills,and patience.
The drivers side had already suffered at the hands of the P.O. which I did repair but now I've admitted defeat and bought a new one .

I should add my old one hasn't been scrapped but has been parted out to save others.....

My 54 3100 was purchased without a bed. I located one at a salvage yard and had it shipped. After a lot of repair work I finished painting the last side this past weekend. I started assembly of the bed. I hope by the end of this coming weekend to have it on the truck. This is my first AD truck and I am getting excited. I smile every time I look at it. I understand why there are so many Stovebolt members. Who needs drugs to get high?

Dave, for me, when the bed is set on the frame that is when it really becomes, and looks, like a truck. I sense your excitement. Good job....now, how about a picture!

I changed the oil and filter and repacked the wheel bearings in the Suburban.

I finally bought and installed a fuel gauge. It will be so nice not having to track the mileage I've driven since the last fill up.

Early in the process but hear are some photos of my 54 3100. ready to remove the old flatbed and build the original bed. The bed and fenders are original, not aftermarket. I found the bed at a salvage yard and the person I purchased the truck from had the fenders still.

http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/dgrinnan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/FB_IMG_1461244862391.jpg.html

http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/dgrinnan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/54Truck6.jpg.html

http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/dgrinnan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160101_155156.jpg.html

http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/dgrinnan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160106_161946.jpg.html

Thanks for the pictures. You are definitely moving along on this project.


......... I sorta think the 1/2 ton short bed flat bed is neat! I'd call it "short and sassy".

Dave,

I'll looking at either putting on a flat bed, or doing a lot of welding to get the original bed back on my 3600. I might be asking you a lot questions on how it was all attached later on!

Dave, you are blessed with some good looking sheet metal.

new oil filter came so, I put that on (old cartridge style on the 327 in my 58 2-ton) and put oil in it.... also pulled the bolts off the haydraulic pump for the dump bed and let it drain into a 5 gallon bucket. Tomorrow AM going to take the pump apart and order new seals so hopefully it won't leak!

put the back and middle seats back in my 59 Suburban getting it ready to sell.

I knew I needed new bushings on my leaf springs, but didn't expect this . I guess this is what they mean by mission creep. So, next weekend I'll go to the spring repair shop and see how much to repair them. I had already bought new bolts, bushings and shackles.

Still plenty to do in the mean time, cleaning the rear axle housing, getting ready to rebuild the rear end, and hopefully get the truck back on the road sometime this summer.

Finished welding the bottom side of the floor and then under coated the whole bottom side

I adjusted the valves and regapped the plugs on the Suburban.

Installed the contemporary spare tire hoist (Nissan Xtera). Looks real good, fits and functions well.

Now I need to buy a tire to put on my spare wheel! Still 'chicken' to stray too far from the neighborhood!

Pulled the valve train, cleaned it up, ground down the rocker tips and re gapped the valves. Sounds alittle quieter now.
It took that ole 216 a good couple minutes to get some oil out the rockers weep holes but once it started it had good flow even at idle.
Closed up the heater flow valve so it's now summerized.

I got the driveshafts installed ,repaired one rear brake line ,bled the brakes, and finally got to take the old girl for a spin around the block. Wow pretty solid ride ,manual steering ,manual brakes it's going to be a bit of a workout driving this thing, 10 months to get this thing back drive able ,couldn't slap the smile off my face.

Well, I picked up my '50 half ton at the transmission shop yesterday about 3:30 pm after having the transmission swapped out for another original 3-speed, and putting in a new clutch. Drove it 20 miles home with my buddy following behind with his flashers on. The old 216 ran perfect on a tank of new gas. Shifted nicely and the clutch no longer chatters. I also noticed it was alot more quiet too which was a nice bonus. Felt good to have it back on the road after 2 years!

got the bearings and seals for the hydraulic pump for the dump bed yesterday so I installed them and put the pump back together and hooked the PTO shaft up to it. The bed goes up and down again like it did before I pulled it apart, but now there are no leaks! Checked this morning and the pump and PTO are still dry! Also put new plugs, wire, and points in it, it sure runs better on all 8 than it did on 5 1/2 cylinders! Looking forward to going for a test drive once I get the seat done!

"Project Fender Bender" continues,I started the reassembly of the front clip.
Things were going just fine,got the fenders fitted and then came the new re-pop grill.

That turned out to be a complete pain in the caboose!!
After much effin' & jeffin' it was fitted.
I'd hate to try and fit one if I'd had a show winning paint job,my spray bombed new RH fender took a beating where the grill bars meet the fender.

During the last couple of days I have stripped out the rear springs from the truck , fitted new shackle kits and added a leaf to the overload springs.

The front hangers are worn oval so I now have the challange of machining the holes and making bushes to fit .

I would also like to find some (or just one) new bolt for the front spring hanger (rear leaves) . I am not sure if it is supposed to be the same as the rear hanger on the front spring , that is , a threaded pin with a threaded bushing .

What I have is a 3/4" bolt and smooth bush . I have made new bushes but the spring bolt is worn and not available here.

The joys of old truck ownership