The Stovebolt Site Forums Project Journals Completed Journals 1949 Chevy 3600 -- Building "The Beast"

We have a new/old project. Mark started his Journal in 2013 and we got it from him in January 2014. Our intention was to get it going on this section but it took a while to get this section up and running (permission issues with the software). Mark continued to document this build. He's 90% done.

Read the story in the Gallery for starters. Mark is presenting the build again here, giving the readers time to comment or ask questions. He's got lot of detail and over 900 photos.

Stay tuned!

Peg

In late 2012 I decided to live out a long standing dream of owning and rebuilding a Stovebolt. However, my health is poor so I enlisted the help of my older brother Craig to rebuild my dream.

The truck, a 1949 Chevrolet 3600, sat for 33 years outside of Minot North Dakota. I finally pulled the trigger and had it shipped to my brother, who lives in the Chicago area.

Through Craig's endless hours of work and some help along the way, we have this truck up and running in Western Pa every day.

I hope you read my story and ask me questions. If I do not know the answer I will forward your question to Craig and he will reply.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy the journey and you may find it of use in Building your Dream.

Mark

It was the last day of August 2013, and Craig and I started early in the morning assembling the rest of the engine and preparing many other parts either by parts washer or wire wheel.

By late afternoon we were ready to drop the engine in. Right away we noticed an issue with the motor mounts and we had only a few choices and none were good.

We had to modify the new motor mounts and make some miscellaneous changes. We decided to grind a bit of each motor mount down to allow a tight fit. This meant pulling the engine back out of the truck to do so. Once done, we set the engine back in after much wrangling and knew we were setting a pace we needed.

By then, Bruce had arrived and assisted us getting the engine installed.

Tomorrow, tighten everything down, install the clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing and hopefully have time to re install the very heavy transmission.

I removed the rear end housing cover and drained all the gear oil. Craig will put the pinion seal in and refill the housing.

The front brakes are ready to be put back on and wheel bearings repacked. Then the front wheels and tires can be put on.

I re-installed the spare tire on the side of the truck.

We organized the garage and stowed the engine hoist and engine stand -- two of the three items we bought that were so important; the third being the parts washer. Without these three items, life would have been much more difficult. All three can be resold at some point.

It was a wonderful feeling watching the oil pan go on, the mechanical lifters and push rods being installed.

Then, the side cover and eventually the exhaust manifold go on.

Lots of progress, months of discussions, some a bit testy at times but we worked as a team with one mission in mind.

Generally speaking many of the items will go much easier now even though there are some items to do yet. Set the valves, put on the carb, and install the exhaust, put the radiator back in and a new thermostat and radiator cap. Two new hoses and one belt. The generator and starter go back in and a battery needs to be installed, a new wiring harness, and the seat redone and installed with seat belts.

I do need to buy a center link and tie rod ends. The drag link is slightly bent and not worth trying to correct.

Having two great brothers jump in to help and drive this project has me a bit speechless. As stated before, Craig has done all the heavy lifting, and organizing of this project. His superior talents has gotten us to this junction. Without him, we are nowhere on the radar screen.

Having Bruce there today was an added bonus as another set of eyes and another set of muscles to take over our sore and tired ones were a blessing. Also, he learned a lot in a short time today. We took some pictures of the three of us and look closely and you will see I have the biggest smile. The biggest smile came from the fact my two older brothers care enough about me to do this very dirty, tiring work.

My nephew Matthew was here removing an old gas tank and re-installing the new one while scraping and cleaning the truck in the interior. I really appreciate his hard work. He showed me once again he has class.

This day was tiring and at times frustrating but having that engine in is huge.

September 1st starting right at 8 a.m., Craig and I were at it again. We removed the center (drag) link and will need to order a new one with tie rod ends.

The front brakes are done. The transmission is back in and ready to go. That was the toughest of all the projects.

Eric Weisseg and I re-did the bench seat kit.

We installed the water pump and put the thermostat housing in.

Installed the gas tank filler tube.

I installed new negative battery cables.

We finished up at 5. A full and productive day!

Craig's next door neighbor Dan Price has been coming over checking on our progress and we have borrowed a tool here and there from him. A very nice guy and a good neighbor who keeps an eye on the truck when nobody is home.

A few days have passed. Craig installed both front wheel bearings after repacking the bearing and installing new seals.

The Huck style wheel cylinder on the right front will not adjust or turn to properly adjust the right front brake. I notified Julie at Jim Carter and she will send a replacement out right away. Once we get that, Craig can button up all the wheels and install the front tires. Another big step.

It took hours of searching and some luck to find a green, rusty, original tailgate and the price was fair. Obviously I could have purchased a new one but that would have gone completely off the rails of originality. Bob Adler, Adler's Antiques, will forward me a picture before I commit. I also asked about a heater box and heater core just in case mine is bad and he has one of each as well.

Craig installed the fuel pump.

The engine puzzle certainly is filling up.

Craig said the new tie rod ends are wrong, they need to be tapered. They appear to be for a half ton truck.

I did much research on the tie rod ends and found Patrick's out in Arizona. Danese said they did not have them but she made a call and located them for me! Now, that is customer service to the maximum. They are coming from a company in Texas and if they are the correct ones, I will have a new drag link, center link, and both tie rod ends.

The new rear engine mounts are too tall causing the starter pedal issues. He will need to take one out at a time, modify it and put it back in. A real issue as the truck engine is so heavy and the mounts so hard to get at.

That brings on another issue that the transmission will drop some and the current brake line may need to be modified. Craig may still need to modify the starter pedal linkage.

Looks like we will need to start cheer leading each other again as this is problematic.

The good news is he has the four wheels, the blower motor works, the center link is on. Overall, the truck is starting to look like something.

We have a 139 tooth flywheel and the current starter will work.

The cross member is bent badly. Craig is trying to bend it back some but we may need to live with it long term.

Bob Adler confirmed today he shipped the used tailgate to me plus two used chains that I asked for.

Craig emailed me and said the tie rod ends he received are in fact wrong again. It blows my mind that these items are so impossible to find and so hard to imagine so many so called experts who claim they know the part and have it in fact do not have a clue. So, he will send these back and the research continues again without much hope. The solution may be to buy a rebuild kit and of course - rebuild them. Another huge waste of time but it might be the only way.

I found a web site called Golden State Auto that has old car and truck parts. Craig thinks our motor mount issue might be that everyone has sent us mounts for a three speed not a four on the floor. Will call them tomorrow to discuss this.

Craig said the front exhaust pipe we thought was good actually has small holes in it and is weak.

The used green tailgate arrived today complete with two rusty chains. Now I have a "piece of my truck" with me!

This will complete the body parts.

I have not followed all the paths/topic/item in this thread.

However, if you are referring to a 1949 3600 truck with original frame and engine and transmission and clutch-housing, I think the same motor mounts would be used with 3-speed and 4-speed transmissions? I think that even the rear transmission mount would be the same.

We are winding down the month of September (2013).

Craig said the heater core just needed minor repairs but the radiator is bad.

I did talk with the Mr. Radiator folks in Illinois regarding the heater core and radiator. Bottom line is the heater core had to have minor repairs as well as be cleaned and pressure tested.

The radiator is another story and completely worthless. I ordered a new one - a non painted unit that will be ordered in from Maine of all places and put together for Craig to pick up.

Craig ordered motor mounts from Golden State even though the sales guy said they are for a half ton. The issue is they do not look like any other motor mount we have seen to this point.

Craig sent pictures of the old wiring that he removed. It was obviously original and much frayed and at points worn through.

He removed the pinion gear to replace the seal that we knew was leaking a lot.

Since the motor mount issue has stumped us both, we agreed to modify the current the current starter pedal. This will require some good old fashioned re-configuring and adjustments that Craig will need to be creative with.

The tie rod end issue is at an end as well. I went to an old scrap yard in Ohio that was to have several trucks of my era. I hunted for tie rod ends plus some other odds and ends that will only add to the patina. Ended up with nothing of value to me!

Craig hooked up my battery and rolled the engine over to ensure it would do that. He wants a new positive battery cable - ordered.

He is going to have a front pipe made locally near him so we can get an exhaust on the truck. Looks like he wants to focus on getting the truck started and run it soon.

Craig started removing the entire dash to get at the gauges as well as the wiring.

We did ordered a driver's door window regulator so the window moves up and down freely.

The distributor is in and Craig installed the positive cable to the starter.

The Filling Station would like the truck on their web site and their Facebook page.

We are moving ahead but Craig doubts seriously the truck could get done this year. Weather, time, and such are an issue.

The gauges look terrible and I need to replace them. I decided to go with all the NOS gauges that will match the patina of the truck. Reliability and originality are so important. I contacted Bob Adler to see what he had in the NOS and to get his valued opinion.

We have the new wiring harness to install but it certainly is no easy task. Clearly, Craig is putting his signature on this project and for those who never saw his work, they will never forget it.

He still needs to get a muffler on it to quiet it down. There are limits that anyone can endure on the ears.

I ordered a brake light switch from Bowtie Bits and have two choke brackets on the way to install on the carb so the manual choke will operate as it did.

A replacement master cylinder is being shipped to replace the new defective one.

A windshield is to be done and some molding, an insulator pad and rubber fitted mat for the floor.

Craig has plenty of minor issues at hand but the major costs seem to be behind me.

In early October, a day we all waited for, Craig called and advised me that the engine started. He has a short video of it that he will send me. He put all the ignition parts in and tightened everything in place to see if the engine would fire. There is no exhaust system and the valves have not been adjusted properly. He he ran some fuel to the carb and "hot wired" the ignition and when it cranked, the engine fired right away.

He ran it a very short time and shut it down. Later his neighbor Dan came over and they fired it again so Dan could hear it run as well. To say I am thrilled is an understatement and I am sick to my stomach I could not be there to hear it run and to hug my brother for all his hard work.

Much more work to go but this is the highlight of the entire project. Waking this truck up from its 33 year sleep and getting it ready for its next life is so exciting.

Found the dash is tack welded in and that is bad news. We talked about removing the entire dash to re-wire it easier but not now. Now, it will be a tougher, longer process. But at least we know before that process got too far along.

In mid-October and Craig and Dan worked on reducing the shelves in the garage and organizing the space. Craig and a few others pushed the truck into the garage so Craig can work on it this winter in his heated garage. I doubt this truck ever was in a heated garage in its life and once the finishing touches are applied, out it will go again into the elements.

I got an email from Danese from Patricks in Arizona congratulating Craig and me on our efforts to to properly restore this truck correctly. She also invited us to come by for lunch if we are ever anywhere near them and tour the shop. I assure you I will go out of my way if I am close to them.

With the dash apart, Craig removed the vacuum motor for the wiper blades and it worked. Might replace it as I just cannot risk this failing at a later date.

Craig installed the replacement master cylinder and the rear engine mounts again. Replacing the motor mounts helped the situation outlined earlier and obviously we needed to replace the defective brake cylinder. He also discovered the body mounts are nearly gone after 64 years so we will need to figure out if it is worth replacing them. That would involve lifting the body off the frame and that has a lot of issues associated with it.

Craig told me that he dropped off the front exhaust pipe so a shop can make a new one with the donut shape at the manifold. The guy got it done in a day!

He dropped off the generator at a shop to be tested and check out the brushes and such. The generator would be completely rebuilt and done for a mere $79. Two days in a row now where things came back less expensive that I thought.

Now that October is almost over, and so much has gone on, for the first time ever, I dreamt that I drove the truck. It was very slow and hard to drive and somewhat noisy. The top of the gear shift knob kept unscrewing from all the vibration while I drove. Yet, the dream as a pleasant one and short.

I wonder how it will really be when I have the real opportunity. I have a feeling it will be like riding a bike for the first time. Excited, yet very afraid.

I plan on going out there after the first of the year to assist with some final details to get this truck ready to ship to me in Pittsburgh. Hopefully we can complete his work by the end of January 2014. I would like to get my part done and be driving by spring.

We are into November now. Craig put the starter pedal bellows on, began the wiring , organized the gauges and seals for the dash and other small items. All small but very important tasks that are required. None of which are easy or fun to do. This is still grunt work but Craig trudges on.

Bob Adler (who I got the gauges from) found a used red lens for the high beam indicator. Craig picked up the refurbished generator . The guy painted it to make it nice but we removed the paint to get the patina correct and then installed it.

Craig received the used rear view mirror but I had to order a new mirror bracket.

Dan Price, Craig's neighbor, has been very supportive, helped with some of the issues, and has kept an eye on the truck when it sat in the driveway for months.

Craig installed the wiper motor ... it just needed the grommets to finish it.

Craig has spent a lot of time working on the wiring . Very tedious, boring work to get this right the first time and route the wiring so it looks and is professional.

By mid-November Craig installed the horn under the hood and did a dry run by installing the refurbished gas gauge to see how it looked for fit and finish.

The replacement speedometer has about 1 mile on the odometer and the original speedometer has about 86,000. Craig could tear it apart and spin the numbers to be right but that really would involve a lot of work.

We decided to leave it alone and save the old one for me as I want legal possession of the original one for the right reasons.

Craig thinks he will be done with his part of this truck by the end of March 2014. Then I will do my end of the deal once it arrives here.

Craig re-routed the brake line at the cross member to fit correctly. He installed and wired the ignition switch.

Craig continues working on more wiring issues as he plows along on the tedious task of rewiring .

I ordered both front windshield rubber seals soon so when the truck arrives here the windshields can be ordered and installed.

At this point, if the rear cab window that is cracked does not leak I will leave it alone to keep the patina going as planned.

After so much searching, I finally found used outer tie rod ends at CTC auto ranch near Dallas, Texas. They also had brake drums. My drums have been refinished but they are nearly impossible to find.

I ordered two headlight ring clips.

I now have over 500 pictures of the truck in my collection with nearly 400 5x7 prints. The idea is to catalog this entire process and leave nothing to chance. We made some arrangements in our estate to ensure the truck survives me.

The last items for this year.

The LF bleeder screw on the wheel cylinder was stripped and Craig had a heck of a time trying to bleed the brakes. He had to pull all four wheels and had to re-tap the LF bleeder screw. He had gotten a self-bleeder but it was missing an O ring and that caused some issues.

He called later to say, "We have pedal" which means he worked very hard to seal the leak, bleed the brakes at all four corners and then adjust the brakes correctly. I am sure it was a long, hard day as he commented his back hurt.

We found some tie rod ends on eBay that were in original boxes. When we got the pictures, we saw they had no taper -- so no good again. I just do not understand this at all -- how this one part can be so difficult.

We ordered some from LMC and they were wrong as well. Craig removed one tie rod end. Either he rebuilds them, leaves them alone, or we get dumb lucky and find new ones which, to this point, has been fruitless.

I talked with the guy I bought the truck from and he gave me some additional information regarding the truck. It came from a farm in Norwich, North Dakota where it served for years before it was retired in 1980.

Craig continued to work on more wiring and by mid-December, he felt he was about 75% done with the wiring.

He had a bunch of things for me to order: a headlight switch and gaskets, a heater switch and valve knob, one headlight and the upper and lower radiator hoses, rain tube for the cowl vent and dome light housing, and a rubber boot to fit over the master cylinder cover, a manual engine hand crank as this was an option if the battery died. I bought one more for the era and hopefully will never use it. It will go along with the old tools that will be in the bed.

Someone put a 12 volt headlight in it rather than a 6 volt headlight. I had to order headlight gaskets twice as the first ones somehow got lost in the mix. Craig got the headlights to work on high and low beams.

The heater box is back in and ready to work. The puzzle is really coming together.

Craig set the valves and put the draft tube on the engine.

I sent Craig the 1949 license plate so when he is happy that his part is done, he can take it on a shake down. After all, he did all the hard work and I want him to be the first one to drive it. He'll enjoy the thumbs up I'm sure he'll get from people who see this great truck. It may be my "money pit" but when I drive this truck and people ask me about it, I will be happy to talk about my brother.

I got a reproduction data book and an operator's manual that a salesman would use to sell this truck. It has all the data and options that were available.

I got a reproduction tool kit bag for the truck. Ironically, I have all the tools in house that I acquired over the years.

I bought four old style oil cans today from a collector to add to the patina of the truck.

I am looking at some interior pieces.

Craig installed the cables for the choke and throttle but I asked not to hook up the manual throttle cable as there is no need.

He installed the fan blade and adjusted the fan belt. He hooked up the oil pressure line and water temperature gauge. He also wired from the front all the way to the one and only tail light.

The dash is basically back in and together except he needs to hook up the heater/ defroster tubes and put the replacement glove box insert in.

I need to get better instructions on how to install the seat belts. Also, a new drain hose for the cowl is on order as it is so dry rotted.

Craig advised both front parking lights have melted wires from a short. That and they have original wiring! They do have the original glass however. So, he will remove the bulbs, clean and sandblast the insides and rewire.

As an update to all, I sent over 400 pictures to Patricks in Arizona, Bob Adler, the guy I bought the truck from, Stovebolt.com and Rex Rutowski, the writer from the Tribune Review newspaper. I also sent info to Hagerty, Hemmings, and the Filling Station.com. Hagerty needed higher resolution pictures for the magazine.

The Chicago Tribune put the truck on their web page. I was contacted by barnfinds.com requesting pictures as well!

I am envisioning the day this truck is in my driveway and hear every groan from this old beauty before I am unable to manage this.

Craig installed the radiator support bracket, the radiator and filled up the system with a 50 /50 mix. He installed the front exhaust pipe but not the muffler yet. He checked for any oil and or coolant leaks and found none. He installed both defroster hoses, and put in about two gallons of gasoline. Ammeter shows the charging system is working fine and the vacuum wipers are working fine. The fuel filter at the carburetor filled up with fuel immediately and we know this as I opted for the optional glass bowl filter housing. Engine temperature ran at about 180 degrees. How do I know this? Craig advised he ran the engine for about ten to fifteen minutes. I wish I could have been there to hear the engine run for so long.

Again, first time everything has been hooked up and the engine has run for more than ten seconds or so back on 10-13-13 when he initially started the engine just to see if it would fire.

Craig has to wire up the blower motor yet and has decided to put in a fusible link.

Craig posted on Facebook the short video of the engine running. All the gauges work, and the engine sounded very smooth for not having the muffler installed yet. Craig ran the engine longer than the video so it appears all is a go on this project.

Later, Craig cut the exhaust pipe to the correct length and installed the muffler. He wired up the heater blower switch and ran the wires to the fuel sending unit. The hood bracket is installed in preparation of re-installing the grille and such.

As the year ends, a little time to reflect. My reflection is solely based on my brothers and what they have done for me with this, my final project.

Anything Craig and I can do to help others when they take up such a challenge is a great way to pay back the hobby. Yes, it's a money pit, a back breaker, a stress inducer and much more. But, the satisfaction the project provides outweighs all of these obstacles.

Moving forward into the new year will bring more challenges but also will bring even more satisfaction especially when we drive this and tell the story to others.

A new year has begun.

On a hunch, I started to track down the original owner of the truck, looking in Norwich, North Dakota via Google and Facebook. Norwich is 77 square miles but averages about 284 people. So, I figured: small town, beautiful area, and the possibility that someone may remember a farmer having a truck sitting in a field for over 30 years may just work.

I ended up connecting with a woman who owns a business there. She is willing to help and even has an idea or two regarding who may have owned this truck. I would love to use the original owner's story and include this beautiful small town. I also asked the guy (dealer) who sold me the truck but thus far he has been reluctant to name a name.

The bed of the truck, that was full of parts, is down to a select few at this point.

Craig expects his end of all this work to be done in March. Once he is satisfied, I will go to Chicago and do the shake down of the truck with him before shipping it home.

Once I get it here, I need to install the used tailgate, have the two windshields replaced, work on the driver's door so it closes properly, and insulate the floor of the cab. Then, at some point I need to gently sand the body and put a clear on it to preserve the rust.

That is the plan but all the while I intend to drive it and take it to a few shows in order to let others see this work of art.

Craig installed the window regulator in the driver's door and it took him nearly three hours as the bolts were all rusted, the access was terrible, and the entire procedure was difficult.

Craig got the grille back in. He has the brake / tail light assembly working now. He will install the wiring from front to back in a corrugated wire case to protect them. A very good idea for sure.

Craig put the battery hold down in, exhaust hanger on, the clamps on the exhaust and the big one ---- the two seat belts are bolted in place.

A headliner showed up in error rather than the door panels. I asked Craig not to install it as I wanted to really look at it to see if I really want to install this.

Gearhead Geek web site requested all the pictures and story of the truck to put on its web site. Another win here.

We started the re-build story on Stovebolt in the DITY Gallery. It was great to see all the pictures on-line for anyone who desires to see the process and read about the journey.

Barnfinds.com put a story about the '49 on their web site along with pictures and a video. Very well done article by them.

I sent a note to our local free newspaper, Cranberry Eagle, asking if they would like to feature this truck in an article. I mentioned the other publications that were carrying the story. The editor was not interested then ... but he came around later.

I contacted the local paper in Craig's hometown, The Homer Horizon, to see if they would be interested in the story and they jumped all over it. They talked to Craig initially and then called me for additional insights.

************************

I wanted to take a moment today to reflect on Craig. Here is a guy who was involved in cars since a young boy. He began in our family garage buying an old car and through much work and very little money, got the old thing running and road worthy.
After that project there were others as he served as a mechanic, foreman, and eventually a shop owner before halting that career and beginning a new.
Along the way he suffered a devastating eye injury from a battery explosion from no fault of his own.
As time marched on, he married and was blessed with children and continued to strive for excellence in everything he did.
Then, the worst nightmare for any parent happened on February 15, 1996 when his daughter was called home to The Lord after a vehicle accident. There are no words that can ever calm this hurt, but the family that was close, now grew closer than ever before to help one of their own. That is what this family does and will do as time goes on.
The world is a very different place today than it was that day in 1996 but one thing that never changed is how this family sticks together.
I could give you endless examples but just look at this project and you will understand not only how the three brothers stuck together but how the offspring of Bruce and Craig have carried this attitude on to this very day.
It is an amazing family and our hopes spring eternal for the future of the Weisseg family.

************************

A very pleasant surprise gift came from Patrick's Antique Auto and Truck as promised. I will keep the contents to myself but needless to say it was generous and unexpected. Patrick and Danese are certainly special people and have proven that time and time again.

I heard from the guy I bought the truck from. I asked for a recommendation to haul the truck home soon and he replied.

We will soon be on a roll!

In February made a trip to Chicago to work with Craig.

Craig fixed the shifter linkage and repaired the wiring to the parking light assembly.

I took out both front windshields and the rubber gaskets. All gaskets were dry rotted and the metal around the windshields is rotted away. A new problem for sure.

We installed the new door panels and arm rests, but left off the kick panels so far. We did not do the headliner as the installation involves the windshield gaskets and such (they are at my house).

I started the engine myself for the first time and discovered a small leak at a line at the fuel pump. Craig just needed to tighten it and adjust the timing.

The engine ran well and the heater/defroster blew out nice hot air. I put the rear tires back on after Craig adjusted the emergency brake.

I sprayed lubricant everywhere I could to keep this rig loose.

I vacuumed the interior and found another mouse nest long abandoned. We discussed the rust in the cab.

Craig got additional nuts, bolts, carriage bolts for the bumpers, gaskets, etc.

He did more wiring and had to take the bottom of the seat out to finish the wiring for the fuel gauge.

I had a phone interview with Andrea Johnson from the Minot Daily News, Minot, North Dakota. They did a story on the truck. Some of the facts were wrong - but ... The truck was on the front page in color, in the second section. I was hoping the story would highlight Craig more but that failed. I ordered five hard copies!

Craig got the pinion gear out and took it to FX Engines to have the lock nut removed as he did not have the right socket.

By the end of the month, the two new windshields arrived in Chicago but we were uncertain when to install them -- if I should return to Chicago to help. Plus, Craig had a lot of small but important tasks to complete before we put in the windshield.

I have started a story board on this project and have included pictures along with the facts.

The tie rod ends saga continues on. I ordered several over the last six months that promised to be right only to be wrong. I stumbled on to rare parts.com and it appears they have them. Craig could literally screw these on, make some minor adjustments and bolt the front wheels on. That would complete the front end once and for all.

If not I do have the rebuild kits. I have never had more issues than this one on any part with this truck.

Lessons learned on this one.

Got the parking light lenses ready with a bead of silicone and will install them on when dry. Installed the front driveshaft and needs to fill it up yet with gear oil.

When Craig went to install the pinion seal, the flange had a bad groove in it. He went to Chicago Drive Line looking for a solution. We thought possibly a new pinion may be the best way to go as it includes a new u joint. However, there was concern about a possible 20 thousandth difference. So, we decided on a Speedi Sleeve and having the experts install it. Well, it worked perfectly.

The right side of the bumper bracket was bent so bad. We had to fix that before Craig mounted it. Got it done and installed with four carriage bolts hold it on. He also installed the parking lights.

I heard from Richard Sundhagen from hotrodgarage.net, the Minot, North Dakota, the gentleman I purchased the truck from. He gave me the name of the previous owner. That was a big break and I greatly appreciated the information.

Richard has always kept his word with me and his word is golden. No hand shake needed with him. If he says it - he does it. A very rare attribute in today's marketplace and I have enjoyed the process with him.

So, in searching more, I found that the previous owner passed away in February of 1981. He was a farmer and mechanic. I am going to reach out to his daughter to see if I can get any other information.

We ended the month with a new tie rod ends being delivered to his house. We'll see if they work.

The tie rod ends are correct!

After all these attempts, and companies swearing they had the right ones, experts saying the same. Rareparts.com had it right!

So Craig took out the stepped stud from the tie rod ends and installed the tapered ones on the drag link.

The front end can go back together, and the rear end and two major entities will be done. Gadzooks.

The front wheels and tires are on and he quickly did a toe in/out adjustment. Craig roughed that in but will narrow that down later after the driving shake down.

We had the pinion flange torqued down. When Craig tried to reinstall, the pinion unit would not go in. He tried and tried and then took a break. His best resolution was to use three threaded studs that were longer than the original bolts and installed washers. He then "drew" the pinion unit in until he could swap in the actual housing bolts. He had disassemble the rear drive shaft and realigned the slip yoke to the same "place" as the rear U joint. (Someone in the past had it off by at least 30 degrees.)

I reflected on Craig's solution for the pinion unit and only a skillful, master mechanic could have sensed the issue, studied the problem, and figured out a solution as he did. This brother of mine has an amazing mind and I wish I had that ability to his extent.

Finally, Craig was able to finish the rear end and install the drive shaft. He guessed that when this truck ran last, it must have had a terrible vibration going down the road. Along with the bias ply tires and other issues, he found this truck must have been quite a handful.

I asked Craig to mount a plaque that I had made for him right behind the drivers seat so that when I drive the truck, I will always know he is right behind me.

In my search for more information on the truck's previous life, the previous owner lived in a town with a population of 27. His daughter Linda and her family live there still. I am hoping I get a response from her.

I did finish the poster board and even though it is done, I am unhappy at how it came out but will live with it.

The next big project has been the windshield. Turned out one had a crack in the corner so we had to re-order.

I asked Craig if he would patch a hole inside the cab by the driver visor. Rust prevalent there and if he could pop rivet a piece in there, he could install the sun visors.

I bought a six volt battery trickle charger today so I can keep the battery charged when it sits in the winter months.

Craig informed me that the clutch pedal will not fully disengage and he does not know why yet. It is possible the transmission would need to come back out to figure this out and that would not be good at all. That transmission weighs a ton. Another big set back.

We did some research on the clutch and got some input from Bob Adler as well.

Craig took the pivot ball out at the throw out bearing and installed a flat washer and a lock washer in hopes of changing the geometry of the clutch pedal free play. Very hard work with the transmission in and trying to work in a very limited space.

He is also having a guy at work weld a short piece on the linkage in hopes of removing free play there as well.

We had put off driving the truck because it was too cold and there was no windshield. Well, by the end of the month, Craig dropped the truck off the jack stands and decided to go for a short drive.

A few co-workers witnessed the big event. Craig took the truck for a short slow drive to ensure everything worked and then gave each of the co-workers a ride around the neighborhood - no windshields at all.

Craig sent me the link to YouTube to see the truck going down the street. He said the shifting was smooth, steering tight and the brakes very firm. He does need to accomplish some minor items yet and I want him to drive it more to continue to shake it out. After 34 years of not running the wait is over!

Now to make arrangements for mid-April to have the once ugly, non running, beast shipped East to start a new life that will be much easier than its previous hard working farm truck life.

I've had time to think about how this has progressed from a very tired, worn out truck dropped in Craig's driveway, to a truck nearly done a year later. My sister-in-law Ellen made us dinner one night when we were to exhausted to cook; my nephews died their part; my oldest brother took a swing at helping and offering morale support; Rich Price, Craig's "good" neighbor. If you worked on the truck, you signed your name under the hood. According to Mark, "This body part will be downloaded on demand."

The hero is Craig who kept the faith and stuck to the plan. It has been a long, hard process for him and the end appears to be near. It is my final project.

It took a while but we got hold of our "windshield guy." Jerry Armstrong and his two helpers installed the two pieces of the windshield and signed under the hood, like the others who have worked on the truck.

In the meantime, the other secret is out of the bag. I bought a 1959 Nash Metropolitan from a dealer in Florida. Obviously, this has nothing to do with the Stovebolt world but I hope it demonstrates my love for the automobile / truck world. I will add this one to my collection.

In Craig's earlier test drive in the truck, the steering wheel was tight but he was able to adjust that and he has the horn working (the horn piece was replaced).

It took a while but the other tailgate hinge came in. It's all shiny and new looking so I am working on reversing all that in order to get the right rusty patina.

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In the middle of all this, we flew our 92 year old Mother to Chicago to surprise my oldest brother(her oldest child) for his 65th birthday. He is hard to surprise but we all pulled it off. He was shocked to see his Mother standing in front of him for his special day. I always kid him that my Stovebolt was born in 1949 (same as him) and we will see which one will last longer!
We are a family of humor and we all shared the laugh. Once my truck is running to my satisfaction, I intend to take Mom for a ride now that we added seat belts. She is a little frail but her mind is sharp.
Since I bought a 1959 Nash Metropolitan, we laughed that the '59 is the same year I was born. But, no '53 or '61 cars to match my brother Craig or my younger sister.

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The replacement voltage regulator was installed but the charging system still was not charging. Craig was very frustrated by this. The voltage regulator has been replaced so there are not many things that could be wrong so he started with the biggest object.

He took the rebuilt generator back off the truck and took it back to the guy who rebuilt it. Turned out the armature was fried. How that happened is beyond me as it has not been in very long. I mean new regulator, new wiring, and the generator rebuilt. Anyway, answers our questions. Once, Craig got the generator installed, he sent a video showing me it was charging. He blew the horn, too!

A few finishing touches: chrome rings for the headlights, tightening down some windshield screws and attaching the rear view mirror.

Craig sent a video of the truck running well and not mis-firing. The plaque I made for him is attached inside the cab. The glove box is in and I need to attach the ring once it gets here.

Craig got the truck up to 55 mph on the way to work today. No issues to speak of.

Craig had some last items he wanted to do before the truck leaves. He needs to drain the rear end housing and reseal the pumpkin. He has a minor leak. He needs to fasten the windshields once and for all. He needs to get the dome light working yet.

By the end of April, I started making calls for shipment of the truck. The first broker quoted me $500 to ship the truck once I gave them a $150 down payment. Within an hour, the broker called back for details about the truck. Within two hours of that, the actual pickup driver was calling me from just outside of Craig's place. He couldn't get hold of Craig (he was in the garage still working on the Chevy ). So much for some of the "last touches" on the truck!

I am looking forward to getting this truck to the house as it has been more than a year of searching, buying, and installing parts. To many ups and downs to list here but when it does arrive here, I have some final touches of my own to do.

Welcome Home

The Chevy arrived in Pennsylvania on May 1, 2014 about 5:30 pm. The driver had the truck unloaded in 15 minutes.

My head was spinning and I had to stare at the truck for a while to fully understand it was here. I have been waiting a long time and even though Craig did not get to finish his tasks 100%, the truck looks great. A very welcome home. I cannot believe it is really in my driveway.

The very next day, I drove the truck to the Notary to get it legal in the state of Pennsylvania. Then, I went to the grocery story and Walgreens. Lots of stares. We took the truck to dinner and there certainly were a lot of looks. At the house, I have had people stop and ask me questions about the truck: it really is an eyecatcher.

Very fun to drive. You must really drive this truck as it has a lot of issues to make you pay attention. I got to 50 mph and the engine was screaming for another gear.

Craig will be coming to PA with the extra parts, catalogs, and other items.

I cut out the angle iron that was put on the bed at some point in order to install the other tailgate hinge. Was not the easiest process as it took the grinder wheel and a saws all to cut it and a large hammer to knock it loose and then off.

Installed the gate and the "rusty old hinges." The gate can open and close but it is so delicate and old -- I will leave it closed.

I greased everything until I ran out of grease. Have to get some more!

I broke the red lens on the only tail light during the process so I ordered another lens. I was tempted to go for LED but changed my mind to keep it original looking.

Noticed that the truck is very hard to start the warmer the engine. I called Craig to run through a check list.

It is charging and oil pressure is good. Gas gauge not accurate as I filled it up today but it does not show full. It has a new battery and it is a six volt. Craig said check the starter as he did not touch the starter.

I removed the rear end cover as it had a small leak. Cleaned it up, installed RTV black sealant and re-installed it. Added new gear oil. I did not desire to re-use the oil in there.

Used some clear silicone near the windshield to seal up a small crack near the glass.

Installed two red reflectors below the tailgate as there are no turn signals, reverse lights and only one small red stop light. This will greatly improve driving at dusk.

I reached out to Bob Adler yesterday regarding the hard starting when hot issue and as usual he replied with a solution. He is an amazing guy to have available for answers and solutions.

Went to a local body shop to get an estimate on fixing the door hinge on the driver's side. He expected no more than $100. But there is a month waiting list.

But while there, I met a guy who worked for me way back in 1992 and he would keep an eye on it for me.

So I'm in a holding pattern.

I had a guy stop at the house and asked me to sell it to him!

Craig informed me that Lauren Finkler is doing a follow up story on the truck for The Homer Glen Gazette. I sent her an email to freshen the details.

I installed the sun visors and patched some holes from the interior. The rust on the inside of the cab is pretty bad so I found that the spray caulking works the best. Once dry, you shave or cut to make it even and then paint it. It does not turn out very pretty but I do not want perfection on this truck. What I want is the leak to stop and yet keep that patina going.

I bought and installed a new tailpipe and cowl vent drain hose. Greased more fittings that I found.

Chained down all the oil cans and such in the bed for patina purposes.

The driver's door window issue is the handle itself is stripped. I will order a new one and I still need the door fixed yet as well.

++++++++++++++++

So many people have stopped me and asked questions, or given me a thumbs up, or just pointed and stared.

It is an eye catcher and I laugh as we really did nothing with the body or chrome. The exterior looks all of its 65 years at this point but as I predicted earlier - an old truck brings back find memories of those old enough to remember.

I was anxious to get the truck to its first car show and last week of May, I took it to Wexford, PA. They average over 1,000 vehicles and the truck was a hit. People loved the patina, the story board and the items in the bed chained down. I enjoyed telling the story to anyone who asked and took some pictures. I got a kick out of the fact I was parked next to my friend John Berger and his 2009 Orange Challenger with a Hemi engine. The car is beautiful and spotless but nobody paid it any attention as my truck is so different and has such an interesting history.

There were a few other vehicles there with original patina and they were eye catchers, too. Obviously the general cruise car or truck is tricked out with special paint or chrome or something that makes it stand out.

I certainly enjoyed the evening looking at all the vehicles but I generally stayed close to the truck to answer questions and just watch reactions of the people. I heard a lot of stories from people and heard nothing but compliments and warm wishes.

I really wish Craig was there to see how people reacted to his body of work. I had the story board in front of the truck and a lot of people took the time to read the details of the truck. I was and am proud of what Craig and I accomplished with Craig as the heavy hauler.

It certainly will not be the last show it will attend and I look forward to keep telling the story. I was so pumped up last night as the weather was good, they had a huge crowd, a military honor guard for the National Anthem, and a prayer for everyone's safety. They have a disc jockey there playing the oldies and the show is at a church so it is a family event.

June is here and some good work done.

I put the new window crank handle on. I still do not like the way it fits and should have bought the handle when I bought the regulator but hindsight is 20/20.

Near the end of the month, we went to our second car show. People seem to enjoy the old truck and claim they love the patina and it's originality. That's is exactly what I was going for.

Some people tried to convince me to paint it, re-chrome it and so on but I held firm, and this is the payoff.

Looking back I wish we would have changed out the rear gears to get a bit more horsepower.

I drove the truck for 10 days without issue. By the first week of September, I needed to re-adjust the valves settings. Just not right yet. I spoke with Craig to get some feedback to be sure I am not doing something wrong but thus far it has gotten quieter but I have a backfire issue still.

Well, mid-October the truck was running terrible. First it started out as a tapping noise from a lifter. As time progressed, the noise increased and the power curve worsened considerably.

I tried to adjust the valves and carb but to no avail. Craig discovered a broken valve spring. That may be the tip of the iceberg. Frustrating as the engine has about 700 miles on it.

The truck was going back to Chicago. At a minimum, I will need to replace the valve spring(s) and possible rocker arms. We hope the valve did not break and pieces fell into the cylinder or piston.

The news is bad and the costs will be extensive again.

When Craig got the truck back to Chicago, he took the rocker shaft out and sent it to California to be rebuilt.

FX engines wanted permission to use a new style rocker arm oil connector on the rebuild. The new connector forces oil all over the head rather than the current one that kind of just drips out on the head.

Obviously, I thought it was a great idea. It will cost more money but it'll certainly push oil all over the place on top of the head and will be a winner.

While the truck was there, Craig removed the seat and fixed the gas tank float so the gauge works correctly. He was in the midst of doing this last time when I yanked the truck from under him due to the shippers schedule.

By the end of November, Craig reinstalled the head, torqued it down. All new gaskets for the head, exhaust, intake, and valve cover. He pulled the side cover and double check the lifters before going forth.

First of December, Craig sent me a video of the engine running again and the sound is completely different than what I remember. I am not sure if it is the quality of the phone he is recording it with or with the new tighter, taller valve springs that is the way it will sound until everything breaks in again. Either way, it was great to hear it running again and I await more detail.

Craig agreed the engine sounded different - more like a sewing machine.

On a shake-down drive, Craig stopped to get some fuel and the fuel gauge works!

How ironic that the engine lacked lubrication at one point now has all the oil it can handle.

By the end of December, Craig said everything he had to do is done. He is just driving it now to ensure all the bugs are worked out.

He adjusted all the brakes and corrected the emergency brake issue. He fixed the connector at the dome light to make it work. He changed the on/off switch for the heater. I had an OE type of switch which was plastic but ineffective. Craig figured out a better way to operate this switch and fixed it once and for all.

He changed the oil and added the zinc additive and is watching the oil flow 100% better.

Now, that the new valve springs are in, and the new oil connector tubes are moving oil better, the engine sounds better.

New exhaust and intake gaskets, and a valve cover gasket. The lifters looked good and everything should be as good as it can get.

I tried to buy a used trailer recently to go the truck to bring it home myself but the deal fell through. So, the same guys who shipped it before will bring it home.

Lastly, the cylinder head was once again rebuilt.

The spring this year has been tough. The truck has a great original heater but its either on or off. And, the so called thermostat really is fair for cold days.

Yes, it is the original heater. Craig just had to clean out the nests and it works perfectly. Quiet as can be. I drive this truck year round now but I will not drive it in snow.

My only real gripe when I drive in the rain is that the wiper blades are poor. Yes, they are vacuum but I bought the better fuel pump to avoid the other issue but the wiping motion itself is bad. I need to adjust the tension on the arms I guess.

Funny, I drive it year round but I took it out the other day when the weather was really warm. I seemed to get more thumbs up, horns honking and smiles than I can recall. I guess the warmer weather makes all of us in a better mood. I am looking forward to changing the oil here soon and I will still add a bit of Zinc as a safety measure. The engine barely has one thousand miles on it.

Mark, not sure if you have ever tried this (and there are probably similar products out there). Last cruise we went to in the '49, John sprayed Rain X on the windshield. I was real surprised how well it worked. Although, we didn't have a heavy rain.

He tried some on our other vehicle last week (when we did have rain). Seems it works better when you are going faster than 30 mph.

It was nice with the '49 tho ... not having to turn the wipers on and off.

I saw on the Rain X website they have other info about blades and stuff. Not sure if that will help.

Peggy

Well, as always with an older vehicle there is something that needs my attention. The drivers side window will not go up all the way even after a new mechanism was installed. I do not have a clue whats wrong.

I also changed the oil over the weekend and I still add a small bottle of Zinc. It just gives me some additional confidence on this newly rebuilt engine of about 1,000 miles. I just giggled, however, on how many grease fittings are under there. I stopped counting at 30.

Engine running great. Shifting great. Everywhere I go, it's eye candy. The people love the original patina look and I get a pass hanging in the right lane doing my 40-50 mph.

But, this window thing ticks me off.

When I changed the oil, I was surprised that the filter cartridge seemed so dirty. Maybe it was my imagination but it seemed thicker than I recall.

I have been driving the truck as much as possible and I am still amazed at the looks and stares. Some people look at me like its an UFO. Nearly everywhere I go I get into some conversation with someone.

The truck is running so good of late but I still suffer when the engine is hot, go into a place for a short time and then want to refire the engine. It is much harder to start and at times I worry I will run the battery down. Remember, it is still a six volt system.

I kept this truck as original as possible and never like to see these swaps. I want it all original.

I do think it is funny when someone says or asks when am I going to restore it. The looks I get when I tell them that it is done is priceless. I guess everyone thinks it's done once you have a pretty paint job or something. Not going to happen under my watch.

I took the old Beast out for a ride the other day and I am still amazed at the attraction it is. Two guys in a newer truck stopped me and asked if it was still a six volt and did it have the starter pedal on the floor.

Another stopped me at a light just to look it over and another guy stopped me at the lottery ticket store. That guy peppered me with questions and really loved the patina.

These are always total strangers and love the old truck. They have at least a small understanding of the time and money you have put into your classic. Like anything else they will never no all the issues until they tackle one. Most will never do so but they appreciate your hard work. It takes everyone back to a different time in their lives.

Now, here I am in February of 2020. I’ve been driving this truck for years now. I have owned several other classics since the last time I wrote anything. Most have come and gone. Like my dream car- it was a 1928 Model A. I even had a magazine do an article on it. But, now it’s gone. But the truck remains. I even had my first hiccup with the truck. It all started when I changed the oil and filter. I filled the oil back to the correct level and assumed all was well. My bad. I discovered my engine was leaking oil like crazy. Turns out the seal on the canister was bad. I drove it nearly empty of oil for a good eight miles or so. Imagine my horror when I pulled the dipstick and nothing was on it. My heart went into my throat. I had a heck of a time re sealing that lid. I even put on a new valve cover gasket for good measure. After way too much tinkering I got the seal to finally stick. The truck is in my building for the winter and I cannot wait to get her back on the road come warm weather. Still till this day the truck is a head grabber. I can park next to some of the best vehicles at a show and still get all the looks. Why? Because it’s pure. I did not resto mod it, I did not paint the body or fake the patina. I did not clear coat it either. People just love it. I have had old men sit in it , children sit in it as well as stand in the bed, I have had people offer me way too much money for it, I’ve had some “ challenged” people look for it every year and I look for them. It’s a people magnet vehicle. I see others with shiny, painted, chromed, blown, chopped, murdered, sliced, channeled, and more but my truck just grabs everyone. I wish I had a buck for every story that has been told to me over the years. The best part of the truck is this. While we have all grown older the truck is timeless. I’ve had people tell me they look forward to seeing her every year. It doesn’t change but we do. She gets more attention than vehicles worth a hundred grand and up. The truck was blood, sweat, tears and cash but it has brought tons of smiles to everyone who sees her. Yes, she is slow, she rattles, she’s a bit rusty, and yet, she is beautiful

Patience paid off. After a two year wait the Granddaughter of the guy that once owned my truck came forward. On Saturday I received a note from her and since then it has opened all kinds of emotions with her family and I.She will be looking for pictures of her long deceased Grandfather with the truck on the farm. She did say the truck once had wooden sides on the bed. That was typical of the farmers in order to haul more. In the meantime I am going to send her articles about the truck that were in the newspapers and web sites. I even told her to come to this web site to view over 800 pictures and the entire diary of the rebuild. I believe both families will benefit greatly now.

Great Blog - I'm with you on rebuilding a beast. I have a 1947 Chevy 3/4 ton long box. It was my grandfathers. I drove it for about 20 years doing enough to keep it moving and then the engine died. So it has sat for the past 15 years and now I'm doing a total rebuild. Like your post they do get done in time.

Yes, I have owned the Beast now for six years! What started out as a barn find from Balfour ND too. A year in the making and now I drive the beast all spring , summer, and fall. Only one issue was ever a concern. A leaky oil filter canister was the issue but it was a mess. Today, the truck sits on a battery tender awaiting warmer weather. I take the truck to our local car show every Friday. I chuckle because there are people who cannot wait to see it. I have real patina. No clear coating for me. The truck is and always was a magnet for others, I wish I had a dollar for every story I have heard over the years about a family member who had a truck just like mine. Children have sat behind the wheel and in the bed, many a family has taken pictures of there loved ones in the Beast. So, she still has all the same parts we installed way back in 2013. I marvel at how well everything works now that she is 70 years old plus.

Can you post a picture of 2020 beast?