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

I installed the last part today, the card board glove box liner. I declare it done. Here are the photos for those interested:
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0NGqkRUiGr3Gag

Lookin' good, Jim.

Hi Folks. This is my first progress post. A little history first. I bought my 53 3100 in 1980 when I got out of the navy in southern California. It has a 235. Put a holley 390 cfm carb, headers and a modern driveline in it. Drove it for a work truck untill 1989 when I moved to northern Indiana and parked it. About a month ago I decided to restore my girl. Got the wasp nest out of the carb and rebuilt it. Cleaned the tank twice and replaced the fuel system. Filed the points, replaced the plugs and she fired. Carb needs dialed in yet and have an air leak. Unhooked all unneeded vacuume lines. 4 speed top loader stuck in neutral. Took the top off the trans today. Have rust on the shifter rails. Will clean it up tomarrow, change the oil and put it back in. everything else in there moves just fine. Cut the tree out of the bumper and some out of the way. She may move tomarrow. Brake pedal is froze, don't know if the clutch works. If it moves I can get it to the shop and put it on the lift. Picked up a 250 and a 292 today, the 292 is for the final build. Got a new gas pedal so it's game on!

Need to move the core support fwd a few inches for 250/292.

Ed

Cool story! Keep us informed.

After fixing my valve cover leak I discovered the push rod cover leaking. I think I got it stopped by tightening the bolts. Then I discovered oil blows out the dipstick tube. There was no seal of any kind. I found a grommet in my Harbor Freight assortment that fits the hole snugly. I quit for the night before cleaning it back up and running another road test.

I repainted the steel wheels and the rear bumper on the old '65 C10 last week.

That is it for me lately.

-W

update 08/14/2016, I added some photos of my newly painted wheels and rear bumper, as well as some other shots while I was at it. I also pressure washed the bed wood, which turned out very nice.

08/13/2016 — exterior, engine, interior

Nice truck; I'm jealous!

Today I removed the measly 14" Chevy Cavalier electric fan from my radiator (4-cylinder fan - pathetic!) and replaced it with a mega 16" Spal hi-perf unit. I've used this model fan before - they pull about four times as much air as the cheapo fans. Ha ha, I should be able to throw it into neutral now and let the fan pull me down the road like an airplane propeller! I also removed the existing fan shroud as I felt it was restricting airflow through the radiator at highway speed. Forecast is for 95-100 all week; should be a good time to test it out.

Thank you.

Installed some generic self-adhesive weatherstripping from my local home improvement store around my doors. 10 minute install. Doors have to be slammed to shut right now, but I expect it to compress with time.

And LOOK...PICTURES!!!

http://imgur.com/h74rBui

http://imgur.com/zDhGDJE

Noticed my ammeter was showing charge for much longer than usual when at speed and also staying at discharge much longer when at idle.
I pulled over popped the hood and saw nothing to jump out at me so I tapped the regulator and saw where it deflected back to nearly "0" from almost max discharge so I figured I'd have to address it back at the shop.
Pulled the regulator, cleaned all the contacts and found where one of the 2 cutoff relay contacts wasn't making and the other was pitted. So I bent it just enough to make and used a burnishing file to dress them up. Air gaps were good.

My test drive today and tonight with the lights on showed normal charging system operation. I figure the one working cutoff relay contact must have been sticking because it was handling all the load.

Finished my brake upgrade so I decided it was safe to install the 4:11 gear set I got from a 69 chevy awhile back. All went together great, just like the super tech tip said it would. Gotta get some fluid in the rear end and go for a test dive after work.

Brake upgrade? Could be a harrowing test drive, ha ha! We have confidence in you!

Removed a nasty oil can from my dually running board. Progress sure is nice.

Nice work Fox!

Well I drove my 53 around the back yard today. It's the first time it moved since 1980. Now I can get it on the lift. I'm way too old to be crawling around in the dirt. I ordered door hinge rebuild pins and springs. I also ordered latches and strikes. Going to try the electrolitic rust removal thing with soda wash.

I put a jacobs ignition on my 58 this morning... was tightening nuts down with it running and it bit me... Woke me up in a hurry!

I prefer a warm shower myself.

yeah, definitely not my favorite thing in the morning! (or anytime for that matter)

Good for you AND the truck - a couple of "old timers" getting a fresh start!

.

we went to Eastern Wa and dragged home another big bolt cab to use in making an extended cab!

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p494/69B-Cuda/1958%20Viking%2060/58%20cab%20coming%20home.jpg

This is what my end goal is....
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p494/69B-Cuda/1955%202%20Ton/55%20extended.jpg

A little more progress today on the 235 "upgrade" on my 46. Spent the morning removing rings and cleaning the landings. Because the donor engine sat up for many years with some water in it, only one piston's rings came off "normally"; I had to soak 'em in PB Blaster and chisel the things apart. Now letting each one soak over night in a bucket of ChemClean to remove all the build-up. Meanwhile, the block, crank, head, etc. are in a professional vat getting cleaned up. Rebuild parts arrived last week, too! Rebuild eminent!! 😀

Finished running new brake lines to the front of my 52

New spark plugs and a can of freon for the trip to KC.

Cranked her up and moved her tail end about 8 inches to the passenger side of the garage so my wife would quit complaining the bed was too close to her Lexus. The things a guy must do to keep things level at home.

Over the last few days I've been very busy!
1. Clutch/brake assembly blasted, primed, painted and rebuilt.
2. Master cylinder as above
3. Front brake lines rebuilt
4. Front half frame cleaned, prepped, POR15'd
5. Engine primed, painted.
6. Bearings repackaged, brakes gone through in front.

It sure is fun putting together new/refurbished parts and seeing the truck start to take shape again!

http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/foxj12/library/?view=recent&page=1

That's one good looking old truck. It would sure enhance this forum to have photo posting capability, instead of having to visit another site. Imagine how much more interesting it would be to scroll down this page and see great pictures of everyone's trucks.

Jesse Z, it's all about the expense to the hosts to set up such a service. The site is run off donations and the bills are being met. Beyond that it's just not feasible. Maybe someday.

...and a mighty find piece of work.

Spent yesterday morning doing a minor tuneup on the Burb. New plugs and fluid top off. The old plugs looked perfect so I feel good about the old motor. It's a stockish late 70s 350 with a lot of miles. Added a can of freon to maximize the a/c for the hot KC weather.

Over the last couple of weekends:
1) Installed new fuel tank straps
2) Installed new fuel tank
3) Installed new fuel line
4) Adjusted brakes
5) R&R front left wheel cylinder to deal with a stripped adjuster

It started after cranking long enough to re-prime the fuel system.

Took my better half for a ride to the gas station to fill it with regular non-ethanol gas.

Garage smells like hot oil now, not so much like gas (an improvement).

Next up, sheet metal

Had issues at KC with the timing on the '48 Burb. Bolt had loosened just enough to allow the distributor to move putting the engine out of time. Timed it by ear in the motel parking lot which got us through the weekend. Went out this morning and adjusted the idle and reset the timing with the light. Ready to go.

Got an original turn signal and steering wheel off a 57 1/2 ton for my 53 3100. Fit right on. got a new switch for the signal mech. and it works great. Looks very original on there. Have to cut the column down a few inches due to the different style wheel. Looks so much better than the clamp on type. Thanks to eveyone that helped me. Total investment $45.00 so far.

I adjusted the valves on the engine for my truck. It is still on engine stand. I would like to get it off the stand and back between the frame rails.

Got the old 53 3100 to idle today. I rebuilt the 390 cfm holley but had air leaks. Pulled her from out back and parked next to the shop. Next I think I will get the doors to work next. Have hinge rebuild kits, latches and strike plates. Still no brakes or lights but she moves for the first time since 89.

I drained the 4 month old fuel from the Suburban today and replaced it with fresh fuel. It runs like it should again.

I got the bad gap on the drivers side between the hood and fender much much better. Replaced the hinge. Only issue now is black on one side and silver on the other.

I ordered a bunch of engine parts.Should be here in about a week. This should give me most of what I need to get the engine back in the frame rails and running.

I had issues with the charging system at my '54 3100. Changing the voltage regulator changed everything. Now it's working great and charges the battery even when idling.

Next tasks are the leaking fuel pump and the gas gauge. I hope the latter hasn't been fried by the POs 12V stupidity.

Today I went to the junk yard in the rain and collected a bag full of clutch head bolts.