The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Stovebolt Engine Teardown

Hello everyone this is my first post on the Stovebolt Forums. I am a 17 year old guy who loves classic cars and trucks. Im not one for modern cars, I have always been more interested in the history and styling of classics. Pretty rare for my age, trust me I know lol. I was wondering if anyone knew any videos, books, or websites I could look at that involved disassembly and reassembly of the stovebolt engine. Also if there is any websites that could teach me some more basic things about the stovebolt internals. Thanks to everyone who is willing to share their knowledge with a Young Buck. I am eager to learn anything and everything their is to know about classic chevy trucks. My favorite Chevy Body style is the Chevy Advance Design if anyone was wondering.
Thanks,
Matthew

A Shop manual for the year (s) you're interested in should do the trick.

online


Edit - this website (stovebolt.com) is the best place to learn about the Stovebolt, by the way.
Brad

Welcome to Stovebolt.com, Matthew

My interest/knowledge is also in 1947-55 Advance-Design Chevrolet trucks.

Well, there is a lot to learn about stove bolt six engines, typically thought of as the 1929-1963 216, early-235, late 235, and 261 straight six engines.
The internals changed considerably over this time period.
Major changes in 1937 and in 1953-1955.

Check the engine section in the Tech Tips (here - look for link above).
This Spotting Guide is in the Tech Tips section of Stovebolt.com

http://www.1954advance-design.com/Web%20images/Clymer/slides/Stove-Bolt.html
http://www.1954advance-design.com/Stovebolt-engine/index.html

Thanks For the Help Brad! I really appreciate the input.

Thanks for the links tc, Im going to check them out right now!!!!

Thank you for the links!

I ran into a whipper snapper like yourself at a cruise-in. I have a '50 3100 with a '53 235 in it which looks very similar to the original 216 which came in the '50s.
That snot-nosed kid picked it off right away! You could become that kid. All of the information can be found on this site once you get accustomed to the "search" function.
BTW, I got to know that whipper snapper quite well, and consider him a good friend. (I still don't allow him to call me Grampaw.)
Carl

Hopefully One Day Carl, I can do all these things. My future plan is to open a restoration shop when I get a bit older. I know a decent amount about some classic cars and trucks, and Im trying everyday to Try to be able to identify them all. I've learned a good bit from the advance design spotting guide on the website too. Thanks for sharing!

If that is what you want to do, look up a shop to start working in now so you can learn the ropes. Next choice would be to find a club nearby you could associate yourself with.

Ed

Hey Matthew,
Great to hear there are folks wanting to keep the lights burning! As you probably know there are tons of videos on You Tube. One could spend hours maybe days viewing them. Lots of historical stuff. Period manuals are readily available and there are lots of guys who love sharing their passion and knowledge. One of the most fruitful and fun ways to learn is to go to a used car parts emporium ie; junk yard, get an old stovebolt engine and go to it.

Have a blast! And GOOD LUCK with your dream.

Richard

If you have spent some time perusing the Tech Tips, you have most like seen references the the GM Specifications Manuals.

This information on Serial Numbers & Paint Codes is extracted from those manuals.

I will actually be done with high school at Christmas, I will still graduate with my class in May though, so I have nothing to do for an entire semester. I have been working at my family owned NAPA for a couple of years now, and I think I have a job lined up for that empty semester to work at a body shop to learn some things about body work before I head off to College.

And I also am associated with a group of older guys called the Winyah Cruisers in Georgetowwn, SC. Its a old car club, but Im the only young one there, but I don't mind. The older guys are really appreciative that a young guy like me is interested in classic cars and trucks and they teach me some things about classics.

I actually didnt know that about the manual. I found some websites with other manuals as well from other links too

Thanks you for the support Richard!!! I am actually headed to Fort Lauderdale FL on Monday and stopping by a Car museum in Miami on the way down to the keys for a family vacation. Its called the Dezer Car Museum I believe. Their website states they have over 1000 cars! Hopefully some stovebolt trucks haha. Im actually looking for like a local Stovebolt engine on craigslist. Hopefuly something comes up. My Grandad has owned the NAPA where I live since the early 70s, but now my Dad does. Lets just say I could get the rebuild parts pretty cheap lol. And thanks for wishing me good luck!

Welcome aboard. Definitely pursue some time in a body shop. That is a fine art all to itself, and a much needed skill.

To add to the excellent suggestions, I'd recommended purchasing all the tools you can. Instead of blowing $$$'s on alcohol and other mind altering substances, buy a tool or a specialty tool. There's nothing more aggravating than to be on a good roll fixing or assembling a project then come to an abrupt stop because of the need for a simple little tool. The right tool makes the job much easier and enjoyable.
I'd also say to not chase the womens but we all got to have a little fun sometimes LOL....

I couldn't agree more vol. I don't blow money on stuff like that because I'm not that kind of guy, and all that is temporary, great tools last a while. I get a pretty good Discount st my Family's NAPA and I'm thinking about getting a bore gauge, and some micrometers, and a digital caliper so far. And an electric Impact Gun or maybe a compressor.

And yeah along the line we all gotta have some fun, and women don't come cheap Lol.

If you do find a good woman, don't tell anyone. They will try to take her from you, put her in captivity and treat her as an endangered species (while I agree with that conclusion, I don't agree with the confiscation aspect of it).
Carl

I will definitely keep this info on mind next time I see one I like ! LOL

Hopefully you will find one who enjoys the hobby as you do. Things go so much nicer when your mate is supportive of your hobby. And the reverse of that is just as true. Be just as supportive of the things she likes. And life will be good for everyone!

Thanks for the advice Rich! Hopefully the right one comes along.

This has gotten way off topic!

YCF, (YoungClassicFan)
Welcome to the gang and I thought I would nickname you, right off the bat.
At about every Stovebolt get together I've been to, the topic of getting younger people interested in the hobby usually comes up.
We don't get too many young folks that are interested in the classic vehicle hobby, and we treat them with special attention.
So ask any questions you want and you will not get a any snide remarks about it being a stupid question.

College
You mentioned going to college after high school, will that be a technical collage?

Tools
My Dad taught me at a young age to buy quality tools right off the bat.
Also, if you need a tool for a rare need, buy it and the first time you use it.
It will pay for itself and the next time you use it is free.
Take care of them and they will last most of your life. I still have a lot of mine from 40+ years ago.

Thanks
Don King

YCF,

Don has posted wise and excellent advice.

Believe it or not, my first vehicle was a 1948 Chevrolet 1/2 ton Panel Truck, that I bought for $80 (scrap value) in 1969 (during my first year in college). It was rusting away, but it ran. It was considered a worthless old farm truck, back then. I did not know the difference between a spark plug and a set of points. I rebuilt the 216 about a year later.

As Don suggested, buy some good tools (I bought a $99 new/1969 Craftsman tool set on sale), get/find a Shop Manual (I found one in 1969 on microfiche in a Library, and, oddly an original, in a Library. Read, search-here, and ask questions. I got invaluable and truly helpful help from some good-old-boys, dirt-track racing mechanics. You have the members here to rely on.

Do not worry about glitz, get one running and slowing bring it back to specs/drivability.

Hey Don, I plan on going to The University Of South Carolina for a Business and Finance Degree, Which will help me in starting my restoration business one day. I am going to do an internship to learn body work for a semester at a local body shop. Im currently gathering up a list of tools I plan to buy in the near future as well. Hopefully I can find a old truck or just even an engine to tear into and get familiar with.

Yeah TC, hopefully I can find a scrap one somewhere around here.