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

I started to wrap the steering wheel with twine.

That should give you some traction.

Wayne, I just spent a very enjoyable 15 minutes reading the history of your truck. Personal verbal history, told by those who were on the scene is more interesting than something a historian can dig up. This history, handed down from family to family paints an interesting picture of the life of an the old truck. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Jim. It seems there is always something to do with it. I think the rear main seal has started leaking recently. I need to address that.

I'd sure like to see a picture of that.

I'll post one when it's finished.

I bought 4 new tires for the panel. I just put them on now. Same size as previous, LT215/85 R16. Test drive tomorrow.

Pulled the valve cover on the ‘62 C-10 and gave it a good cleaning and a fresh coat of blue paint. While cleaning, the oil bath air cleaner got a good wipe down and some blue. Since I had the valve cover off I decided to adjust the valve lash. Used HRL’s method and all went well. Couple were out of specs so the engine is a little quieter now. First time I’ve used that particular method of adjustment.🛠

Installed a HEI system on the "62 C-10. It"s the large cap GM type. Tight fit with the Push Rod Cover but it does work w/o modifications. Started right up but haven't put a timing light on it yet. Install was straight forward and only took about an hour. Will put some road miles on it Saturday so we'll see how it performs.

Got Sparky’s bed assembly completed and installed on the chassis. Also got the second door glass and window crank installed. This is a ‘46 Chevy 1/2 Ton project.

Hi there, I put a new cowl vent cable passenger side on the 1959 Apache short box stepside. I found it to be kind of an odd spot for me to work in given my right handedness but since I already had removed and restored the deluxe heater I thought it was the perfect time to address the rusty cable. Next to paint under the dash. cowl vent area and then reinstall heater. Steady progress keeps me motivated.

That looks great! Probably will look even better after a few hundred miles of handling.

Two-fer here.

YESTERDAY I removed the left rear shock. I think it's the original or nearly so. The nut on the horizontal bolt (lower connection) was the hardest nut I've ever had to crack. Had to use the weight of the truck to bust it loose. Jacked it up, put wrench on nut, put 2x4 between wrench and floor, and lowered the jack. Did that a few times before I could finally move it with a cheater and my arms.

TODAY I paid the state of Oklahoma $252 in penalties for not tagging it for the last 6 years (I also did not drive it off my property during that time). All for a $26 tag. Learned my lesson to at least tag it with a "black tag", so the state can get its taxes, even if I'm not driving it.

Red, just for information purposes the State of Oklahoma may or may not send you reminders. It’s hit and miss with a Black Tag. Make sure you keep track of the due month and renew it.🛠

Thanks JustHorsen. That's good advice. I also learned one can put their insurance on hold during periods of not driving (although there is some catch that I'm sure I'll learn more about), so that will also make it more affordable to be legal year-round and not be tempted to let things lapse during periods of prolonged inactivity..

I made and installed some door panels using some Hagan Street Rod products...I never did any interior work before. I also put on a new steering wheel.

I had too many holes in my firewall; now there's just two big holes to fill.

Replacement floorpans and inner cowl panels installed on the 49' Panel,..
After much modification.
moving forward.....

Removed the right rear hub and drum as an assembly and then it was easy to separate them, power washed the brakes and drum. Now to rebuild the wheel cylinders and gut all of the old lines. This is a big bolt, '57 two ton.

216 pushrod cover and valve cover gaskets today. Oil pan yesterday. Starting on rattle reduction on interior.

Believe it or not the new 6 V battery I bought and installed on August 4 went bad. It was working great one day and then the next day it was totally dead. Even after 24 hours on the new battery charger it was still dead. Took it back today & the salesman put a couple of volt meters on it & both showed 6.38 volts and the salesman said the battery was good. He checked voltage on a new one and it read the same. He asked me what I wanted to do so I told him regardless of what the meter said, I wanted a new battery. He was very polite and gave me a new one. I installed it and tightened everything up real good then hit the stomp starter and the old 216 roared to life. Just goes to show you that even a brand new battery can be defective and go bad.

Spray-on bed liner on the hood underside of the ‘62 C-10 was this afternoons project. Just finished up pulling the plastic and tape off. Looks good.🛠

Do you have any photos? I was considering doing that to both sides of my firewall.

I have mentioned before using bed liner on top and bottom of running boards. Sprayed on top, brushed on bottom after thorough cleaning. Was thinking of doing underside of hood, but painted green on top and bottom. We also used on underside of the 4 fenders, and frame. If you use flicker you can see pics--FYI Bill

https://www.flickr.com/cameraroll/

Sorry Jay, Photos is beyond my technical abilities. I'm old and a slow learner when it comes to the confuser stuff. I used the $11 a can stuff from O'Reileys and it sprays really well. Does not appear blotchy and does not run easily. I also used it on the floorboards sever months ago and it worked well.

I’ve been chasing several rattles in the ‘48 Suburban Streetrod since the day I brought it home 5 years ago. I’ve isolated and fixed most, however, the worst one kept eluding me. It sounded interior, around the door trim or under the driver side dash. Searched and searched and could not find it. Yesterday I went out to start it as it hadn’t been started in a couple of weeks. I opened the hood and gave the carb a VERY short shot of go go spray. Opened the door and reached inside and turned the key. Fired right up but guess what? Yup, heard the rattle. It was coming from outside! When I leaned over the drivers front fender to listen in the engine bay the rattle quit. Further investigation found the fender brace missing. So this morning I dug through my parts and found a brace and some bolts, nuts and washers and put it on. Started the Burb and lo and behold no rattle. Not the last one but it was the most annoying one. I’m a happy camper.🛠

I had considered that for my fenders, however I was afraid a rock or two would hit under there and put a chip in the liner allowing water to collect, causing rust. After all my efforts removing the stuff and a fortune in patch panels, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I probably should see a shrink to correct my phobia.

Getting a windshield chip repaired. Driving on the freeway Sunday night and BAM! rock hit the windshield just to the left and down from my line of sight.

Not real bad, but I know what will happen if I let it go. I did that in my '63 and had to replace the entire windshield in a month or two.

Not happy, but it beats replacing the windshield.

I got my Frankland quick change rear end back from the factory a couple of weeks ago. Had a Gleason locker put in it and retubed to fit under mt 53 3100. Ordered 4 piston nickel plated calipers on 12.88 drilled and slotted disk with parking brake for it from Wilwood. Have 6 piston nickel plated front on 12.88 disk for the front. They are at Indy fab getting spindles made. When I get the brake kit going to take them to moser and have axles made.

Sounds like fun... got pics?

I'm going to try to start a build thread. Have to figure out the picture thing and get permission. I have been buying parts for a while.

Couple of things in the last few days.

Last week, when trying to change the temp on the heater, the HEAT lever snapped. Ok, time to order new parts. They came in this week, so I got started on it. I found that the original cable was very tight and was binding. It did have a layer of rust on the outside of the coiled cable housing.

Installed the new lever and cable. I did put some black moly grease on the pivot rod for good measure.

While messing with the truck after fixing the heater, I heard a loud chattering sound in the engine bay. After doing some troubleshooting, I narrowed it down to the vacuum advance module on the distributer. I pulled that today and man, it was full of old, rancid fuel. No wonder it was acting up. I have no idea where the fuel came from, but it was old. The vacuum line does come from the base plate of the carb, but that shouldn't send fuel to the vacuum module.

Either way, I swapped out the module, reset the point gap, dwell and idle speed. Truck runs much better now.

Truck is a 1962 C10 with a '67 327 V8. Looked like a factory vacuum advance module, so it gave a good 50 years of service.

I picked up a set of original bumpers for my 55.1 for $150. And, they're already painted the right color for my truck.

Nice road trip in the country, too.

Ok. I'm bragging.

I stared at my 55.1 GMC COE for three hours. I think I accomplished a lot.

yellowsub54,

Have you posted/attached photos of your Z-series GMC?

I have one also (3 window cab, 270 engine, 6v positive ground). It is one of tragedies of my laziness. Mine is finally all painted (all the parts are painted, but not all are installed) and it has a new (installed) 16' ramp system (19' flatbed). I have been worthless in dealing with my trucks since I moved to NC more than a year ago.

Let's see what you have.

Tim,

I know the feeling, I'm having trouble getting motivated to work on my '56 Brush Truck and may change directions.

I did clean up and put away some tools today if that counts? A clean shop is a happy shop!

Mike B

I haven't posted any photos and I killed off my photo hosting. My COE is so apart I haven't even bothered to post any photos other than a running lot on the oldgmctrucks site.

Got the interior of the cab painted , whew, that was a job! Firewall cover and heater next. Unfortunately I've run out of warm days. Guess it'll be me, the kerosene heater and the truck occupying the garage from time to time.

Drove the '51 about 4 or 5 miles yesterday. Her first road trip in 6 years. Sounds really sweet. Then changed the oil as step 1 in winterization. And today took the oil to the recycler.

Filled my 55.2 with 100% gas and a can of Sea Foam, changed the oil and filter, and greased. Disconnected the battery cables and hooked up a floater battery charger to the battery. Then put it away for the winter.