The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (MD, VA, West VA, DC, DE and PA) Call for Bolters in the Northern Virginia or Springfield Area

Gents,

A work friend posted recently that she was looking for help for her 16 year old son, who has a 1947 Chevy truck that breaks down a lot and strands him. She was looking for someone who can teach him and her how to work on the old truck and get it as reliable as possible. The truck has a motor from an 80's (NFI) vehicle. It's currently having a charging problem that is probably an alternator, but she really needs someone to help teach her son how to work on it.

SWEET and I offered to provide any assistance she needed down in the Fredericksburg area, but she's a ways north of us for anything long term.

I thought of this place and sent her a note letting her know that we probably have the perfect mix of folks who can help her out. I told her that I would post on this site and try to get her some local assistance. I also recommended that she have her son do an intro post in the Welcome Center and follow that with specific questions in the appropriate forums.

So, any takers for an offer of help? I can arrange the phone/email introductions as needed.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

Good for you Jim, hope someone steps up and helps them out.
We need young folks to join us..

Don

Glad to help if I can Jim.
How far north are you talking about? I'm about as far north as you can get and still be in VA.

I'm in the welcome centre all the time, will keep an eye out...

I spoke with Mom this afternoon and pointed them in the right direction. Hopefully they get it running and down here to Fredericksburg for inspection.

Just a thought.

If he can make the Homecoming and join in the fun.
Everyone would know his name in ten minutes.
Make his truck the focus truck and let him do the work, under expert guidance.

Don

Thanks, Don and Leo. Not sure of the backstory, but I sure do respect that Mom is asking for someone to teach her son, rather than DO for him. Mom's a Master Sergeant, so maybe that comes with the territory.

I like the Homecoming idea. I've told her about it already and sent her some pics (that don't include dust masks). With luck, we'll see them at this or a subsequent event. I'll lean forward with that idea. Meantime, Chris has gotten them started and we'll work the short term fix. If someone can help out in their neighborhood, so much the better, for the longer term.

Victor, they are in the Annandale/Springfield/Fairfax area. Truck is currently broken down near 495 and Braddock Road. Off the beltway, in other words.

Anyone who thinks they might have time, feel free to call me at 804-994-4264 and I'll make the connections.

Thanks again,

Jim

My trailer is up in Alexandria. Could possibly pick it up and get it to Fredericksburg. I just don’t have a winch to pull it in. I am open this weekend to help move it. Does it run at all? Needs to drive 10 feet! Is mom on belvoir? I am stationed there.

I agree, get it and the kid to homecoming.

Chris

She's not on Belvoir. I think, if we can fix the minor problem the truck has, we can have them drive it home. They live in Springfield.

I am going to go up to Annandale this afternoon and try to help. Welcome to come if you have time. I could sure use the help. My open number is 571-305-7168.

Jim

Today is the day of awful meetings at work. I can’t miss them. Any other day, I would consider taking a day off to tinker and help.
If you need a trailer call me.
Chris

Thanks Chris.

Jim

Well,

All did not go as planned. I arrived to find the truck was not in the lot. Mom was on her way but described the location it WAS in. Long story short; it had been towed. Fairfax, however, could not find a record of authorizing the tow, so it's now an open question who towed it and to where. It was in the lot of the Audrey Moore Rec Center, and the manager on duty there said he saw the tow truck but figured the county had towed it. He also said there were several people asking about who owned the truck and at least one who asked how long it had to remain 'abandoned' on the county property before he could file for an abandoned vehicle title. Vultures, vultures, everywhere...

I'll report back any results when I have them.

Thanks anyway to all who offered.

-Jim

DARN IT!!

Jim, thanks for stepping up, to help a family that could use some help.

Don

Good work, Jim

Unfortunately this serves as a reminder to us all, if your going to leave your disabled vehicle in a parking lot, be it private or public, notify the owners/caretakers what your intentions are. Get permission. Leave a note inside, visible to anyone who looks, with your name, address and at least 2 phone contacts. Check back daily with the person you got permission from. Let them know the statis. This gives them the opportunity to tell you “hey it’s been here long enough, you got 24 hours to move it”. Maybe they can tell you a tow truck from ABC Towing pulled out with it a couple of hours ago. Maybe they would go out and ask the tow truck driver if he had authorization from you to move it. Never just leave it thinking it will be there when you get back. Hard lesson learned.🤷🏼‍♂️

Martin, as I was scrolling down reading the post I was expecting the last one...yours, to say it had been found. After reading the above post my heart sank. It is an evil world we live in and your advice takes on more meaning now than just a few years ago. I'm hoping this has a happy ending soon.

.....talk about teaching young folks brought back the memory of a few years ago when some of us bolters, both local and far away, helped a young man get his grandfathers 54 pickup actually running and stopping. He got better at mechanical skills as time went by and I'm sure he'll never forget Stovebolters... as he moved on in his schooling and in life. He does check in once in a while and I'm sure many of us old times remember him. Ron, have you heard from our man lately? He actually came to the K.C. reunion once or twice...thanks to Ron.

Alvin
That would be JDL, (Jordan)
Hope he is still hanging around.
Just looked and his last post was in Dec 2016

Don

Thanks, guys. It is unfortunate.

Martin, understand what you're saying. So did she; She left a note, she contacted the owner (the Rec center), she contacted the parking enforcement folks and they said they'd give her a few more days to get it running. But, as you and I both know, when swings goes off and nights comes on, the whole information flow sometimes stops. They looked for the tow truck logo on the cameras, but no joy.

Worst part of this is, the kid had a bunch of tools that friends and relatives had bought him over time, looking forward to the day when he got the truck. Sad.

Have my fingers crossed that it will show up again and was towed by a government entity. Will let you all know.

Jim

Does the family have a photo of the truck? I can post it on our Instagram site. I am amazed at the wide array of followers we have managed to group. Possibly someone out there may offer insight. If nothing else........it may find it's "way back"

Joe

Thanks, Joe.

I think it's best to wait for a determination to be made on whether it was towed at government request. Once it's for sure known to be stolen, I will get the photos sent up here.

Much appreciate the offer, though!

Jim

All,

Update from Mom is that the Fairfax Officer contacted all the their tow companies to no avail. It has been reported stolen. I will upload pics that I have when I get home and will ask Mom for more. For now, it's a charcoal grey 1947 1/2 ton (rodded) with blue Florida plates. She will be sending me the VIN number when she can.

Appreciate everyone's offers of help.

Jim

darn, that sucks! He should still come to homecoming though.

Can't put pics here, so I created a new thread here in General Truck Talk and titled it Stolen 1947 Truck Alert - Fairfax County, VA.

Suggestions welcome. I received Mom's permission to post this wide here.

Joe, please post to your instagram site.

Thanks guys,

Jim

Somebody made it an announcement, so it will be shown on every topic.
Hope it is found intact and they catch the {insert profanity here} soon.

Don

Amen, Brother 2-Ton!

Jim

How long did he leave it unattended?

Any local security cameras around that might show it being towed by? They need to be looked at asap as many overwrite after a short time.

Mike B

Mike, I think he said that there were no markings when they looked at it. Security guards saw it get towed also. My guess is the police have the tape.

Chris

Chris is right...

Got this secondhand, of course, but the video was not of much use. And my guess is the tow driver didn't bother to ask if the guy paying for the tow owned the truck.

-Jim

Good News, Brothers and Sisters,

The truck has been located. Apparently, the Jackwagon who decided he could have it because it was parked in the same parking lot for four days was contacted by Farifax County's finest and decided he'd best return it. Guess he's out the cost of the tow and Mom is checking to see what else might be missing, or at least will when she receives the truck this weekend. Original plans to get it running reliably in the works.

Final report to follow, but please stand down on the search.

Respectfully,

Jim

Roger that. Thanks for the good news.

Great news!!!!
Hopefully he also gets all his tools back and will be able to make the Homecoming.
With or without the truck.

Great job for the Fairfax County's finest and all LEO's across the U.S.
Don

Great news! I can assist movement via trailer this weekend if needed.

Chris

Thanks all. There's a plan brewing to go and assess the truck this coming weekend. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Chris, thanks for the offer of the trailer. Might need to take you up on that, depending how the weekend goes.

Hopefully we'll get this truck to Homecoming!

-Jim

We will get it to homecoming!

Chris

I have high hopes. Should know more on Sunday.

-Jim

Let us know if the young man recovers his tools. Many of us have "doubles" we have acquired over the years and may be willing to build a box for the kid. I think I have a box to start with that I can carry down. round and rusty is better than nothing......if so - I say we start a thread, cause that's what bolters do.

open ends, boxes, 3/8 sockets, 1/2" come on guys - you know the stuff I mean.

LOL, best, Joe

I agree Joe, I have tools I haven't used or seen in years.
Just got to find them.
So let us know what he needs. Even if he gets his tools back.

Don

Jim,

If I need to come back and pick it up on Friday morning (before homecoming) I will do it to ensure that it makes it to homecoming! Give me a heads up if and when you need the trailer. I will be loading my truck in it on sunday so that I can get exhaust fixed. I have no desire to drive her in the rain this week.

Great job Jim, and to the others offering help. I too have extra tools that I would be more than happy to part with for the cause.

Thanks all,

Today's the day we lay eyes on the truck. I'll report back later. And thanks for the offer of tools. We'll take stock and see what the lad might need. I too have some doubles and triples laying about.

Chris, I'll let you know about the trailering. Kind of you to offer. With any luck, we'll help him get it driving there. I'm hoping today is followed by some additional days at or near SWEET's house in Fredericksburg. We'll see.

-Jim