The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (MD, VA, West VA, DC, DE and PA) Homecoming Truck Improvement Count

While I'm working on the photos, I thought it might be cool to tally up the trucks that left Homecoming better than they arrived, thanks to the collective. So chime in and add to the list. I'll start:

-- My '49 1-Ton got a new fuel line bent up and flared (by Grigg III)
-- My '88 Hoopty van got a new starter installed (By Jack Brad and Sweet)

Thanks!

My '55 Grumman Kurbside (Doughboy) was running so poorly on the way there I thought it was going to be necessary to turn around and go back home. I proceeded on to Homecoming. After arriving I asked Sweet to take a look at it for me. After looking after it a couple of minutes it was purring like a kitten! I don't know what he did beside laying his hands on it; you would need to ask him. I think it might be spiritual!!

I got help from Carl about how to fix my bed misalignment.
I have been thinking about what to do since I bought the truck, now I have a plan!!!!

My panel has 2 dog bones fastened to the tops of the door jambs. (part of the Fulton visor assembly) Still need a small missing part, but it should be easy to complete the installation. Getting these 2 brackets positioned correctly is critical. Thank you Cosmo!

I was able to clear the blockages in the grease fittings on my 1-ton with the use of the special tool from the O.R.

Mike B. also scooted under there and gave me "a learnin" on greasing the U-joints.

My (and a few other fine ODSS Brothers) other truck Buddy got a much needed oil change after a few decades.

2 new rear brakelines flared, bent and installed with griggs help. Also ran 292 for 30 minutes. HRL tuned and check a few things. Mission accomplished.

I didn't get the truck into the able hands of HRL to dial in the timing, But I paid attention to what he was doing and listened to what he was saying while adjusting the timing on other trucks, so I feel pretty confident that I can do it myself now.
Carl

New rearend! Fixed a few other issues that were brought to my attention!

My '57 now has a brand new 'anti-roll (thanks, ndkid275, for the edification by way of HRL) bar' installed between the front axle and frame. Special thanks to ndkid275 for the inspiration and to also to both Chris' for the install help.

-Jim

I was showing Alec my sound system components under my seat and we found a gasket on top of the gas tank that had been leaking slightly, Tightened screws, no more occasional gas fume smell. (Aftermarket tank with top port).

Buddy got a battery.

And i got an education on a great sound system!!!!

I got help replacing the 62 year old speedo cable from Lugnutz. Sweet adjusted the steering box and now I know how to do it(no more unwanted lane changes and bump steer) changed some dashboard lights and some great conversations with very informed folks that gave me a much deeper understanding of this hobby. Along with sharing some greatly needed time with my son, it was once again the best weekend of the year.Thanks again John for opening up your place to a bunch of beer drinking, burger eating, wrench turning, truck guys and to all that contributed ....thanks again, Tim and Logan

After an extensive search I finally located the overdrive gears I wanted for my t 5. Two days after installing the trans I took in on a 650 mile test run to the homecoming.
Almost made it too. About 1/2 hour out from Johns place 5th gear was missing in action! On arriving at the event I was assigned a spot in a building and I proceeded to pull out the trans for an autopsy .
It turns out I applied to much heat to the gear in order to slip it onto the shaft which destroyed the temper in the metal and ultimately the gear itself. With no replacement gear to be found the trans. went back together as a four speed. With a 4.57 rear end this was give me a rough top speed of about 58 mpg. which didn't sound to like something I wanted to do for a 650 mile trip home.
Fortunately I had a 3.90 third member in my truck that I had intended to put up for sale but ended up installing as to improve my top speed home, it worked.
Hot rod Lincoln worked his magic on my timing and carb adjustment and my little 235 happily screamed it's way home at and average 3000 rpm to give me roughly 65 mph, which with the original .73 overdrive and 4.57 gears I could reach at 2500 rpm, yet I gained a 2 mile a gallon average on the return trip with some severe head and cross winds, which I suspect is due to Hot Rods magic touch more so than the gearing.
All in all this was the best breakdown I ever had!! The event was superb , the people even better, and I can't even start to thank all those who helped me and those offered me help, I'm sure names were mentioned but I only managed to retain a bunch of letters by the time i got home.

I put the letters together and came up with O.D.S.S. , and I would like to thank all the member there for all the help and comradeship I received.

John

It sure was fun getting to meet you, John. But holy Anna McTavish, I don't think we've had anyone at Homecoming in all these years as utterly fearless as you about ripping your truck apart (650 miles from home) to fiddle with something ... ! You rolled in on Thursday, asked about pulling into the shop to do something about your transmission and the next thing I know, you have the T-5 on the bench and completely disassembled .... la la la like it was nothing. (WHAT DAT NOISE, Eh??) And back together. I went to check on something else and when I came back, you had the tranny back in and the rear end all torn out ... la la la like we all do that every day just for giggles. Incredible. You were a tazmanian devil ... with wrenches. You reminded me of those guys in the DC Model T club who drive a Model T in front of a crowd, get out and completely disassemble it. Then they go eat lunch. After lunch, they reassemble the car and drive it away. I'm pretty sure you could do that with your panel by yourself. Of course, I don't know too many people who go cruising around with their T-5 collection, either ... I bet you and Lugnuts could work up a pretty good T-5 floorshow (throwing flaming wrenches and parts, juggling, making stuff disappear ...)

And on the comradeship, I do believe you gave as good as ya got

Hey Millman, LOL at those comments . They are so "right on".
But the even more amazing thing to me was John did all that "tazmanian" stuff with a smile on his face the whole time. No complaining, nothing , just laughing and enjoying and telling other stories about previous roadside repairs.
Looking forward to next year, hopefully without a repeat, just telling a good story!!

Alec

be there next year for sure, the only addition to the truck might be a sign I saw on a rat rod ( Honk if anything falls off )

Heck I will attend even if all I have to drive is a Ford .

John

John
You do know that if you don't drive a Stovebolt, you will be required to spend the weekend on KP and cleaning the port-a-johns.
Don't ask me how I know and I prefer to clean, before I cook.

Don

"Frenchy" is my new hero, if only for his upbeat attitude in the face of what sane people consider utter catastrophe. I need to start taking it easier on the Canadians, except for Leo of course.

My truck is better too, but I swapped starters in a parking lot in Warrenton, then swapped batteries in Fredericksburg.

I was not at Homecoming but I want to praise Jerry, Hotrod Lincoln. I was in KC and I posted that my MPG had dropped drastically and he advised that it could be the power valve. I got the truck back from the shop today and I had the back carb cleaned and it was full of gunk and the power valve was difficult to remove. The throttle response is much better and seems to run much smoother. Thanks, Jerry.

Don't worry Carl us Canadians AKA ( the EH team ) can take all that is dished out, we know it's all for fun, ( it is for fun right/??? )
I'll have to make sure my truck is running next year, and why shouldn't it , it's never let me down!! so as not to put you through the torture of my cooking.
I'm in the process of putting together another trans which I plan to road test for more than 50 miles before heading out farther than my AAA card will cover.

And if any stovebolters should find themselves in the land of 7 dollar plus gas, contact me on this site and y'all will be welcomed in my home.
And if you arrive broke down I have a garage , some tools and I'll even find some one who knows how to use them

John