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

Well, my first post showing the truck.

Today...I discovered the full extent of what "it might have a little bit of rust in the corners" means.

Panels arrive Monday.

Now you can enjoy working with those oriental patches.

LOL
Yeah, it helps to keep a good sense of humor when dealing with those descriptions.

It was a good day. Got the oil lines and remote filter for the inliners full flow oil filter on. Got the alternator on (the bracket from LMC took a bit of "modification"). Got the torque tube apart, cleaned up and got new parts for it. And the BEST part, primed system and got oil through the filter and to the top! Had oil out of the drip tube and every single rocker. That took a lot of stress away. Ready to adjust valves and get ready for the first start up. It was a good day 😁

In preparation for the replacement of the cowl, rocker panels, floor panels etc I removed the steering column, wiring and pretty much everything else on the firewall.

The brake pedal and parking brake linkage were a TON of fun as 80% of the bolts sheared off causing my knuckles to make a rapid approach to the rusty firewall. This was despite the liberal use of Aerokroil which loosens most things.

Been there, done that. Have the scars to prove it.
I've learned over the years to be ready for the bolts to break. In fact, I often just tighten the buggers till they break instead of trying to unscrew them (on nut and bolt combos).
Remember - Pull, don't push (although that's not a 100% preventative from drawing blood either.)

I got ambitious yesterday. I fabricated the little brackets that go behind the cab sail trim and mounted the trim. I've had these for about 10 years, but never mounted them. I kept waiting to find the right brackets. Yesterday I got tired of waiting. No one will ever see the brackets and I know how to fabricate. Enough said. Job Done!

my '65 C10 lwb step...

There was a small wire that went from the voltage regulator to the back of the alternator that broke, again. I decided to solder it together this time. So... heated up both ends, dabbed a little solder... then shaped 'em in a hook, then hooked 'em together... heated 'em up together, dabbed a bit more and ta da. Then I heated up the shrink wrap to cover it up nicely.

While I was there, I decided to do the other wire as well... that part went pretty well.

Then I was putting the battery cable back on and noticed the clamp was broken... again. Back to the parts store! I bought a replacement clamp instead of the entire cable... cut the overly long cable to length and put the replacement clamp on.

It's always something extra coming up, isn't it?

Old trucks are fun!

-W

I always wished I was living next door to the parts house.

About 10 years ago I bought a Chevy 350 out of a Z28 Project. The PO had taken the heads, timing cover and pan off. I bought the complete engine, just in boxes. I mounted the block assembly on a motor stand and stored it in a unused portion of the horse barn. Planning on getting to it soon. Fast forward 10 years and I decided to pull it out and see if I can save it. The thing was covered in 3” of horse💩 and had set all this time uncovered and open to the elements. I hooked a chain around the engine/stand and to the loader on my tractor. Moved it up to the pad near my lift. That was this morning. This afternoon I fired up the air compressor and blew all the excrement off both the exterior and the water passages. Probably a good cup of rust out of the water jacket. Sprayed the cylinders down with PB Blaster. While rotating the engine on the stand I grabbed the flex plate for leverage and lo and behold the crank turned moving the pistons about 1/2 inch. I quit there. Going to let it soak overnight and then see if I can get the crank and pistons out. Good thing I bought a numbers stamp set a couple years ago. If I can build it I will store it right and pick the right time to put it in the ‘62 C-10.

Goodness!! You have more fun!

I replaced the carrier bearing on the drive line in my '62 C10. Man! What a PITA!

It was easy to change in my old '63 C10. That truck had a Ladder Frame.
The '62 C10 has the X-Frame. The carrier bearing is mounted inside a box. I had to disassemble the emergency brake lever system under the truck. Then pull the drive line out, including the bearing, leaving the rubber mount attached to the frame. Then remove the rubber from the frame separately.

That wasn't too bad. Putting it back together in the reverse order was a lot more fun. Getting the bolts to line up was one thing, but then lining up and forcing the bearing back into the rubber mount was a pain.

But it's all back up and running. Best part is the annoying whine/chirping I was hearing is gone. Wife approves of the difference, which is a major bonus. :-)

On the road getting parts:
Original 986877 Outside visor
Original inside SS window trim
New frontbumper
Original Fog Lights
Old copy SS vent shades

Should have everything painted and installed in 2 weeks--Bill

Oil changed,greased and given a bath so ready for the road.

Last weekend was the annual Pete swap meet near Dallas at the Texas Motor Speedway. I always look forward to it! One of several treasures I found over my two days there was a 47-53 tailgate in near mint condition that I snapped up for a fair price. I just finished installing it on the ‘50 and it sure looks good. I also bought the piece that fits on top of the battery to hold it down. Mine’s been missing since I bought the truck. Never thought much about it, but when I saw it I knew I wanted it. It’s in perfect condition and fit like a glove when I installed it tonight. I think I’ll have to chase the threads on the posts because the nuts didn’t want to tighten up, but that’s a project for another day.

Got the replacement stake pocket welded on to the bedside of the '51 3100.
I'm trying to get enough stuff ready to break out a rattle can of epoxy primer so I can use the whole thing up at once instead of wasting half when it hardens up in the can. Have a bunch of stuff that I need to get blasted to make that work.

replaced the starter in my '65 c10 after it died on me... and autozone wouldn't replace it because it worked on their tester, but it wouldn't turn my motor over.

took some clutch head fasteners off the '53 3100... and tried to take a brake line loose from the MC, but no joy.

old trucks are fun.

-Woog

Try a different Auto Zone. Usually they're pretty good about exchanging defective parts under warranty.

Finally got enough rain the last couple of days around here to wash the salt off the road. Fired the 55 up after the winter nap, put some insurance on her, and took her for a spin. :-)

I got nothing "done" but got a lot of things started. Siphoned enough gas from the tank to get it pulled out of the mount on my 61 - the new tank should be in Monday, so with the tank will be a new sending unit, and have installed a gas gauge in the cluster (there was only a spot where one should be). In the spirit of scope creep, due to the amount of splicing, bare and broken wires etc. have a new under dash harness on the way as well as the cluster harness. Additionally am shopping for the tank to pump fuel line as there's a danged rubber hose run through the frame it seems. Tomorrow will be a better day!

I put in an oak bed. I used linseed oil because it is a farm pickup. I’m almost finished and have her back on the road. I’m looking forward to hauling my first load of hay in the new bed.

I've received a couple of friendly reprimands lately for not respecting my 67 year old work truck. Fact is, I don't own anything that isn't expected to do it's intended task. That includes collectible knives, they need to hold an edge while skinning and elk or a dozen squirrels. Long guns that have a bit of collector value go hunting or at least know what their purpose is, and of course all our vehicles.

So, whose truck gets dirty or muddy and hauls a load occasionally.

Pic is of mine earlier today helping salvage 144' of 3" x 12" Jr. I-beam from a old mobile home on a buddies property a couple miles from the house.

Yep, That's what I'm Talking About.

RonR

I don't have a lot of use for mine, but if I do need it I'm not afraid to put it to work. As was stated, that's what it's for!

All but one of my trucks are currently inoperable due to lack of time and funds, but when I do get the others up and going they will be used. That's what I got them for. I will however draw the line about winter use. I have lost too many good vehicles to road salt. None of my classic trucks will be driven in those conditions.

John

1200 pounds of bagged cement:

My old 49 3100 likes to work. It makes my trash run every Sat and I run most of my weekend errands in it.
Hauling a 235 block to the machine shop
Another pic
Bringing a new tiller home

My last run in the Suburban was doing exactly what it was built for - a people mover, with space for personal items.

It carried 7 people almost comfortably to an outdoor chowder fest and craft beer tasting. Two folding tables and 7 comfortable foldable chairs accompanied us. I do wish it had end gates (clam shell) rear doors, so I could have shown people what the purpose was/is for that style of rear doors.

My first run in the Suburban in 1971 was also serving the purpose of its design (5 people on a 1,000 mile round trip to a Grateful Dead concert).

The Suburban has almost all original style/design equipment, except for seat belts, and a 261 engine, and a dual exhaust system (that is getting changed back to a single muffler/pipe). Oh yes, it has 3.55 R&P gears (instead of original 3.90). The brakes are all original equipment/style and they are in excellent condition.

The

my 58 2-ton works as well (so did my 59 Suburban before that!) I still need to clean the bed as it has remnants of 4 loads of horse manure in it still!

I'm still tearing my 51 3600 down ...but that's exactly the intent to maker her my everyday in town worker . I'm going to go with the stock yellow pine bed painted black and with standard bed strips no all pretty chrome. I wanna be able to just go to nearest lumber yard and toss the stuff in and not worry about telling someone not to sit on my bed I don't want you to scratch it. Can't wait til I'm at the point of putting together...
.

Not afraid to use her as intended just haven't had the need. In the middle of a restomod now so work for "Blue" will have to wait.

All of my trucks have to earn their keep. Here is my 50 Chevy COE with a load of pine needles heading to the dump. Easy to unload since this is a grain bed with a lift. Just have to remove the tailgate and unload. It is fun to watch the city garbage truck drivers stop and snap a picture with their smart phone.

Very nice

OK, I was on board with all of the "Put em to work", banter until Lightholder's dad piped in with the picture of his COE. THAT truck belongs in a museum, man!
Putting that truck back to work is synonymous with letting the kids finger paint all over the top of the Mona Lisa.

Carl, you ought to see it in person. 😁

Last Saturday I took my 41 truck to the trash recycling facility. It always gets lots of smiles and attention. My truck works but I give the 77 year old lady respect in what is hauled in the bed.

Recent haul with the Stovebolt.com flagship -- 1,000 lbs of turkey feed for one of my Mennonite neighbors.


NOTE:

This thread was was originally titled "Who uses their truck" and was mistakenly combined with "What did you get done on your 'Bolt today?" Unable to separate the two without a major headache, we have now locked this thread and the posts from 2021 and later were moved to new threads with the appropriate titles. Still very interesting and more likely to be of use than years gone by.

What did you get done on your Bolt today? - 2021 and later

and

Who uses their truck as a truck? - 2021 and later

This thread has been kept as a reference with the current title. Especially as we remember former Stovebolters.

No more posts can be made here. Please use the newer threads to post.

Thank you.

Stovebolt Staff

I put her to work when its yard cleanup time. Also a pick of bringing home the new siding for the garage.
working

I use my '50 suburban as a camper. Not sure that was it's original use but it sure is fun to load it down with coolers, firewood, picnic baskets and the like.