The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre New from Upstate NY

Hi all,
I’ve been getting help from the forums since I got my 1952 3100 three weeks ago and finally decided to introduce myself and my new project.

I have wanted an late forty’s early fifty’s Chevy or Ford pickup for many years and I finally scored this 3100. I bought it as a non runner with a rebuilt engine. The seller had bought the truck for his wife about a year ago, and due to health issues he had to sell. He never had it running and said that it wasn’t getting spark. The truck had good bones and the engine do spin, so I bought her and trailered her home.

The next morning I looked out the window and my new treasure and noticed she was missing a headlight bezel. I quickly looked at the pictures that I took and sure enough the bezel was there. It fell off on the trip home. Oh well, after looking at the other one, It needed to be replaced anyway!

My immediate plan is to get her road worthy, enjoy her for the first summer then to a full frame off restoration.

After doing research, mostly on this forum, I have found that a rebuilt 1959 235 was installed 5 years ago (two owners ago). Both good news and bad. The good news was I had a just rebuilt, bigger full pressure sought after motor. The bad, the truck engine was not original and the modification was more of a butcher job. To compensate for the longer water pump, the radiator was moved forward, cutting the upper radiator support out, cutting the lower splash pan and cutting the hood latch pan.

I have since replaced the old fabric covered wire that had exposed wire and been spliced too many times, insured ithe engine was getting spark, cleaned out the gas tank, gas lines and rebuilt the carb in preparation of its first start.

The first start didn’t go so well. In preparation I removed the valve cover, the distributor and fabricated a rod to turn the oil pump. I spun the pump with a drill and got oil up to the rockers. So far so good. I replaced the distributor, checking the timing mark and the firing order. I then added a little gas to the bowl via the breather tube and I was ready to go. The moment of truth had arrived. I turned the ignition switch, hit the floor starter and it started after a few cranks. The valves were clattering, the engine was shaking and quickly sputtered to a halt. I tried again to start her up and it results were the same. It acted like it was starving for fuel. I was both ecstatic that it did start but disappointed that it didn’t run so well. More work to do!

Welcome to the 'bolt.

Please scroll through the various forums to see what they have to offer.

Make sure to check out the rules of the page as well.

Questions pertaining to your problem are welcome and will usually get answered quickly.

There are many "how I done it's" here as well that can be found using the search feature.

Nice looking truck. Welcome to the "Bolt".

John

Welcome to the Stovebolt madness. There is no cure!

Welcome to the Stovebolt Page. Looks like a good truck. The engine swap was apparently done the way 100s have been done in the past. Unfortunate, but not necessarily a butcher. You can still enjoy it after you get the bugs worked out. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Welcome to the stovebolt. The guys here can help with any questions....just ask them in the most appropriate garage forums and we'll do the rest.....nice catch on the pickup!

Hi Phak1

I am an upstate NY guy too...I am about 20 minutes North of Albany NY in the Malta / Mechanicville area....these guys on here are crazy smart...a great bunch for talking about old Chevy trucks....

Welcome welcome welcome

MikeC

MikeC,

Do you go to the ATHS show in Ballston Spa? I used to go every year until I moved to NC in 2016.

welcome to the site! That looks like you got a good truck to be the start of your restoration project!

Thanks all for the welcome. To MikeC and Tim, I stumbled on that show last year and got hooked. Me and my truck (if road worthy) will definitely be attending this year.