Hey all. Just got a 1951 Chevy 3100 5 window. 3 on the tree. Seems all original. Runs, drives, stops and everything works! Has some awesome patina. My plans are to keep it the way it is and just drive it. With that, I need to run through everything and make sure it’s mechanically all there. I wanna do a full service and tune up. Can anyone point me in a direction to find the specs for these trucks? Oil type and capacity, adjusting carb, adjusting clutch, transmission and rear end oil type/ capacity. Any help or tips are appreciate! I attached a few pics. Thank you!
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/19/20246:22 PM. Reason: added more info to the title
Hello Bdron Welcome to the club. You can find out all the info plus on just this forum. You can also get the factory assembly book etc.. Love these trucks congratulations on your new purchase you will have to post pics for the members. What part of Connecticut are you? Im in Rhode Island. .
Welcome to the Stovebolt madness. There is no cure! Check out our Tech Tips for all the information you asked about. Lots of good reading. You can also use the search function in the bar just above your post.
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/19/20246:23 PM.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Hey all. Just picked up a 1951 Chevy 3100 5 Window. 216 Motor and 3 on the tree. The drivetrain is all original and I believe the truck has never been restored. The painted door logos are original to the 1st owner. The truck Runs, drives, stops and everything works. My plan is to keep the patina and drive it the way it is. It will be a good around town driver. My first step is I need to give the truck a good service. Oil, trans, rear end, grease, adjust clutch, adjust carb, timing check etc. Looking for any tips or tricks on these trucks for basic maintenance. I’ve only ever had v8 vehicles. This is my first “Old” truck and vehicle with mechanical everything. Also wondering what oil is suggested for the engine, trans, and rear end. Hopefully the pics uploaded. Located in CT. Thanks in advance!
Good on ya for wanting to keep her stock. Go to the top of the page and click on the Tech Tips link.
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/19/20246:24 PM.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion. Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
The gray on the side cover looks correct with what was on my 53, the valve cover has been repainted to me. Looks like a really nice find
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/19/20246:25 PM.
1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY Gallery Video of the 261 running
1964 GMC 1000 305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
Thanks! I’m gonna be giving it a good cleaning soon so I’m curious to see what else is under some of the grease. All and all it’s a solid fun little truck. I’ll check out the tech tips.
Great looking truck! Congrats on a nice score. I agree with others; go thru everything and just drive it. Brakes, steering and tires are most important as far as safety is concerned. Enjoy it.
Thanks for the compliments. I went onto Rock Auto and found all the mechanical parts I need for a good tune up/ service. What oil do you suggest? I see some people using 10w40? With or without zinc? Also what size oil filter 5” or 8”? I’m thinking I won’t even paint the frame. Maybe just fluid film it to preserve it. Same with the other patina’d parts.
I run Rotella 15w-40 in my 261. I researched that as well and found several that run this grade in Stovebolt engines. It doesn't look like your engine has an oil filter. Is there a canister mounted anywhere on the drivers side? My previous 216 did not have a filter, which was very common, so frequent oil changes might be a good idea.
If you're going to drive it, why worry with painting the frame? Just keep it out of the salt. Personally, I would clear coat the exterior, rebuild any of the brakes/front end/rear diff/steering that it would need to make it safe and reliable, and drive it!
-Patrick 1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 / 4-speed / 4:11 / Commercial Red
Always loved that oil in my diesels! Funny you say that, I just crawled around it looking high and low for a filter. No oil filter in sight so I guess it never had one.
Yeah very true. It will be garage kept so any rust shouldn’t get worse underneath. Exactly my plan! It’s gonna be a fun driver.
Thanks for the help with the oil! Any idea on how many quarts/ gallons it takes?
Previous owner installed some sort of compression fitting valve in the fuel line from the tank to the pump which leaks. I just ordered new steel lines from tank to pump and pump to carb.
Deve's kit is not HEI. It may well provide spark without points, but HEI, it is not. In my opinion, based on a miserable experience with a Pertronix unit, there are only two ways to go with providing spark for a Stovebolt engine. 1) Original points. 2) An actual HEI distributor. (They are available ready to install from some vendors.) Carl's 2 cents. (Actually the Pertronics incident cost me a couple hundred bucks. I am lucky it didn't catch my truck on fire.)
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
I can only speak to my experience, but I installed the Pertronix ignition in my 42 Chevy 1/2 ton and they worked great. Only took a few minutes to install and the truck runs great. I run on 6 volts.
Nice truck. Hope you don't modify it too much. Keep er stock. My '50 is a daily driver with lots of patina. I personally have had great luck with stock ignition. I also use Valvoline VR1 30w high zinc racing oil for it's 235. Gearbox and rear end gets Valvoline 80-90. I average 1,500 miles annually. Keeps on running. So will yours. Keep er simple. You can always do mods as you feel needed.
Craig
My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
That truck is a time capsule which I personally would not alter from what you have right now. I would even leave the ratty cardboard door panel as it is. The only things that I would do would be to do everything that I could do to find and original seat with a usable seat cover. They are out there, maybe not many. I would also replace the spark plug wires with original type. The pre-made reproduction ones offered by a few of the vendors are really nice and look original. You have a gem. I'm really happy to hear that you want to keep it as it came from the factory. I suggest that you get a Factory Repair Manual. There is one which covers '48-'51 which will be a great help for you to get this truck all up and running like it should. There are lots of guys on this site who would be more than happy to help you along the way. The best way to access them is through the forums specific to what components which you are working on. Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Welcome Bdron, fellow new Englander. I've got the same truck, check out my build links. Get the shop manual, but it's also on the Chevy.oldcarmanual project.com.
Hey all. Just got a 1951 Chevy 3100 5 window. 3 on the tree. Seems all original. Runs, drives, stops and everything works! Has some awesome patina. My plans are to keep it the way it is and just drive it. With that, I need to run through everything and make sure it’s mechanically all there. I wanna do a full service and tune up. Can anyone point me in a direction to find the specs for these trucks? Oil type and capacity, adjusting carb, adjusting clutch, transmission and rear end oil type/ capacity. Any help or tips are appreciate! I attached a few pics. Thank you!
Oh sure, service and tune up, that's how it always starts Next thing you know you'll have it in pieces on the floor and you'll wonder where your oldest's college fund went.
1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY Gallery Video of the 261 running
1964 GMC 1000 305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
Exactly my plan! Just did new points, cap, rotor, wires and a vacuum advance. Still gotta check the timing and valve adjustment. Hopefully I can get to the drivetrain service this week. Truck runs great and has so much history. It’s a joy to drive it as is. I picked up a manual which has a wealth of info. The seat and wood bed is my next project. Not sure what I wanna do with the floor. The rusted and worn metal looks really cool.
Next thing you know you'll have it in pieces on the floor and you'll wonder where your oldest's college fund went.