The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Thoughts on AD trucks

I have a 49 and a 51 both 1/2 ton. Have learned quite a bit, as I am not a mechanic. If you need to replace your bed--MarK is your best bet. If you want to spice up your bed rolls try this. I bought 1 1/2 Freeze plugs, changed the washer to SS, with a new SS acorn nut--look Great and you can do the front also--which keeps out the Wasps. If you need new rubber for the cowl--, or elsewhere, Buy from Steele--they are pricey, but the best. Added 848 heads and Fentons to both for a little more HP. Both trucks came with 1954 235 Engines. Radial tires are a must for a smooth ride. If you need heads have them checked B4 you get them for cracks, shipping is pricey.. Had to have a crack repaired, thankfully it only had one..Bill

P.S. forgot to mention--if you go with Fentons-Buy Remflex gaskets from Amazon-they had the best price...................

Good comments.

Bill - thanks for the info - will definitely be looking at Mar-K and Steele for my 51 3100.

Thanks for the comments Bill.

You can also put bed lights in the rails. the rails are 2 different sizes.

My thoughts after having my '53 model for 19 years:

1. Having a nicely restored truck is wonderful...except you can't really use it for what it was intended for. Enjoy a nice patina truck that you can fill the bed up with dirt or firewood, and not fret over every little scratch and door ding.

2. While I like original factory spec trucks, a few modern touches would certainly be nice. Disc brakes, electric wipers, electronic ignition. I am even opening up to the ideas of air conditioning and modern driveline upgrades.

3. Remflex manifold gasket does seem like a smart choice

4. Things go bad when vehicles sit in storage. Regular driving seems to make my truck behave. These trucks were meant to run and use, not show, shine, and perfectly preserve.

5. I carry a small can of starting fluid in the drivers side cab corner. Sure helps when it's super hot outside, when you shut the truck off and the fuel vaporizes in the carburetor. A 1-second squirt down the carb, hit the starter, and you're back in business.

6. 261 & 4-speed > 216 & 3-speed

Absolutely!! I don't think that can be overstated. In the 37 years I've owned mine frequent use has been the key to happiness. Periods when she's sat for a few months...she was never easy to deal with. Ya get busy with life and one or two months becomes six or a year before you know it.

Aside from that, the best thing I ever did for my truck was install a new fuel tank after struggling for years with sporadic rust/sediment issues with the old tank. Those problems vanished and now a clean glass bowl strainer always!