The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun "New" 1949 3/4 (whoops) Ton

I just picked up a '49 3600 (sorry, I misidentified this one - feel free to move the thread), aiming to have it on the road by summer. Runs and drives, have some brake parts coming for it. ALMOST torched a stuck drum off before I realized how difficult they are to come by. Thankfully I checked into that first! Not my first vintage Chev, but it is the first vintage Chev truck for myself and the first 1 ton, and realizing there are some differences I'll have to be familiar with. I'll put up some photos as I can.

Appears to be a four speed with a factory floor shifter - and oddly enough has what looks like a splitter switch on the shift lever, but only a single speed rear end. Seems to hooked up to something still on the top of the trans, not sure if she has an aftermarket OD there or what that is; If anyone has an idea what that might be, I'd be interested - of course, it is very possible it originally had a 2 speed rear axle that has been swapped out. Part of the fun here is figuring out a vehicle's history over the past 70 years

This isn't my only project on the go right now, but this one is generally ready to roll other than brakes and needing some new tires. Oh ya I have to make a bed for it as well, like almost every other Stovebolt truck project right? I won't paint this one just yet, the patina is growing on me.

NorthCoast,
welcome to the Stovebolt. It is nice to see another 1 Ton owner on the forum here. I really enjoy my 1 Ton and I too built my own flatbed. Despite what you might read, the 1 Ton brakes work really well when they are restored. I hope you can share some pictures when you get past the moderated stage.

truckernix, thank you sir. I will put some pictures up when I can.

This one has a pickup box, but I have to build the wood slat bed. Looking forward to it. I've built a couple flatbeds before though, if this one wasn't so solid I would have considered it.

Glad to hear these brakes won't disappoint; I really want to keep it stock.

Welcome to the garage NorthCoast!
We have quite a few one Tonners on here and there is a lot of info to be had.
Looking forward to the pictures.

Don

The early 4 speed trans had a reverse lockout trigger on the gearshift rod. Could that be what you are referring to?

Wrenchbender, that is probably exactly what it is. Thank you! I wondered about that possibility but it was so much like the last splitter I used I just figured it was along those lines.

When I'm able to put up pictures, I have one of the shifter.

Thanks George for the reminder!
The 48 3/4 ton Chalkboard has that on the gear shift.
It's forked and you can't get it into reverse, unless you pull up and shift it over to the right and then back.

Started to steal this thread, but deleted the question.
The Grand Pooh Bear may be able to chime in here and answer your question.

Don't be a stranger, jump into the garage chatter all you want!
Don

Edit: Still waiting on pictures!

Ha no problem at all sir. I'm still on the New Guy probation so it takes some time for posts to show up but that was a great tip. Saves me from digging around looking to see what exactly that lever was operating (although I'd probably figure it out pretty quickly as soon as I actually go to back it up - which will be soon, it does run but one brake was stuck so we had to winch it on the trailer and other than freeing up that brake I haven't had time to work on it). Ordered a bunch of parts though and as soon as they show up I'll be diving in, I want to get this ole girl rolling on the road for the early summer.

I'll get some pictures up soon; and thanks again for the tip on that lever being a reverse lockout! Looks just the lever on the last splitter I drove (a good 20 years ago now I guess).

Hopefully these photos come through; yes it is still on the trailer. Just got it over the weekend and despite all the "global excitement" this last couple weeks, work is still incredibly busy.

Today I lined up rims and tires for her. The tires on there, unfortunately, are not salvageable. And nobody locally will touch split rims anymore (I'm not in a major center) so I bit the bullet and found some narrow 8 bolts that should clear the front steering.

Also realized last night as I was polishing the instrument glass that the speedometer needle was broken off. So, new decals and a new needle are on their way! As I say above, brakes all around are also enroute (except drums - as I note above they seem to be "unobtanium" as my kids would say).

It does have the 235 in it, carb is gummed up but "I'm told that" it runs great so I'll set the points (haven't done that in a few years) timing and perhaps adjust the valves, and see what happens. Plan on trying to start her this evening, schedule permitting.

Yep!
That shift lever is the same as on our 48, 3/4-Ton.
Reverse lockout release,
Very good looking truck!
Thanks for the pictures and post some more on your progress.

That is a nice truck. That bed is a great asset. Is it a nine foot bed?

to 2 Ton: I don't understand the reverse lockout. I thought that lever went out with the synchronized version in 48. Is yours synchronized?

I don't know Fred,
I have not driven it in other than granny gear and then reverse. Loading and unloading on the trailer.
But it does have that lockout out toggle.
Could it be a 47 that was sold in 48?
Title says 48, but the motor has been swapped out and there is no way to link the title to the truck.
I truly believe I am the third owner. The second owner bought it in 1952.

You should remember it when you and Leo met up with John and Joe and myself in mid Missouri right before one of the Reunions in KC.
Joe took the picture of the trailer tech tip when I was on the outer road passing you guys.
https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/trailering/index.html

I'll see if I can get a picture of the gear shift tomorrow.

Don

Truckernix your question about the box length got my measuring tape out; the bed is just 78" and my face is a little red now because in good faith I thought (and was told that) this is a 3800, but a quick Google search shows that the wheelbase for a 1 ton is longer than a 3/4 ton... well... this unit comes in at 125.25 which I'm afraid (based on the internet) would make it a 3/4 ton. My sincere apologies on this, kind of jumped to a conclusion based on the information I had. And just to be clear, I didn't get it because it was this or that, I bought it because it's a cool Stovebolt truck - just don't wanna have the info in the wrong forum!

Sorry about that, guess we should move this thread to a more appropriate location. Had I not measured it, I would have kept on thinking otherwise! I love the truck regardless LOL

You’re right, 3/4 ton. Easy to confuse if you’re not informed. 1 tons have 4 stake pocket holes. The dead give away is that 1 tons have a “little” stake pocket sitting above the fenders and more distance between the back of the rear fender to the tailgate.

You can see it in this picture:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5noMpfyv5v87r7ni7

Thanks Fox good info and a great looking project you've got there.

Darn it!
I was hoping I was wrong and had a 1-Ton instead of a 3/4 Ton.
But that is what we are here for, to learn.

Still a great looking project NorthCoast!
Don

Here's a couple more photos to go with Fox' These show the small stake pocket on the 1-ton in relation to the fender.

Thanks folks ha ha yes indeed see I learned something the very first day out.

Thanks John, I see what you folks are talking about. Great to know, quick way to identify the difference.

Personally I have always felt that the 1 Ton forum should include the 3/4 tonners because they have so much in common. I was curious about the bed because the factory long bed had an 18" extension riveted onto the frame. I would stay with this forum!

2Ton: I sure do have great memories of that day!

Fred, that was a great get together that week!
And I also agree that the 3/4 tons and the 1-tons should be joined at the hip.
Maybe John will read this and take action on this motion?
Just one more picture from last September.

Don

Well thanks folks it would be a pleasure.

I went to start it last night and got some smoke out from under the dash. I'm only guessing but someone recently did a 12V conversion on it; soooo I've got some rewiring to chase today. All part of the fun!

Edited to update: Figured out the smoke, looks like a wire was just loose and shorting. Disabled that, one issue resolved. Lost spark now though ha ha "typical" knock one thing down and another pops up.

And another update, it was just the points - back up and running, actually quite nicely.

Patina does grow on you!

I've long held the theory that the 1-tons were a creation of the GM marketing department. This is my speculation:

Marketing and Sales told Engineering and Development that they needed a heavier duty pickup than the 3/4-ton to compete with I-H and Diamond T but it had to be cheaper than either. So engineering went to the parts bins and came up with the 1-1/2 -ton 137 inch frame and suspension, including the 4100/4400 front springs; the rear springs are 2 in. rather than 2.5 in on the 4100 and bigger. Then they made a 9-foot box to fit the longer frame. The Eaton HO 72 rear axle was plenty stout but needed bigger brakes. So they bought 14x2-1/2 brakes from Huck specially for the 1-ton and used the 3/4 ton front axle. They took the rear brakes from the 3/4 ton and put them on the front of the 1-ton. Then a heavier gauge spring-steel bumper for good measure.

Voila! Heavy-duty pickup; basically a 1 1/2 -ton with lighter axles. Combined gross axle weight is 3500# ft, 7200# rear; totaling 10,700. The limiting factor is tires. Nameplate says 8800# when equipped with maximum tires.

The oldest of these I've seen are '46; Deco cab, 9-foot box, same running gear except for crash-box (SM420 trans came in 49, I think.)

But for the engine, nearly impossible to wear out, brakes that last well over 100,000 miles, a cab and sheet metal that rarely cracks even on rough roads, though radiators leaked on rough roads; can be overloaded till the axle pads hit the frame and then some. Order the hydrovac or use both feet on the brake pedal and forget lifting weights at the gym, the steering wheel takes care of that. I've loaded mine with 4 tons of rockery rocks, 2 yards of topsoil, two yards of gravel, a full chord of wet alder and in nearly 50 years replaced one rear wheel bearing and one front wheel bearing, oh, it's working on its second set of brake shoes but the drums are nearly worn to the limit. Other things are modifications I made to go faster.