The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1946 Chevy truck -- Meet Bruno

I purchased my 1946 Chevy 1/2-ton truck from a gentleman in Illinois. My husband is helping me with the restoration. We're about 10 min from it arriving at the house. I affectionately named the truck Bruno, after my Grandpa).

He's got a 216 Babbitt that we're replacing, and a 6 volt battery (that I'd like to replace out of fear of needing a jump from a 12 V). Other than that, and the addition of a passenger side taillight (for safety, because he's going to be my daily driver) I'm going to keep him as original as possible.

Does anyone have any advice as to modifications, or suggestions on one brand vs another on anything? I'm a newbie to restoration, and I could use all the help I can get.

Thank you!
Maria

Read as many of the Stovebolt Tech Tips as you feel may apply to your situation. Lots of very valuable information contained in them.🛠 Besides the "legacy" Tech Tip, there is a Tech Tip Forum in most of the Shops Area.

You can carefully jump a 6v system/battery with a 12v battery. Make sure the lights are switched off. As soon as the engine catches/starts, disconnect the 12v battery jumper cable,

I have done this safely/successfully a few times. I carry a 12v battery powered jumper /accessory system (and have had no problem using it).

That will be a fun project. I would suggest that "if" you can get it running and driving safely to do that. (Tires, brakes, cooling system ect).
When you decide to start tearing it apart, have several sizes of ziplock baggies and some magic markers available. I use "snack size" to 2 gallon baggies. as you remove parts, mark them (on the back side) with your trucks info --- year, make and part ID). Put all the mounting hardware in smaller baggies and attach them to to part they hold on. It is also helpful to clean and paint the parts as they are removed before putting them away until you put the truck back together. I bought a 5 shelf unit and several clear plastic storage boxes. Mark them with the system or area of the truck ( under dash, engine, tail lights, etc.). Put the small parts and hardware in the boxes.

Thank you, Tim! Hubby has been looking at the portable systems. I appreciate the information on one that someone I 'know' has used, and trusted!

@Rusty Rod- Hubby bought me some small tan-ish bags with drawstrings to write on, and put parts in. =) That's probably something I would have thought of about 4-5 disassembled parts down the road. Haha Great idea on attaching them to the parts.

I appreciate any and all tips! This is my first restoration and I would love to do as much of it myself as possible (with hubby's help, of course). I want Bruno to be something that I've accomplished myself, and can actually answer questions about if anyone asks. Kind of a "midlife crisis" goal of mine. =) Sweet ride, BTW!

Nice looking ride there sis. I've always liked the 46 with all the chrome up front. I always like to take pics of what I'm tearing apart. If it needs a pic I'll take it, if I think it needs a pic taken I'll take two. As mentioned with the bag ID to store parts I do the same with folders on my desktop to store all my pics.

I noticed in the background you have a 60-66 and a 47 -55.1, nice herd of old iron.

Thank you, Ole Zippi! Great idea on the pictures, too. My "annoying" habit of taking several pictures will definitely come in handy. 😆 Hubby had bought me little manilla baggies with drawstrings that we've been labeling and tying to things as we go.

@ Tuts - That was taken in the gentleman's pole barn that I bought him from. He had some sweet rides. My boys loved the other two trucks. LoL

Do you think the fella would want to sell the 55.1? Like to get it for my son, he was 9 when the accident happened, may give him mine and replace with another. Ed

@ Doc - I will certainly ask him for you!

Thanks, a fellow Bolter has a 37 Oldsmobile truck that I hope to look at in a few weeks. Can never have enough old GM trucks.Ed

@ Doc - He hasn't seen my FB message yet but hubby has his cell phone number. I will have him send him a message.

Another organizing idea, price tags. Either the ones with the white string like you see used in the thrift stores, or the ones with the small wire attached to them. I use the wired ones with the large tags. You can write as much info as you need on the tag, wrap the wire to the part and there you go, labeled and informed.

Excellent idea bigedpa. Write with a permanent fine-point felt-tip pen. For some assembly parts/areas, maybe consider putting the small tagged-parts in zip-loc-type plastic storage "bags", writing the name of the assembly on the outside (with that same pen)?

Yo Sis, What's the latest on your little 46 grocery getter ???

Excellent idea, bigedpa! Thank you for that.

@ olezippi - He's getting there! A couple weeks ago I took the headliner out, and managed to get the instrument panel out [for future restoration]. The cab is basically a shell now, and hubby took the two front rims off to see what all we need to do there. I also took everything off of and out of the seat... A rat or mouse had been VERY busy with leaves, corn cobs, and hickory nuts! I even found 1' long slivers of barn wood up in it. LoL I was pretty stoked to find a few bits of the original seat covering! Ironically, the faux leather I bought [to fix it for now] matches very close to what was originally on it.

My newest conundrum... Hubby and I have decided that the steering box isn't original. We're trying to determine what year it is so we can get the proper parts to repair it. [I'm not sure of the technical name for it, but] the type that they slid over the rod that goes between the steering box and the steering wheel has been shortened at the end to make it fit this current setup. I did find the part number on it, but I haven't had any luck in identifying the year of it.

Looks like you are making great progress on Bruno. Can't wait to see some more pictures.

Rob

From the steering box, there is the Pittman arm that goes straight down, when truck aimed straight ahead, the drag link should be horizontal which is the next rod.

Ed

After realizing that my 216 Babbitt was seized a friend of ours tracked down a '235' for me. When we got it home yesterday hubby noticed the "Captain's bars". I had seen them while getting the #'s off of it but had no clue what they meant. Apparently Bruno now has a 261! 💪

Hubby finally got the [bad word] battery box drilled out just now. It's literally the only thing that was rusted through! I've removed most of the metal trim holding the windlace, an interior panel, and scraped/cut the caulking out of the vent (that winds out, by the window). Other than that I'm cleaning what I can as we remove it, and working as much as possible to get money for the next big purchase. Patience and money are two things I could use more of. 🤣

Good score going to have to change his name to brutis.

Nice find on the 261. Looks like it's in pretty good shape. Are your plans to get it running and slip it into the business end and get Bruno running and drivable or go through the engine first?

@ Kevinski - I wouldn't go getting too crazy yet. LoL Yes, definitely a good score.

@ olezippi - Yes, we're wanting to take the cab off and have two small rust holes patched and then start putting him back together again. After talking to a couple of the guys in hubby's "Classic Cruisers" group I think we may swap out the rear end at some point down the road but for now I'd just like to have him running.

Saw this truck and thought of Bruno. Just thought I would share.

g@ olezippi - It could be his brother! =)

We're currently trying to decide how to take the steering box off. I got the doors back Friday and they look amazing! I need to order another long pin because the one I have is bent so, for now, it's just the passenger door back on.

That looks sweeeeeeet sis.

Thank you, olezippi! I'm pretty pumped! I got home yesterday and hubby had a surprise waiting for me. I never dreamed I would be this excited to get a box of nuts and bolts in the mail. LoL There's even a couple of saw blade-looking partsthat I've never seen before.😅

I'm ready to make my list of what to to tackle first. I think I'll use my birthday money next month to buy the windlace so we can get a start on the interior (after I clean and treat the cab). It's so overwhelming to take something that size completely apart, and put it back together again.

I'm still trying to decide what to do with the bed... It's only missing two original bolts (!!), and I need to find some wood to scab in at the end of one board. Also, we're still kicking around whether to leave the gas tank under the seat, or move it to the bed. Moving it to the bed would take care of the board problem as well as any possible safety concerns (there weren't completely distracted drivers on the road 74yrs ago), but I don't know that I want to take the extra hassle, time, and money to devise something for the bed [and all that that entails]. If the '46 Chevy fairy would just come to me in my dreams one night and tell me exactly what to do that would be great. 😆

My vote is to not worry about the gas tank being in the cab. Maybe a member will post about a problem that they know occurred because of the the fuel tank inside the cab?

- maybe fumes from the tank?
- is the tank externally vented?

Good luck with your project.

Nice bag of stuff. Overwhelming is good.....keeps the blood moving. If it were me...I'd find some old barn wood or whatever you may have lying round and redo the whole bed. It's easy to get to and not the expensive if you have wood laying around. I still have my gas tank behind the seat in the original location in my 49. The way I look at it and others may have a different take on it, if I get hit that hard to damage the gas tank and cause a fire I'll probably be dead and it won't matter anyway. If I had the tank under the bed and get rear ended it wouldn't take much to start a fire and I might make it out and I might not. In the famous words of the Aerosmith song "Livin' On The Edge"

Just had to share this with ya sis. Saw this while searching for a 33-35 Dodge truck for a buddy of mine. It's a 1946 Chevy (done) that was in FB Marketplace.

Making any headway on Bruno?

@ olezippi - Wow! That was a beautiful truck!! If I wasn't obsessed with patina I would have loved something like that (and blue is my favorite color).

I didn't realize how long it had been since I checked in. I've been busy with work (the Christmas rush started early!), and working on Bruno when I can.

I got my doors back from the artist in Ellettsville and I couldn't be more pleased! I'm going to paint all four rims green (when I got him only one rim was) & distress them. He'll be my rolling advisement. 😊 I was super stoked to find a gentleman who had several hubcaps (I had two, and I need five total). They all cleaned up pretty well! I've spent about 7-8 hours underneath, cleaning, and about 5hrs cleaning and applying POR-15 to the front half of the frame in the last week. We're currently trying to remove the bellhousing and flywheel from the old seized-up 216 Babbitt.

That's about it for now. 😊

Hey sis....it's been a min so how's the work coming on Bruno?

@ olezippi, how are you doing? I got busy at work(s) mid-Oct through this week, and Bruno took a back burner. *sigh* Hubby and I have tinkered a bit the last couple of weekends, so we've made some headway.

My FIL has been a lifetime drag racer/engine builder/cat tinkerer, and lended us a hand with the brakes. Hubby put the front driver's side wheel back together the other day, and started on the front passenger last night. He got the back wheels off, and I've begun cleaning them up.

Santa was super good to me (and Bruno) and, among other things, I got the Kilmat 80 mil along with three rollers. I put it in the roof last night, and the behind the seat area is next. I was anxious at first (I'm a little OCD), but it's easy to score to cut properly, and easy to install.

Oh it's not nice to kick Bruno to the side like that ☺ Hey.....every little bit moves the project along. Hows the engine coming along?

46 chevy mom Glad to see Bruno!! great truck I am in illinois near Hutsonville bridge. maybe see you live !! My advice keep it running if at all possible. So you dont lose-out !!

And now for something happy...

Before it turned cold I got POR-15 on the front half of my truck. I recently applied the entire box of Kilmat sound deadener that hubby got me for Christmas, and I'm currently trying to figure out how to fill the wallered-out holes in the metal on driver's side door so I can replace the door panel, and hang my door. (I don't think I'm allowed to talk about my door issues here so if you have any ideas, please search for my thread on "Interiors", and tell me how you've fixed yours (without having to drill new holes, and fill the old ones.))

Our boys were home from college last weekend so I got a little help replacing the metal trim on my door. =) While I was messing around with the doors hubby found a nasty surprise when he removed the cover on the differential. I got the cover cleaned up, and everything else is on hold until our jobs level-out, and we have a little free time.

More to come... Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Just dropping in to say hello!

I'm probably a couple of hours away from officially being finished applying POR-15 on the frame! Given the fact that the bed and cap are still on it, it's been a labor of love and hate.

Hubby got me 355 gears for Christmas, and we're hoping to get started on that really soon. I got the doors back together (one still needs help in the internal roller department because it wants to go up unevenly), all of the sound deadener in place, and a friend sold me his gas tank to replace mine. Things are shaping up, it's just the usual 'finding time' scenario.

I hope everyone is chuggin' along!

Well, it's been slow-going, but Bruno is coming right along. A friend helped rebuild the differential, and he currently has the tranny. We have the rear brakes almost ready (I'm looking for an eccentric bolt and a couple of link springs (!)), and I've been tinkering with the window regulators in an effort to keep moving forward.

Hubby got me a new (to me) bell housing for Christmas, and we had it cleaned. I'm waiting for it to get warmer so that I can spray paint it blue, to match the engine. A few other bits and bobs here and there, but winning the lottery or being retirement age would be great!

I will have had Bruno two years this May, and hubby is hopeful that I'll be street legal by the end of next year. It's definitely been a labor of love. Thank you so much to those of you who have helped me along the way!! Your kindness is greatly appreciated.

Well, two years later, and now I'm redoing the instrument cluster...and I'm stuck.

I took excellent pictures of where all of the screws and things came from, but I didn't think to get any of the bottom. The little slats with the tiny gears on them, that lay between each number, they're supposed to straddle that's in metal bar. I've got that accomplished, and I'm setting all of the numbers back to zero (New to me motor, and my numbers had disintegrated, making them impossible to make out), but I'm unsure of how to set the tiny gears between the numbers so that, once it's all put back together, they will actually turn like they're supposed to. I was kind of hoping someone had an idea if they had redone theirs as well.

Here are a few photos that might help?

Thank you, Sparky!! So the slots DO go over the bar... Now I just have to figure out how to make the # dials turn while on the bar.

Three years now since we first purchased Bruno. I'm trying to get the gears going forward again.

- I put POR-15 on the frame
- The new brake lines are installed
- Our tranny friend went through and replaced everything, and we've got it lubed up and reinstalled.
- I finally found four rims with tangs, and they're off being powder coated
- My 216 Babbitt was seized, but I have a 261 ready to go (235 with captain bars)

My current issue is that the PTO for the airblast elevator was a custom job by the farmer's in Kansas who owned it for eons... I'm trying to find the patience to marry-up the motor, tranny, and PTO shaft. It's just off a smidgen, but I need to figure it out. I'm beyond ready to get him on the road for the first time.

Maria, glad to see have been making progress. You've had a good following in here.

It may be a bit before Maria can add much since her family is in the throws of planning a wedding for the Fall. An old truck makes a great photo-op, back-drop for wedding and family pictures.

What is an airblast elevator? Is that what that drum on the driver side running board is?

It's been a very hot minute since I posted... And got to work on Bruno. I brought 'him' home four years ago, and I'm anxious to get behind the wheel.

We've had some pretty significant changes in the family the last few years, and working on my truck with my husband always cleared my head, and gave me something positive to focus on. I started a new job an hour away from home last spring, unlimited OT started in January, our son's getting married in September, and my husband has traveled for work more this year than he usually does in a year - no time for Bruno. I really wanted to drive him on my 50th birthday in September, and get the kids' pictures with him after the wedding, but that won't happen now. 😔 Maybe next year will finally be my year! 🤞

In the meantime, we have hit up a few car shows this year. I couldn't believe it when I saw this in Elnora, IN... Bruno's twin (with a LS swap)! It sounded pretty 'bad', too. I hope everyone is doing well, and enjoying their vehicles!

Maria

This a little recap since I have originally started this thread back in June 2020. "Getting started"

This is my 1946 Chevy truck that's original (no LS swap). I purchased it in May 2020, and I'm desperately trying to get it on the road before Frog Follies (August 2025).

I lost several of my pictures during a phone update, but I'll share what I have. This is our second (and last) vehicle restoration (the first being my husband's 1968 Camaro, from high school), and we're piecing things together as we go.

My 216 Babbit was seized, and had a busted oil tube. I replaced it with a 235 (261, it had "captain bars"), and it runs great. There was a PTO shaft with an "air blast elevator" that we went through, and the transmission has been reworked.

I'm converting it from 6v to 12v, and we just started laying the wiring harness out yesterday. I'm going to hook the heater up again but I'm not sure how we should go about it. I'd like it to be functional.

I just left my windshield crank to a friend to see if he could 3D print another. I've been told by multiple people that it's WWII vehicle-specific, and I've found exactly zero like it online. Regardless of the authentication of it I want to reproduce it because it's what 'he' came with.

I swapped-out the odometer with a friend's so it was both period original and functional. It needs rewired, and probably gone through, but I'm not willing to send it off to some name in a magazine. It's 100% 1940's parts, down to the clutch head screws, and I've heard too many horror stories of instrument clusters coming back repainted with new, shiny hardware.

My steering wheel and shaft had issues. Bruno was an old farm truck from Kansas, and they fitted parts and pieces to keep him functional for as long as possible. The steering box was partially busted so they somehow flipped it, cut and bent the metal tube that the rod from the box to the steering wheel slides through (I don't know the technical name of it), and added 3-4 large washers where the horn should be to make the steering wheel the height (inside the cab) that they needed. The steering box is sorted, but I'll need to repair the tube or replace it, and then figure out the horn. Also, the steering wheel is in OK shape, but it needs to be refurbished... Something I'm going to have to research.

I'm working on a "buy a little bit as we go" budget, we're not wealthy, we're not retirement age, we're not professionals, and we have maybe a half a day a week to devote to the restoration of my truck. I still need to figure out the battery's new home, turn the driving lights into turn signals, add a second brake light and two rear turn signals, put the floor of the cab back together, get new tires, and finish the wiring harness.

I think that's it, for now. Any advice on the steering 'tube', steering wheel restoration, heater restoration, and instrument cluster fine-tuning would be greatly appreciated! Other than that, I'm well on my way to finally driving my truck after owning it for 4.5 years.

Contact Jim Carter about having your speedometer rebuilt. They'll do a proper job on your original and reuse the original parts as specified. www.oldchevytrucks.com They can restore your entire gauge cluster.

You'll probably have to have a new shaft machined for your steering box. Lares rebuilds steering gears www.larescorp.com You might also contact www.rareparts.com

The steering wheel can be repaired with epoxy and then painted if you have that sort of ability. If not, there are plenty of companies that do excellent jobs restoring steering wheels. It'll cost you a few hundred dollars, though. Do search on this site for steering wheel restoration (magnifying glass in the upper right of this page) to find others who have done their own.

Jim Carter might also have an original windshield crank for you. He has a large inventory of new and used parts in stock.

Due to WWII my ‘41 is pretty much the same as your ‘46. So I’ll following your progress.

Thanks for posting.

John

Thank you so much, Otto! I appreciate your help.

Thank you, John! They don't have any like mine and, since I'm leaving everything original, I don't want new and shiny unless absolutely necessary. Good luck! It's been a journey. Haha

The ‘46 models often had parts from prior years because the demand was beyond production capability. My ‘46 was born in June, months after the war ended. Yet it had, for example, a leather gas tank grommet. Rubber was still in short supply. There are many other examples that others have reported over the years.

I have a few parts left over from the restoration of my ‘46. Let me know what you might need. I’m certain we can work out a mutually acceptable deal.

I'm just getting my '46 back together, so I'll be sure to watch for your updates. I'm not planning to paint mine - I want it looking like an old farm truck. I'm still debating the 6volt vs 12volt.

John from Utah,

I use my truck as an actual truck and put thousands of miles on it each year. It still has a 6v system with a generator and works just fine.

The sealed beam halogen headlights are as bright and shine as far as any modern vehicle.

Ditto for the taillights.

Unless you're adding a bunch of electric accessories, I see no reason to do the switch just for the sake of doing it. Also, you can jump start your 6v truck from a 12v vehicle in an emergency without harming the starter.

I can't remember where I left off, so I'll just start where I currently am. =) Yesterday, my dad helped me put my new "bedliner" in. I had this idea to incorporate yardsticks like quilt blocks (I've quilted for over 22 years and currently make custom t-shirt quilts). Bruno was a farm truck in Kansas in his past life, and since I had my quilt shop name aged on the doors, I thought the yardsticks would be a good alternative to a shiny new bed. I scrapped the quilt pattern idea when I realized I was overthinking it, and decided to stagger them like a hardwood floor instead. There are 116 pieces, and I put six layers of urethane on it in 46 sections of application. I used subfloor adhesive to adhere them to plywood.

Bruno came without a shifter knob, and my original idea was to have a thimble made. My (at the time) 22-year-old son told me that most people his age wouldn't know what it was (valid point! LoL), but how about a spool of thread? Perfect! A young gentleman in a neighboring town does custom metal work, and he was up to the challenge! I can't wait to use it!

Hubby just ordered me a new water pump because the 261 pushed the fan blade out too far for the radiator. Since the original 216 Babbit was seized, the 235 with captain's bars (from a 1961 Chevy) was the next best thing. The motor runs, but I have to wait for the new water pump to arrive to actually start the truck for the first time.

The toolbox in the bed was a nod to my paternal grandpa, since he was a master carpenter (and Bruno was my maternal grandpa's name). I saw it at Frog Follies a couple of years ago and had to have it. It now houses...my battery! I swapped to 12V and needed a place for the larger battery—it fit perfectly.

I realize that my additions aren't for everyone, but other than the door art, everything I modified was missing or needed replaced. Hubby got me new rims and had them powder-coated to match the green on my door, and I have original hubcaps to put on it as a finishing touch. A reducer and new gauges allowed me to keep the original instrument cluster (my favorite part!), and Hubby purchased the faux leather seat for me because mine was covered with a bath mat-like material and needed replaced.

A muffler system, finishing touches on the interior, and a little more wiring, and I'll be on my way! This has been my dream for the last five years, and I'm so happy that my husband helped me make it a reality! I've learned quite a bit about vehicles, and I've thoroughly enjoyed almost every moment of the restoration. I personally removed everything from it (sans having help with the motor and tranny), cleaned what we could salvage, and replaced quite a bit of it myself. It's definitely something I'm proud of, and thankful for the overtime and family who made it possible. =)

Welcome back and thanks for sharing the pictures and updates of your project! All the personalized touches to make the truck " yours" are great IMHO. My better half has been a life long quilter and got a kick out of your use of the yard sticks and the spool of thread!

You're making excellent progress and I'm looking forward to future updates and seeing more pictures as you continue, not to mention the maiden voyage when that time rolls around.

Thank you, Gdads51! I've gotten all types of opinions from men (mainly those who either never spun a wrench on theirs, paid to have the work done to their vehicle, and/or roll their vehicle off of a trailer at car shows. To each his/her own, but don't judge me for having my own ideas, and not having an infinite supply of money, 'ya know?!). Most can't believe I'm not having it painted, doing a LS swap, adding some modern conveniences, or having a professional do X, Y, or Z for me.

I'm blessed with a patient husband who has 20 years of experience working on F-15's in the Air Force and 15 years of experience repairing and replacing a specific system on Navy ships. Our friend who rebuilt my tranny has owned a transmission business for over 30 years, and taught auto mechanics at our Alma Mater for years. Lastly, my father-in-law has built drag racing motors for 50+ years and was previously a mechanic at a mine - I'm in good hands. LoL I've made educated decisions every step of the way (if anything, I over-think e v e r y thing), and I've gotten some parts and a lot of helpful information right here. I went the hands-on route because it was therapeutic, and I wanted to be able to speak about it and actually know what I was talking about. My "mid-life crisis" was a blessing in disguise, and I hope that others can appreciate it like you and your wife did. =)

The yard sticks and vintage tool box in the bed are unique ideas and I like them. Now I'm thinking about ideas for mine. Glad to see another with a '46 making progress.

Thank you, Utah! I just saw your message about the pedals and replied.

I wouldn’t personally spend 14 seconds worrying about what men think of your truck. It’s yours, not theirs and good for you to personalize it and build it the way you want it. I love the Art Deco trucks, and love yours.

Was just wondering if you still have the stock setup for the brake/clutch return springs. Here are a couple of ways I've been trying. I'm using a wider piece of angle iron now to get more static stretch on the springs. Some suggested to drill holes to keep the springs from accidently coming off. I'm still thinking about fabbing something to use both holes on the bell housing.

Thank you, Paul! =) I appreciate that.

If you still need some used clutch head screws, send me a pm with your address. These are free. I found three different sizes in my bone pile. I think they’ll fit and survive a journey in a padded mail envelope?

46Sparky, that would be amazing, thank you! I'll PM you my address. Let me know how I can pay for shipping, please. Thank you so much!

I was browsing thru your story about Bruno and wondering if you ever got the flywheel and bell housing off the old 216. I believe you'd need that bell housing to install on the later engine to match up with the motor mounts.
Anyway, I got a seized up 235 and managed to get that stuff off by pulling the pan, main bearing and rod bearing caps and lifting the crankshaft out. I needed to pull the timing cover and crank gear off as well so things could rotate a little bit. I was after the 235 crank to put in my 216. Here's a photo.

Keep up the good work on Bruno.

Maria, where'd you get all those yardsticks? That looks pretty neat.

Are they glued to a sheet of plywood or something?

HERE IS the image Otto is talking about. Zoom in for a good look. Looks very neat!

@ klhansen - We were able to cobble together "the old and the new" with the help of a crazy-talented transmission/mechanic friend. I ended up having to get an electric fan because, even with modifications, the old metal blades wouldn't turn freely with the brand new (aluminum) radiator and the original radiator support. Considering we hit temps of +100° during Indiana summers, the electric fan is a dream whole stopped at red lights.

@ Otto - I asked if anyone had any yard sticks they'd be willing to sell on my personal Facebook page, and friends and family began dropping them by the house, or asking me to stop by after work! My husband purchased some from eBay to fill in the holes, and to practice different layouts with. I've also seen them at swap meets (usually kinda pricey), and "Facebook Marketplace." My original bed boards are underneath.

I used a wooden floor glue in a caulking tube to section pieces onto a 1/2" piece of plywood. I have OCD, as does my 83 year old dad who helped me, so I alternated between a row of new sticks and a row of old sticks, and staggered each row as you would a hardwood floor. I made the half behind the driver's seat face you when you stand by the tire. Once I got to the middle, I turned them all to face you if you're standing by the rear passenger seat tire. I finished it off with paint-on marine grade polyurethane - six coats on the top, and four on the bottom. I slid it over my existing bed, and wah-lah!

I'll share some pictures of the finished product. Thank you for asking! I get really excited when people approach me about it because it's unique, matches my t-shirt shop "theme", and it's a good conversation starter. =)

P. S. The tool box holds my 12 volt battery, BTW. I decided to convert it to 12V in case I broke down while I was cruising alone. (I knew it would be easier to deal with than the 6V.) I kept my original dash and instrument cluster, and converted the gauges to 12V with the help of my husband and a friend.

Maria - Love the truck bed and glad to see "Dad" autographed it for you!

Looking forward to seeing some pictures as you drive it and show it off.

That is really cool, Maria. I, too, would have alternated old and new and split them down the middle. I am addicted to symmetry.

Just for the record, a 6v starter can be jumped from a 12v vehicle without any harm. Just don't turn on your headlights while the 12v vehicle is still connected to the 6v vehicle.

... or press the brake pedal, have the dome light or radio on. I don't know what will happen to the gas guage.

Maria,

Love the path you have chosen for Bruno, your creative touches are most excellent!

@ Gdad's - Thank you so much!

@ Otto - Thank you, and thank you for the info!

@ Bill - Thank you for the info! No dome light and no radio (it's original... No LS swap). =)

@ mvigo - Thank you so much!