The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Hard to find parts for 1 ton

Any tips on what are the rare or hard to find parts for 1 ton stovebolts, to keep an eye out for to start gathering, to make a restoration project go more efficiently ?

The best move I made was buying solid parts trucks, take what I needed then selling off the balance. I had an eBay store and made money on every deal plus got the parts I needed. Three revenue streams, small, easy to ship parts on eBay, sheet metal in local want ads, final bones to the recycler.

Brake drums for 3800's are just about Unobtanium- - - - -no new replacements are being made, and most of the old ones are worn and/or machined beyond safe limits.
Jerry

That's not the way to start a restoration.

Are we talking about a 1952 1-ton? You should always include year, make and model (and if it's US or Canadian) in your first post so everyone is on the same page...

Mike B

I have a 1952 GMC 9430 1 ton (Canadian built in Oshawa Ont.)

Appreciate the input guys.

Oh yaaaaa .... they may *look* like 1/2-tons with longer beds .... But .... they ... are .... NOT!!

Welcome to one-ton ownership pick up or flatbed? The trick is knowing what you need and being able to recognize it when you do come across it at a junk yard or swap meet or yard sale. Like Jerry says, brake parts are hard to find, the pick up bed parts (except for the front piece and the tailgate ... ) are very hard. Bumpers ... Wheels ... Front axle ... you get the idea.

One thing is to network. I have some replacement parts I've managed to find from other guys wrapping up projects or converting to hotrod or just newer style brakes. You have to be able to pounce on stuff with little or no notice and be willing to bring home a bunch of stuff that isn't what you want or need just to be able to get a couple of things you *do* need or want.

You have to be willing and able to walk for hours (and miles) at Carlisle or Hershey or any other giant swap meet and be able to spot one-ton running boards from 100 yards even when they are mixed in with a bunch of other equally rusty sheetmetal (and 3/4-ton running boards). Sometimes, you have to get 3/4-ton parts (like bed sides, filler panels or running boards) so if the opportunity arises, you can work deals with the 3/4-ton guys doing the same thing (or who mistakenly got one-ton parts ...). You will buy stuff that looks close, but won't be the right things (I have a spare tire carrier that falls into that category ... ). I had 1/2-ton bumpers on my truck for a long time ... That's just the life of a 3/4-ton or 1-ton restorer ... but some day, at Hershey or somewhere, near the end of a brutal day of walking in the heat, looking at a million rusty things, you will spot something ... the bed side filler panels, for example (between the bed and the running boards). They will be in with a bunch of similar items (like 1/2-ton filler panels), but even though the end is near, your back and feet are killing you and you hear that ice-cold beer back in the hotel room calling you, you take a second look and see that two of them are longer than the others ... eureka! Mine were sticking out of a barrel with a bunch of 1/2-ton panels ... (about the 245th such barrel looked at that day ...) only they were sticking out .. just ...a... little... further ... And they were NOS (I still haven't painted them ...) That was 20 years ago at Hershey. But the stuff is still out there. Somewhere ...

There is no secret formula, strategy or source -- you just have to adopt a long game strategy -- be patient, learn what you are looking for and be dogged in your pursuit. Wear out a lot of walking shoes. And accept that this search is really hard and will take a long time for some of it. Hopefully, you don't need too much of the really hard-to-find stuff. The big swap meets are your friends ... but you never know when stuff is lurking at the small ones, either. And more and more, swap meet sellers know what they have, and know how hard some of us are looking for it, so be prepared to shell out a lot more today than this stuff could be had a few years ago.

Hi John,

Thank you for the very informative post !

BTW my truck is a pickup and spent a hard life on a Manitoba farm... most of the dents are a result of cattle using it for a scratching post over the years

Like the idea of rummaging through swap meets (not too many north of the 49th though), and picking up a parts truck or two.

I can see the appeal of the detective work of looking for hard to find parts. Treasure hunts are always fun.

Doesn't look too bad for a truck that's lived a "hard life."

If the other side looks as good as the Driver side, you are in good shape. The hard to find sheet metal looks fine from here

Remember to not let the brake people turn your drums unless they absolutely need it. grooves and scratches are okay ... to a point.

Thanks for the tip about the drums...was also wondering if hubcaps for 1 tons are another hard to find item (17" split rim) ??

Are there any after market manufacturer's for 17" wheel hub caps ? Or can originals even be restored ? Would hub caps from a 3/4 ton truck work or are the rims a smaller size ? Thanks again for passing along your expertise

I think 3/4 and 1 ton hubcaps are the same larger size, about 11 inches across.
I’ve seen both Chevy and GMC reproduction caps, the gmc are less common.
Finding the chrome gmc originals is rare
Originals are two parts, metal inside with a shiny cover on top.
If someone make a good reproduction please let me know

FYI I have a set of damaged original “chrome” GMC caps for a 1ton
Only one is in decent condition, the skin is polished stainless steel, I can take photos of it if someone needs a reference for what an original looks like.
-s

Nice looking truck. I agree if the other side is as nice as the drivers side then you have a gem!
One of the first things I look at on these one tons is the running boards. You drivers side looks great.
With a little elbow grease, you might be surprised what you can do with that paint. Below is mine after a wash and some old turtle wax applied with a cheap buffer.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RQNDXU3q8KRXhdJd8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/s9cUFeH5uUSRas1K9

Enjoy your one ton!

I thought ChevyOfThe40s had “3/4” ton gmc and Chevy caps a while back
But they might not have been for 17inch rims I suppose
I didn’t order any
It may have been a different usual suspect parts website
But I wasn’t aware there was a smaller cap for the 3/4 ton which isn’t the 11incher caps I need.
So I guess my set of GMC polished stainless caps must be rare enough to repair
-s

Jim Carter lists repop 3/4 & 1 Ton hub caps for both Chevy & GMC.
I don't have either size truck so have never ordered anything like that. I did buy a used 1/2 ton hub cap there last year and they did have a used 3/4 ton at that point.

Hi Dale: I've pretty much looked all over between Alberta and B.C. and only found 2 hub caps 1 stainless and 1 painted. I've checked out numerous farm yards and swap meets they are very hard to find. Mine were not to bad and with some gentle hammering I got them looking pretty good. I'll have to check my parts and may know somebody who has 1 or 2.