The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1953 Chevrolet 1100 w/grain box

Another one of my Grandfather's trucks. (See others listed in signature line.)

My grandparents sold their farm a few years ago, and my Grandpa mentioned to the new owner that I wanted the trucks. I didn't make much of a plan, and headed out with my boy after they had sold it, in the summer of '16. I had finished building a rat rod out of a '36 Hayes and the owner was kind enough to loan it to me for the trip. I had different thoughts, trailer rental, car dolly, but nothing firm. Just that I wanted to get these trucks (both the 1100 and 9700) from Saskatchewan back to Vancouver Island. The company I work for hauls parts to Calgary, and often comes home empty. I got lucky and they agreed to backhaul them home for me, for what ended up being a very reasonable 400$. I was very happy not to have to haul them over the mountains, but still needed to get them to Calgary. I ended up buying an 18' car hauler trailer out in Saskatchewan and towing them with the Hayes... Slow and steady! During the hauling portion of the trip I only managed to pass 2 vehicles the whole time (both of them were combines / farm equipment) Overall the trip was a success, and I'm happy to have them home.

I really liked the grain deck on this truck. Unfortunately it didn't fit in the transport trailer in Calgary (too wide) and it was also quite rotten. The sides of it came off with a chainsaw mid trip. I did keep them (for all the metal bits) and took a few photos of it. One day it would be nice to replicate that grain box. She was a beaut.

I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do with this one. Initially thoughts were to leave it close to stock but update the brakes. Back in Saskatchewan it wasn't as big a deal driving out on the farm without them, but out here on the coast I'll need some good ones...

While out hunting for those unicorn spindles off a P-30 I met a guy who had quite a few different vans, he ended up later emailing me a link off my local used.com for this really gross, tired old 1985 Chevy 30 cube van. I noted that it had A arms and moved on, then got thinking about it and went out and had a look. The box on it was ok, and my wife wants somewhere to work on glass projects with her torches. A deal was made for 450$ and the guy with the vans wanted the front sheet metal off it so we made a deal on that for 200$. I figured for 250$ it wasn't too bad a deal. I got it home the other day and went out and had a look at it... The rear end is a 14 bolt, 4.10 gears and would probably be a decent for the 1100, if I was to replace the stock diff. I did some quick measuring up front, and this van has the 1 ton bolt in crossmember with big brakes, and the van was equipped with hydroboost. If I narrowed this crossmember it would be a decent fit, with a little bit of a lift. Steering will be interesting to figure out, but this looks like a possibility. I was shocked to see what looks like a relatively fresh looking 350 in it, that was on propane. Behind it is a Turbo 400 with an HD case (possibly a TH-475?) There might just be some good bits for a project in this crusty old van. I'll have to see if that engine in it will flash up.

There's a few decent things on it, and yes my wife is happy about getting her shop That's the important part. I had a good laugh when I saw the odometer (about 336,000 miles) on the bright side, I haven't seen Chev drive trains last that long, maybe some of it was rebuilt or replaced at one point. Didn't get around to checking the trans or engine, but doesn't seem like much play in the diff. I did see a sticker from a local shop I've used, Might ask them if they remember the history on it. The only casualty today was the cap off the distributor. I thought about taking it off before lifting the cab off, then decided, nah. I'll be careful! Oh well. Didn't plan on using that anyway.

A day ago, I wouldn't have been able to tell you if a front cross member would unbolt with the engine in or not. I can pass on that they do. With the engine still in the way, I couldn't get an accurate read on how much that cross member would have to be narrowed, but looked to be about 7 1/2". I decided if I do go this route with the clip, I should have the sections of frame that they bolt to for reference (steering box and idler arm locations in relation to clip) to keep all the measurements for the geometry. Sawzall made easy work of that. Maybe later I'll cut out the sections where the nut plates are out of those frame sections for doublers inside the frame of the 1100. I could also search for a viable rack, and go the rack and pinion route instead of the steering box.

The '53 saw light progress... Out with the 235, cab is off. The small block chev in the van was toast, but a 98 Dodge 3/4 ton has decided to donate its Cummins 12 valve, and a Dana 80 rear to the cause, so all is well. The P30 crossmember started to get narrowed 5.65" It cleaned up well, but needs all the wear items, and a set of upper contol arms. I got a set of 19.5. Single rims that I'll run on this. Also converted this P-30 IFS front from drw to srw, which was a bolt on rotor swap.

A little more progress lately, and overdue on pictures for sure.

The solid axle has come out and the IFS crossmember went in and bolted up better than suspected. Mom got me some belltech 3" drop spindles for Christmas and the 12 Valve Cummins has been installed. It's a very tight fit in the factory frame. The engine fired up and runs beautifully. The A518 trans is also in, but I still have to remove a sheared bolt in the rear case and fab up a new trans crossmember. The old stock dually rearend and leaves / hangers are also out and I rolled the Dana 80 into place. Highway speeds won't be an issue now. I believe the old gears were about 5.38, and the new ones are a 3.50 Wheelbase will shorten up about 16", and about the same will come off the hoist frame / bed. I'll be left with a 10' deck, which for at least the first while will be a flatdeck. Purchased some nice clear, tight grain rough cut Douglas Fir 2" x 10" from a local sawmill to build the deck with. Will be nice to get suspension all bolted in and drop the cab back down on it.