My Grandfather and Dad, as farmers did in the old days, built much of their own farm equipment and by the early '60s, when I was 10, they built a forklift to fill grain drills out in the plowed ground. The loose dirt required it to be 4-wheel drive so they started with a 1944 Chevrolet surplus Army truck. That truck was a great choice since it had a transfer case with a high and low range gear shift to go along with the standard 4-speed manual transmission.
They shortened up the frame as much as possible, obtained a used forklift mast, and somehow turned the differentials around so the normal forward gears actually drove it backwards. They added the hydraulics to run the mast and to steer it.
I distinctly remember my Dad proudly coming home with the 4” thick cast iron fenders he used for counterbalance weight over the single front tires which are now the back tires. This was much more attractive than the normal homemade forklifts of the time that used a block of concrete hung on the back.
Throughout my teenage years, I drove this forklift quite often around the farm. Jump ahead 25 years to the late '80s when dry land grain farming in California became un-profitable. The forklift was only used occasionally for odd jobs until the battery wouldn’t start it anymore. Then it remained parked in the weeds for another 25 years. When we started planting vineyards, and we needed a forklift to unload the many truckloads of steel stakes and trellis wire.
So, in 2013 I did enough work on it to get it going with the original 1944 Stovebolt that was only running on 4 or 5 cylinders, leaking oil that would foul the spark plugs. Talking to a mechanic, he informed me the 1944 Stovebolt wasn’t re-buildable since it had Babbitt bearings. But I did have another Stovebolt in a portable welder that my Grandfather and Dad built. Much to my amazement: it is a 1957.
I’m partially rebuilding this engine to go into the forklift which has now become a labor of nostalgic love.
This website and forum are awesome. I’m already getting some of my questions answered.
1970 Chevrolet C10 Grandpa's -- My first truck -- In progress to shiny Follow the build in the Project Journal 1950 Chevrolet 1-Ton Dually "Ole Red Girl" In the Stovebolt Gallery More pictures here 1951 GMC 9430 1 ton dually--Shiny! | 1972 Chevrolet C20- Rusty- the puzzle box lid for the C10 | 1962 AMC Rambler American- my wife's Parts trucks- 1951 GMC 9300 | 1951-GMC 9430 | 1951- Chevrolet 1300
As the picture shows, taken in 1959, my Dad is quite the Chevy man. He is drilling an Ag well, I'm the boy looking on, with the welder, I'm taking the 1957 Stovebolt out of, along side our 2-ton truck with the BelAir my Mom drove down to take the picture in the background. I'm not exactly sure what year the car or the truck was, just early '50s, those were sold long ago and only the welder remained. We still use the Ag well to irrigate vineyards. Paul
That may be the most unique vehicle on the web site! Wow, it *does* look factory made. And cool history!
Welcome aboard!
Take more pictures!
John
Last edited by Peggy M; 12/07/202311:31 PM.
~ John
A kid raised on Hotwheels, Matchbox and Tonka cannot be reasonably expected to own only one vehicle as an adult.
1949 Chevrolet 3804 In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum 1973 IH 1310 Dump 1963 Kaiser M38A1 2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie" 2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley)
'54 Plymouth in the background? If you have more pictures, post them up!
Don
Last edited by Peggy M; 12/08/202310:42 PM.
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck "The Flag Pole" In the Stovebolt Gallery 1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most!
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Sorry I don't have any other pictures of the car. I just assumed it was a Chevy since that is all my Father and Grandfather ever purchased in the latter years.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
That original engine is probably a spray-oiler 235, which came out in 1941, an upsize of the 216 engine for medium-duty and larger trucks. Don't trash it- - - -your mechanic buddy might not be able to rebuild a Babbit-rod engine, but the mechanics I grew up around at my father' shop in the 1950's made their living doing it. Plenty of parts are still available, and there are still a few of us old geezers who know how to work with Babbit metal. It's also possible to bore out the rods and replace the Babbit with insert type bearings. The main bearings are already replaceable, and aluminum 235 pistons are a drop-in fit for the original cast iron ones. Currently, I'm modifying a Babbit-rod 216 by installing a pressurized crankshaft and aluminum pistons from a 235. It will be a 235 with full pressure oiling and a high volume oil pump that looks like a 216 from the outside. With different connecting rods and some creative stroke changing, a "216" can become a 258 cubic inch engine.
There's nothing wrong with the engine upgrade you're planning, but it would definitely be possible to rebuild the original engine if you choose to do it. Good luck! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
