The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts bigbolts in junk yards?

I've been looking in local junkyards for big bolt trucks without any luck. Do you all find that you have the same problem?

I figured if I could find a donor truck it would be easier to finish off my firetruck. Anyone else share this parts problem? What did you do? I've tried the popular parts catalogs from many venders without luck. Advise?

I've always bought a parts truck.For this truck I've had a few.It's always cheaper then buying seperate pieces at a junkyard.For the rest of what I need I use Jim Carter's or Ebay.

I've found it impossible around here to find a 2 ton donor. I found one but somebody had already purchased it.

I have several in my backyard "junkyard". I found most of them at farm auctions. Spotted others while out motorcycling and stopped and asked. Haven't been shot at yet.

Looking for something in particular?
Scott

At my local junkyard theres tons of big bolts. A lot of the parts fit smaller trucks it's a good place to scrunge.

One of the best places to find a big truck is the place they were built for. Farms around the country still have alot of bolts sitting around. Some of them are still in service. Your out on the east coast, there must be some older truck crop/potato farms out there with one sitting in the fence row.

Quite a few of them left down here in North Carolina. Yes it is always wise, to have at least one parts truck. I've got several of them.

I've seen a fair number of big bolts in wrecking yards, but I think all of them were in yards that cater to older cars and trucks in the first place.

You might need to look around for a speciality yard to find what you are needing.

Thanks. Your advise seems to reflect what I've discovered. Around here, the farm lands have mostly gone to new houses and the junkyards are now filled with crashed cars. However only a few miles out is lots of farmland. I'll take a little drive to the western part of the state and look around.

I'll let you know what I find.

I need one bolt at the moment but I figure it would be nice to have a parts truck in case something breaks in the future. The bolt is 4.25 inch in lenght and it is the longer of the four bolts on the brake mount plate. And it is the one with the steering arm attached. Any help would be greatly appreciate. First person to contact me with a bolt and an address will get a check out to them today! I've looked in all the parts catalogs without success but nobody seems to stock it for a big bolt.

Here is a picture of it:

http://www.iaffl2924.com/brakewheelbolt.jpg

From your picture it looks like a standard SAE stud not a bolt.Try a parts store for a grade 8 exhaust manifold stud.

a replacement piece can be made with rod and 2 nuts. drop by a friendly machine shop

Thanks. I'd really like to have an original bolt just to be safe.

Also, I'd still like to have a parts truck for future use. I'm going to take a drive in the next day or so to see what I can find a few miles outside Virginia Beach. Thanks for the advise.

I thought I had one for you but it looks like mine is a hair more then 1/4" shorter then yours.On the short side mines 7/8" and on the long side it's 2 5/8". Total length is 4 1/8". Diameter is 1/2" I think,it took 3/4" nuts

It is about 4.25" in lenght. The one you have might be the top bolt. There are four bolts on the plate. The top two are about 3.75" in lenght and the bottom two are 4.25". The bottom ones are longer because the steering linkage attaches at that point to the back side of the front wheel supports.

I'll keep looking as I can't put the left front wheel back on until I find one that matches. I'm headed out to Suffolk Virginia in the morning to search a few junkyards. Wish me luck!

Mines a bottom,it's just out of a much older truck.Good luck

I'm looking for a 1948-53 bolt... I'll keep looking!

I have a 1 1/2 ton dually flatbed. Will it work?

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/vandenberg_steve_1951.html

Check your local heavy equipment dealer. They carry a good selection of grade 8 hardware in large sizes.

As somebody suggested: I visited a local machine shop and they made the bolt for me. I pick it up on Friday afternoon! I'm back in business!!

Thanks to everyone who offered advise. I know you folks are the best!

highwayman

If you're out an about at your local junkyard can you look for rear fenders for a 39-46 1 ton? The kind that go on a 9' pickup box.

Va fire truck there are 2 ad trucks sitting at the courtland va salvage yard on 58. one is a 54/55 1st series the other is a 47/53 ad. I've been going to stop as i could use a good 54 cab but haven't gotten to it.

Courtland would be about an hour west of Va beach

I saw those two trucks, looked pretty decent from the highway.

I know where that is. I'll take a drive out to Courtland ASAP! Thanks.

i decided to let my fingers do the walking and called the yard. owner said 1 was drivable the other was being restored when the gentleman passed away. He wants to sell them as a pair. I thought his price to much for my budget perhaps in person you can get him to bargain a little or seperate them. they do look good from the road.

I typically find quite a few at autions.
Try I find this to be a good farm auction site page

I stopped in at our local junkyard today and was going to inquire how much they wanted for a 47-53 Chev Big Bolt grille that I had seen there. The grille was in perfect shape not a dent on it. wasn't chrome it was painted but today when a walked to the back to go find it I got a little surprise it was trashed. I guess they used the loader to push the truck around and they wrecked the whole front end of the truck. That's to bad

I drove out to Courtland this afternoon only to find the junkyard closed at 1 PM. I did look at both the trucks and they are both in really great shape. I'm not willing to take trucks in that great shape apart just for parts. I could see where the 1953 was being restored before its owner died.

I have been told by several local junkyard owners, they have crushed the older trucks because the price of steel has risen in recent years...

Don't feel bad about taking it apart, cause it will get crushed with steel at today's prices. At the risk of taking a pummeling, they fact is that not all of these trucks will find a home and leaving a truck alone that can help you finish yours is a good deed that will not go unpunished by the uncaring yard owner when the crusher comes.

Something to think about is that most junkyards have a "hot line" that they get on to find parts that they themselves don't have. If you can make "friends" with someone at the junkyard they can get on the hot line and ask if anyone within a reasonable driving distance has your year model that your looking for. You may be surprised at how many can be found this way. Then get a roll back or trailer and go get it before they are truly all gone....and in most cases you are then able to help some other bolter and even re-coup some of your investment.

I'll give the hotline a try.

As for the Courtland trucks, they seem to be high priced enough that the yard might not be willing to crush them. I'm going to try to get out there this week (when it is open) to see if I can get a cheaper price.

possibly he will have some others in back if he won't talk reasonable or seperate the pair. I would think if you point out how the cab parts do not match perhaps he'll decide to move them as they've been setting there for quite some time. The open cab I sent you an email on quite a while ago is gone now. Good luck.

I am a little farther away but there is a mostly complete 48 in my buddys junk yard.
Bill

I find most of the junkyard stuff now days is rusty bad and shot up, and the same parts you need are also bad on them. These trucks always need the same areas fixed. PLus, windows out and dash all wrecked because of that, engines stuck, the good tires are taken off with a torch even. The ones in private yards or farms might be better. Auctions and ebay for running ones! Check all the for sale books and web sites, etc. I have found Bow Tie Bits to be better source for big used parts. He's down South somewhere I believe. Best to call him, he hates Web, but has a site.

GLPerry: I think you are correct about yards & farms. I drove to NYC this week (Yankee's Baseball games) up the Eastern Shore of Va, MD and Maryland. I saw a few old trucks in the back yards and fields along the way. I might stop on my way home to ask about them.

BowTie Bits is in Wichita, Kansas his number is 316-941-9331 he can find about any part.

I live in mass. and finding it extremely hard finding parts for my 66 C50 wrecker. I need both front fenders and you are right the same parts are rusted out on all of them here in the rust belt.(salt- rain-humidity )I live in the conn. valley that has always been farm land. but everything in the fields have the same problem. I would be interested if anybody knows of some good ones. either in driving distance or possibly shipping.