The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre 1950 Chevy 3100 (FL)

Not sure when I first joined this forum, but it was back around 1999. I know this because I found my entry in the first "It ran When I parked It". (Here's the 1999 It Ran photos. ~ Editor)

My email address had changed, so I didn't know how to retrieve my password that I had forgotten. I decided to re register a few years ago. I joined the forum, but never posted too much. Since I am finally getting interested in restoring my 50 Chevy 3100, that has been sitting in the garage close to 25 years, I am more active here. I realized I never posted an Intro.

I live in south Florida and like motorcycles and vintage autos. I have been in the automatic door business for the last 35 years. I would like to thank everyone that has made me feel welcome here.

I will be sticking around this time.

Welcome back! Good luck on your truck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Welcome back Chuck, its great you are getting interested in restoring your 50 chevy 3100.There is nothing wrong taking time off. The great thing is you kept the truck, knowing you wanted to fix it up and get it back on the road.Up date on the progress as you go along.

Steve

Welcome back Chuck. I had a '69 Bonneville I went 'round and 'round with, long ago. Now I'm down to a few Harleys and my old truck. Here's a pic you might appreciate:
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk293/hotshoe36/Motorcycles/IsaEpic1Keelyns.jpg

WOW! Niice hotshoe!!

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Many folks through out the years have asked to take the truck off my hands, but I explained to the that if I didn't finish it, it would be a defeat in my life.

Of course besides their "when??" remarks, friends started leaving comments in my window dust:

Help!

I also got sad feelings from the truck itself like "Why are you doing this to me ??". Even another factor was that I have no 4 wheel transportation of my own since the company I work for started tracking us with GPS.. no more free rides.

But the most important reason for wanting to finish my truck, is it was always fun when I use to have it on the road. Every time I see a 50's 3100, my heart begins to skip a beat!

We're glad to have you back with us, Chuck! Check in often!

I haven't been here in a while. My truck is still in pieces in my garage. The last time it was on the road was 1991 ! Where did the time go ? I better get on the stick. I am running out of time !
Please motivate me. Maybe it will help.

Hey, Freebird
Welcome back. I've only been on mine for 7 years now. But still moving along.

We'll do our best to motivate you.
How's this?

Thank you Kevin !! Those big red letters did encourage me a little! I have the floorboards welded in and the cab lifted by an engine puller. I have to finish the welds on the firewall side (small spot welds, not too hot, then grind). I retired over a year ago. I just need to push myself. It is no longer a labor of love. I am going to do a fast paint job so I can get it back together. I think once I get back into it and see progress, the motivation will return.

Freebird, don't feel like your alone in the struggle. My 59' hasn't been together since 92', life get in the way. I have completed more in the past two years than in the 10 before that. The folks on the "BOLT" are a great motivation, I suggest you start a Project Journal it will help to keep you on pace and let others share your ideas. Remember this is supposed to fun👍.

Be sure to check in with the Southern Bolters Forum, there are plenty of Folks around you.

WElcome back. 15 minutes a day, even if you are just sweeping and cleaning.

Ha ha ! I'm glad I'm not the only one. The tag on my '50 is a '91. My truck is very rust free. Even the cab corners are pretty solid with only a couple pin holes. What really quenched my motivation is that many years ago I ordered some floor pans. I didn't realize the toeboard and floorboard were two different pieces, The ones I ordered were one piece, so I cut the whole floorboard out. I ruined my truck! My old toeboards were solid. Just the floorboards needed replacing. This depressed me so bad, that I stopped working on it. A few years ago, I got over it and welded the full floorboards in. I recently bought a nice 2001 8.1 liter Silverado that I didn't want to leave outside in the rain, sun, and dust so I left it in the garage and had no room to work on my '50. Today I broke out the car cover and put the Silverado outside. I rolled the cab off the ''50 with the engine stand and did a little grinding on the outer firewall where the inside welds came through. First time I worked on this truck in years. I do need to tool up though. Something to grind the welds and remove some or all of the paint from the cab.



Today after doing what I described above, I decided to take a break, justifying it by thinking at least I got the ball rolling and if I force myself to do a little each day..I came in the house and saw your post. Great minds think alike?? ha ha ! I do like the sweeping and cleaning remark you made too. I never thought of that.

It is amazing that once you start something and get it behind you, you feel motivated to do some more. I like to mix something easy to accomplish (sweeping and cleaning) with a little bit of a harder (daunting) task. With a manageable window (breaking it up in pieces) so I can still feel like I've accomplished a good thing even if it was more stress. I think the feel-good part will win out.

Keep it going!

Thanks for the encouragement! I have the welder set up so now I can walk out there and spend a little time and then I can walk away. Before I had to put everything back to pull my other truck in, which is now outside under a tarp. I haven't welded sheet metal in a while, but hopefully I will get back in the groove with a little practice.

If I fail with the "restore"and don't follow through this time the truck has to go. It is now or never. I have started and quit this project too many times is the last 30 years.I will stop kidding myself and mark it off as another failure in my life. Sorry, I don't mean to sound so depressing, but that is what it would be.

It must be really hard for people who live in an apartment or have no garage, carport, breezeway or even a driveway or yard. Then there is the tools thing. So, you are ahead!!

I know what you mean. I have followed threads in this and other forums throughout the years and have been amazed what others have done with limited space to work. One web site comes to mind: "Chuck the Truck", who converted his wife's garage to his workshop to work on his red 50's Chevy on his days off but had to put everything back or be in serious trouble. I tried to find his web site but apparently it is gone. Mind over matter holds true for many. I have a decent garage and am retired so I am definitely ahead.

Welcome. Not to brag but I have all the things that Peggy mentioned but the one thing I lack is the skills to do the work. It took me only 20 years to acquire the money to do it right. It was driveable as I got it but it needed body work. Hang In there.

Welcome back Chuck, Where are you in Florida?

Chuck,

Have you read any of the posts in What did you get done on your Bolt? After reading some, you may find posting in there will help with some encouragement and possibly some ideas!

Thank You ! I'm no expert, but I have some of the basic skills and shoud be able to pull this off, as long as I hang in there!

Thank You! I am in Palm Beach County.