The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts The Stovebolt Volunteer Fire Department 1951 fire truck restoration

Looks awesome! I know what you mean about the stovebolt community and the help and assitance offered. My wife does alot of airbrushing and pinstiping. When the truck is completed, I plan on having the names of everyone involved with the restoration, be it local or abroad, painted on the inside of the glovebox door. I have to get either a bigger glovebox door or use really small lettering.

Keep us posted.
~Ron

That's a good idea!

Today's update: just a couple of pictures of parts I've aquired in the past weekend. A Crouse-Hinds 17" spotlight and Stovebolt member Grigg's donated checkerplate steel tank which I'll cut up to replace the rear step on the fire truck.

Thank you everyone for all the assistance as I couldn't get it done without you all.

Nice looking rig. Its all in the details and it looks like your on your way. Keep plugging away.

Thanks. We got it started and running on Friday. Next: It will be getting the rest of the body finished and installed in the coming months.

New 825x20R tires go on. Also had remove the exhaust manifold as it was leaking. Sent to to be machined. Hopefully it will be done this week and we're off to get the body work finished.

Update: I took the truck over to the fabrication shop to have the water tank and hose bed installed. The best part was I drove the truck! The exhaust manifold is leaking and I have a fix on the way but atleast I have driven the truck. thank you everyone for your assistance.

Yippee it has been a journey that I have enjoyed watching you make. You have brought true glory to that old truck. I want to see it putting water in the air on a sunny day making rainbows.

Looks great. I have not read every word of this thread or viewed all of the pictures but I did study one of the motor pics and is that a 261? I thought I saw the captain's bars above the starter. Good luck.

Thanks. It would not be possible without the advise and input of the Stovebolt members.

Yes it is a 1959-1962 261 motor. We do not know when that was changed out from the 235 that was originally in the truck.

And it will be flowing water in the air and making rainbows by summer time!

Virginiafiretruck,

Regarding your 17" spotlight...what is its voltage and what powers it? Is there some power source on the truck it plugs into.

Stuart

I do not know. It has a 12 volt bulb and plug on it but I have not plugged it in out of fear of burning it out. That large size bulb has to cost a small fortune.

Dash installed, exhaust/intake manifold not leaking anymore as the end studs were removed and new bolts and thick gasket installed.

Thanks again for all the help. Next, I'm going back to look at the thermostat.

Hey Firetruck! She looks REAL nice! You've done one heck of a job! I have a question, though. Do you happen to remember the number of the dry air filter you used and the measurement of the original oil bath housing? I did a search for info and found the "Great Debate" interesting, but didn't see where anyone listed a number for the K&N or Fram or anything else! Thanks!

Thanks. The filter is a "Wix Filters" part number: 42011 I can measure it on Thursday when I get down to the garage.

New radiator installed and truck out in the sun and daylight as i took it for a spin around the block a few times:

Thanks to the Stovebolt's for all your help and knowledge with the thermostat, radiator and cooling system. FYI: I have already given the old 261 thermostat housing to another member for his use on his truck so I don't have any longer. Sorry but I'm sure he'll put it to good use!

Recently, you all have helped me with the radiator replacement, carb rebuilding and float adjustment and last but not least, the thermostat housing replacement and the total cooling system. There was also the new exhaust manifold gasket and bolt down system.

Once again without you all to help, I'd be lost. And I'll add that I'm glad I'm learning this stuff now rather that in some parade with a bunch of civic leaders and Boy Scouts riding in the hosebed! Thanks again everyone.

Bill

looks great, now you can open your own private fire department

Thanks. Today, they(I'm not a welder) started working to install the water tank and new hosebed!!! Once that is in, we're almost finished.

Steel hosebed and water tank being installed. It will be finished by lunch on Friday. Then it is back to have the rest of the body work done and be finished painting!!!! I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel...hope it isn't a train.

It was Snowing here in Virginia Beach today, so I couldn't move the firetruck back to the body shop so I started on a new project:

Those things are not climbable but they will look good and work just fine on the side of the stovebolt. Who knew that 55 years later the ladders would still look good?

The Truck is back to it's final stop: The body shop!

Latest photos include the water tank, hosebed and the "checkerboard steel" rear step. The step material was donated by Stovebolt member "Grigg" when I was hunting for replacement steel plate. Thanks Grigg!

Thats going to be one pretty truck.

Thanks! I hope to put the truck in a car & truck show (locals) on May 5th. Today, I sanded one side down to the bare metal so we can prime and begin painting. I've got to work at the firehouse so the rest will have to wait until Friday.

Also, I discovered the old gold leaf pinstripes as the layers of paint came off.

It was raining all day long in Virginia Beach so there`was nothing to do except work on a finishing some fire truck parts.

Update: Today I removed the grille bars and began to restore the doors. The glass was easier to remove than I expected but you gotta have a clutchead screw set! New pictures online also...

I agree!

A couple of questions. I assume you re-built the Hydor-Vac unit. How bad was that?

I also noticed the good shot of the famous 'captain's bars'. My engine definitely does not have those, so its not a 261.

Did you have the speedometer and gauge cluster done or did you do them yourself. They look fantastic. I haven't been able to find any 0 - 60 oil pressure gauges. I'm really hoping that my 235 is pressure lubricated, but I can't possibly be that lucky. Does the presence of the oil filter mounted on the intake manifold have any significance?

BTW, I pulled the carburetor off last night. I should have taken a few pictures. I'd been trying to figure out why it had to hose clamps around the carburetor base. It was obvious when I got them off. A piece of the carburetor mounting base fell off. Somehow the part between the engine side mounting stud and the engine got knocked off. I appreciate them keeping it, but I doubt that it was performing any structural duties.

1) I had to remove the old one and purchased a rebuilt hydrovac from the local NAPA auto parts dealer. It was easier that taking it apart as I have never worked one of those things before.

2)I had the old "Chevy Duty" folks rebuild the gauges so no I didn't do those myself. They do look great but remember to keep the 2 speed rearend cable adapter and the 1' piece of speedometer cable with you rather than sending it with the gauges to be rebuilt. I didn't know it but that was going to be a mistake that would come back later to haunt me.

3) As for your carb mounting base: It might be the insulator part that broke as those thing crack with age. You can buy one of those from any Stovebolt parts store online or in your community. Your carb might still be intack.

Today, I pounded out a couple of dents in the fenders of the fire truck and obtained the wood decking for the hosebed part of the rig. I wanted to cut and fit the wood before the area was primed and painted as I thought it might damage the new paint if I waited for the paint job to be finished. Anyway, I've added a few more pictures from today. Thanks again for all the help!

stripped the rest of the hosebed, booster hose reels, added a checkerboard steel trim piece to the rear of the truck. Getting ready to prime and paint the rest of the truck. Vent window trim has been striped of glass also. It is starting to get exciting! BTW: Thanks to stovebolt members who have provided several motor compartment parts in the past week. Thanks again for all your assistance!

I was looking at the pic of the engine compartment. Do you have a vacuum line going to the wipers or are there some sort of electric wiper? I see what looks like a galv pipe, but no tee going to the wipers.

Yes. That pipe is the distribution point for vacuum lines to the wipers, hydrovac and 2 ton rear rear end. It all comes together on the fire wall. For the wipers, it goes thru the firewall and on to the vacuum operated wipers. I have heard from folks who recommend I put in electric wipers but if the originals work, I stay with them.

I have seen adds in Hot Rod for add-on vacuum reservoirs for cars with large cams that don't make enough vacuum. One of these could make a big difference if you have vacuum problems.

Thanks. I haven't tried the wipers on glass or in the rain except to see if they move since the rebuild started. I hope not to ever use them again but they'll have to work to pass inspection. The window glass will be going in soon and then I'll see if they work.

etch primed parts and truck steel and first coated the rest of the truck body.

Great it’s coming along nicely. So when's the parade it will certainly draw a crowd.

I love a parade!!! Anyway here is the update for today: Block sanded lots of steel & primer, sandblasted window frames, door parts and other stuff getting ready to paint. Added a fuel line clamp that I obtained from a member of the SB web site! Thanks again.

Bill

Enjoyed that show. You're in the last 6 of a marathon...

Wow,A real nice truck !! You are on a roll, so keep up the good work !!!

Thanks. I'm trying to get it finished so I can drive it!!!! Seems like it takes years just to get one thing finished...

I was making killer progress for a wile now every thing seems to have stopped so watching yours come together as it rounds the home stretch is a thrill for sure.
I think I may put my big block in the 64 when I get it because that is the one that I am using and I sure ask a lot of that tired old 350 that's in it now.