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

The last time in the paint booth today. The lights help show any missed areas or things that still need attension. Started cleaning up the hose for the booster line reels and added sunvisors also. Pictures here: http://rides.webshots.com/video/3013652140080243953GBniKm Have a great weekend!

Sweet. Fantastic job, can't wait to see it with all the lettering. It's good to see someone finishing up a project; helps give me some incentive to keep working on mine.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to driving it!!! I looked at the gallery pictures and read your story about the 1949 Chevy 3800 stakebed that you own. It looks good. Keep at it and enjoy the journey. The trip might be the best part of owning an old truck.

As I've learned, there are many folks here will help you if you ask. I've asked alot of questons and got lots of answers. Without the members and the Stovebolt web site, I would never have attempted this project. It has been fun(not always) but I've learned so very much. I hope I can return the help to other stovebolters for years to come! Good luck!

VaFiretrk, the truck looks awesome. I am on dail-up and pictures take a while to load but the ones I've seen are impressive! Hope I get to see it in all it's glory one day.
Larry

Thanks. Sorry about the download time for the pictures. They are very big. If you come to the beach, look me up we'll go for a ride. Here is a 14 second video I shot this morning of the firetruck on the move: http://rides.webshots.com/video/3054700510080243953OGsrMi

We're still working on the final punch list. I discovered the 12' pike pole I refinished was not the correct size so I had to find a 8' pike pole that fit. I'm going to drive to Central Virginia to switch/trade the large pole I have for the correct version. Take care! Bill

And I have found the proper pike poles for an Oren Roanoke firetruck: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2452368670080243953QmdVcC

Truck is almost done. However I've got to work at my real job for the next couple of days, so I can't finish until next Tuesday morning. It's going to be a long weekend!

WOW!!! Looks like youre almost there. Now its time to enjoy it.
Marty

Thanks. I'll take it to the sign shop for lettering on Tuesday or Wednesday.

BTW: I just added a few more pictures from this afternoon. It is in the final buffing to bring out the shine and we'll be ready to go on the road on Tuesday morning when I get off work!

Thanks for the support!

Wow!
What beautiful restoration.
Must have been very enjoyable to drive after so many hours spent in the shop.

Thanks. I started on 29 January 2005. I have the best time just sitting in the cab...

Man, that is looking awesome! Good job on the photo documentation.

Bill, your truck looks really great! Beautiful! I am jealous! My truck has fifty year old paint that is faded and thin in places. But it will do.

Larry

Thanks and no need to be "jealous." Its those folks who don't own a stovebolt firetruck who are really missing all the fun! You and I are living the good life and riding the rigs that spray water!!! Note: that was just a joke!

Thanks guys for all the support.

I hate to bother you all but I'm so excited I can't stand it. I'm working at the fire station today (until 8AM on Tuesday) but as soon as I get off in the morning, I'm picking up the firetruck and taking it HOME!!! Seems like 100 years ago since I had it back at Thalia.

I know that it helps to have picturs but today you all just get my excitement... I feel like a kid at Christmas!!!

15 new picturesfrom today!!!! Here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2219385240080243953NOzzUm

Added the ladders, pike pole, hoses and cleaned it up. And the best part: I drove it out and about 100 miles today with zero problems. Had to because it is headed to the sign shop at 7:30 AM to be lettered in the morning. Thanks again for the help!

Bill, Beautiful job and what an awesome journey you have shown us throught your album. You deserve to be very proud, the truck is awesome. I can't wait to see it in person!
Congrats.
Bill Marlow

Thanks. Come to the beach and we'll take a ride. Also I hope to bring it to the Apple Blossom Festival Winchester in 2008 so maybe if we all meet up there as we did this year, we'll go for a ride there. As for today's update, I dropped it off at the sign shop for lettering this morning. They say it will be Monday before it is done. It's going to be a very long weekend...

Thanks again everyone!

Update from today: I went to the sign shop this morning to take pictures of the lettering working process. It seems the owner was not avalable to letter my truck until Monday morning. So I brought the truck home until then. Then I painted a few items and took a few more pictures. Ican't wait to see how it looks once it is lettered!

Pictures are visable here they are: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2651964350080243953QflnIV

We had a real thunderstorm this afternoon. I didn't get a chance to put the firetruck in the garage and after the rain, I was surprised to see the results. I guess I better find a way to fix that mess...

Here is a real surprise: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2904226400080243953DxDWth

Virginiafiretruck,

that is a beautiful firetruck!

Bummer about the boards...

-W

I'm surprised about the boards as well looked like you had already sealed them. A fantastic job you've done obviously one of those that will have to be considered better than new

Thanks. I was really surprised by it. After looking at it closely, the boards that were not secured completely are the ones that bowed.

I'll try to pull them today and see what it takes to fix it properly. Everyday its a learning experiance! Maybe the old truck just likes to see me always have a project to work on! :-)

"BEAUTIFUL", "AWESOME", "MAGNIFICENT", etc., You've done a "GREAT" job on this truck. That chrome grille, & bumper, really set it off. Where did you have the chrome work done.

Thanks alot. I had the chrome work done in two places: 1) Harlan Plating in Richmond Virginia and the second (2) batch was done in Norfolk, Virginia. Harlan couldn't do the rails as they were too badly rusted but Royal Plating did a great job rechroming all the stuff Harlan couldn't touch. Royal Plating cost a bit more but it is worth it.

Today I removed all the hosebed wood and will figure out how to address the warping issue. It goes back to the sign shop at 7:30 in the morning to be lettered. I'm looking forward to getting it back.

Again thanks for all the support.

I took a drive down to the sign shop to see how the lettering of the truck was progressing. I was surprised to see they were making it along very nicely. I took some pictures to share. Link to pictures is here:
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2461045310080243953dykaCk

They say I might get it back soon!

The firetruck arrived home today! I've taken a few pictures on my way home. Pictures can be seen here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2176769760080243953pLNFMf

Now I have to fix the warped hosebed boards AND figure out what else needs to be tested, adjusted or plain out fixed before I can take it on a real road trip to Richmond or Winchester, Va. After a few years in restoration, there are bound to be some bugs to be found and fixed.

All I can say is.....WOW!!!!!
Does that ever look GREAT!!!!
Congratulations on one AWESOME job!

Thanks.

I hope all is well in Mn. I just heard about the bridge falling. I'll keep those folks in our prayers...

The fire truck is very popular at the station. We had a couple of "celebrity guests" standing by the rig when I went over there yesterday.

I had to take their picture and they didn't move while I took the shot! Picture: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2918503810080243953RTCzpv

Today, I'm working on replacing the hosebed wood!

Wow.

super nice.


-W

Thanks. Me and another firefighter took the truck out for a ride yesterday through the old Thalia community, it was cool to see the reactions of the senior citizens when they saw the truck. Not to mention it was really fun to drive around in!

Today: addressed the warped hosebed wood(removed it, resealed it, reinstalled it), took a few motor pictures with the hood up(it is overheating) and added the rope lanyard to the wood ladder hanging on the side of the truck.

Pictures are here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2728924680080243953hfHQHH

Still have a few bugs to be worked out: It over heats, altenator doesn't seem to charge the battery and I'm going to try to set timing and mess with the flapper in the exhaust system as I think it is not installed correctly. Always something...

Anyway, I search the Stovebolt archives each night hunting for my truck issues and looking for the best answers. Thanks again!

Wow... that looks great. Very inspirational. I have put my truck on hold until I get my tractor restored. It should be done by the end of the summer it's an Oliver Super 55. Every nut and bolt will have been off of it.

When I was looking at the engine pics I was trying to see your vacuum lines. Do you run the original vacuum wiper motor? Is there a special vacuum line or does it just feed off the two speed rear end line?

Thanks. Yes it is the original vacuum motor. It feeds off the manifold that also feeds the rear axle.

I think you all might enjoy the two new pictures: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2052288620080243953MzzaiZ

1) The first Thalia Fire truck picture had three people standing in it beside the truck (see picture #1). The person in the blue shirt is Rodney Mills and he is standing in the same location as when picture #1 was taken in 1952. that person in the cab is Billy Mills and he was the second fire chief of the Thalia Fire department in 1962.


2) Rodney Mills return to see Thalia fire truck 55 years after his picture was taken with the Thalia fire truck- see picture #1. Rodney Mills was 15 years old when the first picture was taken in 1952. Rodney Mills was the first Junior Volunteer in the Thalia Civic Club Volunteer Fire Dept.

Niether person had seen the truck since 1968. I was very proud to share the experiance of reuniting these folks with the fire truck. Picture #1 link: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1483683403080243953ETHyEo

VFT,
Exceptional job!!! Have followed pretty much since the beginning. You should be most proud of having former members from yesteryears visit/view/admire your fruits of labor! I'm sure they are almost as proud as you!!!I'm originally from Va. and still have relatives there and have been thru your area... Will make sure to stop and check out your ride next time thru. Congrats again!!
Dan

Thanks. Had some bad news. Had a low thump noise coming from the low part of the motor. I've been monitoring the "engine" thread on the stovebolt web site and made the decision to drain the oil and drop the pan before I ruin the motor. My surprise to find the crankshaft scored and the bearings scored equally. Metal shavings in the oil pan also. Pictures are here: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2388959750080243953GXqkUO

It needs a new crank job with new bearings. I figure it was during the time the motor was rebuilt but not installed, that it dried out and then we tried to start it which might have contributed to the problem. Anyway, I'm going to pull the motor again and get it fixed. the truck looks great but I want to drive it. It's always something...

bummer.

At least you caught it before it really broke.

-W

Thanks. I am disapointed but atleast it is just the one part (motor) that has to be fixed. Its not like the entire truck has to come apart again...

I'll pull the motor on Tuesday and get started on the way back to driveability. As I said before, without the folks here on the Stovebolt web site I wouldn't even try this project. i read posts here everyday and see that if we just keep trying part by part, we can save these old trucks. Its just a bump in the road... Thanks everyone for all your support.

Boy that sucks. The truck is absolutley beautiful and I know you are very proud. This is just a set back and I'm sure once its back together this will look like a bump in the road.
Were you considering East Coast Stovebolt Event in Winchester? Hope you can make it, I'm sure everyone there would love to see your truck in person.
Hope all goes smoothly with the engine repair.
Bill