The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre 1951 Chevy 3100 all original - (Hershey PA)

Hi
I just acquired a true survivor 51 Chevy 3100 all original
It was stored for 40 years .it runs and drives well I am looking forward to getting advice from all the members as I go on the
Stovebolt journey

Thanks

Garry,

What a great find! Like the array of images you included.

You say the truck was "stored for 40 years." How did you come about finding it? Since it runs and drives well, is there much you plan to do with the Bolt, besides the much-fun driving around?

Spring is here and an old truck really turns heads. We'd love to hear about some of your jaunts in the Stovebolt Driving Report thread.

You have plenty of folks around here who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences. We look forward to your "Stovebolt Journey" ... I like the sound of that.

Welcome to Stovebolt. Let the adventure begin!

Awesome example. 👍 I'd drive it as is. Don't look like it's needs anything, but miles put on it. Enjoy

Ditto!

Thanks for your support ! I had a 69 ford basket case and sold it
My barber ask about the 69 and I told him I sold it but if he knew anyone that has an old truck for sale let me know . Another customer of his had this one and I could not pass it up

My jealously level just increased dramatically. A WOW truck.

Wow. Neat serendipity. (I like that word, too.) So, you didn't have to go far and wide to get it. That doesn't happen much either! Serendipity!

We've recently had a few new folks coming in from PA. Maybe they'll chime in here. You'll find some of the PA regulars in the ODSS. "Discussion for Stovebolters residing in MD, VA, West VA and DC. And ... possibly ... under probation .... So. PA " -- crazy bunch. They have a spring event coming May 5-7 in Mineral, Virginia. Wrenchfest 2023 Check it out. Definitely a fun bunch (I are one )

Welcome to the 'bolt... great find....

Thanks ! This fall i my want to sandblast and paint the frame
Since this is my 1st stovebolt I will ask for advice on how far to go with the resto

Sounds like you'll be needing some encouragement (hope that's all ) from the Paint and Body Shop.

That's a beauty!!! Good for you!

My very first truck was a '48 six window, which someone decided they needed more than a 15 year old kid.

Was the guy you bought it from the original owner?

That is a really nice truck!

If that is original and that mileage is accurate, I don't think I'd bother restoring it. I'd drive it as is. But it's your truck, not mine.

the guy i bought it from is actually the 2nd owner. He got it from the family of the farmer that had in in storage in his barn. after he passed they took it out and cleaned it up and sold it

as far as i know it is the original mileage i have receipts for service work over time and the original owners manual . You may be correct just drive it and enjoy don't bother restoring it . thanks for the advice i need it !!!!!!

since this is my 1st one i did not know how it would look it i took it to shows

Originality will get more response than the best restored. In fact the restored owners will be checking yours out for their's correctness.

Car shows of any size at all have a "Preservation Award" which is an untouched example. I think your 51 would take home some trophies.

My truck is like yours (well .. sortta ... ) -- a well-preserved "survivor." We got ours from its original owner (who treated me like like family) His advice was "Don't restore that truck -- you'll ruin it!"

From the pictures you've shown us, that is an amazing truck. And rare in that it is a well-preserved original. I would be *very* hesitant to do anything to it other than keep preserving it.

But like the others have said, it's your truck.

But still ... pristine "time capsules" like that one are few and far between. You will become very popular -- especially with people who will want you to send them a picture of this or that so they can see what it is *supposed* to look like

Take lots of pictures of it. Top to bottom, inside and out, front to back. Crawl under it and take pictures of *everything.* We don't have access to very many examples like yours.

Take more pictures of every little detail.

And when you get done with that, take more pictures. Describe what the pictures are of. You will be doing a huge service for your fellow 'Bolters. I'll even give you a free lifetime membership to Stovebolt.com.

And did I mention about taking pictures?

Beautiful truck.




Editing for effect. My take (co-owner of the truck) can be read in the Gallery story that John wrote up with the history of Ole Charlie. We took a scaled down version of this story ... with lost of pictures, of course, whenever we took Charlie to shows. When one of our grandsons (10) started to go with us to the weekly cruise-in nearby, we had it shortened even more so he was able to talk about the truck! All lots and lots of fun. And what's what it's all about. ~~ Peggy M

And about going to shows ...

Take it to shows just as it is. Put a big sign on it that says "ALL ORIGINAL, UNMOLESTED AND UNRESTORED" it will draw a crowd.

Hotrodded versions of your truck are common. There were three or four of them at the show I went to last Sunday (mine was the only unmolested, unrestored truck there -- that wasn't just rolling junk being passed off as a "rat rod")
Restored to like original condition versions of your truck are not as common, but still plenty around.
Unrestored, unmolested originals in like new condition like yours -- rare as hens' teeth

A lot of judged shows are just popularity/bling fests. Throw enough money at your truck, and put every chrome doo dad on it from the catalog and you can line your wall with trophies.

Anyone who wouldn't enjoy seeing your truck as is just isn't part of "our" crowd.

Like some of the others said, I wouldn't touch it.

Even sandblasting the frame would be too much for me. Once you start restoring something, you'll soon be neck deep in a multi-year project.

If you're considering restoring it, sell it to me instead. I'll fly down and drive it home.

Welcome to Stovebolt

Thanks for all your input ! You guys saved me a lot of work and time .I will leave it unmolested and
Drive and enjoy it👍👍

And drive down to Wrenchfest in May. Maybe the others coming down from PA can organize a convoy to include. (Wonder if Hambone coming from NH would be part of that one??) The Southern MD group will probably convey to VA. A little "security" there for un-expected *stuff* .... Convoys are always fun.

And extra folks to help with .... P I C T U R E S .....

First off, this is , as agreed by everyone, a very special truck.
I am jealous too!
And not to detract from that joy, I was wondering
about the odometer. I remembered someone commenting that the last digit being
out of line, shows it has turned over. I’m not putting undue scrutiny to the
truck, but it just reminded me of that statement and I wonder if that is a true fact.
And did I say? What a truck. Those original pine bed boards tell the story!
C

I feel confident enough to say: that truck has not turned over.

From what I am told, the mileage is correct since it was stored so long.

As far as the bed, I am sure it is the original. I sent a few more pics the only this I believe is not original is the rear bumper see pic

That's an *interesting* bumper. Is that something related to farm-work -- do you think?

My 1952 truck, a Korean War era truck was delivered to a Alabama dealer with no rear bumper, only a 2x4 attached to the truck. This was verified by a man who picked his new truck up from the same dealership on the same day. The rear bumper was then dealer installed from aftermarket. Perhaps yours is aftermarket install for your area at that time.

Convoy convoy. I couldn't *find* that convoy picture. Just now, moving on to other work in the pile, I found it.

This is only one example ... convoy coming to Homecoming 2010.

Welcome......thats definitely a nice find/catch.

since a farmer had owned it from new i was told the bumper was most likely on to tow farm wagons back in the day

You're probably correct. Those trucks were bought to work. I'd probably leave that on there also, since it's part of the truck's "character". But again, that's up to you.

thanks i will !!

I'm late to the discussion, but as so many have said, "what a wonderful truck you've purchased"! If my 1954 had been in that condition, I'd have done no more than brakes, shocks, tune-up,oil change, chassis lubrication, drain and replace the transmission and rear differential fluid and then driven it until I couldn't ! Congratulations on finding a survivor, it makes me smile just looking at the pictures.


Ron

Reviewing that rear bumper picture again; believe an old codger like me could use that one to step Into the bed. Need one on my newer truck.