Stovebolt.com Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre 1953 6400 dually - new from North Carolina

As the title suggests, I am new here. I just recently purchased a 1953 6400 dually. I am not new to restorations or partial restorations. However I am new to this series truck.

This truck I bought was sitting on a used car lot in Mississippi as a prop to bring in customers for the past 5+ years. I drove by while touring the Natchez Trace Parkway on my bike. Stopped on a Sunday to look at it before we headed north & just kept thinking about it for a month before I contacted the dealer to inquire about the truck.

We came to an agreement & I hauled my car hauler out from the coast of NC last weekend to bring it home.

It definitely needs some sheet metal repairs: floors, rear cab corner, inner kick panels, door lower sections, & rocker panels. I have been doing sheet metal work for well over 40 years. Some panels I have purchased & some I fabricate.

The truck will also need some mechanical repairs, such as brakes, engine doesn't run, electrical will need replaced etcetera. Things you would expect from a 70 year old vehicle that has been sitting for several years.

I will say this truck is about the third or forth thing on my list of projects right now. So other than getting it running & stopping so I can move it in and out of the shop, it will be some time before I can give it my full attention.

I currently have a 1950's era Crown Royal drink cooler I am restoring. Then I have a couple of hanging airport signs to restore that came out of the old Greater Pittsburgh PA airport. These signs have the names of four of the airlines I have worked for over my career, with three of them now out of business.

I hope to gain some knowledge from the experienced members here, along with some ideas as to upgrades or contacts for parts.

Thanks for reading my story.

dsbike, welcome to the Stovebolt Page. Seeing your in N.C. your a southern bolter so be sure to check out the Southern Bolters forum and introduce your self there as well.
Sounds like you have a ton of work to do but you seem to be up to the task to get it done. Here on the bolt you will find many forums dealing with each of the situations you mentioned. Its a journey we will all help you with just post the questions in the most appropriate forums and we will do the rest.
Also, you are moderated for the first 4 post and after that you can send PM's and enjoy all the bolt has to offer. Take some time to look around and get to know the many things here. This is a family friendly site which makes us all seem like brothers!!....and sisters.
You may want to also start a thread in the Projects forum as we like to read up and help at the same time!
See you around the garage.

.....what part of N.C.? I've worked in Winston and Greenville N.C. as well as Shelby. If ever down around Spartanburg give me a shout. Hot dogs and Pepsi are on me!

Achipmunk, thanks for the warm welcome & info. I am in Bolivia NC, which is near Southport, about 30 miles south of Wilmington, NC. I also worked in Winston-Salem from 1985-1989, with a couple of those years in Greensboro, then I went to Charlotte when USAirways closed our hanger in W-S. I retired from American Airlines in Oct 2020 in Charlotte.

dsbike,

Welcome to the Stovebolt site. Sounds like you've got a choice project there. Waiting in the queue, of course. Pays to be retired ... maybe. At least time for fun stuff. Maybe. Or just stuff that's been waiting for you all this time.

If you've looking for parts, you'll find the Swap Meet helpful.

The Shops Area has various bays to handle the questions for engine, driveline, body work, electricals, etc. Besides helping locate some parts, they can offer some advice on choice sources.

Speaking of sources, the gang here at the BIG BOLTS forum have a good crew to cover items specifically related to the BIG TRUCKS.

I see you made a post to the Southern Bolters already. A good place to see what kind of stuff goes on locally.

Hope you are able to post some pictures of the truck. If you need some help figuring that out, here's a link that may help. Anxious to see some pic of all your goodies.

Welcome to the ‘Bolt! Nice start to your project and great story and history. We would love it, if you expanded a bit on both your story/history, your goals and what you have already accomplished on restoring your truck.

And of course please post pictures. We ‘Bolters love pictures. Instructions on how to post images are on the bottom of the left margin on this page. Again, welcome to the forums!

Welcome to the 'bolt... did anyone mention that we love pictures?

Sir, Interesting story as you transitioned from being airline maintenance mechanic to retiree & restorer of stuff like coolers & signs & now an Advance Design Series dually 6400 Chevrolet or GMC Truck. Welcome & reach out often. Why? You won't find anywhere folks that are more knowledgeable. Oh, we need to see pics of your project to help you more easily Thanks dsbike. V/r, Nick.

I haven't done much to this truck yet, I just got it last weekend. I have pulled the plugs & tried to spin it over with no luck so far. I put about 1.5 ounces of ATF in each cylinder 2 days ago, checked it yesterday & the levels only dropped in cylinder no 2. I found that a 3/4 drive extension fits nicely in the harmonic balancer hand crank hole. I'm applying much pressure, maybe 75-100 ft lbs. I also cleaned out the cab, the floor needs replaced, however it is not nearly as bad as I initially thought. Still trying to familiarize myself with some of the components or how they were done 70 years ago. Most of my experience has been on late 60's to present day vehicle. I have attached the few pics I have so far.

Are you keeping the door art?

I was initially thinking I would, However it is just vinyl stickers & are peeling off on the passenger door.