The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1938 1.5Ton Dually Dump

I've got my eyes on a '38 big bolt. I'm not to familiar with this age. How rare are parts for this machine? Can someone clue me into a good webpage with technical info. for this year? Is the drivetrain and engine similiar or the same as, say, a late 40's truck? I've got an extra '55 235 sittin' around and a 4spd from a '41. The truck appears to have been parked in the late 90's. It all appears original except the seats and front bumper. The paints starting to peel off with a skim of rust but is still solid, is that a concern? It has a dump bed with hoist. How difficult is that? Just wondering if I should look into this more. I don't see them talked about much, if at all.

a 216 splash oiler would have been standard in 1938. You run into the same problems with the 38 as with newer ones many of the cab parts interchange with pickups fenders do not as you have a bigger wheel opening. brakes you may have to get relined as they are a different size than what most parts houses stock. inner wheelseals on rear same as the 40's trucks front wheel bearins are ball bearings as opposed to later model roller bearings. Windshield frames have tendency to rot out. benifits they standout even when not fixed up. They are geared very low I've passed a few cars but not many.

Here is a link to a couple of pictures. 1938 Yeah, the windshield is rotted out on this one. I did't get a good look at the floor (raining) but there was a plant growing inside. Were these wood floors? I imagine it was steel and rotted away.

they had steel floors not sure but 35 may have been one of last for wood floors, Floor has one flat section that extends the width of the cab and encompasses the gear shift. this also covers the battery on the passenger side and the master cylinder on the drivers side. the toe board ( maybe theres a more proper name. goes across the front underneath the pedals the width of the cab and then theres a collar that fits over the steering column to keep the weather out. Also the 38's were still equipped to either hand crank or electric start.

The pictures show a very nice project. Good luck!

The pre-War Big Bolts are pretty rare and that one looks really solid (even has paint on it still ... mostly ...). Gotta love those Western Trucks! Here on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, if you want to find rust free you have to either import from your part of the country or buy new!

As KB says, some parts interchange with the smaller trucks on the cab, but restoring that mechanically will be a challenge. A worthwhile one, though! That truck needs to be preserved and restored, and when done, should be a real satisfaction to own and drive -- even if slow. Call me weird, but I like 'em that way.

And I agree with firetruck -- looks like a great project so grab it and get going! We're here to help!

And about other web sites ... There aren't too many out there dealing with medium duty trucks of that vintage. We have a lot of resident knowledge here, but you might also try the American Truck Historical Society (they can be found in our Links listing -- see the menu bar at the top of this page) The ATHS has a new discussion board and there's a lot of knowledge there, too.

Thanks for stopping by and showing it to us.

John

I like it! By all means get it out of the weeds and save it.

That's a neat looking old truck! Looks pretty straight, not all beat to h***. Get it if you can!

Looks like a model TC. Short wheel base 1-1/2 ton.

The prewar big trucks are harder to find. I have a '38 Model TD (long wheelbase) with a hydraulic hoist on it.

My neighbor and I did 2000 miles in three days to retrieve a parts truck and I thought I was lucky to find that one!

Thats a good looking truck.I've been picking away at my 38 and have been able to get what I needed either through Jim Carter's,The Filling Station or on Ebay.

Still trying to get a hold of an owner. Appears to be in at a vacated residence. I did track the serial # and it is a TB or 1.5 ton built in St. Louis in January.

Stonecutter...how is your project coming along? I was looking at your pictures and wondering if the frame is squared/thickened up just behind the cab...this one I'm looking at is and looks as if a plate was welded on at some point. Also noticed your donor has a heavy duty front bumper, was that normal or did they share the ones from the smaller trucks? I've seen pictures of both.

Oh, is that an original style box with smooth sides? Ones I've ever seen have the uprights every couple feet on the sides.

My project goes in spurts,I've been ready to drop the motor in for about a month now but just haven't had the time.Hopefully work will slow down enough that I can get back at it soon.I think the bumper on the parts truck is off a truck from the 40's that was hacked on there.The original bumper looks like the ones that are on the pick up's.I think the frame was re-enforced when the body was mounted on the chassis.There's a plate rivetted on the side of the frame and another length of angle iron rivetted from underneath to the frame and plate.The boxes depend on who and where the trucks came from.They don't come from the factory,the dealer had them installed locally.Smooth sides is not the best way to go on a dump unless you're not going to be hauling rocks or other hard loads.The sides would get all dimpled and banged up and eventually the body would open up.It looks like that truck had an easy life for a dumptruck.