Hang in there- - - -pretty soon you'll be attracting lots of attention at the local "Show and Shine"! I'll be picking up the 51 GMC 3 ton with the 12 foot bed I bought nearly a year ago before too long, so I'll have one to video sometime this summer. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Absolutely awesome video! Congrats on getting it running and out for first self powered drive!
Last edited by Gdads51; 03/22/20243:26 PM.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Congradulations! I am sure that even thought it was not 100% successful just having it move under its own power is a huge milestone.
I am hoping to have a similar experience later this spring/summer although I do not anticipate having glass installed prio to paint and anticipate wanting to do an initial test drive before the paint work gets done.
Yeah, it's really, really, really difficult NOT to "take her for a spin" as soon as it is able to move under it's own power! Congrats! Now... complete any repairs you need to do to the engine before you put the front clip back on... if you need kingpins now is the time while you have easy access.
~~ Jethro 1954 3100 Back to Life In the Dity Gallery 1951 3100 (gone) / 1956 4400 (still in the neighborhood) / 1957 6400 with dump body (retired) / 1959 3100 panel (in the woods junked) / 1978 Custom Deluxe K10 / 1993 S-10 4.3 / 2004 Chevy Crew Cab / 1945 John Deere H / 1952 John Deere B / 1966 John Deere 2510 / 1967 John Deere 1020
As I reported earlier, the truck engine stumbled then quit as I got it back to the garage after driving it the other day. Went out a couple of days later and tried to start it and finally called "no joy" after many attempts. Long story short, I think it was the points (pics attached). Ultimately, I replaced everything. New ballast resistor, points, condensor, coil and plugs. Then I re-did the static timing and the idle. It fired right up! It sounded SO much stronger! It did, however, continue to belch the white exhaust.... Tomorrow, I'll have a stovebolt visitor to help me fine tune the engine. I'm really looking forward to it! More to follow...!
Spent the afternoon with Sweet (a Driveline Moderator) dialing in my engine. We found that the vacuum advance device wasn't functioning. We swapped it for a different unit and that functionality was restored! Add to that adjusting the points gap (I did it incorrectly when I installed them), dynamically timing the engine and adjusting the idle and the engine sounds strong! Plus it seems to run well. It does, however, continue to smoke some. I think it is a lesser amount of smoke, but still there.
So, it runs well, but still has an underlying issue. Too much fuel? Burning oil? Haven't lost any coolant so I don't think that's it. Thoughts?
Drive it like you stole it. The rings probably need to seat with the cylinder walls. If it gets worse, it will be easier to find the source of the problem.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
I agree with 52Carl, it is not uncomon for engines to smoke after rebuild and long rest periods until all the accumulated parts have heat cycled to operating temperature several times. Ring seating can take some time. To get a full temperature heat cycle you probably need to drive it at least 5 miles let it cool completely and repeat. Ring seat best when power is cycled, not just rpm, as you want to change the combustion pressure acting on the rings to change.
The fact that you are not loosing any coolant is a great sign.
I agree too. Good time yesterday afternoon. When I arrived Mike had the patient out in the driveway ready for action. First start-up was labored so I knew some adjustments were in order. First made a timing adjustment and the engine was suddenly happier, but still wasn't right. Quick check of the points gap and it was not correct. Mike had the gap set at the valley not the peak. After this adjustment it started right up. Moving on to higher RPM adjustments, I noticed the vacuum advance wasn't advancing. Swapped that out and reset all the above again and now it starts right up.
Hopefully soon Mike can install the door and seats so we can get some miles on it.
After wrenching a little while we hopped in the GreenMachine and went for a ride to blow the dust off......
SWEET Sergeant At Arms: Old Dominion Stovebolt Society BUNS?!?!?!Where we're going, we don't need no buns..... 1950 GMC 450 1951 Chevy 1/2-Ton The GreenMachine In the Stovebolt Gallery
The smoke in your video isn't "white" anyway- - - -it's the classic bluish smoke from burning oil. How many full throttle 30-50 MPH uphill acceleration runs have you done to seat the piston rings? According to Perfect Circle, a new set of rings needs a minimum of 10. Get the rings seated properly, and the smoke will disappear. These engines aren't fragile wallflowers- - - -they're as tough as woodpecker lips, so drive them like you stole 'em! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Message received! Time to wrap up the cab sheet metal work so I can put doors on and seats in! Then...drive it like I stole it! I'll revive this post then!
