The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1952 Chevy 1/2-ton, "Me and Ol Blue/True Blue Both Born in '52"

Hello all! My story begins in Wichita, Ks. and will end in Wichita as well.

In 1973 I traded my motorcycle to buy a vehicle to take four of us to field camp. I ended up with a blue 1952 Chevy 1/2-ton truck. I have owned it ever since.

Though I never got around to a "restoration," I used it for school, work, for moving friends and going fishing. It still holds its original 216 engine and I drove the truck throughout the Midwest -- back in the day. Back then, due to the Arab Embargo, the Feds lowered speed limits to 55 mph so I could almost keep up with traffic.

With a simple tool box of stuff and a jack, I could always (usually) keep it going down the road. However, Ol Blue/True Blue (it answers to both) has been sleeping in my garage for over 15 years.

After a serious health scare in the summer 2025, I decided since me and Ol Blue started life together, we should finish life together -- as per whatever the Good Lord wills.

So in the fall I began to wake up my truck, as I had done times before when it slept for long periods of time. After three weeks of draining and tinkering, I put the new battery in. I pulled out the choke, gave the gas pedal a few repetitions, stepped on the ignition switch -- and rolled my foot onto the gas. After some throat clearing and hacking, he fired up and ran and then I added new tires.

At this point in my life, I will not likely do a full modern restoration. Rather I'll get it running good, get it dependable, and get safe by current standards and my age.

So after giving the truck a good shower and cleaning off years of oxidation, etc., I wiped it down with a modern protection coating or two. I've now begun to do a lot of fixes and upgrades and a bit of lipstick.

My wife of 53 years had the favorite color red. So when I bought the 1952 truck in 1973, I painted the interior red. She made seat covers, headliners and door panels out of denim and red trim. I am replacing the upholstery and headliner in black, along with black rubber flooring.

Now, I am doing the things I can do. I installed 3-point seat belts already and will try to find a mechanic that has experience and enjoys working on the classics.

First big job to hire out is brakes! From master cylinder to the shoes and drums.

I sure miss the early days when I first bought the truck and worked in a full service gas station and garage. I had help, a lift, and access to parts and even learned a thing or two.

Anyway, I am eager to do a lot of reading and helping where I can. Brad

Message to those in the Wichita, Ks metro area. I need a mechanic with knowledge and enjoyment of working on the old classics such as ours. Its been decades since I last had a go-to person to work on my truck. Stuff now beyond my age and ability. Priority now, is the brakes. Maybe everything from Master Cylinder to lines to everything in the wheels? If you can refer me to someone to hire I would sure appreciate it. Thank you, Brad (316) 250-5941. You are welcome to call or text me, I don't bite. ;-) Brad

All of the brake parts from the master to the wheel cylinders and shoes are readily available from Rock Auto at pretty reasonable cost. Are you hiring it out because of health reasons? If you're worried about not having a lift, the master cylinder can be easily accessed with the truck on ramps or jack stands.

I did my entire brake system a few years ago and it turned out to be easier than I expected.

Otto, Thank you for the reply. Back in the 1970s, I likely did all the stuff one would need to do on classic brake systems when I worked at the "filling station." And on my own truck as well. For an old dude I have been spending a lot of time scrunched up in the cab or under the truck. I do have strong hydraulic jacks and a set of good jack stands, but am more careful under jacked up stuff than I was back in the day. I also have the shop manual that has always guided me. BUT, my problem is, my garage. There is no lighting in the old detached garage-and no room. So to do most of the work, I have to back it out into the drive where I can't leave it there for days. Right now if I drive it I have wheel chocks and granny gear & reverse to use for parking, or the curb. It is just for the brakes I would rather hire it out, and save my body and pain pills for other to-do's. I also hope to pay a mechanic give me a full inspection/diagnostics on everything that involves safety and dependability, especially the front end-wheel to wheel. I would love to replace or tighten steering gear. Some work I will do, some not. I don't have unlimited funds, but I have a 1956 Fender telecaster on the shelf for sale in Nashville. That sale will fund most of my truck needs, for sure, not including a paint job-which I do not plan on doing. I have always wanted to replace the 216 with a typical built up 235. Anyway, I am having a ball again working on my old friend. Thanks, brad

I here you. Working in the dark or outside is no fun. Good thing about the guitar. The mechanic rates are so high these days that $100/hr seems cheap!

Your steering gear might just need adjustment, which can be done on the vehicle. Maybe needs proper grease. There are also places which will rebuild your gear if you don't do it yourself.

Welcome back Brad! You've been gone from the forums for almost as long as Ol Blue has been sleeping.

Glad to see you back and suggest you check out this new since you were last here thread that may help you get acquainted with some of the many changes that have happened in Stovebolt in the last couple of years.

As far as your "Message to those in the Wichita, Ks metro area.", I'd suggest you check in and say hello in the Midwest Bolters Association (aka MBA) Side Lot forum. It's the place for you to ask nearby Bolters the question about possible reliable and knowledgeable mechanics in the Wichita and surrounding area. You never know, you might connect with a fellow Bolter to help make your brake overhaul happen.

Looking forward to seeing you and your truck in the forums.

Yea, that 56 tele, is like a lot of found classic vehicles. It was in a dudes barn way out in the boonies. I bought it for 300.00 about 25 years ago. I figure-I can drive my old truck a lot better than I could ever play that guitar, so by selling it, Ol Blue can ride in style, eh. I shall see....
Adjustment of that steering gear may do it. I have the shop manual that explains the loosening and tightening procedure, if I can figure out how to get on the engine side of the gear box with tools. BTW, are all those vehicles listed on your replies yours? If so, wowzer! brad

The '76 F150, '95 F150, and '64 Galaxie belong to my mom but I'm the caretaker of them.

Brad, welcome back. Old Blue is looking good.

John

Great story there Brad. I think Gdads51 as a great idea about posting something in the Midwest Bolters Association.

It's also neat to here that your wife is part of this fun project. At some point, I hope you'll post some pix of the interior that she did!

I traded my motorcycle in 1973 in order to by my 1952 Chevy truck, and I still have it. I was also born in 1952. Me and and Ol Blue came to be the same year, and I plan to get to the finish line with it. Brad

Hey Brad! Is this the same '52 that's in your signature line ... that's in the DITY? Or is another?

The truck shown in above pic is my truck in my driveway. Water a bit of cleanup and lipstick. After it’s 15 year plus sleep in my garage. Thx

Brad, you and I share a common bond. My truck is a ‘52 and I was also born in ‘52!

Welcome to the ‘Bolt! Nice truck! Good luck with your project and I will be following!

Since you asked...I was late into my collegiate days in 1973 and it was time to go to field camp in another state. At that time I had motorcycle, as did some others that were headed for field camp as well. So I sold my motorcycle and bought the 1952 chevy truck to get us there. There were four of us, so I friend who had recently totaled his firebird gave me his bucket seats, that I then mounted in the bed of my truck up against the cab. Perfect, two in the cab, two in the back (no seat belts anywhere) and off we went. The cooler of beer was in the bed as well, where those two could pass em forward to us in the cab via the window. No fears! back then, eh.
I have owned it since. When I first got the truck my wife's favorite color was red, so I painted the inside metal red, and here being seamstress, made seat covers, door panel covers, and headliner covers with blue denim and red trim. Thus, the present red wheels and grill. I used my truck as a third vehicle for hauling and moving etc all these years hence. However, for the recent 15 years or more it slept in the garage never to driven, never started. The bed became storage, and the rest of got coated with a thick layer of dust and home for a few hundred brown spiders. Last summer 2025, I am now 73 yo, I was diagnosed with a kidney smothered in cancer and it was immediately removed, my future on this side of the dirt in question. I didn't think I would ever be able to work again, so that is when I decided that me and Ol Blue were going to finish this life together-me on my feet doing something, my truck on its wheels doing something. After a couple of months of "piddlin" with the truck I got brave enough to go buy a battery and try to start it. With the aid of a shot into the carburetor, it fired right up. My sat in it for the first time in over 30 years and cried. Too bad I could not take out for a drive, but with no brakes, a bit risky.
I do not plan a full restoration, but will keep it a patina truck that is reliable and safe. I installed 3-pt seat belts in it with a center lap belt. and cleaned the truck up. Presently it is undergoing complete new brake system with a 2-pot MC, and new tires and wheels, and more.
I hope to do some front end safety repairs underneath, and new interior, and eventually change out the old 216 for a later 235 full pressure oiler and improved performance-including the conversion to a 12-volt system.
BTW, it is now June 2026, nearly a year after my kidney thing, and I am still cancer free. I sold my 1956 Fender Tele and that gives me a 20,000.00 budget for the truck.

Here is a pic of me in the 1980s, when I used my truck to pull a trailer to the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival. A week or more of fun, music, and Ol Blue. Brad