The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1950 Model 3104 5-Window - "Back In Time" -

Have you ever been watching a movie and have no idea what's going on, until you realize that the show keeps jumping back and forth in time. Well, this DITY is gonna be somewhat like that, jumping from early 2001 til present day. cool

Seems like I jumped the gun and went right to the paint and body forum asking questions. So let me back up and introduce myself.

I live in SW Florida and have recently retired. So this story starts some 23 years ago when I purchased my first truck on an eBay auction about December 2001. The truck was located in Washington State, so I arranged transportation and it was sitting in my drive shortly after.

To my surprise, the bed was filled with crates of the parts that were replaced over the years.

She was a beauty, dark green. It wasn't long before the frame was being sandblasted in my drive.

The parts for the hopped up 235, Saginaw 4 speed and highway gears were from Arizona.

The only thing, to date, that has not been changed on the frame are the front springs. All the sheet metal was dipped here in Florida. The floorboard and lower cowlings have been replaced. The sheet metal is in prime and awaiting all the body work.

This is when everything came to a screeching halt. I decided to start an electrical contracting business.

So, this brings us to 2023 and time to finish what was started some 23 years ago.

This gonna be fun!

Shade Baby

following this Florida 'Bolter's progress.

I'll be following as well!

Looks like there’s another white AD in that garage. Bet there’s a story on that too!

I’ll be following too!

Now back in time ...

When I got the truck home from Washington State, I was very happy with the truck as it was in really good condition. So I flushed the fuel and cooling system, checked the electrical, brakes, installed a new battery, points, plugs etc. My friend Joe and I took it out for a spin. It sounded and ran pretty good. So I thought let's see what this baby can do! Pushed it past 50 then 60 and it was pretty wobbly on the road so I slowed her down. Now it did not sound so happy, running rough, sputtering. When I got the truck back home we stated looking for the problem, maybe the valves needed to be readjusted. Would you believe it a couple of bent push rods. Wonder how that happened. So I am pretty handy with tools, I can fix it, just love taking things apart. It was not long and the only thing left to unscrew, unbolt or pry-out was the hinges to the frame.

That's a pretty good place to stop. Going forward is how I cleaned, and rebuilt every part or system. With any luck I will have it ready for paint by spring when the temps are cooler and the humidity is down. My friends from Stovebolt and others have been and still are help me get this thing back together. The Paint and Body forum is helping with the front clip. Excuse the spelling and grammar.

Shade Baby

Great "step back in time" re-beginning to your story and looking forward to future chapters!

I will admit I'm sitting here drooling over your shop space. For those that don't have that, like me , it adds to future dreams of one day having such a space. Will also admit that I would struggle to keep it neat and organized like yours - who me??? Hahaha

Keep the posts coming.

Missed last Sunday as the wife and I were in Sedona doing a little site seeing and hiking, man they get some serious lightning.

Back to the days of AOL and dial up when you log on and have time for breakfast before it loads. So the only two shops or sources for parts back then were Patrick's out West and someone named Jim Carter, which by the way would become my go to guy. Patrick was a really good salesman, before long I had purchased everything to rebuild the engine, a Saginaw 4 speed conversion kit to the torque tube drive shaft and the new gears for the differential. Chrome and stainless that's the trick. I found a shop about an hour North that did all the machine and head work. I believe his name was Red Mills, long since passed. I have attached pictures of the cam card and bill of material, with a completed photo of the engine.

Now no mater what I tried, I could not get the engine to idle correctly and that slight miss. Plus the constant leaks from 2 different water pumps (don't use anti seize on the bolts) and the intake heater plate. I decided to remove as much fancy crap as possible go stock as much as possible, more to follow.

Now on to the present day. I was having trouble trying to figure out how to lift and install the front clip by myself, and a fellow 'Bolter sent me a picture of how he does his, by the way he is from Alaska. Now I have 2x4's and no rope that I trusted and did not want to cut up the chain. Looking around I found a box full of edger blades I've had for years, I had everything except for the S hooks. Now I have a way to lift the clip, turn the engine over for valves and timing and lifting the heavy tire in the back of the truck. See ya next week.

Shade Baby

I'm liking the engine! Very nice.

Did I miss the "cam card" picture? Looks like you went whole hog in the engine department.

Your adaption of Kevin's "klhansen" front clip lift idea is interesting. Have you actually done the lift off yet? I'd like to here how it worked.

PS - I sent you an Important PM.

Cam Card

Great saved documentation to have for your truck's history.

Your front clip lift looks good. On mine, I didn't have to go buy eyebolts, just used a length of rope around the brackets for the cowl to inner fender rods. Turns out that's a good balance point.

Ok it's Sunday morning 2002 and waiting on engine parts, so I decided it's time to get started on the front end. Years of caked on dirt and grease, I just realized that's what keeps everything from rusting. Rebuilding the front end was pretty straight forward. All the information needed to do this portion of the rebuild can be found in the manuals.


Back to today, Saturday 8/1/2026. A friend came over and helped me attach the front clip, adding the 2X4 as a spreader seemed like a good idea at the time but the valve cover disagreed. I did not realize that having all the bolt snugged up was a bad idea. Trying to get inner and outer fenders to bolt up to the cab was a real challenge. The next time we install this clip I will leave the outer fender off and all bolts loose, including the cab. This day is a huge milestone, the first the clip and cab have been on the frame at the same time. I used the largest bolts possible to bolt the fender on, because the inner, outer, and inner to outer cowl panels have been replaced and I needed to make sure the new hole that needs to be drilled in the outer cowl panel lower section was in the correct location. If I had used the 5/16” bolts and let the fender hang, the lower hole may not be in the correct location and so no hood alignment. Hope that makes sense. I should have paid closer attention to the Nuns in grammar, LOL. See ya next week.

Shade Baby.

Shade Baby, the first time I assembled my front clip, we loosely bolted the inner and outer fenders together before getting them in place. Started with the radiator support, hen left and right fenders with all the bolts loose. Definitely use 5/16 bolts as anything larger will take up more room in the oversize holes and give you less adjustment room. To keep the smaller bolt heads from falling thru the oversize holes, use what are called ----- fender washers, larger outside diameter than standard washer. So bolt - fender washer - fender - cowl - fender washer - standard washer - lock washer - nut.

Looking good. Progress like that feels good.

Ok it's Sunday somewhere back in early 2000. Now starts all the cleaning, and that has reminded me a lesson my Dad taught me early on. He would have me help him wash and wax the family car, a 1962 Falcon wagon. He used something called Simonize wax, that stuff was really hard to polish off. But before the waxing he had popped off the hubcaps and started washing the wheels. Then he handed me the hubcaps and said don't for get the inside. I asked him why do I need to clean the inside of the hubcaps when nobody can see them. He said it does not matter what anyone can see, its about you doing the best job you can because you will know there clean and it did not take but a minute to do the best job you can! Maybe thats why at the end of the day what ever I am working on I clean my mess. The next day or whenever I get back to my shop, everything is clean a neat ready for a new task. And it makes me feel good, just like it did all those years ago. So after degreasing the frame Beth helped me with the sandblasting. Then Used a lot of Ospho on the frame, once it dryed begain lots of rubbing with scotch pads to get the white stuff off. Then painted with Eastwood satin black.

Current day, I really need to give Kevin a shout out for his plans to build a rotisserie. First I have made of few changes to his design. Lets just say its Takeaopartable ( thats Kentucky talk for I really need for this to be able to completely dismantled as I am really running out of room in my shop) The only thing I welded was the 1/2” nut to stiffen the up the vertical section. I used the wheel and plates from my engine run stand that still needs to be welded up. For some unknown reason when I ordered the steel surely 3/16” was beefy enough. Man 8’ sections are heavy. I also used some parts from the tow dolly for the 1950. to be able to pull the cab outside with the Kubota. Lastly you will notice that all the wheels spin freely. This way I can move the rotisserie around in my shop easily. When we pull the cab outside I change the 2 rear wheels to fixed ones so the cab does not getaway as the approach to my shop is sloped on both doors. Almost forgot, I also modified some car dollies so the cab will fit under some areas.

Shade Baby
PS, I spent the better part of a day trying to get the splash aprons installed and look like something, but thats a another discussion.

It's back in early 2001 or somewhere thereabouts and I was thinking this has to Stop. So let's look at the photos from the past on the brake system, and ya know I have already rebuilt that master cylinder once for some strange reason it keep leaking at the top seal. Lets see, 2001 and today is 2026 that's um, 25 years. So here is where I need some help or advice. I know the brake fluid needs changing but what about the wheel cylinder, those seals have got to be pretty dried up by now. And the master cylinder, I see that some truck owners opt for a dual cylinder instead of the single. Makes sense for safety?

This past week 2026, I purchased a used fuel pump AC model 9803 and was it grungy. Seems like it sat in water for some time? With Tom's help from "Then and Now", I was able to get the correct kit to rebuild this pump. It was pretty bad inside but the mating surfaces looked good and the areas that the check valves sat in were good. So a dip in the wash tank and then glass beads and we're looking pretty good. Assembly was going ok, until I tried to get the vacuum side pump in place and hooked on the arms. Well the arms that attaches the diaphragm were too far apart, by a long way. I put it away for the night and just as I was waking I Got IT, Tongue depressor, looks like a mini paint stick. So I cut one in half long ways and tapped them in along the main arm ever so easy and the arms pull right together. Needed to hold the main arm together to raise the hook up and the diaphragm fit like a glove. I picked up 2 more combo pumps, a 9797 and a 9803 (that's not a AC unit) but has large check valves in the fuel chamber.

Shade Baby

OK sometime in 2014 I made what I thought was a good deal to barter for some work to do all body work and paint for this truck and trade my work as an Electrical Contractor for all the electrical needs to open a new Performance and Restoration Shop here in SW Florida. I sent the truck in a lot of different pieces to North Florida to have it dipped and coated ready for this work. It seems this story is a old as time, when one party decides they want to renegotiate. The truck still needs some bodywork and a paint job as of today. Ok I will quit whining now! LOL.

Now it's Sunday 8/2026 Not a lot hands on work this past week, Spoke with Tom from Then And Now for a couple of rebuild kits for a model 9797 and a 9803 combo pumps, fuel/air. It's nice to have three of everything.
Also searched high and low for a machine shop to surface the intake exhaust manifolds and was about to give up when I found someone who could help. I was looking for an engine shop and no luck. Who would have guessed it would be a Machine shop that service's boats engines. Thats one thing we got in SW Florida is lots of boats. No old gear heads. Lesson for me is you got to think outside the box when trying to restore an old truck.

Shade Baby

Sounds like a crying shame that 12 years later and they haven't completed their side of the bargain. Just IMHO, but if they're renegotiating their side, seems only fair that you renegotiate your side in a similar fashion. Presuming your work was all done at the agreed upon amount/value way back when, if they haven't finished their side of the bargain, I think their value claimed should be reduced by what your work did, which is probably allow them to operate a money making business off your work for 12 years. Kinda simple reasoning that they have substantially benefited from opening the shop and doing 12 years of business, while they now want you to pay more to finish work already promised. Maybe you have some leverage to renegotiate? I wish you luck in this endeavor.

I don’t remember anyone ever coming out even on a trade the labor deal. Unfortunately another live and learn experience of life.

John

I believe this post will catch us up with the past. The third member or pumpkin was rebuilt using 3:55 gears. But I will be opening up the diff for some corrections or just forgetfulness like the oil slingers. I believe the coast and drive side are showing ok?


Today's Sunday 9/6/26 Looking forward to the future and working on this old truck. Just got the manifold back from the machinist, looks good. Time to take the body off the truck and get back to work. Also been working with the guys in the Paint Forums, Its like ice cream everyone has their favorite. LOL.

Thanks
Shade Baby

Yes! Looking forward to more. Thanks for all this story line.