The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Looking for Club/Swaps in Chicago, IL

Anyone out there know of any clubs, groups or swaps in the far western suburbs of Chicago, IL, that gravitate toward the old trucks? I’m having a little trouble finding others in the area that is enjoying the same pleasures that I am. Ya know, like crawling round under this greasy old beast up to my elbows every night scraping 56 years of red clay and grease off her shapely frames and blowing their allowance every week on new/old parts, or driving all around gods creation looking in junk yards and over grown fields behind the barn, for one more part to keep her running another day. Already I’m finding people wanting to give me extra junk parts, got an offer for a 235 the other day, just haul it away, but I don’t think I want to go that route. After all, the 216 pulled her around all this time, it should pull her around for the remaining 35 years I have left.
It really is fun though, and what a pleasure to work on after trying to work on the new cars. The reproduction parts availability for these early trucks is nothing short of amazing. Now if only vender would reproduce a set of tubeless WHEELS that would fit a 1950 3600 and look like the original split rim!

I belong to a half dozen antique radio clubs and could go to a swap meet every week if I felt like driving, so I’m sure there are a bunch of guys round here that are into the Stovebolts. Even after only two weeks, I can see I’m gonna have to find a way to trade some of my 300 odd antique radios for old antique truck parts, or should I say, classic truck parts? I’m gonna need the room, not to mention the cash!!!!!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny, I'm not too sure about the Chicago area too much, but there is an indoor swap meet on the 22nd of October at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds. They usually have a good turnout, with several vendors that have parts for AD trucks. I know of one vender that specializes in NOS parts that is almost always there, Paul Parlett. Harmon's is also always oresent as well.
If you do go and are not familiar with Indy, the best way I can tell you to go is to get on 38th street from I465, and go east. It'll take you right to the fairgrounds.

I know there is a meet down near Morris and there used to be a big one at the Dupage, and Kane county fairgrounds, but I don't know when. Indy is a little far for me now days Bill.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny,
Meant to get back to you earlier. Morris was last weekend. Had to work so couldn't make it. That was about it for this year unless you count the Skip's meet in Grayslake, usually the first Sunday in Nov. They're kinda hit or miss, sometimes there's a lot of stuff, other times just crap, plus it's a pretty good haul for me. The VCCA has a meet around the third Sunday of Jan. at the Chevy dealer here in Joliet, again hit or miss. Last year was pretty good to me. The Peotone Tri-Chevy meet the second Sunday in June is always a must attend. Usually close to 1000 vendors. Lots of smaller ones around all summer.

Bob

By the way, my boy's H.S. football team plays Sandwich this week.

Go Sandwich!! Sorry, gotta root for the home team, ya know Bob! Better wear the long johns and bring the rest of the winter gear, those stands are some cold devils. My daughter was a cheerleader/poms all through HS so I spent many an evening freezing in them, and I didn’t even care for football.
Yah, the summer has defiantly wound down around here. To bad I missed Morris, that’s a good place to get tied into one of these groups or get the skinny on what’s going on in the area. Morris is mostly street rods, isn’t it? It’s been a quite a few years since I’ve been to Morris. Kane County always had a pretty good mix, but again, been a while since I’ve been there also.
Guess I’ll just have to wait till next spring. I was kind of hoping there was a club somewhere in the area. Are there any sites that announce when and where the swap meets are?
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

We should do a little Western Subs get together sometime.

I'm in Aurora.

Brian

Don't think I'll be able to drive mine that far Brian, at least not for a while.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL