The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 56 Chevy 6500

I just purchased my first Big Bolt. Its a 56 Chevy 6500 in great condition. It runs and drives and needs little. Mainly some maintenance and tires. Any suggestion for a good inexpensive source for 8.25x20 tires. Are there any service manual available for these trucks. Below is the link to a picture of the 56.

http://www.fototime.com/4EEA39D0F5C8D59/standard.jpg

Thanks ..... Bob

I like it. Looks to be in very good condition. Cant help you on tires or service manual though.

Hi Bob;
I've heard it mentioned that good "pre-owned" tires can sometimes be bought from school districts,as they have to replace the bus tires way before they're worn out. Also,at least around here,the tire shops always seem to have plenty of good used ones for repatively low prices. I guess for new tires,I'd probably look at Costco or Les Schwab.
Speed

up here at the top, if you go to links, then parts, the vendors who sell parts, usually sell the reproduction shop manuals.

The manuals cover all the different sizes of trucks for that year , from half ton to 2 ton or so, depending on the ton options for each year model.

for instance, Jim Carter's has these for sale:

http://www.oldchevytrucks.biz/55_66/full.asp?page=69

You would probably need the '55 2nd series(which is your body style) and the '56 supplement.

The accessory listing for 1956, has things about the doodads for that year model.

-W

Great looking truck!! Congratulations!

Too bad you're so far away. I've got the tires you need, out in my shop..

Congrads! She's a beauty.

Nice truck...You can give these guys a try for tires.

http://www.tuckertire.com/

Thanks for the suggestions. Tucker tire has some great prices. Will probably use them for the tires. Found a reproduction 55 2nd series manual and a new 56 supplement on ebay. I am ready to go. Next project is brakes. Got in it yesterday and had no brake pedal. No fluid in the master cyclinder. No visible leaks. Any suggestions,

Bob

Spanky, what tires do you have and how much are you asking? Might be worth shipping them,
Bob

Bob, the brakes are probably going to need to be gone through front to back.
I started out just needing a master cylender and ended up replacing everything but my rear slaves and the shoes. You'll want to take it all apart and clean it up, odds are the inside of each wheel cylender is pitted with rust, as well as the lines themselves (the one across my rear axle was about as strong as a soda straw!). Just good to plan on redoing it all on something this old, and Napa stocks pretty much everything you'll need.

Do you have a brake booster under there as well?

Does your truck have the 6 lug bolt pattern all around? If so you can find the 6 lug 22.5" budd wheels at big truck wrecking yards or tire shops swap over and run 22.5 radials which are readily avaiable and smoother to drive on. I've done that on 2 of my 6500 trucks. You don't notice any differences on the looks.