The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Grandpa's Stovebolt

[IMG]http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd33/jdbjicase/OlFireball.jpg[/IMG]

I'm new here, but I think this is the place I'm looking for. My Grandpa bought this truck new, and I want to restore it for him. I am currently serving in the Marine Corps, but I can still do research and collect parts. Dad says it's a 1947, and from what I can tell, it's an Advance Design 4000 series. If anybody can give me information about this line of big bolts, it would be greatly appreciated. Supposedly it was parked because the main bearings were going out of it, and they didn't need it anymore, but it's a family heirloom. For starters I want to get it running, then sometime down the road get it fixed. We haul a lot of antique tractors, and I hope to load up one on the back and drive her to a show. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

My trucks are Taskforce trucks but I would like to welcome you to the Bolt with a big Semper-Fi and say great looking truck.
You are right you have come to the right place all the info you need can be had right here. In the future you should post a link to your picture we have many members here with dial-up and the extra info in your post makes it difficult for them to view the text. A lot of good people here I am sure you will find what you need and have a lot of fun doing it.

Your Dad is probably right. If it's a '47, it's what's known as a second series '47, which is the very first of the Advanced Design trucks.

There should be a metal plate on the driver's side door post that has the VIN #. If it's there, post it here and we can tell you exactly what it is.

The motor is probably a 216 with babbit bearings, so it wouldn't be surprising to find the main bearings going out. Finding parts for it won't be hard at all. Just go to our links section and visit the vendors. Just about everything you might need is available.

The truck looks to be in great shape, so restoring it should be easier than many such trucks. I'm sure your grandfather (and father) will be thrilled.

Oh, and thank you for your service, Marine. This old vet salutes you.

Beautiful truck. Don't re-paint it.

"AWESOME" !

Great picture and truck! As written above parts will be easy to find but depending on what is wrong with it, it can be costly. Take your time and it will not be too much of a pain. Good news is many of the parts suppliers are in your area of the country. Good luck and Happy Veteran's Day from an old sailor!

Thanks for the support. I'll get the VIN from my dad whenever he gets a chance to look it up. Since I'm deployed to Iraq for about 5 more months, I really can't go looking at the truck. I looked at a rebuild kit on Egge's website, and I'm setting a budget of about $1500 to totally rebuild the engine. Anybody know of a way to put a hitch on one of these trucks? That's about the only modification I want to do to it.

A hitch should be easy to mount to the frame. As best you can, Stay safe in Iraq and thanks for doing what you do for all of us.

Boy did you come to the right spot. Not only do you have an old truck, but you're a Marine with an old truck.
That's a combo, for sure.

I really like the look of your truck, think real hard before you go to the paint booth. Get it up and running smooth, it's a family icon.

If I do repaint it, it will stay exactly as is, with one possible exception. On the hood, above the Chevy emblem, Someone painted the word Fireball. I was told this was my grandpa's nickname due to his short temper (another family icon). I was thinking of painting some realistic flames around the word. Maybe not, but it's a thought.

I love the picture you posted. You should send it in to be on the Big Bolt calendar for 2008.

Jared,

Trust me, anyone can put a new paint job on an old truck but it's the special ones who respect it for what it is... and in your case, it's a family heirloom. Anyone who's watched Antique Roadshow has heard it a hundred times... "It would be worth a lot more if you hadn't refinished it".

Do yourself a big favor and get "Fireball" mechanically perfect and by then you will have fallen in love with the body just the way it is. Believe it or not, there are people who would pay huge money to have that paint job duplicated on their truck, and I'm one of them... if I had huge money.

Woody, Check out these pics and see if you can use them.
http://photoshare.shaw.ca/messages/viewthumb/5655717750-1195347617-50780/parm/page/1/15/

I wasn't saying anytime soon, but maybe later down the road if I ever do a COMPLETE restoration. I thought about it later, and decided if the paint looks this good after 60 years, it'll probably stay that good until my grandson inherits it. Does anybody know where to get a new window, though? You can't see it in that picture, but the passenger side window is busted up pretty bad. That is definitely a necessary repair.

Sure, you can get them from most of the after market guys many of them are listed on the links page: http://www.stovebolt.com/links/parts.htm

Does anybody have any recommendations toward one glass dealer or another, because there's quite a list and I want to be sure to get this right the first time.

Hey Jared,
You might want to start a post under general truck, it's the same glass for the big trucks and the small trucks and you might get a wider base of inforamtion.
I need a drivers door glass myself, but I have been told since it's flat just to get it locally at a auto glass supplier.

Many local glass shops will only offer tempered glass and not the original safety glass which is usually thicker. I've used both ChevyDuty (name is now changed)and LMC Truck with good results.

I asked Grandma and Grandpa about some history on the truck. Grandpa said that his dad bought it new in 1947 from Jameson Chevy in Keokuk IA. He said it was the biggest truck in the area at the time. I'm trying to get him to write down a detailed history (as far as he can recollect), so I have the complete story to pass down forever and ever. I'll keep you all posted.

Jared, thanks so much for posting that photo and info. I think you'll find that Stovebolt.com is just one really big family. Sure, some of us can be moody and cantankerous like these old trucks but we're here for you through thick and thin. Family's family, after all.

I've had a great experience with both Jim Carter Classic Truck Parts (oldchevytrucks.com) and American Classic (americanclassic.com) with truck glass and other parts.

Best of luck to you and thank you for your service to our great nation!

Is there any way to distinguish this truck as a 3100 or 3600? I am not sure what the difference is, and it makes a difference on NAPA's website when looking for parts. Are there any noticeable differences?

Oh Boy, that truck IS NOT a 1/2 or 3/4 ton is it?!!! It's at least a 1 1/2 ton or bigger.

it's 4000 series or 6400 series. most cab parts and engine parts will be the same as a 3100. fenders, grill, bumpers, wheels, rears, running boards,drive shaft, brake parts and springs will be different. since it was used in business the engine may not be original to the truck and you will have to go by that in ordering engine parts

As kb3cw stated, it's going to be out of the 4000, or 6000 series lineup. 4000 being 1 1/2 ton, 6000 being 2 ton. Check to see what the ID plate says, in the driver door jamb. 3100 series is a 1/2 ton pickup, 3600 serries is a 3/4 ton.

As far as I know it's still the original motor. They just parked it about 10 or 15 years ago because of main bearing problems. Dad hasn't been the quickest of creatures in getting me the ID plate info, but I guess he's pretty busy what with Grandpa having surgeries all the time on his ankle. I'll ask again and try to get it for you, since I know a lot of people have shown interest in my story.