The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1952 1.5 Ton - Is it worth it?

I have found a '52 1.5 ton locally that runs good but has a few problems:

Negatives-
Cab Corners rusted out/cab needing new floor panels
Breaks are most likely shot, needing complete rebuild
Sticky Clutch, not sure what is exactly is causing it
Seat just about gone
Needing new rear window
Sheet metal is not the greatest
Lots and Lots of other unknowns
Needs paint (my opinion, lots of surface rust)

Positives-
Has the optional heater
Claim they do have the title
Close by, no need to travel across half the state to get it.

He claims it moves however because of the sticky clutch, they dont drive it. It has been sitting outside since the beginning of spring (thats what they said) and I talked to a friend who said its been longer then that. The engine was blown by a worker on their farm, and they had it re-engined by someone (unknown who) and it did have a 235 in it, but they are not sure what was put back in it. I offered 500 but finally got a phone call from them (after about 6 weeks) claiming they wont take less then 1000. An ex wife is selling it (divorced and the ex husband is deceased) and all the information on the truck died off with him. My question is, is it worth the 1000 dollars being that it is close by, but yet needing so much work? They wont budge on the price and she does not mind if it sits there for another 5 years (her son has a different opinion, but unfortunately he's not the one selling it). It has a homemade stake body that doesnt look too terribly old. If I missed anything that needs to be known, let me know, I'll try and post it.

I do have pictures, however, they were taken with my cell phone and are not the best of quality. I'll try to post some.

Sorry for the long post but would really like to know before I dig myself a hole in more ways then 1.

based on your description i would pass on it, just to much to do. here's the question you need to ask yourself. how bad do i really need it and what are you going to use for?

Good points, how bad do you need it, and what will you use it for?

That aside, Your offer of $500 sounds reasonable for the condition as you describe it. However it's probably best to pass on that one.

For a first truck you would be better off with a truck that has good to great sheet metal, runs good, and preferably stops. If it needs brake work that's not too bad, most all do, and if you do the work then you know what you have.
While truck shopping, consider something 1 ton or smaller as a first vehicle, a Big Bolt is not a very practical truck any more, geared pretty slow, and fuel is expensive..

Any news on the other truck you were interested in?

Grigg

If the title is in the name of the deceased ex-husband you might have some challenges transferring it. I'm sure there is a process, but its sure to be trouble.

I've gotten better trucks free. If people know you want such things eventually someone will offer one better than that one for little or nothing.

I paid 800 for mine. Non running and needing everything done to it.. But, that was also only about 20% more than winter scrap value last winter. And scrap is certain to go up this winter. The GIANT olson truck box on it will probably net me $400 at the scrapper this winter.....

I felt ok about paying this much because of the following:

1: It was across the road from my place so getting it home was easy with the tractor.......

2: I plan to completely revamp the suspension, put air ride in back, Cummins Diesel, manual tranny with 2-speed auxillary transmission, etc so most of the stuff on the truck is going to be taken off..... (And probably also scrapped as most of it is pretty rough....) This way I can completely customize the interior to my liking too.

Sounds a bit expensive. Lots of unknowns. However that being said, if this is the kind of project you will be happy with then money is not evetything. You will however be spending lots of money to get back in shape. We all get caught up in it.
Best regards.

I paid much more than that for my '51. However, I'm in Florida, where nothing survives for that long anyway, and there are few, if any, Big Bolts available down here.

I think it depends on how badly you want a project of this magnitude. I'd been wanting a COE for a long time, so it didn't take much convincing myself that this would be the one. As for being practical? Don't even go there! You'll be spending a lot of time & money, for sure. But I've had a ball working on mine, and everyone who sees it thinks it's cool, so there's the 'pride factor' to consider! I consider this a pretty exclusive club, even if we are all nutballs!

~Bruce

I also forgot to mention that they had talked about scrapping it. What does something like that weigh, so that I can compare what they might get in scrap for it around here?

Around the greater Washington, DC, the scrap value for that truck (Cab and chassis) is approximately $600.

For what it's worth, recently a nearly non runner in original condition with serviceable paint, and halfway decent sheet metal (but a shot floorboard and no brakes) (an Advance Design 2-ton) sold for $3,000. What you're describing sounds a little rougher, but still restoreable. Non-restoreable would be worth scrap value. So add a bed, a running motor ... Finding better trucks than that is getting harder all the time here on the East Coast, and especially in the Rust Belt. $1,000 doesn't seem that outrageous to me.

Regards,
John

Well, as this saga seems to be on the downhill side, I have concluded that this truck just isnt going to work. The price is too high for the amount of work that it would take to bring her back to a reasonable state to drive. SO, in conclusion, I have as some of you have suggested, placed a classified ad in the swap meet under wanted trucks, and hope to get a few responses and ideas over there.

As for some of the others who know the story how I first started this saga:

My uncle is just too hard to work with. Time is what I need, right now its a waiting game. Like I said, he's not one to give something up easily. So I still have my fingers crossed, but just think the AD bolts are the coolest thing and I really would like a project to keep me from boredom over the winter.

Just be careful that you might run out of desire or interest in it, if it has lots to be done. You don't want that happening, if you can make a lower offer and stick to it, you always will have to come up with $$ once you own it, and a lower purchase price is incentive to put more effort into the truck as you go. So many guys lose interest ......then there they sit.
A more complete truck, original, is so much better to begin with I have found.

MJD