The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Just a body... but it's my body *

LOL... Thought that would get your attention. Okay so I'm new to this site, obviously. I just towed my dad's old 51 chevy truck to San Diego, he towed it into Phoenix from Texas and I did the last leg. Some relatives of ours got their hands into it and absolutely destroyed it. When I say destroyed I mean DESTROYED it. The grill is attached with wood bolts!, the hood, by two bolts, and somehow they "lost" the original engine. They bent the metal that (I use this term loosely because I don't know if it's right) ?housed? the radiator, the area that the radiator sat on, the metal flaps at the front of the engine compartment and put the radiator in backwards. The reason my dad didn't obliterate the fools that touched our (now mine) truck is because technically the truck was in my mother's name, regardless of all the hard work he put into it many years ago. Needless to say, all I got was the body of a 51 Chevy, and my experience, NIL...NADA... ZIPPO (and not the lighter). So I am here to learn, read, and learn some more. I am starting from the ground up. It is currently stored at an Auto Hobby Shop with every tool imaginable at my fingertips. All I have to do, is buy an engine, a transmission, wiring chassis, oh yeah and learn EVERYTHING!!! First though, I am going out and buying some poster board, why??? Because every project requires a Project Board right??? I'm thinking next Saturday I will just go in there, take the hood off, and remove all the wiring, take the instruments out, and clean them up... AFter that... ummm, well... err... Any suggestions?

Please, I do ask that umm, I get no mean replies, we all started somewhere right? I'm starting here, I'm hoping it's a better place than most....

Hi Dora-Lee! Welcome.. Glad you could join us!
Sounds like you've got a 'project' on your hands
Top Tip...Bag and tag everything you remove from the truck,it saves a lot of grief later on down the road. Take lots of pics as well.
The project board is a good idea too!
Take the time to look through the forums here don't be afraid to ask questions,there is a mine of info here.
Above all....be patient and have fun!
Jock
P.S. We all love

You'll be just fine here. Sounds like you are going to just dig right in. If you get stuck on one part, continue on another and soon it will all come together. The stuck parts need time or money! Glad to hear you are saving the old truck. Good luck! We'll be watching. ;-)

Welcome to the site. It's good to see another stovebolt being diverted from the crusher. It looks like you have the right idea, make a plan and stick with it. Just remember this is a hobby, try not to get bogged down, people here can help. Browse around this site, see what you need to know first and just do it!

Welcome aboard. When I was rebuilding my truck I totally enjoyed the journey. It was fascinating. When people asked me how long it would take, I would routinely tell them ten years! That way they didn't ask again.

As far as the drive train is concerned, if you want to go original, there are a lot of folks installing newer components and are looking to getting rid of the old.

The main thing is to enjoy yourself. There are experts here in many areas but the majority are like you and I and that is one of the things that makes this place so great.

MommyDora, Welcome to The Stovebolt...I admire Your willingness to take on the challenge of bringing Your Stovebolt back to life. You have come to the right place to start, the many members here will assist You along the way..
Bill B.

I woke up this morning and realized I named something wrong... I wrote Wiring chassis, when I should have written wiring harness... see I am learning already...LOL

Welcome to the Stovebolt, Dora-Lee. Sound like you've got your hands full. Don't worry about it, My '51 was in pieces when I got it and alot of stuff missing. There are a bunch of great guys in this site. You'll have all the help you need. If one person doesn't know what you need to know there are plenty of others that will jump in and give you advice. You'll be just fine.

Dora-Lee,

As all above have said, document each step. With pictures (from a digital camera) before, during and after each step. This way when it starts to go back together you'll have some sort of reference. Tag and Bag is a great way to account for everything that comes off the truck even if it's not an original piece. Take one system or element of the truck and work it through. Don't do like I did the first time and completely disassemble the truck with raw abandon. (I still have a big crate of pieces that I have know idea where they belong.) It will be a great adventure and have fun. Welcome and enjoy the fabulous family here at the Stovebolt.

Mitch

Yep, definitely document things. If I can make progress on my truck with limited self knowledge of my truck and very limited funds(I'm 13) you definitely be able to get the hang of this. Most of what is on these trucks is simple if you think about it long enough and that is what makes it the most fun(no really complicated electronics or mechanicals to make diagnosing a problem difficult). If you do decide to go original or close to it(using a "new" old engine but rebuild it with performance parts) you will want to get a shop manual, and may want to anyway. Everyone on here is generous and in their own way have helped me get what I needed. So, that for a testimony, you should be fine here and someone is always ready to help.

mommydora: welcome to the stovebolt. Your in good hands. Lots of info and lots of nice folks to help you along. All the advice is above is well intended. "bag and tag" is the best advice and also take plenty of pictures as you go. No one's memory is as good tomorrow as it is today. Parts left on a work bench that you just know you wiil not forget where it goes will soon be a stumbling block next week.
Just ask questions. No one will be "mean" to you although JDL can testify we did kid him a little....but its all part of staying sane and on track.
Keep us posted and ask questions.

G'Day from W.A.
Dora-Lee, you have come to the right place!
A large family of friendly folk to take you by the hand and lead you through the enjoyable journey of rebuilding an old truck.

Bag and tag, photo's etc. but also, do not get overwhelmed or frustrated with any part of what you are doing at the time.
It is a hobby, if you are not enjoying it, walk away and have a break.You will soon get the urge to return with a breath of fresh air and a bright outlook towards the build.

Many small steps soon overtake lesser larger steps!
In other words, just pick a small thing to achieve and concentrate on that part until it is done.
Then move onto the next small part until that too is done.
Before you know it, all these small parts will be due to come together, and they will do with amazing speed.
Achieve something small each day and the overall achievment shall be great!

All the best..........

Welcome to the Stovebolt Page Dora. Since so much good advice and encouragement has already been offered I thought I'd list some go to sites for the stuff you'll need.

www.chevyduty.com (name has changed but it will get you there)
www.LMCtruck.com
www.truckandcarshop.com
www.jimcarterchevrolet.com (hope thats correct but if not Google it)

Besides the Shop Manual you may also find How to Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup by Tom Brownell helpful. It's published bt Motorbooks. Got my copy from Amazon.

Good Luck Dora and again, Welcome aboard.

Thank you everybody for all your advice... This weekend I will be bagging and tagging what's left of the nuts and bolts.... I will be taking plenty of pictures and checking out the other forums for FAQs, learning lessons, and just reading overall. I can't wait to get started....

I can't agree more, photos, photos, photos, and back them up on CDs and get an online account like photobucket or any of the others so you can share them with everyone.

Hi and welcome,

I just got my 51 about a month ago. I was lucky to get an all original truck with not much rust. I will be glad to help you with any pictures I can take of my truck to help you along. I am presently cleaning up the interior and tuning on the engine to make it roadworthy. These old trucks are a lot of fun. Be sure not to get bogged down on the whole truck. Go for the "small victories" in addressing one part of the truck and move on to another. The destination is not the most important part of the journey.

Welcome, Dora-Lee, from one of the gals

That's too cool to have a place and tools available for wrenching on your 'new' truck.

There is a wealth of information and good folks on this site. Make yourself at home

Welcome aboard.

Here is a 48-51 shop manual to use if you don't already have one, courtesy of Keith Hardy.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/index.htm

Don't know your exact plans but here is a great project story of what one guy did with his 53 truck. Plenty of ideas and pics in his story.
http://fenske.net/53chevy/index.html

Good luck with your project.

Hi and welcome to the 'Bolt, Dora Lee!

We've tried to make this a different web site -- where even the mean old coots are nice. Plenty of other places for little people to go and pick on others, but not here.

Like Alvin says, we kid around a lot but we'll let you get to know us a little before we josh with you.

Some folks do complete frame off restorations over a winter. Not me! Next month is the official 10-year anniversary of my Big Bolt '49 project. I did drive it up to the mailbox on Christmas eve, though If *I* can do this, anybody can. So have at it.

Be sure to use the menu bar at the top of the page to explore the other areas of Stovebolt.com And after taking pictures, bagging and tagging, the best advice above is getting Tom Brownell's book (the link right to it on Amazon is in our Tech Tips section -- notice my slick way of getting you to go to the Tech Tips ... pretty tricky, huh?)

Enjoy the 'Bolt where seldom is heard a discouraging word, but if anyone is mean, just let me know and I'll set Cletis on 'em.

Regards,
John