The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts callin all towtrucks

im new here and i was told there are a few towtruck owners here. wanna talk winches? lol

here's the one i call mine, my dad actually owns it(I'm only 16).

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2144188890103559715PyRYNr

47chevy,
is that a 409 i see in there ?

Funny you say that, but it's actually a 401 GMC v-6. I always thought that the GMC v-6s valve covers from the 1960-1974 era resembled the 348-409 chevrolet v-8s, but when you view them side-by-side there's a BIG difference. One cool thing that I read about the GMC engine was that the spark plugs are accessible by the intake manifold instead of the exchaust manifold like a lot of v-type engines(less chance of burned hands during spark plug changes lol). From what I have seen, the GMC v-6s have a "GMC" stamped on the valve cover whereas the 348-409 has a chevrolet bowtie stamped on it(not sure about the truck engines). Here's a picture of a 409 and one of a GMC v-6 Just my 2 cents.

I'm a Wrecker Guy. Click into my webshots below.

stovebolt kid, the valve covers look alot alike dont they ? i should have zoomed in on the pics huh ? lol. Spanky, nice trucks never seen a under reach like that before, makes me want one.

I am about to get in the "wrecker business". My first 18 wheeler was a 56 GMC with a 370 v8 which was actually a 371 Olds. I found a 57 GMC identical to the one I had in PA. It has a wrecker body on it which I think will be a handy thing to have. I am in the trucking business and buy wrecks for parts. I trailer in the salvage, but I think a wrecker will be a handy thing to have around the yard. We have 2 fork lifts, but I think the swinging booms will be handy. The owner is rebuilding the engine because it was in worse shape than he thought. Spanky identified the wrecker body as a Holmes 525 from the picture.

crenwelge welcome to the world of towing! there is lots of fun to have with a tow truck. not to mention the power you have to drag anything you want to,i own a shop and do welding, autorepair, mobile service, towing and, recovery out of it. the most fun i have is with my wreckers cause its always something diffrent, a new challange around the corner. i love it and i think you will too.

You will love the towing business. I have done it all my life(19 years)and I will never do anything else. I also have a very expensive collection of Antique tow trucks. Spanky started me on my old wreckers and now I have too many to count.
First is my 54 GMC with a holmes 460 photobucket
Second is a 49 4400 Chevy with a 515 holmes photobucket
Third is a 49 Chevy with a handcrank wrecker photobucket
Finally is a 39 ford COE with holmes 515(I know it's a ford) photobucket
Thanks
Brad

My 3/4 ton looks like 'mini-me' compared to all the big bolt tow trucks in here. The '54 has been in the family since '69. I grew up scaling to the top of the boom and trying to tightrope walk to the cab.(Man, I'm glad my kids haven't tried that one - yet )

54tow nice rig. my next project is a 72 C/20 ive had since i was 15 years old, me and my son are going to turn it into his first towtruck ... lol maders mini me

I own a 38 (I can't remember how to post pics! I'll have to do it later) 1 1/2 ton chevy with a hand crank Manley crane on it. I need to get going on getting it up and running. If only my wife didn't have such a long Honey-Do list. I have towed off and on all my life but now I just do it for fun. (I think I might have a fever)
Anyhow...... we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

Alex, Those under-reaches I have are original Holmes Hi-Speed Towing Cradles. "RARE" as Hens teeth. I had four at one time. Brad has one on the '53 Chevy COE Holmes Wrecker, I sold him. Sold another one to Mike B, for his '56 Chevy Holmes 525.They were first patented around 1935, & could be spec'd on a new wrecker until the early 60's. I was told by several old timers that back then, nobody wanted to use them. They prefered the tow straps instead.

You can check out my 1956 8400 wrecker in the Gallery.

Mike B

spanky, ill trade ya a hen tooth for one of em lol. i cant blame the oldtimers, i like my straps as well but a underreach would sure be nice sometimes. i hauled an new olds alero once and crept over the bumps cause i was scared id break it.thank god for my 4x4 post, it loads the bumper braces and rests on the tow chains. nice trick incase you ever need it. ill explain better if youd like me to just let me know.

mike, nice truck i couldnt find it in the gallery but i checked out your garage. im gonna try to get mine in the gallery soon, but first i wanna take some pics of mader a shining, hard to do when shes a runnin and then i get ahold of her and work on her all the time. dont leave much time ta wash her up like i need to be doing

have any of you fellas thought about upgrading to a underreach? i want to but i want to make it all myself.

I had a cable operated Kooima "Triple K" wheel lift, on the '67 Ford F700 Holmes 600 Wrecker I sold 4 weeks ago. It was cable operated, & worked fairly well. Wish now, I had kept it. Bought a '88 Ford F700 Holmes 600 Wrecker, with only 12000 actual miles on it(it's like a new truck), 2 weeks ago, from the local School Bus Garage, so now I want another Kooima Lift for it.

jeez spanky sounds like you got all kinds of toys. im jealous lol

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arizmendiracing/3533681413/in/set-72157618122508097/

a few pics of mader that gives a better look at her

I send some pics of my other truck as soon as I remember to get some. I will get a photo of the underlift Spanky is talking about and post it. You remind me of myself. I bought my first truck when I was 16 and I just don't know when to stop.
Thanks
Brad

Welcome!
Our 58 GMC is in the gallery.

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/petroff_tom_1958.html

TGP

I'll talk winches all day. Check out my doodle bug or winch truck, tow truck or what ever you want to call it. I call it the handiest thing I've ever owned, it will lift pull drag about any thing I need to move and you don't have worry about dents pr scratching the paint.

ttod the link you have dosent work got another?

Alex I have 65 C50 tow truck and when I brought it home the 2 1/2 yr old next door came running out hollering look mommy mader mader. Hilarious. I will try to put some pics on webshots and a link hopefully.

biglou,
that is how my truck got its name is from the kids in the neighborhood, ya gotta love em. post pics please id love to see my maders twin lol.