The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks I forgot how much I enjoy driving the 61!!!

I got the old girl all fired up and drove her to work yesterday! No major work required, but it was still a joy. I get all kinds of waves and smiles when I drive it around. People really seem to enjoy old vehicles.

Anyways, I enjoyed it so much that I drove her again today!!!

Love that truck!!

Kyle

Whoops...where are my manners...heres a pic of the truck...

[IMG]http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/14089/2243960150088346767S500x500Q85.jpg[/IMG]

I agree, I finally drove mine last Sunday for the first time this year. I wanted to keep driving it was so much fun.
You have a nice looking truck!
Joe

There is a local guy with a red 62/63 Chevy fleetside that drives his to work each day from Slidell to New Orleans. I've sen him many mornings in the right lane doing 55-60 minding his own business, folks blow pass him like he's sitting still. He don't care, he's driving a classic.

My '62 Suburban is about as "clean" as yours, but with a little more "park by Braille" over the years. There's no carpet, ratty seats, no weather stripping... and it's my daily driver. I'm happiest while driving that truck everywhere!

I've dropped in a low-horse crate engine (290hp) with a vintage Edelbrock C3B intake, oil fill tube and no-vent "327" factory chrome valve covers, replaced the junk rear end with a fresh-built 3.42 Posi Dana 44, '81-'87 Chevy 4spd OD manual trans, dual reservoir power brakes, all new brake lines and wheel cylinders, new radiator, 7-blade clutch fan, had the gauges restored, new wiring harness, rechromed bumpers, and last weekend I finally converted it to self-adjust brake mechanisms.

It's gone to Florida twice (the first time the rear end died 400 miles into it, but I continued on with the 1600-mile round trip), Maxton North Carolina (where the old wiring harness burned up) and about 10-15,000 miles of around-town driving each year for the last three years.

Get on the highway and honk right on down the road in the left hand lane with the overdrive. All my hotrodder buddies are impressed with it because it's pretty fast, and rock-solid reliable now.

Next up is a front suspension rebuild, clutch and brake pedal assembly rebuild, and then I'll get started on paint and interior. Also looking for a '60-'61 hood to go with my '60 grill.

So in short, DRIVE THAT SUCKER EVERY DAY!!!!! You can have as much fun with it every day as you did the one day you drove it. Once you get in the mindset that it's an old vehicle, and it WILL break down or have something go wrong until you've restored every piece of it. Until then, it's a great adventure and a good time.

There's something just absolutely right and good about driving a vintage truck every day.

-Brad

I have been driving it all week! It's a lot more fun that my little Japanese econobox...I sure wish that i could pull 40 mpg's out of the truck, then I wouldn't need the commuter mobile. In short...

STOVEBOLT OR DIE!!!!

I keep praying that I will be able to drive mine by then end of the summer but I am not sure that will happen. I finally got the entire truck in 2k primer and now having to work through some small places I need to putty.

I am wanting to spray paint in another month or so. I think i will be ready.

Take care god bless... Happy driving..

I used to own a 64 step that had full power and all the custom you could-regret selling- i am now building a 63 panel that i will leave all original, every once in a while i drive my boys around the block and love it-even with power nothing and one seat. qballjr@live.com

My son loves riding in the primitive Suburban, and surprisingly my wife does too. Though we're going to test that by driving 11 hours to Toledo at the end of this week.
What really surprises me is the soccer moms that like it! I've been asked a couple times in the school parking lot about it.

-Brad