The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts My new 1949 6400 miracle truck

I just bought a 1949 6400 off ebay last week. The age old question: how to get it home back to Tulsa Oklahoma. The seller said it ran well but might need brake work. I own an auto repair garage so I knew I could handle an breakdowns, assuming I could get parts. I thought I would take a chance and drove up to basically South Dakota with my employee. The truck was better than I hoped. I was in love. I had wanted one of these monsters from the first time I climbed into grandpa's two ton and put my hands on the big steering wheel. I fired the old girl up, bleed the brakes and started cruising. The truck hadn't been driven in about six years and the old tires were rock hard. I knew cruising would be about 40mph but even at that crawl the tires were beating me to pieces! Here is the miracle part. The truck did not break down once. Blown tire, split break line, water pump, electrical short? No problems. The truck was still six volt and I could not BELIEVE how bright the headlights were at night! I have repaired cars off and on for twenty plus years and I am amazed that I was able to drive the truck back trouble free. I have alot of plans for the truck and I have already learn so much just reading old posts on this site. Thanks guys.

cool how about pictures. glad you had a safe trip.

Wonderful it is always great to hear about a fellow Stove Bolters' successful adventure. But of course you know it is now time to write it as a story with pictures!!!

COOL
I hope to see the truck in KC next September.

2-Ton

I will post some pictures when I find my camera. We moved recently and who knows where it went. The truck is that famous dark green, so I told the wife I specially ordered it in shamrock green for our first anniversary. We were married on St Patrick's day last year! I got it parked in the driveway and every few hours I go outside to look at it. I'm not really into naming cars, but I think I am going to name this one Truman. I think I am going to write 'Truman for President' on the bed.

Great story! These trucks were built to survive the real world.

Everyone else wants pictures,I want to know how long it took you to make the trip back and how much gas?

The trip was, according to google, about 625 miles. The trip/adventure took about 18 hours of driving over two days. I probably averaged a little under 40 mph when I was cruising. The truck's speedo had been stolen earlier, so I just listened to the engine to gage speed. I would also get bored and call my employee following me, and ask how fast (or slow) we were going. I would say I average nearly 12-13 miles per gallon. I based this on the fact we were going 40 and used three to four gallons of gas per hour. I forgot to mention that nearly everything on the truck worked! All the gauges, the horn, even the turn signals. I will try to get some pics up in a day or two. Because I wasn't at work for TWO WHOLE DAYS, the phone is ringing often so I haven't had time.

I drove my truck home too, about a whole 40 miles whoooopeee. . My truck beat the crap out of me, but it was just a cab and no deck. I was lucky I didn't kill myself after the brakes failed while I was driving it around my property months after getting it home. Needless to say all new brakes, lines, master cylinder, wheel cylinders, and hydrovac. I can't imagine driving it as far as you did. Did your door ever fly open, mine did. Then I broke the window slamming it shut. Drat. I know now not to slam the door with the window down. I bet you never forget that trip, nor will the employee following you. By the way, did you hit any snow?