The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Fixing the old truck

BUSY BOLTERS
Are you one?

Where is it?? The Shop Area

continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
8 members (greenie-reddy, Deegs53, Cosmo, Otto Skorzeny, TooMany2count, DennisM, IHPWR, 1 invisible), 555 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics126,781
Posts1,039,297
Members48,100
Most Online2,175
Jul 21st, 2025
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#656232 06/20/2010 11:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,001
D
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
D Offline
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,001
I just purchased a very rusty (mostly surface rust) 1952 Chevy 1/2ton. The truck is 100% complete and original. It even had the windsheild eyebrow or whatever you call it.

So, I am new to the old truck scene, but not new to car work or restorations. I plan on doing an original restoration with a couple possible exceptions (I could be talked out of these): disk front brakes for safety, chrome grill, IPE bed for durability.

The truck even has a factory blank off plate where the radio would have gone. No one ever installed a radio in this truck!

Last edited by Peggy M; 06/29/2024 6:38 PM.
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,201
F
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
F Offline
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,201
Welcome to stovebolt. If you have any questions, Ask away, there are a lot of good folk here willing and able to help.


1953 Chevrolet 3600
Fried Green T'mater (Vern)
In the Stovebolt Gallery
Caution: Political Statement
Man who runs in front of car gets tired, man who runs behind car gets exhausted.
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,185
Leo Offline
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,185
Hey David, I will wish you luck. Welcome to the site. Those visors certainly add to the character of the truck. Having good brakes is always a good idea, I sometimes second guess my decision to stay with the single action master cylinder and the drum brakes. I hope you enjoy the restoration process, you can always ask whatever you need to know.

Leo

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 136
O
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
O Offline
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 136
Welcome David, hope you enjoy your 52 as much as I enjoy mine.


1952 Chevy 3100
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pictures in Photobucket

Doin better'n some an worse than others. Life's what ya make of it. FAMILY, GOD and COUNTRY. Love it or Leave it.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,750
J
'Bolter
'Bolter
J Offline
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,750
Hi David,glad you could join us.
Sounds like you've found yourself a good original,'unmolested' truck.
The folks here will keep you on the straight and narrow.
Good luck and don't forget some pics.
Jock thumbs_up


1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in Scotland
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix on Flickr.
I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings
"Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 112
A
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
A Offline
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 112
Welcome Davis to the clan!
I think at the same way of "1953 panel", the original brake system is the good enough if you keep your truck original. Mine works great.
Don´t forget to show us the progress of your truck, we love PICTURES.
THANKS
Alfonso

Last edited by Peggy M; 07/21/2014 10:30 PM.
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,001
D
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
D Offline
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,001
Well, I went out today (truck is still in field of PO) to take a few more photos of the truck and to get the serial number off the engine. It looks like the engine is the original 216 (KBA) from 1952.

I also notice the heater was a simple box with an "Arvin" plaque on it. Being that the truck is in Texas, it might have to go.

I will probably keep the original brakes unless the cost to rebuild them exceeds the cost of adding disks.

I will post pictures if I figure out how.

Last edited by DavidF; 07/02/2010 10:04 PM.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14,522
Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall
Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14,522
Dave, welcome to the bolt and good luck on the restoration. There are a lot of Bolters in and around Texas so your in good company. Thanks for the pics.... and oh, your truck looks great especially compared to what some of us start with smile


1937 Chevy Pickup
In the Gallery
1952 Chevy Panel
In the Gallery
More photos
1950 Chevy Coupe
Pictures!

I'd rather walk and carry a Chevy hub cap than ride in a Ferd.
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you smile
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 63
U
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
U Offline
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 63
wish you all the best with your restoration , disc brakes I think would be a good idea as its other drivers that you need to watch out for , original braking system was good for 1952 not for 2010 conditions , I recommend a supplier near you ( at least the same state) http://www.americanclassic.com closer to you than me
regards
andrew

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,442
Bolter
Bolter
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,442
Good luck with your new ride. The guys/gals here like um all different ways so do it to your taste. Several very experienced "Bolters" in your neck of the woods so if you need help just holler!


Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)

Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 738
Joy Offline
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 738
Wow, That is a very nice truck. I guess people use to talk to each other rather than listen to the radio. Even in my 50, the engine noises competes with the radio. Good luck and welcome to Stovebolt!

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 117
T
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
T Offline
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 117
Nice truck David. Welcome

Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 231
6
'Bolter
'Bolter
6 Offline
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 231
Looking good, welcome to the forum!


1963 Chevy C-10 Fleetside
2010 Chevy HHR SS GONE, NOT FORGETTEN
2003 GMC Z71
2016 Silverado High Country 2500 Diesel
2012 Chevy Camero SS Convertible
2012 Indian Chief Vintage serial #002 motorcycle
2016 Indian Chief Roadmaster

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 26
M
MJD Offline
Apprentice
Apprentice
M Offline
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 26

David -- The Arvin heater was on a lot of trucks back then, we had a '49 Dodge pickup with that Arvin.
Also the radio delete plate was pretty common on the farm trucks around here, not many had radios at all, just basic trucks for working back then.
I wish you the best in your project, looks nice to see a complete truck and something still original. They really were great transportaion at the time !!

smile


mjd

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 118
B
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
B Offline
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 118
Nice truck, I don't see what I consider rust. She looks pretty solid with just surface rust. I'm use to rust that people can fall through up here in Illinois. Nice truck!

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,001
D
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
D Offline
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,001
Yes, mostly surface rust. The cab corners have rot of course, but otherwise very solid. Yes, I have come to realize the radio delete was very common, but I guess my main point was that no one ever installed a radio over the past 50+ years...to me, that is unusual.

Currently, I am in the process of cleaning out the work space and finishing up other projects so I can get started on the truck...maybe in a couple months when the weather turns a bit cooler here in central Texas.


Moderated by  Achipmunk, Rusty Rod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0
(Release build 20240826)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 8.3.11 Page Time: 0.026s Queries: 14 (0.023s) Memory: 0.6690 MB (Peak: 0.7808 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2025-09-22 21:01:03 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS