The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1952 Chevrolet 6400 series 2-Ton

Hello,

Here is my truck. It is titled as 1952 1.5 ton, but I've yet to locate the ID plate to verify. (Edited to 1952 Chevy 6400 series 2-Ton, after discussion here in this thread.)

Home for less than 36 hours, it's already given 20 miles of rides up and down our country road - including a trip to the recycling center carrying only a bin with empty milk jugs and tin cans in the 14-foot box!

After years of doing chores like hauling manure, firewood, gravel and brush on our 40 acre hobby farm using an ATV and pick-up, we decided to buy a small, older dump truck. For weeks I searched Craigslist, Ebay, farm newspapers and weekly shoppers looking for something suitable.

Several possible candidates appeared each day. Eliminating all that were too big or too expensive still left a nice selection of single axle dump trucks and grain trucks from the early 1960's to mid 70's. Most had smaller motors and shorter boxes. All needed brakes.

I'd never considered a vintage truck until I saw the Craigslist ad for the '52. From what I coild see from the photos the truck looked clean and straight. The steel flatbed had removable stake sides which we wanted for hauling logs and haybales. Plus, it had a rusty patina that made it look even older.

As a long-time antiques collector (vintage baseball equipment, Zane Grey books, Red Wing crocks, hunting/fishing gear) I've always considered lots old stuff as works of art. This truck had the look and I wanted to know more.

The listing was 10 days old when I responded, so I expected it to be gone. The seller said it was still available and was I only the second person to inquire about it. Was there something wrong with it I hadn't noticed in the description? Or did it just happen to go unnoticed?

After explaining the specs (quiet and strong 235 ci., 4+2 driveline, PTO hydraulics, all accessories and lights work and REBUILT brake system!) I made the 400 mile round trip to look at it. Impressed with how smoothly it started and ran, and with how solid it was for a 58 year-old northern Wisconsin truck, I decided to buy it. I'm working on the story of getting it home to submit in the "Saga" section of the Stovebolt site!

I've posted several videos on YouTube showing the truck in action. I'll post more as I get them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO17nl0-QaM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaVha7w9lYQ&feature=channel
Thank you for considering my truck for your website.

Thank you,
Loren West (hillbilly6977)
Bruce, WI

Loren, welcome to the Stovebolt. It certainly appears your patience paid off. That truck looks in really good shape and it looks like it ran down the road pretty good. Its a 1952 as it has both, push button handles and wing vents. The tag should be on the hinge pillar but it may be long gone. Did you look in the glovebox
I like trucks. They will earn their upkeep. Keep us posted on what you do to it. Thanks for the pics and videos.

Welcome Loren, looks like you got a good truck there. Bonus that everything works, too.

Leo

Looks like you got a nice one! It's a lot like my 47 (see link below). Even your speedometer is stuck in about the same place!!

Welcome to the Bolt!!

Hello Achipmunk, 1953 panel and Rich'sToys,

Thanks for viewing my post. I'm very happy with the truck. Most people I drive past give me a thumbs up, wave or stop in their tracks and smile.

All the truck needs is a passenger side mirror (I'll search for parts on this website) and the hoses that attach to the defroster openings. The seat is from a mini-van, but it fits and looks like it belongs there!

I plan to get some good used 7.50 x 20 tires and that's it. I don't even want to paint it.

As soon as dries out around here I'll haul loads of manure and firewood and add I'll more video of the truck working.

Thanks again,
Loren
hillbilly6977

I have yet to locate the ID plate. It's not on the door posts, fire wall or in the glove box. Can anyone tell me what model my truck is?

hillbilly6977

assuming you have cleaned under the seat and down in the cab corners and still haven't found the ID plate, you may have to accept the fact that it is gone. What does your title give as a VIN number? Maybe we can decipher that.

The title shows the VIN as KEA517163. I hope this helps. Thanks.

I am working on your Gallery page now and I just had to jump over here. This is such a great write-up you did for this mighty fine old truck. You have listed so many things in here that I thought I was gonna squirm right out of my chair.

I can't wait for the saga ...

This is great! I feel quite motivated so I should actually get the January 1 additions up before January 3. SEE, it will be a good year. LOL

Thanks,
Peg

Hello Peg,

Thank you for getting my truck onto the gallery page. I had to get my wife and kids to see it on the website!

Since my original submission I've learned that I DO NOT have a 1.5 ton, but a 6400 series 2-TON (thank you Spanky).

If you ever get a chance to update my gallery headline you can list it as a 6400 2-ton dump.

Thanks again for your great work. ~L