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Fixing the old truck

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Johnnyc47
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My truck is a 4400. Is that a 2 ton, or 1 1/2 ton? All I know, is I LOVE IT!

link to a photo of my truck

Last edited by Woogeroo; 10/23/2010 8:32 PM. Reason: tweaked topic / hope for more info.
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Very cool! Welcome aboard! thumbs_up


"My tires and tubes are doing fine, but the air is showing through" smile

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Extreme Gabster
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It is a 1½-ton. You'll find lots of info about it in the Big Bolts forum.


"It's just a phase. He'll grow out of it." Mama, 1964

1956 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100
1953 Chevy 6100 "The Yard dog"
1954 GMC Suburban Now with a new proud owner.
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'Bolter
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That truck is friggin SWEET!!

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Shop Shark
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Looks like a mighty short wheelbase.What was it used for in its former life?

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'Bolter
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Wow! Now that is cool!

Good luck...
What are your plans with it?


1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton Truck
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The coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
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Socket Breaker
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I'm going to guess that it was some kind of an aircraft tug.

Something along the lines of a truck that pulled things around on a yard.

Neat find.

Welcome to the 'Bolt.

Can we see some more photos of the side and the back of the truck?

-W

p.s. I moved this topic over here to the Big Bolts department as I figured our experts could shed some more light on it.


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WOW that is a short one!!! Cool truck looks lowered too. That thing would make a very cool Hot Rod have a set of super single wheels made for the rear put a little short flat bed with a beer keg fuel tank on it and some big power and you would have a fun Bigbolt toy.
Welcome aboard!!!!


The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
Grant from Roy, Washington
1956 6100 Chevy Dump Truck in the Gallery
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'Bolter
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Cool truck. What modifications have been done to the frame. Too short to be a factory wheelbase. Especially if it's a 4400 series. Looks even shorter than what a 4100 series would be.


Spanky Hardy
Collector Of Fine Old G.M. COE Trucks & Antique Holmes Wreckers

1948 Chevrolet 5700 COE Holmes HD W35 Wrecker
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New Guy
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Hi all,

Since John seems to be MIA from this thread for the past couple of days I'll chime in as he's told me all about the truck...I'm a bit jealous! (and um, how's this for my first post?)

The seller told him it was a 1 1/2 ton truck that was shortened eight feet, and supposedly the frame was "flipped" (assuming that means the suspension was flipped) so it rides really low.

Here are more pics of it stolen from John's facebook page:

(good thing I read the image posting policy :p )

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/...80380226_1852033637_583603_7860991_n.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/...580220222_1852033637_583602_944512_n.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/...80140220_1852033637_583601_6938778_n.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/...80020217_1852033637_583600_2042226_n.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/...79900214_1852033637_583599_5843128_n.jpg





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he is taking a 3100 bed and chopping it to 65" (I think) and is going to widen the rear fenders to fit over the dual wheels. It will look amazing when he's done.

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Johnnyc47
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Actually it was a farm truck that had been sitting for many years. The previous owner shortened the frame by 8 feet and did an axel flip so it sits bout 7 inches lower.

Last edited by Johnnyc47; 10/25/2010 7:28 AM.
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Johnnyc47
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Originally Posted by garandboy
he is taking a 3100 bed and chopping it to 65" (I think) and is going to widen the rear fenders to fit over the dual wheels. It will look amazing when he's done.

Exactly!

Oh yeah....Short term plans are,
1)Mount a factory bed ( will have to be shortened)on the frame with factory fenders that are widen'd to accept the dually's.
Basily I want it to appear as if it came that way from the factory. The fenders and bed will be painted to look just like the rest of the truck.
2)Repair the rot on the cab lower corners.
3)Fix the bump steer issues from lowering it.
4)Put a new muffler on it
5)Paint my shop logo on the doors
6)Cruise the heck out of it with my wife and daughter

Long terms plans.....
1)Install a Durmax diesel with the allison trans
2)Cruise it long distances to all the shows and or gatherings with my wife and daughter


Last edited by Johnnyc47; 10/25/2010 7:37 AM.
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Please keep us updated on your progress!!!! That is going to be a really cool truck!


The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
Grant from Roy, Washington
1956 6100 Chevy Dump Truck in the Gallery
1964 GMC Drump Truck in the Gallery
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Cool truck. Has the rear axle been converted to spring under axle?


Jason
1946 GMC COE
1967 Pontiac Lemans Convertible

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Originally Posted by Jrpontiac
Cool truck. Has the rear axle been converted to spring under axle?

Sure has

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I like it, very cool looking, would look neat with a shortened wrecker body on it!
AM


1946 Chevy 1/2-Ton
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix on Photobucket

Sometimes I forget where I left myself....
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Johnnyc47
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Just brought my new bed home last night...Time to start measuring, cutting and welding...Wooohoooo!

Last edited by Johnnyc47; 10/30/2010 2:57 AM.
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I agree. very cool ride. I recently acquired a 52-6400. The bed was shortened about 6ft. I like the idea of tbe pickup box, Keep those update pics coming.
Resto44

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Johnnyc47 thats a cool ride. Id love to see some close up pics of the axle flips. Im sure theres lots of guys on here that would like to see how it was done. my 49 2ton would look cool and be alot lower for loading cars onto it.


I suffer from ADAD (Advance Design Acquisition Disorder)
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Johnnyc47
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Well, today I got the bed semi mounted on the frame. I shortened it 11 inches, narrowed it 5 1/4 inches and lowered it on the frame by 3 inches. Im not too happy with the hieght. It looks a bit higher than stock, so more metal will be removed...LOL

Its a start, here are some pics. As for the axel flip, well only the front was flipped. It turns out the when the frame was shortened, the rear section was welded on top of the existnig section which lowered it 7 inxhes in the back...

Here are some pics...Got a ways to go, but will be cool I think.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...75725086_1852033637_645439_5938797_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...75885090_1852033637_645440_4645089_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...76045094_1852033637_645441_3419804_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...76525106_1852033637_645445_4527919_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...76725111_1852033637_645447_4044471_n.jpg


Last edited by Johnnyc47; 11/07/2010 4:39 AM.
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looks great! thumbs_up glad to see that old bed get used.

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Johnnyc47
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Thank you for the great deal! Time to start on the fenders!

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Johnnyc47
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Got more done today. I cut the driver side fender apart and added a 10" wide filler peice to clear the duallie's. Its just phase one and I have more little piece's to fab up and weld in, but you get the general idea of how it will look. I was also not happy with the hieght of the bed, so more metal was removed and it now sits much closer to its proper hieght. Here are a few pics enjoy...Can wait to get this all done and drive her around town.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...11325972_1852033637_654669_8077616_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...811405974_1852033637_654670_506899_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...11525977_1852033637_654671_6229787_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...11645980_1852033637_654672_8085477_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...11205969_1852033637_654668_3576161_n.jpg

Last edited by Johnnyc47; 11/13/2010 2:34 AM.
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It looks really good. The proportions arent off at all. That thing is going to get looks whenever you drive it buddy!


I suffer from ADAD (Advance Design Acquisition Disorder)
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Originally Posted by Unsafe6
It looks really good. The proportions arent off at all. That thing is going to get looks whenever you drive it buddy!

Thank you! I really enjoy this ol gal too!

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I agree, that will get some looks and comments. Great job


1954 Chevy Half-Ton
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I really like it looks good!
I have often thought of using one of my big bolts to make a large 4x4. I would add a pick-up box stretch the wheel wells on the box just enough to match the front openings. Find a suitable late model 4x4 frame and running gear to put it all on and run 44 inch swampers neatly tucked in the fenders.


The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
Grant from Roy, Washington
1956 6100 Chevy Dump Truck in the Gallery
1964 GMC Drump Truck in the Gallery
user
http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/56Taskforce/slideshow/
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Johnnyc47
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I can see it! I think you should do it!

Originally Posted by HevyHauler
I really like it looks good!
I have often thought of using one of my big bolts to make a large 4x4. I would add a pick-up box stretch the wheel wells on the box just enough to match the front openings. Find a suitable late model 4x4 frame and running gear to put it all on and run 44 inch swampers neatly tucked in the fenders.

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Looking good.

Just one question though.....How do you plan on changing the rear tires?


1946 Chevy OS 1.5ton, 1955 GMC 3100, along with other various IH,Ford,Nash,MGB,.....
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Originally Posted by Jungerfrosch
Looking good.

Just one question though.....How do you plan on changing the rear tires?

Good observation!


1953 Chevrolet 3600
Fried Green T'mater (Vern)
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Johnnyc47
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I welded blots to the inside of the fenders where the original hex nuts installed. Now they bolt up from the inside of the bed. 5 half inch nuts, and the fenders come off and tires can be changed. Also...I dont plan on driving the heck out of it for that to be such an issue...As I extended the fenders, I knew that they will need to come off easier becasue of the duallies...PLus its not that important to me. Ive owned drag race cars forever. Usually one has to jack up the car as high as possible to change the slicks...This is cake...LOL

Last edited by Johnnyc47; 11/17/2010 12:59 AM.
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Not the most user friendly...but not too bad a solution. That's a really good idea to have it bolt from the bed side.

Even if you did drive it a lot you only really have to pull wheels off one or two times a year to check brakes etc. You could add a hinge at the top too so that you only have to pull the bolts and prop the fender up. It would make it easier to line up holes and you wouldn't have to lift the fender completely.


1946 Chevy OS 1.5ton, 1955 GMC 3100, along with other various IH,Ford,Nash,MGB,.....
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Humm...I like the hinge idea!

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How about hinges on the rear of the bed with a hyd ram (dump truck style) then simply raise the bed and work on any rear end parts.....(Just my oletimers kick'n in.) Ya could haul more weight than the bed would hold.

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Been a while since Ive posted up here guys. Hope everyone had a great holiday season. Finally go to do some more work on "Nelly". Got the passenger fender split and widened. Hope to get some more welding done tonight. After the welding its time to shorten the tailgate, then sand blast the bed. After that, some bodywork on the rear fenders, and prime and paint the bed to match the rest of the truck...I love this thing more than my race cars...

pic1

pic2

pic3

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Hi Johnny,

Are you able to tell me how the front got so lowered? I noticed it says that the frame was flipped. Does this mean the front beam axle is above the chassis rails?

Cheers

Damian

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Johnnyc47
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Hi Damian!

Actually the axle was flipped to sit over the leaf springs. The rear was lowered when the frame was cut. Instead of joining the frame as normally, the rear most section was welded on top of the front/exsisting section. This created the 7 inch drop out back.

Johnny C

Originally Posted by dmulally
Hi Johnny,

Are you able to tell me how the front got so lowered? I noticed it says that the frame was flipped. Does this mean the front beam axle is above the chassis rails?

Cheers

Damian

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that is sweet. I cant wait to see it when its done.


*UNDER CONSTRUCTION*
1953 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton-previously abandoned resto.

My Project Bolt

I hate when people leave their brains at home. Seriously when did critical thinking and customer service go out the window? How about common sense and striving to go the extra mile? Idiots, surrounded by idiots it tell you.
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Thanks Johnny,

I can understand how they flipped the rear but the front has me stumped.

Wouldnt the curve up to the kingpins be the wrong direction if the front axle was flipped?

The front of your truck and the rims are exactly what I am going for. I felt lost until I saw the pic and thought, thats for me!

Cheers

Damian

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