The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Making progress...

Not sure that I ever introduced myself, but I've been lurking for a while. My dad and I are doing a frame-off restoration of a '54 3600 with a 4 speed and a '55 full-pressure 235. We found the truck on craigslist for $800, the previous owner having not the time or money to finish it. He had already completely redone the brakes, put the new motor in, new radiator, converted to 12v and replaced all the wheel bearings, so much of the hard work was done. Mechanically, all we've had to do is replace a spring hanger and rebuild the steering box.

So far, we've completely stripped it down, had the entire body sandblasted and all the body work hired out (cab corners, kick panels, crunched fenders, etc.). We power-washed and cleaned the frame as best we could and painted with POR-15. We're now starting to put things back together, starting with the painting the interior of the cab and then we'll do the wiring harness and all the inside-cab stuff.

Still needs exhaust and a front-end alignment, but other than that, it's basically re-assembly, paint and tracking down missing parts. Can't wait to get it back on the road! Here are some pics:

http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0643.jpg
http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0641.jpg
http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_0642.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2043.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2045t.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2046.jpg
http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2044i.jpg

Coming along nice. What is going to be the final outside color??

Hey, you gonna come out to the Stovebolt Reunion in Sept? Heck, the speed your making you may even be able to drive it to the reunion!!
Thanks for keeping us posted.

The outside color is going to be something called "Dark Torreador" red. Looks kid of like black cherry or a dark red wine.

I'm in KC, so I probably won't make it to the East coast, but I've heard they have several big events here. It's nice being within short driving distance of 3 of the biggest parts suppliers in the country. No shipping!!

While we do have a Southern Stovebolt REunion I was referring to the one in KANSAS this coming Sept 11-13th out at Riverfront, or maybe its Riverside, Park. Not far from ClassicParts.

You are lucky but if I lived that close to the parts places I'd come home broke every day

I'll see you at the reunion in KANSAS,Mo.

I'm jealous. Lots and lots further along than my 54

Ah yes, Riverside, right next to Kansas City, MO. If you call it KANSAS I might have to take offense. Jayhawks are from Kansas and we are most certainly NOT Jayhawks!

I will definitely check it out, whether or not my truck is done. Is there a website or some other information about it?

Edit: Nevermind, found it: https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=31&page=1

Yes it has it's own thread. Let's keep this one about trucks please.

Just having a little fun We'll definitely make it to the show.

Also, got my second and third coats done on the interior tonight. If we can keep the dust and bugs out of it, I think we'll be good to go on the interior, for now. I'm sure there will be some touch up later.

If everything looks good tomorrow, I'll start in on putting the firewall cover, floor mat, various rubber pieces, hole covers and wiring in. Lots to do now that the paint is done. Getting excited.....

Making some more progress. Starting to get the front clip put together. I have learned that getting all that sheet metal to line up and fit is more of an artform than anything. Here's some pics:

http://img99.imageshack.us/i/cimg0015f.jpg/
http://img99.imageshack.us/i/cimg0014o.jpg/

It's been a long time since I updated this, but we have made some progress. The interior is nearly finished (just need door panels, ceiling and a few odds and ends) and we are starting to get the exterior paint done.

What do you think of this color?

http://img31.imageshack.us/i/092ct.jpg/
http://img294.imageshack.us/i/093r.jpg/
http://img822.imageshack.us/i/094g.jpg/
http://img706.imageshack.us/i/095ob.jpg/

I gotta laugh, it looks like you are so excited about color on the truck that you are having issues with keeping the camera still and in focus...lol. It does give ya the itch to get it done quick, but take your time and keep up the good work.

haha...yeah, my dad took those pics when he went to check it out (we're having a buddy do the paint work). Looks like he was having tremors or something

Holy crap! They don't get any redder than that! Great looking truck!

Great color!

You guys are doing some top notch work.

What a beautiful color chicklin... Great work you accomplished so far !!!

Got another better pic today with the frontend put together. Still need to get the bumper and splashguard painted.

http://img340.imageshack.us/i/paintedcab.jpg/

Great color combo!

What color is the front end? Black? The lighting makes it look a little different, looks great though.

That's really going to look nice once you get it polished

j/k

Yeah, it's just black. The lighting probably makes it look a little funny. Our three colors are buckskin on the inside, that dark red on the outside (Torreador Red, according to Dupli-Color) and black for the grill and bumpers.

We were originally going to go with all black on the outside since that was the original color but changed our minds. I think it would've looked good either way (especially compared to primer). All black would've been pretty mean-looking, but the red looks good, too.

That truck looks great! I just had my '56 painted, (Cortez Silver Metallic), and also had the grill. bumpers and headlight brezels painted jet black. Really like that black accent-it kind of sets the truck off (Yours also)!

Great work Chicklin, you couldn't have picked a better color!

Still moving along. Got the truck home and got the headlights in and wired up as well as the tail lights. Gotta figure out the turn signals and parking lamps. The previous owner seems to have been about halfway through adding the turn signals.

Got a new rear bumper from Classic Parts and driver's side mirror so it's a little safer to drive.

Also picked up a new drag link. It wanders all over the place now and that drag link literally flops around when you yank on it. Will have to re-check the steering box (which I rebuilt) after we get the drag link replaced. The front end has already been aligned and a new tie rod and tie-rod ends installed.

Took it for a nice evening drive tonight with the lights on. Got it up to 50 or so and there was a TON of throttle left. Very happy with the drivetrain, but I was too scared to go faster than that with the crappy steering

Here's a new pic. Just waiting on the bed and rear fenders to get painted and we'll be about 90% of the way done. All the little stuff we can work on while we drive it.

http://a.imageshack.us/img412/2541/cimg0066i.jpg

Great job!!! Iam getting inspiered by your progress. Thanks Floyd.

looking good, thanks for the progress pics. enjoy the ride

That is going to be a sweet looking truck. I like the red and black combination.

Thanks. I really like the color, too. We are going to do the running boards black and the rest of the rearend in that dark red. Black bumpers and black wheels and just a few chrome highlights (door handles, mirror, badges) but not too much.

It is looking good.

Running boards back on and starting to get the bed put back together. Still waiting on the paint/bodywork for the bed sides and fenders.

http://img839.imageshack.us/i/cimg0079.jpg/
http://img839.imageshack.us/i/cimg0078u.jpg/

Almost there, can't wait to get it "done" (as in looking like a complete truck again. it'll never be done).

I'll just let this one speak for itself

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...18103674_534738674_5349534_6214676_n.jpg

Still a lot of work yet to do, but man that one feels good.

That is a goooood looking truck. Great job

Wow, great work. That's inspirational.