The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1951 Chev Truck

Hi All,

I have just become the owner of a new (?!?) truck. I have been pouring over this site for the last week but thought it best I introduce myself.

I am located in Sydney, Australia.

The truck was found on a farm missing its brake master so I went about trying to fetch one. Not as easy as I thought over here. There are plenty of nice new boosted ones in the States so I thought I would do a little more shopping.

Performance online ship to Australia and with our dollar so high, it is a bargain. (a few years ago $1 aussie bought US 50c. Now, it is on parity!)

I am looking at this item and cannot figure out if it is the same 5 lug as on my truck or too small. Would anyone be able to assist please?

http://www.performanceonline.com/19...CONVERSION-KIT-5-LUG-COMPLETE-CBK5-4759/

Here is a pic of her...oh, and its the one on the bottom. Im already in enough trouble with that one let alone the one on its back! Oh, and it will be used as a car hauler for my racing cars.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t289/dmulally/truck1.jpg

Cheers

Damo

Well Hey! (how we say G'Day here ... ) Damo and welcome to the 'Bolt. Truck looks like a keeper fer sure.

The experts will chime in on your exact situation with that disc upgrade, but generally when you see performance stuff like that online and in the catalogs, it's for the half tons not the bigger trucks.

I've been assembling parts to do a disc brake upgrade to a ton and a half truck that Grigg and I are building, and we've had to completely switch out axles. I've gotten a Dana 80 rear axle, and the hubs/calibers and rotors for the fronts, but am still searching for the right axle for the front. We know we are going to have to narrow an axle but the trick is matching the diameter of the king pin holes. If you want disc brakes on that big Bolt, you are going to have to follow the same approach most likely. Grigg will be a good coach for that.

Again, welcome!

John

Thanks for the warm welcome John. :-)

I figured it was as such but thought I would try my luck anyway. Can anyone tell me what it is known as over in the states? As far as I know, we dont have the same models as you guys.

My VIN plate tells me that it has a GVW of 5 tons and 16 CWT. The chassis ID says CHEV I6IDG but that may be an Australian General Motors - Holden number.

Cheers

Damian

That kit is for a half ton. I don't believe you want to do a lot of modification as parts for the big trucks are often hard to find even in the State's. You should be able to buy a new master cyl. real easily. There should be a booster under the frame. It's a big round thing with brake tubes & a vacuum hose going to it. The truck looks like about a 2 ton model. 50-60 series. It probably has 5 lugs on the front & 10 on the rear.

Welcome Dmulally, that's a nice looking truck.By looking at the front hub covers and the GVW of 5 tons we would classify that truck as a 1 1/2 ton model.The wheelbase looks to be 161 inches which may have something to do with your chassis id. number.The same truck in a USA model would probably be the 4403. Have fun.

Thanks guys. Thats great info. I spoke to my engineer and he says I dont need disc brakes as such so Ill see how it goes. Ill post up pics of the rolling resto as it gets under in the next two weeks.

Great site. Im spending lots of time reading!

Cheers

Damian

Hi All

Have met with my engineer and he wants upgraded brakes which is fair enough. I have plans of changing the final drive ratio to get the speeds up on the highway and want to make sure it stops as well to match the engine upgrades. (has a 216)

I have seen plenty of kits/advice for the smaller bolts but wondering if I can adapt anything to fit my big baby?

Cheers

Damian

Hi dmulally, I would suggest to upgrade to dual master cynlinder for safety purpose.That what i will be doing with mine because i will be giving tours around town. Good luck

Hi

Quick question...

I was looking at the Carter 3.55 diff ratio upgrade and note that it says for 1/2 ton models.

I have sent a message to him but not heard back. Prob due to the break Anyway, would this exclude it from fitting into my girl?

Cheers

Damo

Damo,

You didn't say what size your truck is, but gear sets for 1/2 ton trucks will not fit anything larger.

The only gear sets available for our big bolts is what the factory offered. The cost to make gear sets with different ratios is cost prohibited...there just isn't enough demand.

Mike B

Hi All,

I went under and over the truck last night to take some pics. It is a Chevrolet 1100. It has what I think is a 216 and an open centre diff which I didnt know. It also has a two piece tail shaft. I guess this is more just for anyones info really.

Starting from the back of the gearbox showing the park brake to the biggest diff I have seen in my life. Anyone know anything about it?

http://img46.imageshack.us/i/43619324.jpg/

http://img217.imageshack.us/i/42612638.jpg/

http://img405.imageshack.us/i/91406451.jpg/

My dreams of lowering the front end came to a halt when I saw how close the stops are to the chassis rails. Looks like Ill be leaving it stock height. No biggy.

http://img843.imageshack.us/i/77008669.jpg/

Side profile of the Chev 1100.

http://img403.imageshack.us/i/89971550.jpg/

Cheers

Damo

Looks like your springs are shot you should have more clearance than that.

It isnt that big a deal to me. If I were excited I could get the axle dropped. Not that fussed.

New everything is on the shopping list. Only concern is engine. I dont really want to convert to a holden 6 but the chev 6's are so rare over here. I have been looking for a long time and can only find 30's stovebolts or the occasional $4000 bare long motor later model 292. I do have the v8 bell housing for my gearbag but am reluctant to use it.

Cheers

Damo

Quicky...

Does this look similar to what you guys have in America?

http://img193.imageshack.us/i/79943046.jpg/

Ignore the big red tank...it was my makeshift fuel tank :-)

damo, i took 4 leafs out of the front and it lowered the front about 3 inches. there is still about 2 inches of room from the stops to the frame. the most recent problem i had from doing this is one that i am currently in the middle of fixing. lowering the front made the drag link raise in the front about 2 inches giving me "bump steer" at speeds over 40mph. i am fabricating a new linkage now so that the drag link is level w/ the ground. this shoud eliminate the scarry truck trying to drive itself effect. i will let you know how it turns out -DVZ

Thanks mate.

I am looking for some new springs at the moment. I need a whole new floor so it may just be safer for me to channel the cab.

Hi Damo
I am in NZ currently restoring a '47 1 1/2 tonne. Our trucks will be the same- maybe yours has slightly linger wheelbase. I assume your truck is RHD and would have been imported fully built from Canada. You can call it a 4100 or 4400 which are the closest US models.

1- Springs. As you have no clearance, they will be shagged out or snapped at the rear shackle. Car ones fit but are much softer and mine had a car one on one side. You will find they are cheap to get made. If you are on a budget, old toyota corolla wagon leaves can be inserted, same profile and curve. Get the specs and full service manual from oldcarmaualproject
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/index.htm
You will see that your truck should have 9 leaves in the front springs. Which I see in the photo.
2- Lowering- leave it, its a truck. The centre of braking force (the spindle) is in line with the axle mount to the spring, to minise twisting force leverage into the spring. Lowering will upset this. And as stated above, the drag link wants to pivot around the pitman arm, to minimise bump steer which is strong on these trucks.

3- Brakes. I'm not sure who your engineer is, is that a mate or a legal requirement for modification? I dont know how the regulation works over there. You will see that the brakes are crude but simple and colossal, and were made to stop the most overloaded truck. The simplest path is to replace everything as original, all the parts are available. See links below. Unless you intend to add a lot of power, the brakes should be fine (mind you I have not driven mine yet, the chassis/mechanicals are complete, just starting on the body).

4-Engine. Your engine, if it was a canadian truck, will be a 216 with cast iron pistons, poured big ends and splash lubrication, making 90 bhp and geared to cruise at 50 mph max. I see acorn nuts and a small sidecover on yours so I think its got this original engine. The easy upgrade is a 54-62 blue flame which you will find easy to get as there is always some hot rodder replacing one with a 350. But in Aussie I agree a Holden motor would be the go , a 202 with a 5 speed would look the part, although I think best fit and cost would be a BA Ford Falcon motor (sorry all you Chevy purists). Or a Holden V6.

5- Diff. Yes its the biggest diff ever, 12" crown wheel and yours will be either 5.4 or 6.1 ratio. With the big 20" wheels you will be doing 3000 rpm at 60 mph with the 5.4. If you add a 5 speed with .85 overdrive, you get down to about 2500 revs and in a truck that weighs 2100Kg on its own, thats probably a good setup.
I think maybe the same diff was made in a 4.5 ratio in the V8 1.5 ton pickups 1955 through 1960 but I need to establish this for sure. Right now this is just a hunch.

Parts-
I have purchased off thefillingstation and Jim Carter. No problems.

Also look up http://www.truckandcarshop.com/trucks47_59/t47_content1.html
And there are others.

You will be gobsmacked at how easy it is to get most stuff. As you delight in your high dollar (unlike the Kiwi $).
Warning- shipping to Aussie and NZ starts at US$45, even for a washer, so order quantities, and then be amazed at the escalating cost. Freight usually makes up 25-33% of my order costs. And above a given limit ($500 in NZ) you will be charged import duty.

All the best and you can PM me or my email's in my profile.
But you'll always get excellent help in the big bolt forum.

Cheers

Thanks for a great write up. I have sent you an email so not to clog this up with down under talk.

Cheers
Damo

Quick question...again...

what would be needed to stick this diff in?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120669075002&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:AU:1123

the measurements of the perches are spot on. My rear wheels are 10 lug though so would the half shafts swap in and out so I could use my old rims?

Cheers

Damo

That is the vey diff that I think will fit. All you need is the diff head.
But you have to make sure it will fit in your truck. So you will need to do some careful measuring.
-Measure carefully your bolt pattern, and dont forget the UJ and also pull a rear axle and check the splines.
Mine are 41.7mm OD (1 5/8"), 10 spline.
They will have turned one wheel to get the ratio- this will give 2.2 turns through the spider gears, so its most likely a 4.5 ratio.
If you want I can do up a full set of measurements, i have a diff sitting on the bench- easy access.

cheers

rich

Gday Rich

Its cheap enough to buy just as a tester. If the diff centre doesnt fit then I could always use the complete assembly but have to scrounge new wheels. I always thought that the splines on the half shafts matched 4.11 and shorter and if I went taller I would need a new set of splines.

Cheers

Damo

I see I missed that auction- did you win it?
And I didnt get an email?
cheers

Hey dmullaly I just converted my big bolt to a dual master cylinder power brake set up from a 1/2 ton and it works great. My post is titles Power Brakes work!!! I'll be posting pictures and part numbers and ebay locations of where I bought my setup. Good luck and welcome to the Stovebolt!
BDF

Thats a shame Rich...I sent it to the one in your profile. It was war and peace and mostly about that diff and engine choices down under. Also about handbrake options if I lose the original gearbox for an overdrive.

The buyer on that diff fell through so I contacted the guy directly and struck a cheap deal. Only thing is picking it up but nothing is impossible.

Thanks BDF. I alread have a boosted brake setup but would love to see pics!

I have PM'd you with my work email. Far more reliable.
Copy the sent email and send it again.

cheers