The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 3600 Pre-test UK

Hi Everyone

My saga goes on but I will not give up, I will drive my truck on the UK roads !!!.

The M.O.T. tester today said it would fail a UK test on not as many things I thought it would fail on, so I am beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. It would fail on the following items ....

1. NO HORN
2. REAR LIGHTS FAULTY
3. FRONT SPRINGS INVERTED WITH ONLY 5MM CLEARANCE TO RUBBER BUMP STOPS
4. NO SHIM ON ONE SIDE OF LEAF SPRING, WITH LOOSE BOLT
5. NO REAR NUMBER PLATE LIGHT
6. NO WIPERS
7. NO WINDSCREEN WASHERS

I have included the photos below, can I ask these questions please.

A. Didn't the 1954 3600 have washers to clean the windscreen ?, this is a UK fail.
B. Please can you look at the photos, have I anything missing from my vacuum wipers apart from the obvious 2nd rubber pipe.
C. I have lubricated and now have all the rods and links moving very free apart from the centre one which the rods connect to which is central on the main unit, this is stuck in the position shown ( should this move freely too ? ).
D. The knob and wire was not connected up, have I got the wire in the right place secured under the washer and screw ?.

ALSO .... Several engine bay photos are on the link, can you see anything missing, the manual shows a T-Piece connector for the vacuum pipe. I have a loose wire which I think I've traced back to the OIL GAUGE, where does this connect to.

http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd42/cut7jag/CHEVY%203600/

Gary,

A. No stock windshield (windscreen) washers in 1954. GM accessory windshields washers were sold but they are extremely rare. I'd bet that no one will post that their 1954 truck originally came with GM accessory windshield washers.

B. It looks like all the parts are there.

C. If I understand your question, and you are referring to the vacuum wiper motor, the center pivot (on the vacuum motor) will work when you have vacuum. I think you should be able to move that pivot off the truck. Internal lubrication might be needed.

D. When you rotate the knob, does the cable move on the wiper motor?

It looks like you have some sort of PCV set-up? You will need a T-fitting at the intake manifold - one hose to the PCV(?) on the oil filler cap and another hose to the wiper motor.

Where is the loose wire? The 1954 USA temperature gauge is mechanical and does not have an electrical lead. The Canadian 1954 truck might have had an electric lead to the temperature gauge.

I do not see a T connector on a vacuum pipe, unless you are referring to the ported vacuum line from the carburetor to the vacuum advance unit on the distributor?

Your oil filter appears to be connected to a fitting on the distributor side of the engine. This works but is not the original location for connecting an oil filter line.

There is a lot of chrome "bling" in that engine compartment. Are your inner fenders chromed?

It appears to me the temp gauge capillary tube is in place. It looks like the oil gauge tube is going through the same hole in the dash but is not connected to anything in the engine bay. Is that the "wire" you are referring to?

Dadgum Gary what do they expect it's a bloody 60 year old truck.
You might be better off switching to electric wipers with all that fog and rain over there.

pick up a universal windscreen washer pump kit and plumb it in...
not availible in 1954.
oil pressure guage (factory) runs off tube fed oil pressure

Horn can also be bought aftermarket and wired to a push button switch on the dash

licence lamp also easy to install....

Is your truck lowered?
Judging by all that chrome in the engine compartment your truck may have been a show truck at one time. You don’t see very many chrome steering mast/inner fenders.

If you put stock springs on the truck you will have to re align the front end.

the shim your missing might be a caster shim

Check your rear spring against your assembly manual. Number of leafs, routing.
My ½ ton truck has 3 inch (76mm) clearance between the frame and rubber stop. I don’t know what the 3600 should be. Maybe someone will post.

Gary,The wipers,horn and lights are obviously an MOT fail,although if the wiper system defeats you, you could try the old Brit favourite, the BL/Austin/Morris set up.
This can be adapted to fit the AD truck,and you can reverse one of the drive boxes to provide the correct sweep.

I didn't know the washers were a fail point,I guess I better start looking for a set-up myself.
(I assumed if they weren't original equipment,they couldn't fail it?)

Sounds like the PO had the springs de-arched to lower it,5mm
doesn't provide much suspension movement though,especially on our roads!

Hi tclederman

Yes central pivot is stuck at the angle on the unit, all rods are free.
Yes the inner wire goes in and out when I rotate the knob.
I now know I need a T-Piece for both pipes to connect up to intake manifold.
The wire is the one 'cletis' mentioned.
Yes inner wings are 'blinged up', I have now posted more photos on my link.

yes that's the one, where does it go please

cheers for that

ok will do ... more photos now on my link

Hi Jock

Cheers, and glad I learn someone something the other way for once !!!