The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Newbie's 37 1.5 Ton

This is my "ran when we parked it" truck.

http://s1098.photobucket.com/albums/g375/ejohnson34/

The pictures are from where it has been sitting.

Welcome aboard Eric. You've got a real project there. When questions, doubt or buyers remorse set in or it just gets you down and in a funk we are here to lift and help. Now get to work.

Um.....when was it parked?

Looks like a fun project

Tad

Looks like you'll be staying busy in your spare time. Lets see the interior.It will be a real head turner when your done!!

Thank you guys,

I believe the truck was parked 35-40 years ago. It was used for moving hay for a number of years before it was parked.

It will take a herculean effort, but I am hoping it will be worth it.

The Interior is practically non-existant I will post some pictures after I get it moved. Should be a couple of weeks.

One nice thing is my wife's Great-Grandfather was the original owner of the vehicle so she is excited about this project too (for now).

Eric, great truck! It looks quite a bit like mine (see link at bottom of post). Right down to the missing grille.

I really like the driver side mirror. That was probably useful to see behind the hay stack.

Welcome to the bolt, and keep the pics coming once it's moved.

The family connection definitely makes it all the more valuable.

Don't know what your experience is with restoring old vehicles, but one suggestion would be to do the mechanicals first. Don't even worry about looks at all, get the brakes working and the engine running. Then get some lights working. Then you can enjoy it as you look for parts or plan the rest of the restoration. Most projects get abandoned when they are in pieces all over the shop and it just gets overwhelming to have to put it all together again. If you can drive it for a bit sooner it may well help with the motivation to see you through the rest.

If you have the motivation and support though by all means tear it all down, it will be the fastest way to the end result, just make sure you are prepared for how much time it will take.

And how ever you approach it make sure you take lots of pictures to share with us

Tad

I'd allow three years and at least $10,000.
If you havent restored a vehicle before, get it running and take your wife for a ride in it, even just up and down the drive. A hostile spouse is the death knell of many projects. Build a picture of the finished product in her head, with photos from the net etc, and hold them there throughout.

Buy a load of those little and larger snap-lock plastic bags. As you pull small parts off, put them in the bag with a description of where they came from and any other notes, and keep them in a box. You'll need reminding a year or two later when its time to put them back on. This helps keep all the bits organised.
Big parts are harder to confuse and lose.

Sit and look at it for a few months, pick over it and get a list of whats missing and start the search, which ios a continuous background activity and part of the fun.

I agree with Jungerfrosch, do the mechanicals first. Usually they are not so bad, or easier to find, and once its mobile again you'll be on the downhill slope.

Good luck!