The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Panel - Panic !

So, as promised, here's my Panel truck panic thread.

I'm going to ask all sorts of dumb questions here, and I'll show the progress too. I figured that you Panel 'N Burbs types might like to follow along.

First off, this won't be an award winning restoration, by any means. I'll be patching the truck up, doing the best job I can on a tight budget, for a daily driver.

Now, I'm not a total newbie to the bolt here, but I don't often post too much. I've been driving my '50 Chev 1 Ton for the past three and a half years or so, and have racked up about 17,000 miles.

Now that being said, I don't know anything about 1/2 tons! Or panel trucks, so as always, there's lots to learn.

You can see pictures of the truck here in this thread

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=767616#Post767616


Its a Canadian GMC, so that means its a Chev, with a GMC grill. It would have had a 216 in it originally, but now has a 235.

This brings me to my first question. On the head, the casting number (3836848), according to http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/1916-57cast.html says that its a 1956 235.

I see from the interwebs, that engine is listed at 140hp. That's huge! What are the major differences between this 235, and the 216 that I'm used to? Will this have hydraulic lifters? I would guess that would depend on whether this engine came from a car or truck. Now, I bet that some of this might be obvious, but the truck doesn't arrive here at my place until tomorrow. I'm like a kid at Christmas, I can't wait until tomorrow.

Ah, I was reading further, and see that unless the engine came from a hyradamatic car, it will have solid lifters.

Here's another SCHOOL BUS

different profile

This one is in Texas and has 30,000 miles on it if you can believe the seller. I posted it in the ebay/craigslist section.

Here's some information that will help you identify your engine. CASTING NUMBERS * INLINERS

The 3836848 head was used '58-'62. It may have also been available in '56 as you stated. It is a desirable head because it had a compression ratio of 8.5:1

The Hydra-Matic was used in trucks and the Powerglide was used in cars (at least up to 1956). Nonetheless, a 235 engine in a Powerglide-equipped car (except for a Corvette) would have had hydraulic lifters.

The later 235s had that higher compression head and maybe a higher lift cam and a different carburetor compared to earlier 235s. No matter the details of the differences, the engines do indeed perform noticeably different.

Oh-boy-oh-boy-oh-boy-oh-boy!

I transfered the registration today. I'm going to sweep out the garage tonight, and maybe sit in the seat I've had here for weeks, and make engine noises.


Vroooooom-vroooom!

Okay, the eagle has landed!

What's up with these wheels? I've got one with the hubcap clips like one would expect, but what's with the other three? They do say GM on them, are they from some 60's truck?

What are the odds that I'll find somebody right around me to trade the three, for three with clips, so I can have some sweet hubcaps?


Here's the pics.


Hubcap type.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1701.jpg

other type.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1700.jpg

Yes, "other type" is a later style wheel.

hey, don't be dissing Canadian GMC's, they are not Chevs with GMC grilles, they have Chev engines but the rest is all GMC with same the differences in detail

those clipless wheels are the 60's 70's ones, and the one you have with clips looks to be a 55-60 style, with only 3 clips, earlier ones have 6 .... you'll be searching for awhile to find ones with clips, never mind trading, if you can find some of the 60's wheels that still have the holes where the clips go, you can get the clips from vendors

Bill

Ahh. I thought that might be the case. I only noticed when I was taking the wheels off. I'm going to have some sweet used tires mounted. I didn't want to have to spring for another mount de-mount in the near future. Sounds like that just won't be a problem. I'll go ahead and put these wheels on the truck, and search while I drive. It's not like I'm going to be finished the truck before I stick it on the road anyway.


I thought the Canuck GMC's were on Chevy frames too.
I do find all the differences between our (Canadian) and the USA trucks. I was so amazed when Truckernix told me about the Canuck radios, twice the output!

Tell me more!

I got the truck cleaned out this afternoon. And I cleaned the bottom, and scraped all the old grease and oil off too. I also scrubbed the wood floor off with a paste of TSP. The floor looks good now. A little sandy-sandy, then varnishy-varnishy.

Back to toiling now. There are many places that need some penetrating oil!


Also, I though the shifter in my one tone was close to my leg in reverse. Geeze this thing just about pushes me out of the truck!

Okay, I was out poking around the panel just now, looking at the mighty engine.

The Carb tag on the Rochester BC says its from a '62 235 car.
Where the heck should I be looking for the casting number on the block?

Here are locations of codes on USA high-pressure truck engines.

Thanks Tim. I guess the numbers are under the junk. Today's projects include some kerosene cleaning of the block.

I'll also be taking the brakes apart, I'm hoping the wheel cylinders are in good enough shape to rebuild, and not pitted.

While on the brake subject. I was always taught to hone the brake cylinders before putting the new seals in. In the shop manual, they don't seem to do this at all. Is that because the cylinders were to "new" to be pitted?

Also, should I flush the lines with brake fluid, or use alcohol? I always have a few gallons of methanol here for dissolving shellac. I'm going to be replacing the hoses, but the steel lines all appear to be in great shape.

I also need to figure out if the truck is indeed six volt, or twelve. There are some six volt bulbs in the truck, but the previous owner had a 12v battery in the truck. I suppose I'll collect the numbers off of the generator, and voltage regulator and figure out where I'm at. Who am I kidding, I'll probably shove a six volt battery in there and fire it up and see what becomes of the voltage.

Thanks for your help everybody!

Okay, a big day on the homestead here.

I flushed and back flushed the block, rad, and both heater cores. Look at all those hoses!

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1711.jpg

I took my oil filter apart, only to discover, it had a home made toilet paper conversion in it! I've got a NOS Frantz for this truck too.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1726.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1725.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1722.jpg


I did a compression test, all cylinders are 130 lbs cold! Holy Cow! It's gonna run like a scalded cat!

While doing this, I noticed that there was no oil getting pumped into the oil filter, you see now why I had taken it apart eh?

So, off came the pan, and though I knew it was a full pressure 235, it was still shocking to see no dippers and troughs!

Look at all the gunk on the rockers. I'll bet that tube is full of sludge!

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1728.jpg

Now, here's the bottom of the engine. You can see I took the oil pump apart. Should there be a gasket in-between those halves? Also, the shop manual says to look for excessive wear, whats that look like?

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1732.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1731.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1733.jpg

I also drained the transmision, and took the side plate off, to have a look see.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1744.jpg


Also, drained what appeared to be ATF out of the rear axle, but hey, it sure is clean in there.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1746.jpg

Hey looky there, it's the heat shield just like in the catalogues.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1749.jpg

Angled spare tire bracket.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1751.jpg

I also started taking the brakes apart.

The rear
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1738.jpg

Front
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1740.jpg

Now, those cylinders sure look the same to me from the outside, and yet all the suppliers list the front and rear kits, and cylinders separately. Hmmmm.

Okay, I've got 'er running, you might have noticed me posting an endless assortment of dumb questions in the engine forum.

I've been busy like a beaver, and have refaced all my gauges, and cleaned up the wiring harness. After cleaning the connections, everything works, even the dome lights! So that makes me pretty happy.

I still have what I would call a bad miss in the engine. The engine is idling at about 20 inches of vacuum, but the gauge isn't steady. Tomorrow I'll install the new dizzy cap, and rotor. I also fixed the accel pump and rebuilt the carb, and rebuilt the fuel pump. Surely all these little things will add up to a smoothing running better starting engine. I'm still at the point right now, where I have to pour gas down the intake to get it to fire, but after-which it runs fine by itself.

Soon I'll be on the road, so watch out! I'm just waiting (not patiently at all ) for a master cylinder and some brake springs coming from Jim Carter.

I also splashed some paint around inside the truck, sure makes it brighter then the brown and black paint that was there. I can't wait to get on the road.

If the wheels are the same size and have same inner diameter you can drill the holes in rim and get clips from e-bay or aftermarket. I bought some aftermarket and they are exactly like original. Go to Tractor supply to grt the rivets and ping them in. Easy fix.

Ahh, one of my wheels is the early 60's type I'm told, it has the hub cap clips. The other three are the later 60's type, that take the "out side" fitting hubcap, that doesn't use the clips.

I'll take some pictures today, and post them here of how things are progressing, as everybody like pictures!

Okay, here are some pictures of the truck so far. I'm at a standstill right now, waiting for the master cylinder, and waiting for my one ton to sell so I can get more money for parts! As it is, I'm ready for the road. Well, okay, I have no windshield yet either. Wait Wait Wait!


Here's a picture of my rims, I've brushed one coat of red on. Also, I bushed some white walls on there. Unfortunately the darn paint doesn't seem to dry on the rubber. I'll give it a couple more days, but I think I'll have to clean it off, and start over. Maybe I should have used latex paint.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1785.jpg

Here are a couple pictures of the inside. I splashed some paint around in there, as it was pretty dark before.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1783.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1782.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1781.jpg


My muffler broke in two, so I patched it back together for the time being.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1775.jpg


I've been wrenching on the mighty 235.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1770.jpg

Here we have the vacuum, finally running where it should be.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1769.jpg

Here's the smoke, at idle with the engine running! I expect there'll be some rings in my future!

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1767.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1765.jpg

Here you can see all the tiny dents sticking UP in the roof! Looks to me like the roof was caved in at some point, maybe more than once!

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1779.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1777.jpg


I sure am enjoying myself working on this, and also can't wait to keep working on it, while driving it. I also polished the grill, and can't believe how great it looks, aside from the dents. There is no flaking of the chrome on the back side even, which does surprise me.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP1772.jpg

Christopher, I know how you feel. Each little process takes you one step closer to the end. Stay with it and drive it with pride. Thanks for the pics and keep'em coming.

That is a great looking truck! Your work is also looking top notch. I can almost guarantee that when you start using this as a daily driver/work truck you won't go back to a pick up. I started using a pickup again after about 6 years and found that the panel is much better and more versatile. I am finally getting around to getting the body work done on mine so I am taking it off the road.

Keep up the good work!

Yes, it's going to be great. The deck is sooooooo much lower than my 1-Ton! also, it's got more room inside than the truck does (loadspace). Won't be goo for gravel though... Hahaha.

Well, I've been running the truck in the driveway here everyday, letting it get up to temperature. It doesn't smoke now until it gets right up to temperature, then it smokes! This is also when the oil pressure drops, when it gets warm... Being the cheapskate that I am, I'm goin to switch to a 160 degree thermostat, as it has a 180 in it now. I usually run a 180 in the winter, and a 160 in the summer. I had the 180 laying here, so used it. When I change the oil, which will be soon, as its pretty ugly, and perhaps diluted from pouring gas down the carb to start it, I'm going to switch to heavier oil too.


I'm still at the "have-to-pour-a-little-gas-in-the-carb-to-start" stage, but it starts instantly, and runs idles fine.

I suspect my fuel pump fittings are seeping, and letting air into the lines. I also suspect my darn Rochester BC carb. What I can't figure out, is how the fuel gets into the accelerator pump. There appears to only be one little opening down there, and thats for pumping the gas up and out. Is the gas just supposed to suck into the well past the pump plunger gasket? This assumes that the level in the bowl is high enough for that, and also assumes this is how its supposed to work! Hahaha.


Other that this, things are progressing nicely. I even have the master cylinder now. The only thing I'm missing now, is one door lock clip. I'm pretty excited to have an ignition, instead of having to use a piece of wire with alligator clips.

I also have a pair of 50's volkswagen seats to mount in the rear, for that station wagon look!

I would be looking for a Rochester B where you control the choke. It sounds like she is coming along. Maybe the new oil will surprise you.

Fred

If you are going to replace the Carb, I would recommend a Carter YF with a manual choke over the Rochester.

Yes, I've always heard good things about the YF carb, I have W-!'s on my 216, and I like them.

The carb I have now, should have an automatic choke I think.... It might be the BV carb though, as it has some kind of vacuum piston hooked up to manifold vacuum, and to the choke. Although there is also a fitting where the "stove" would hook up. I just used a gasket that blocked that off for now, and run the choke manually, while standing next to the fender. I'm going to sort through all the stuff I have, and see if I can't come up with something better, even if its a 216 B bowl and top, on the 235 base.

I had an automatic choke carb on my '49 poncho, which worked fine, but it sure liked to stay on for longer than a hand controlled one would.

I'm busy bumping the roof, fenders, etc right now. Its neat to see, that there isn't any bond on the truck anywhere..... Lots of lead filler though! The lead is still stuck on really well, so I'm leaving it. I've just reshaped the edges, and cut it back, in the few places where the feather edge was lifting. I'm hoping to get the filler and primer done at least before I start driving it too much, as its so wet here.

The rear fenders will be a bit of a challenge, as they are so very beat up. you can't see both sides at once right? Hahahaha!

I'm sure I'll need to redo some areas again later, but at least it'll look presentable.

Well now, here's an update.


I just got home (under my own power I might add) from my first road test.

I'm on the road! Hussah!!

I still have hundreds and hundreds of things to do, but I'm at "driving around stage" which is great, 'cause I sold my 1-Ton a week and a half ago, and now I have a truck to drive again thank goodness. It was getting pretty chilly for riding the motorcycle around.

Here are two pictures of the bus as it is now. Later on I'll do some fender-fixin'.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP2003.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP0001-7.jpg

I did think I had about a half tank or so of gas. The old bus quit on me as I drove up the hill into the gas station. I figured I'd fix it under the canopy on the flat after I filled it, so I started putting gas in.... And it just kept going in! After a while I looked under the truck to see if maybe it was spilling out somewhere, but no-dice. The dang tank was empty, that's why it quit running!

I'm going to go out and seal up the windows, and stick the rear signal lights on.

You have that panel looking pretty nice. I guess now it will earn a living!

Yes, soon the back will be full of cremation urns I'm shipping out and delivering this week! Then after that, I have some cabinets to haul to a house!

It sure rides smoother than the 1-Ton, but I can tell I'll need to fix my lever-action shocks, as soon after I poured oil into them, it fell out onto the garage floor!