The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Road trip for a 1949 1/2 ton Chevy

Winter has been holding out alittle bit so we thought we would fit a road trip in between the cold fronts. Bought a 1949 1/2 ton Chevy in Murdo, SD. We live in central Florida. About a 1800 miles away. We left Wednesday, drove about 900 miles by morning and found snow in St. Louis, Mo. All the itiots were on the road trying to get to work. One crash after another, car into walls, ditches, and upside down. We lost most of the day and didn't get but 200 miles done. Once we left Kansas City that evening we drove to Sioux City, stopped at a rest area to nap in the truck cab. We woke up to -2 degrees. Not use to this cold of weather. We got back on the road and drove to Murdo at about 11am. My friend Tom had bought some other 1928-30 Fords also. We had to dismantle the cars to fit on the back of the truck. The 1949 is on the trailer with two other cabs. This is a two day job having to work in the cold weather since it has snowed here too. We got one car done and had to call it a day. Got a motel room this night. Saturday had went well, got all the car bodies apart and loaded. The truck is packed full and the trailer is full now too. The chevy is a bit banged up but very little rust. Motor still turns, hope to get it running soon.
Check out the pictures so far, more to add. Need to sleep for the next two days of driving away from snow and rain I hope.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/582171303FexACX

Sounds and looks like a great adventure.

Thanks for the pics. That was great!!

This morning we have to finish the tie downs and hit the road.

Neat stuff and really enjoyed the pics. And what a great selection of vehicles. Lots of work ahead and fun I hope!
Have a safe return trip to sunny and warm Florida!

Let us know if you ever get back to Fla.. lol

Still heading down the road, alittle trouble with a trailer tire. Had a nap before St. Loius and almost to Nashville. Another 12+ hours togo. Everything still on truck and trailer. Very cloudy today so far.

I feel for you. After having all of my sheet metal blasted down in the Hill Country, I hauled it all home on a 16' trailer. I still don't know how much I lost on the way back.

Time for some mountain climbing up Mouneagle, Tenn.
Getting closer!

Time for some mountain climbing up Mouneagle, Tenn.
Getting closer!
Now south of macon, g

Arrive Alive to the Sunshine State. Got it all back in one piece, that was in one piece. A quick nap and get back to work today.

Congratulations on escaping the crazy's on the road. Keep us up to date with pics as you progress on these old bolts.

After getting back from South Dakota less than two weeks ago there was time to work on the 1949 5 window pickup. After a big breakfast on Sunday morning then get dirty. Tommy had cleaned out the interior earlier so the pressure washer was firedup and getting all the grime off the engine and compartment. I washed out the interior next. The whole truck got washed. The engine turned with the hand crank atleast. Hookedup jumper cables to the the started and it too is turning. Next pull and clean the spark plugs, points, cap, wires. The fuel pump worked too, so drained a pint off old out of the gas tank. We took the carb apart to clean it but it looked great.
The motor has a rebuild tag attached to the block so the truck may have 167000. The king pins are pretty wore.
After pulling the valve cover and oiling down the rocker it was time to try to get her to fire. Added some gas and pushed that started button. Hear alittle spark for a second but didn't start. Had to mess with the points some more since these were still all the old parts on the truck. Tried again I pushed the started button as Tommy sprayed started fluid and messes with the trottle. Finally it fired up for a moment! Thought we better put some water in the radiator, and then there was water running out at the back of the block and under the radiator. Someone had removed both plugs. Kept it from freezing atleast. Got them in place and fired her up again. Got idling pretty smooth. No cloud of smoke, only a warm soup of grass seeds and stuff. The generator wasn't charging was I put the battery in the bed and left the jumpper cables connected. Tommy got to drive his truck as I tried to take a picture or two.
The brake peddle wasn't working but the clutch does well. The front tire is flapping a big chunk of rubber on it but it was driving around the yard. Made a big loop and even got to beep the horn, it worked too.
Finally steam started coming out from under the hood, the radiator hose sprung a leak. The soup was cooking now. She cooled down afew and then drove her back by the garage.
Took out the ratty seat and replaced it with a descent one from another truck, it looks good inside now.
Looking forward to going to Moultie, Ga. this Friday. May haul her there to sell already, almost too nice to let go after all the fun its been this month. It cost too much to keep them all.
I bought a 1933 Chevy truck on ebay last night so it will be time for another road trip in April.
I added some more pictures and a video, I need practice at that as you will see.
It has been a great day today! Had alot of fun and got something done.