The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Hello from Rabun County Georgia.

My name is Paul Denicola and I just got signed up as a forum member. My brother-in-law, Elwood Bright, farmed for years in the Mississippi Delta ( D.E. Bright and Sons Farms, Doddsville, Ms.) and he gave me a 1946 Chevy 1 1/2 ton grain hauling truck. He parked it running in 1971 under one of his barns. We pulled it out in the fall of 2011, took the Army 2 1/2 ton truck body off the back of it and I trailered it to my shop in Rabun County Georgia. I am doing a complete rebuild. I am not going to do an "authentic original" rebuild but rather a rebuild that will make the truck safer and easier to drive and maintain. The truck VIN is 3 OS I 07809; 3 is St. Louis, Missouri plant; OS is 1946 (Interim Series), 1.5 ton, 160" wheelbase; I is September production and 07809 is the 6808th unit made in 1946 (07809-1001=6808). The model number is 4403 and it has the "Thrift-master"216.5 cu. in. engine. My first accomplishment was tackling the wheels and tires. I decided to go with modern one-piece welded wheels and radial tires. I purchased 6 Accuride item number 29667PG wheels and mounted Dynatrc ST990, 8R19.5 tires on them. I went to a local machine shop with a mounted wheel/tire and one of the brake drums with the hub on it and had them make spacer rings that will take up the space between the new wheel hub hole and the original truck hub so that the new wheel will still be "hub centered" and not move around on the hub when mounted. The tires are a few inches shorter than the originals but I was willing to make that trade off to get rid of the split rims and bias ply tires. My latest effort has been disassembly of the front cap and removal of the cab which is now complete. The truck is in great shape with the exception of a "locked up" engine. I purchased a 235 cu.in. replacement engine locally to get modern bearings and full pressure oiling. I also bought a spare transmission that was available with the replacement engine. My next project is to get the brake system rebuilt so I can remount the wheels/tires and move the chassis around easier. Wish me luck. I've gone through lots of cut-off disks getting those rusted bolts off and couldn't have gotten this far without the help of my brother Jim Denicola and friends Bill Newman and Jeff Reichmann. As soon as I can figure out how to post pictures I'll do so as I have been documenting this entire "journey." Thanks to all you "bolters" who have given me the information and encouragement to get this far.

Welcome Paul. Sounds like you made good decisions sofar. Just keep at it with a plan and soon enough, it will be on the road. Good luck and enjoy getting it back together.

Leo

Paul, welcome to the Stovebolt. I have not looked to see how close you are to my place.(Spartanburg area) but you are welcome to the 5th Southern Stovebolt Reunion 28th April. You can find details in the "Side Lot" forums.

Looking forward to the pics. They can tell quite a story.

Welcome to the Stovebolt, Paul!!

Your saving another '46 bolt!! That's awesome!

We want to see !!

Paul,
Welcome!
Good to have another Georgian represented. I live in Clarkesville,Ga. Habersham County.
Good luck with your truck.
Harold

Thanks for the Reunion invitation. I'm not too far from you but have that date already committed. Hope I can attend next year

PJDRETIREE...a lot of bolters are down around Ga. and it'd be nice if one of the Ga. guys would hold a gabfest/reunion next year. It'd give all the Ga. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Lousiana guys a closer event and one that I could take the 37 on a road trip!!
Good luck on your project. Let me know if I can help.