The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Greetings from a newbie! - Iowa

I have been lurking on this forum for some time, attempting to gather some information. I didn't have a Stovebolt, but had been looking for some time.

This last Saturday, Karma intervened, and essentially threw a nice truck directly in my path and would not let me go until I bought it!

I ran across a 1950 3100 with a resto/mod that was started about 8 years ago. It is surprisingly solid and mostly complete, less some parts I'm hoping will be relatively easy to acquire. I am expecting delivery some time this morning and will be able to take some pictures at that time.

So, give some advice for a first time newbie. I'll be happy to hear from you!

Welcome to the Stovebolt Fiftyfifty. You are now home. You'll spend more time here with great folks than anywhere else on the web.
Had a 50 once myself back in the 70's. You made a good choice. The parts for an AD pickup are easier to find since a lot of the parts interchange over the years.

Sounds as though someones misfortune is your good luck. Unless the truck is in pieces I'd recommend getting it running, and stopping, and let it talk to you before you make any rash decisions. On the other hand if its all torn apart then you need to "do it once and do it right". Its just more fun to drive and work on them than look at them for years before going for a ride.

Good luck and looking forward to some pics......oh, just be sure to ask your questions in the most appropiate forum for maximizing your answers from those that have "been there,done that"

Fiftyfifty, welcome from another Iowan! What part of Iowa?
Achipmunk is right-on, let the truck talk to you, mine does every day. Most important; do what feels right to you. Our trucks are an extention of ourselves.

hello there, I just finished a 50 3100 last week. And this forum really helped me out a lot. Achipmunk and Hotrod Lincoln and a lot of other folks on the forum helped me out a great deal. And always was there to answer any question I had on my restoration. So if you have any questions drop me know. Here is a link to my album on the restoration I completed. http://community.webshots.com/user/tracern1/tags/50-chevy-truck-restoration-project/albums

I really appreciate the responses so far. It looks like karma has made the decisions for me in 2 areas: 1) Throwing the truck in my path and 2) forcing me to visit this website! And to think I was originally looking for porn.....

The previous owner showed up with my "Nifty Fifty" on the flatbed at about 10:00 this morning. I had already cleaned out a corner of the garage in which my wife is letting in me squat. We unloaded the truck by actually driving it off the trailer and backing it into the garage. WHEW! I was able to quiz the PO about some details, and here they are:

1) The rear end and springs are out of a '69 Nova. It is a 8.5" 10-bolt
2) The front suspension is out of a '70 Camaro.
3) The engine is a late '90's Vortec 350.
4) The transmission is a Turbo 350
5) Front wheels are 14" and rears are 15"
6) The rear suspension has had at least one leaf removed
7) The cab is attached to the frame, and the bed is disassembled and sitting in my garage.

I have also been graced with a bunch of "WTF?" parts. They are unidentifiable to me, but luckily, I have a mentor who will be able to help. He has previously told me to sit down and make a list of what I have and what I need.

Here's what I'm missing (at first glance anyway):
* Left Rear fender
* Tailgate
* Bed parts
* Seat and backrest
* Curved glass (5 window)
* Gauges/Speedo
* Title (Oh Yeah. I was sold "parts" to a 1950 Chevy pickup. I have a VIN, and will have to file for a "Bonded Title")
* Some more of this and a lot more of that.

For those who asked (I think it was TwoTone) I live in Des Moines. My wife is getting excited about this whole project and even wants to go to "The Gathering on the Grounds" (http://www.thegatheringonthegrounds.com/) tonite to get some ideas.

It's been great so far, guys! I appreciate the advice and the support. Pile on!

its a small world someone in australia is interested in what you are doing up and enjoys driving a 57 chevvy pickup great help here dont be shy to ask anything people will help

Oh Oh.....what do I do now?

I have to file for a Bonded Title in the State of Iowa. I took what information I could off of the Serial Number tag and ran it through the VIN Buster offered on this site. I found out I have a 1949, not a 1950! I texted my wife that it was a year older than we were told and it most likely was worth twice as much because of it. She immediately sent back "SELL IT!" She made me cry.

Now I'm stuck with "Fiftyfifty" moniker yet driving a '49! What do I do now?

for starters, you did buy an incomplete pile of parts, as listed above, not a truck, so call it whatever works applying for a title, back in the day vehicles were registered by year of sale not by model year - then you can change your 'moniker' by clicking on 'MyStuff' above, select Edit Profile' and choose a new screen name good luck with the project

Bill

Hey Bill..thanks for the advice. I think I'll stick with the Fiftyfifty thing for the time being, though. Has a nice ring to it, you know? Anyway, it may very well prove to be a '50.

It was manufactured in March of 1949 in the Kansas City plant and somehow migrated to southern Missouri.

Anyway, it's all rock and roll to me. Now to find parts!

Soooo........where are the pics?

OOPS! Almost forgot. Thanks for the reminder.

Take a look at these:

http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q640/Niftyfifty49/

Looks like your well on your way. Keep us posted on your progress and thanks for the pictures.

That thing is UGLY! I like ugly! That looks like it's going to be a fun project. The saga begins

Yeah she may be ugly but I can't wait until tomorrow, cause she gets better looking every day!

Stripped about 10lbs of extraneous wiring from under the dash and hood. The builder used a complete wiring harness from a donor car. My mentor told me to keep cutting wires until the engine quits. Very scientific don't you know!

And cut I did. And quit it did. And, it only took me better than 4 hours to figure out what I cut. Turned out I had knocked the BATT wire off the distributor while trying to strip out some of the wiring. Duh...........

In the meantime, my mentor stopped by to check on progress, and made some recommendations regarding the balance of the wiring. Looks like I have many days of sorting through a dysfunctional wiring harness ahead of me. Good thing I don't have a job!

My mentor has done at least two pickups and a Suburban. He drove up in his immaculate '49 Ford. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing.

You Bolt looks great (have a blast with it)

Hey Cliff: Thanks for the support and advice. It's not as good looking as some on the board (yet) or any one of yours, but with support and advice like yours I can't fail!

First time poster here as I just purchased my '50. It's not even home yet and has no motor or trans. Rear is 10 bolt however. I've been lurking here too and have read a lot of stuff here that's REALLY scary but I'm still excited as hell.

Welcome! Looks like a good solid project! Lots of help and friends here! Don't sweat the bonded title thing, I had heard horror stories, but was as easy as sliding on ice! Mine has a bonded title. And we are neighbors! Have fun with the "NEW" toy!

Howdy Neighbor! Looks like you've done some interesting things yourself. I'm really looking forward to learning how to do it right.

Paperwork on the bonded title going in today. It might take a little luck, but we may be good to go.

Hope to see one of your projects up close someday.

Fiftyfity
You have an open invitation to see the projects! You name the day! Best of luck with the truck!