The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1948 1.5 Ton Chevy Loadmaster

Picked her up about 3 weeks ago from a field in Ft Collins.

[image]http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp243/jrdecat/IMG_20120523_135724.jpg[/image]

It was a rat motel for the last several years.

[image]http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp243/jrdecat/IMG_20120523_135359.jpg[/image]

We had to pull start it, but I drove it home (60 miles) using the handbrake to stop. Immediately started cleaning her up. I have removed the seat and anything that could smell of rat from the inside. I need a new transmission cover and some other small things but she's coming along quite well. Got a new battery, new plugs and wires, and then something got plugged in the fuel system. Tank is disgusting, check out the sending unit:

[image]http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp243/jrdecat/IMG_20120613_165059.jpg[/image]

So that's where I'm at now. I've dropped the tank, thrown it in the bed and purchased a new poly tank from craigslist. Now I just need to get it mounted and plumbed into the old fuel lines which I had disconnected from the pump and blown out. I also need to replace the rubber gasket that is just under the lid of the fuel pump. Anybody know where to get one? It's the pump without the glass bowl.

As she sits now...

[image]http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp243/jrdecat/IMG_20120526_191430-Hagrid.jpg[/image]

first post and i failed getting the images to post correctly. hi, i'm the smart guy.

jrdecat, what are your plans for the truck? I'm sending you a pm.

Plans for the truck are to get it driveable and use it for a tailgating rig at softball games and community events. I'm going to keep it as original and stock as possible.

Decided to resell the tank I bought and use a beer keg instead.

So I know I said I was going to keep it as original and stock as possible, but I was thinking of rebuilding the bed since it is falling apart. If I am going to even consider hauling anything it will need attention. What are your thoughts on shortening and narrowing it? I want it to be functional, but also not look too modified. I would love to have a bed that I didn't have to have those monkey bar mirrors sticking out.

Still waiting on my supplier to get me a beer keg to use as a fuel tank.

Got my beer keg today. Now I'm waiting on the weld in aluminum fittings to arrive and she will be road worthy. Spent a great deal of time today scraping out the last bit of insulation from the firewall this afternoon. I can't wait to put her all back together and take her for a real drive!

Keep your headboard and side boards low and you can use shorter mirrors. If you narrow the bed you will either have to make fenders or single out rear duals to keep tires from slinging debris every where. You will likely want to replace insulation, these trucks generate a lot of heat and cab noise. Nice find, bonus it came home under own power.

Wow, small world (wide web), jr, I just read your whole story, earlier today , on Old Chevy, I believe it was.

I was thinking about you while walking around the junkyard, looking for a fuel tank.

Did you get the old style beer keg or the new cylinder style?
Whatever the case, your lucky having that fab shop next door.

I have the 2 ton '48 stake dump with a newer body.
Full width and height bulk head, welded on, so I'm in the same boat with the mirrors, I picked up some "monkey bars" last week at a show.
I'll use them for now, I wasn't ready to drill holes in the door for west coast mirrors, but, I'm definitely keeping the stock shorties, which I like, for the future, someday I will do something with the bulkhead.

I'm a bit of a cheap bastid, as well.
I keep repeating to myself, "Just what you need for inspection, just what you need for inspection"
Although it doesn't seem to work very well.

Good luck with your project,
D.

Hi Diamond,

I have a thread over at 67-72 ( 67-72 ) , so I be that's where you saw it. I've got a lot more pictures and such over there.

I got the old 15.5 gallon style. The kind you think of when you think "beer keg." The cylinder kegs just didn't hold enough, although I like the size and shape a lot better. I would have had to llink 2 of them together to get very far! I definitely lucked out with the fab shop, as the owner is way into old cars and trucks and loves to work on them. We do a lot of business together and he will work for beer too. He's got a really nice '49 Ford and a LeMans that you can see in this shot:
Cars

Did you find a fuel tank? I'm also doing just enough to get past inspection and get tags on the old ride. Sadly, I'm already considering selling it. There's a nice '49 chevy flatbed with '88 blazer drivetrain, axles and 4wd gear that I'd really like to have. I can't get too many projects going as I'd never finish any of them. The '49 would just be so much more functional than the dumper. You know, since it goes over 40 mph and all.

Hey KB,

I will definitely keep the bed wide enough to keep debris from slinging everywhere. The right side is considerably wider than the left so I can gain a few inches just by evening them out. I also don't need quite as much length. I have the LWB version at 161"...it's just long. I will definitely put something in there for insulation and noise reduction. Removing that insulation opens up a lot more holes through the firewall as well so I will need to close those up. It would be especially dangerous to drive now, since the exhaust has separated from the manifold. All my exhaust now empties directly into the engine bay. That's about item 12 out of 1764 that I need to get to.

My fittings came in to day for me to weld up my fuel tank, but they sent the wrong parts. I ordered 1/2" NPT weld bung and got a 3/4". I guess I could spend $2 and buy an adapter, but I am cheap and they need to send the right part. Funny thing was that the label showed 1/2", but the fitting was definitely 3/4". I guess it's not really their fault...just their crappy supplier over in China.