The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk First long trip in my stovebolt

So now that I've got my truck in pretty decent running condition, I'm thinking about driving it 500 miles from Virginia to Massachusetts. I got the truck in early November 2011. It has a remanufactured 235, all new radials, new master cylinder, brakes, and brake lines. Also, a new clutch, a clean gas tank, new gas lines, a rebuilt carb, a new fuel pump, and lots of other new or rebuilt components. I've had it on the highway at 60 and it feels pretty comfortable. I don't plan to go any faster than that.
My experience with this truck has been that every couple of weeks or so, it presents some new problem. But now I've got everything ironed out, it seems. I have to admit I'm gun-shy. I just don't know what this thing is going to do next. But after you've eliminated all possible problems, shouldn't you just be able to enjoy these old trucks except for the occasional maintenance or repair that crops up once in a while?
Right now I'm trying to put together a route that doesn't have me on the interstate for the entire trip, though I suppose I could do that. I'd like to take parkways and side roads if I could.
Anyhow, I have a cell phone and a credit card and AAA membership. I've read the threads on what guys take with them on long trips.
I'm seriously thinking about it. I would report here on my journey.

Maintaining our old trucks is an ongoing process. Afterall, your '56 is over 55 years old. Even when they were new they needed more maintenance than a modern vehicle and the maximum life expectancy of an engine was usually under 100k miles. If you just wanted to drive from Virginia to Massachusetts I would think you would just take a modern vehicle. So, I suspect that you are looking for more than just a drive, you are wanting an adventure! I say go for it! I don't think you'll be sorry, even if you have to fix something along the way. It's just part of the whole experience. Prepare for it as best you can and enjoy the ride!

I realize I am a new member and this is literally my first post, but i saw the topic and had to read it, therefore prompting me to reply. Earlier this month I left Fort Myers, FL for McPherson, KS in my '65 c-10 with a 230in and a powerglide. I was moving so I had all my tools with me, and some I put in a tool roll for easy accessibility. Roughly 1500miles and I must say, she never missed a beat. The motor has great compression, and I rewired the truck completely last year, as well as a new alternator, water pump and a few other non-motor related things that needed repair. My dad and I drove an average or 60-65mph, singing along to the 2dollar 8-track player in the dash, checking the fluids at every other gas stop. I did have a cellphone, and even AAA as a backup plan, never needing to use either.

I say go for it! I've ridden my motorcycle many a miles, but I've never taken a vehicle this old on a trip this long and I don't regret a second of it. I dropped 4qts of oil due to a leak, and had to reset the floats on my carburetor when i got here (shes my daily driver- i rebuilt it about 6months ago) but talk about fun! I fully encourage anyone with an older vehicle to take it out and use it for what it was designed for- DRIVING!

Right. If I was just interested in getting there, I'd drive my wife's 2008 Corolla. This is something completely different. I'm doing it for the adventure and also because I brought this old truck back to life myself. I am no mechanical genius, by any means, but I've done all the work on this truck and I did it in my own driveway. That makes cruising down the highway a completely different experience. I need to get my wipers working and replace a noisy throwout bearing (new, by the way, from Classic Parts). Other than that it's just picking the time and packing my tools.
I figured none of you guys would say, "Don't do it!"

I say go for it too. Long trips are fun and make you even more proud of the old truck! My favourite trip is a show that I go to each year that is 350 miles away. I use one day going down, one day for the show and one day coming back.

I put over 11,000 miles on my Suburban last year including trips to AZ, IN, OK and MO and a 1000 mile loop around the Texas hill country. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best and have fun.

I'd rather go in my truck than a newer vehicle any day. If the truck breaks down I can likely fix it myself but if something goes wrong with the computer driven vehicle I'm done for, especially my wallet.

Joe,

I drive my '51 burb wherever I want to, and have for the last 40 years. Never been stranded yet.

I once rode my bicycle from Boston to Raleigh, NC, and there are some very interesting roads to take without getting on the interstate. Think about going up the DelMarVa peninsula to Wilmington Delaware, go around Philly to the west, maybe catch a little of Valley Forge, Check out Doylstown and the Mercer museum, then find the Appalachian trail and follow the basic route by road, cross the Hudson at Bear mountain State park, make your way over and through Connecticut on the backroads to the Douglas State Forest and come into Boston through Roxbury.

Wish I was was goin' with ya!

Kurt .

Wow! That sounds like a great route. I figured on going up the Delmarva, but after that, my planning got a little hazy. There look to be some good long parkways along the route. I'd just have to link them all together.

Well said!
I too have put thousands and thousands of miles on old trucks with 5 coast to coast runs among other trips. One trip was 28 days, about 8,000 miles and a 1952 1 ton pickup with 55 model 235, possibly the best trip ever. Another was in a 65 1 ton, bought it in CA, flew out, drove it home. Then a few months later after a lot of work to it did another round the country trip, this time 14 days and about 8,000 miles.

Bring a few tools and a few spares if you have them, belts are an easy and handy thing to have.
Try not to set hard arrival times. Sure you'd still most always make them but it's a lot more fun and less stress if you feel "flexible" about time while on the road in your truck. Then if anything does come up it's an interesting challenge, something to have fun solving not a nightmare because you'll be late.

Grigg

Enjoy your trip Joe, someday I'll make a long trip too, but I usually have tight schedules. Looks like you have the checklist covered pretty good, good luck.

Thanks, all. I'm aiming for September some time. I'm going to think a while about all the stuff I might need and make a list. It will include things like comfortable walking shoes.

I don't know your route, but you mentioned parkways. Being from New Jersey I can tell you to stay off the NJ Garden State Pkwy. Besides being a toll road(lots) , it is a traffic nightmare. Headed to Mass, your biggest headache will be getting around NYC.

The things that will usually get you is a fuel related thing, tires or an electrical demon.

If you have things pretty well sorted out, just take the tools with you, along with some emergency supplies.

My last long trip in my truck I had an intermittent electrical issue that I wasn't convinced that I had repaired. I stopped at a store on my return trip and bought some electrical wire and connecters... I had taken all my tools with me. It showed up again and I had to wire a fix to get me home.

Sounds like you've already gone through the truck and replaced the usual culprits, so I say pack up and go for it.

-W

Joe, many folks I know around here have been driving their bolts for a long time and put many many miles on them....yet, when we talk about a Road Trip they all get awful quite. I just ask them why their truck will run thousands of miles stopping and starting around here but can't make a 300 mile run. The fact is they're just plain scared or have no confidence in there work.
I don't get to chance to drive on many excursions but I'm with Cletis, drive them. I just got back from a 300 mile round trip in the modified 37 that I practically did everything on myself.
Drive it with confidence and the more you drive it the more you'll enjoy it. I'm with the rest of the gang. GO FOR IT.

Drew, I've been on the Garden State Parkway and I know enough to avoid it. I'll have to figure out a good way around NYC. Palisades Parkway is good, if I can connect up with it somewhere. I'll have to also figure out routes around Baltimore and Philadelphia. I'm studying the map in the evenings.
I was thinking wire and connectors would be a great thing to have. Probably a backpack or bag of some kind to put my tools in, in case I have to leave the truck and walk. I currently don't have any way to lock the doors, so I'm a little concerned about my tools when I make pit stops. My speedo doesn't work, so I'll be depending on a GPS to tell me my speed. Don't need that getting swiped. Last time I checked my mileage I was getting about 10 mpg, but I was also hauling a 400 lb. engine block around in the back. I also still had the tires that came with the truck. I'm still using the plugs that I had in my old block--the one that was burning a quart of oil every 40 miles. I cleaned them up as best I could, but maybe I should just replace them.
Anyway, I just got back from a 20-mile night run. It ran great.

When my brother used to go to NYC a lot, he would put all his valuables in black plastic garbage bags and throw them in the back of the pickup. Never lost a thing, but he did come back one time and found a few bags of actual garbage on top of his stuff.

Kurt

That's funny. I might actually try that. Maybe a bag that says "BIOHAZARD" on it would be a good idea.

Check the date code on the tires. Old rubber isn't safe on the roads, especially on long hauls where you will be heating them up more and for longer periods than short runs around town.

Spend the money on a new set of plugs.

just my 2 cents.........

John, the tires decided that for me two weeks ago. One of them shredded to pieces going about 60 on the interstate. So I have all new radials and a spare. I didn't plan to make this trip on those old tires anyway. Just remembered I need to repack the front wheel bearings. And yes, new plugs.

Good luck on your trip, Joe. you'll be all done by the time you get to my neck of the woods, but maybe some other 'bolters are along your route and could lend a hand if you run into trouble?

That's a great idea, Tom. And I take it you mean "all done" in a good way.

Joe sent you a PM with my phone number and location near Philly in case you need a hand in an emergency.

yeah, a better choice of words would've been "have arrived"!

How old is your rear end oil and tranny oil? They should be checked/changed before the trip if you haven't done them/ or done them in a while.

Both drained and filled with new a couple of months ago. I also put new seals and bearings in the rear axles.

Don't forget a few drops of oil in the generator oil cups and give the grease fitting on the distributor a turn...

Kurt

I have been to Kansas City and back 4 times 1400 round trip. am planning for this year. went to Stovebolt HQ last year 1300 miles round trip and too Alvin's this year 1400 miles in my 54.

Good to know these old trucks will make long trips like that. And thanks for the tips on lubing the distributor and generator. I'm going to get underneath and make sure everything is fastened down tight. This weekend I might replace the noisy throwout bearing. I was thinking of stuff to bring along in case of emergencies and I added radiator hoses and a length of rubber fuel line.
I have a route pretty much planned out. I've been looking at it on Google maps using the satellite view so I can see what kind of roads I'll be on. The toughest part will be getting around Newark and NYC. After that, the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut looks really nice and a series of roads that go through rural Rhode Island and into Massachusetts. I'll do what I usually do on a trip like this: Leave at 3 o'clock in the morning. That will have me going through the Maryland countryside on Rte. 301 in total darkness. I can't wait.

The Merritt parkway is nice however it can/will be a nightmare if you are anywhere near rush hour.


Kurt

lol i can drive on the boulder turn pike during rush hour, I hate when every one doing 85 so i wont get on, ill cruise the count roads from denver to boulder, takes twice as long as the freeway would in a moder ride, but its great. I like to DRIVE my car can enjoy the ride plus it feels like shes at home cruising past farms rather then malls and office buildings. I always think MAN IT MUSTA SUCKED TO BREAK DOWN BACK IN THE DAY, when i see the vast emptyness (Im a city kid)

I say GO FOR IT!!!! (TAKE A PHONE, i know that sounds stupid but there still ppl like me who dont use a phone, i bought a $10 pre paid in case i do break down 20 miles from one but I dont use it at all

Funny, I don't carry a cell phone either. I only will if I'm on a trip somewhere. I took the truck out early this morning and got out on the interstate. I don't know how fast I was going because my speedo is broken and my daughter has the GPS. But I'd guess between 60-65. Everyone was passing me. But the truck felt like it was running smooth and there was no noise or vibration and the temp stayed nice and steady. I could probably do the whole trip on the interstate but like you said, the scenery is a big draw. I95 up the east coast is boring (when it isn't plain old nasty).

There is always a 1st time for everything. Know the feeling. Drive my 235 approx. 8-9K every summer.Points went once, ran out of gas 3 times, still driving. As a friend says " God doesn't like cowards". Only one way to find out.

And I will be finding out. This month. The wife is insisting I put in seat belts, so I have to add that to the list.

Is it really adviseable to drive 60+ with drum brakes? Mine's a 49 with a 56 235 and a 4 speed (granny low). At 45 I feel like I'm winding the engine high enough. Perhaps I'm too cautious?

I drive my '51 1/2T with a 235 at 60 all the time. I also leave as much space as I can between me and the next guy.

What kind of truck do you have? The bigger trucks do go slower because of the rear end gearing.


Kurt

It's a 49 5 window 3100 half ton. Normally go into 4th gear around 30mph. Don't have a tach, but never felt comfortable running at high rpm's for very long.

What size tires? I run 6.50-16 tires. 45 mph is sort of a sweet spot, where the engine seems like it is just idling along, but you sure can run 55 all day long without problems. I get about 18 mpg at 55 by the way.

P.S I usually shift into 3rd between 25 and 30.

Kurt

Hey Joe,

When I bought my '56, my first trip was from Raleigh NC to Carolina Beach about 120 miles one way. A month later I took off for San Diego. Zero problems! On the way back, I had to replace the vacuum advance in Amarillo and added a new radiator cap at the same time. I got stopped for a blown headlight in Tennessee. I put in a new pair at the first gas station I came to. You know your truck. Check what you need to and "drive it like you stole it!"

best wishes,

Les

Joe-
I can recommend rt 22 up through New Jersey or Rt 1 isn't so bad though parts of it are pretty rough.
I really liked 9W that's the Palisades Parkway and follows the Hudson river north up through New York. It looks more like a freeway on the map than it actually is, and once you get passed I 87 it's really nice.
Pick up US 6 and head East or cross over and pick up I think, it's 22 ... Massachusetts rt. 9 is really a nice way across the state as well. I used to commute in my 47 from Ware to Boston a couple times a week. It had a 235 and a 3.55 gear set but it was stock otherwise.
Have fun!

Jeremy