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

I thought I posted this earlier but it didn't show up. Sorry if it's a repeat.
I'll be leaving next Friday, the 28th. I've gathered all the things I think I'll need in the event of a breakdown. In the end, I decided to just take I-95 all the way up. If things get too crazy out there, I'll use a different route.
I wanted to ask if there might be any Stovebolters along the route who would be willing to help me out if I run into trouble. Drew P. has kindly offered to lend a hand if I break down in southern New Jersey. My route will take me through Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, a small stretch of New York, then Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
Jeremy, thanks for the tip. I usually do take 9W on my way up there to avoid the Bronx and the GW Bridge. Route 6 is my alternate in New England if I get off I-95.

Joe, I wish you well. I have the same misgivings as you, but my truck hasn't let me down yet. (I'm in the second season of driving) I'm contemplating a drive down to Stovebolt HQ some time in the future, nervous about unfamiliar major highways. I have engine noise too, but I think my fan is making a lot of the noise at higher RPMs.

Leo

Leo, I notice that I spend a lot of time listening for strange noises. I suspect I'll get over that after a couple hours on the road.

Most of these old trucks never saw an interstate hwy. so be ready for anything. Carry lots of replacement parts (you will probably need them someday anyway) and tools and have a great trip. Perhaps some Stovebolters up there in that neighborhood will volunteer to be available if needed.

I'm leaving in about an hour for a 90-mile run. Alexandria to Manassas. I'm taking I-66 out there and back. My speedo doesn't work but I'm taking a GPS with me for this ride so I can see how fast I'm going. I'll report back.

Well, I'm back without incident. The truck ran great. I went about 60 the whole way, which seems like a comfortable cruising speed for this vehicle. My speedo does the up-and-down thing between zero and 40. After that, it steadies out and is only off a few MPH, according to the GPS. When I was going 57, the needle was wavering a little between 55 and 60 so maybe the innards of my speedometer aren't as screwed up as I thought.
Anyway, everything worked well, it ran smoothly and I think I have a good chance of making it up to Cape Cod.

Joe,

You might want to try a new speedo cable. Sounds like yours may be beginning to bind. I had a similar problem, which I didn't attend to until the cable really got stuck and wound up and when it released, broke the speedometer.

Just a thought, but a cheap fix if it works.

Kurt

I know how you feel it seems just as soon as i plan a trip something comes up. had serious one just before i left for Kansas City, 1200 miles round trip. but made out and back ok. i do have a plan if something happens. i plan too rent a u-haul and dolly and bring it back home. good luck and enjoy.

Kurt, the cable is new. I guess it's possible it's binding somewhere but I lubricated it and was careful to install it so there weren't any tight turns.

Just installed a 3-point restraint on the drivers side this afternoon. I'm all ready to go.

Joe,
How about posting some pictures of your trip?

I drive a 1.5 ton Loadmaster daily.I run 8.25x20 rims tires.This truck humms down the road at 55mph, I have a babbit low pressure 235 motor hei dist. Ford yf carb and an alternator. A kick [censored] stereo and lots of strategiclly placed insulation in around and under the cab. I balanced the drive shafts and tires.Oh ya I run a tach which reads 2900 at 55 Just did a trip onto the prarie from Evergreen CO clocked 350 effortless trouble free miles. With my travelling truck buddy Manny. He drove half the miles I had to pry him out of the drivers seat he was having so much fun. My next project is to build a camper shell for the almost 10 ft box. Best truck I ever built. I am going to repower it when the babbit pounder dies. I did drive it at 3300rpms for 15 miles nothing let go,seems like a real good motor.1tonnner Chris

David, I'll try to take pictures of the trip. I don't know if any of you recall but my engine is a brand new remanufactured 235 so I don't expect any trouble there. I'm getting about 10 mpg and I'm hoping it's the tightness of the new engine though I don't know if that's a myth or not. The timing is correct and the plugs are new. I'm using the original Rochester model B, which I've had no trouble with at all.

Joe - don't expect gas mileage to improve much, 10-12 is common for the 235 with a Rotchester, especially with higher cruise speeds .... and it sounds like your speedo head needs cleaning

Bill

Do they still use "break-in oil" on new engines?

I alwaya got 13 to 15 with my 235 and the Rochester. That would be crusing around 55 to 60 (1/2 T)

Since I put the Carter 2100s on the 235, I get around 19 or 20, which blows my mind. Think of all the gas/dollars I could have saved over the last 40 years!

Kurt

Most of that time you would have been saving nickel's not dollars. lol

Well, I leave tomorrow morning at five. Here are a couple of pictures of my truck, washed, waxed, and ready to go:

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/bohon/56%20Chevy%20truck/LikeNew006.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/bohon/56%20Chevy%20truck/LikeNew005.jpg[/IMG]

I'm wondering what's the best thing to do if I should get stranded a long way from home. I have AAA but it's the basic plan and only good for a five-mile tow. I tried to upgrade to the 100-mile tow but there's a seven day waiting period before it goes into effect and I'll be back by then. I know, I should have tended to that earlier. Anyway, I've read about guys renting a U-Haul and a dolly and towing the thing back themselves. Anybody have any experience with this? Sounds like it would be less expensive than having it towed.

Quit thinking negative. Hit the highway and have fun.

i see you'll be off in a couple of hours... good luck and have a great trip!

I predict all will go as smooth as butter. If not, just make it up as you go along and remain flexible.

If you get stuck somewhere, post on the Stovebolt, and I'll bet someone will be nearby and can help out with a least a kind word and a Pepsi.

Kurt

Well, I'm sitting here at my family home in Cape Cod, thanks to my stovebolt. Twelve hours and not a single problem. The truck ran like it was meant to be on the highway. I probably went 55-60 the whole way. It ran so smoothly, I was just happy as can be. I took pictures and will post them when I get a chance. Only complaint is that the windshield leaks, but that's my fault. I messed up trying to put a new windshield in and cracked the glass. The water comes in at the lower corners on both sides. God only knows where it goes from there. I think down in the hinge pockets.
Anyway, I ran into the most intense sustained rain I think I've ever driven in. I just couldn't believe how hard it was coming down and how long it kept going. It poured like that for about 60 miles or so through NY and CT. I had my wiper motor repaired by Rob Ficken and it worked great. RainX helped too.
I went into a huge lake of standing water on the side of the interstate and hydroplaned off the road. I went over the rumble strips and was headed for the woods but I managed to keep the truck straight and in the road. Tires caught the pavement again and I was off the hook. I was concerned the engine might stall out but it never missed a beat. And I went through a good number of big lakes like that.
So I made it OK and the truck performed great. Thanks to everyone who posted. I still have the return trip to do but I'm not worried about that. It would be nice to do it in sunny weather, though.

Congrats! it is a crappy night in the North Eastern part of MA.. i was wondering how you were making out in all the rain. I'm glad it turned out well!

Tom

3 I bet you were 'happy as can be' to get to the end of 12 hours herding the ol thing along
for the windshield leak, unless it's a super bad crack, that's not what's causing leaking - 3M[?] makes a 'runny' silicone meant to dribble under the rubber seal, try something like that around the outside of the sides and across the top .... there's a drain tube at each corner under the inside trim piece that funnels the leaks and condensation into the air plenums, where it should exit out the drain at the bottom of those side plenums where the cowl vent drains - make sure that drain is clear

Bill

Red, what I should have said is that I cracked the glass while trying to seat it the last 3/8 of an inch. It's not really seated all the way around and that's why it leaks. My truck is a 56, so will it have the setup you described with the drain holes and the plenums? I can see the drain holes because my trim is missing. I'm going to have to probe around in there and see what's what.

yes, the drains are the same 55.2-59, you can take off the kick panel air grills and see part of the setup, there are "deflectors" above the opening to keep the water from coming in those vents - run a garden hose into the top center cowl inlet vent and watch where the water comes out - fairly primitive design you know that the windshields are available new? not too spendy, and if you have a shop obtain and install one they take the hit for breakage

Bill

Joe, Glad you made it! I wondered about the storms and you driving as I watched the weather reports. A close call with the standing water, but no harm, no foul. Enjoy your family visit.And some home cooked sea food(I hope!)

Thanks, Drew, and thanks for the offer of help. Right now I'm sitting here watching the rain come down. Looks like it's going to come down all weekend. My brother and I re-hung the drivers door yesterday because it had a little sag to it and the water was coming in around the weather stripping. We corrected the sag but still have some water coming in. Seems like it's not so bad as it was before, though. I've got pretty major leaking issues in this thing. What a time I picked to drive up here.

Joe - you've discovered why the TF series trucks always have rotten lower hinge pockets unlikely you'll ever get the dog-legged doors to stay totally dry inside

Bill

Glad to hear that your truck is doing what it's supposed to do. By the way, your idea about the spring on my points was right. Now my truck's doing what it's supposed to too.

"unlikely you'll ever get the dog-legged doors to stay totally dry inside"

Was this a problem when they were new, I wonder?

I can't imagine door leaks weren't common from the beginning, water from the windshield runs right into that vertical jog on the door and it's quite uncommon to find doors that fit real well there, not too mention that the rubber is very easy to crush so it doesn't fill the gap well ... just look at how commonly the originals you see have rotted steps, hinge pockets, and floors where the front cab mounts are .... remember these trucks were cheap consumer goods, not meant to last more than maybe 10 years, used hard by tradesmen and farmers, what farmer cares if there's a bit of water under his rubber boots?

Bill

How depressing!

why depressing? if they were bullet proof everybody would still be driving them

Bill

Yeah, and I would be one of them!

Here are pics, fellas. Descriptions should be included.

Click on "View as Slideshow"

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/bohon/First%20trip%20in%20Stovebolt/