Hello,All! I'm not new to this site by any means,but I'm trying to submit my truck in the "Gallery". Thanks to "Worker-Bee",(Peggy Milliman),I'm able to do that now. When I was 5-years-old,back in 1962,the Garnavillo (Iowa), Vol. Fire Dept used a 1955,or'56,6500 as the "tanker". I loved the looks of the T.F. Big-Bolts,since the day I first saw it.Ironically,about 25-years ago,I saw the truck I now possess,for the first time. I thought to myself-Man,if I had that truck...Well, time passed,and the man who owned the truck got too ill to use it,so he sold it to his neighbor,who happens to be my best friend's brother. Since it was fitted with a 13' flatbed/hoist,he used it for about a year, hauling land-fill and firewood. one day,he hit a rut with the box raised,and broke the R.R. hinge-support on the frame. It sat for a couple of years,out-of-service. one day,about 5-years ago,the P.O. asked if I'd be interested in owning a running '55 Chevy! I asked: "The Big truck?!,and he said:Let's put a battery in "Her",and see what happens! A little gas in the "carb,a fresh battery,and 5- minutes later,"She" was "purring" on 2-year-old varnish! Come to find out,this truck started life as a "Hook-and-Ladder"truck for a small township in the eastern part of our county! When I find out more on that history,I'll submit that to "Firebolt".The 2nd owner installed the 13'box/hoist that is currently installed,and he used it to haul cinder-block,for the many houses under construction in his "neck of the woods.He drove that truck into Cedar Rapids,(Linn County)and back to rural Shellsburg,(Benton County),for years,with very little down-time. The guy worked at a block-plant,and he used the broken/reject block,to help "pave" many rural "mud" roads in the area. I plan on making "Her" look and run as good as "She" deserves,since "She's still as dependable as I could ask for,considering "Her" age. So far,I've re-built the head,using hardened valves and seats,(un-leaded,ethanol gas),new gas tank,new fuel-pump,new seat,and welded the hoist-hinge. I also bought an 8' tool-box,cut it in half with a chop-saw,capped the open ends,and now i have two 4' tool-boxes mounted to the frame,behind the cab. I have new white-oak lumber for the bed-sides,but that's on hold until next Spring.I also need to install a metal "headache-rack,since the origional was old rotted pine. I installed Fenton headers,and it is equipped with dual exhaust stacks. It almost sounds like a naturally-aspirated 250 Cummins! I added cab-lights,as well as L.E.D. tail-lights,and clearance (box)lights. This Winter,I plan on SAVING enough money,to replace my rear wheel cylinders,(Fronts are done),and replace the rear wheel/axle bearings. The engine has no ridge on the cylinder-walls!! It doesn't smoke,and uses virtually No oil!! Over 1,000 miles in a 2-year period,and "She's" still on the "Full mark. I have a whole bunch of pic's of my truck in "Photobucket.com,as well as several video's,A couple of "Mo'Tater","RUNNING With the Big-Bolts". Please excuse that video! I didn't realize that the shutter on the camera was half-open,until AFTER I up-loaded it. But,at least,you get the idea. I LOVE this site!! THANKS to John and Peggy,and ALL of you, who,without your help and support,my truck would not be the reliable piece of machinery "she" is today! I can't thank this site enough!! "Keep-On-Truckin'!-Bill Hickey
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/03/2025 6:12 PM. Reason: More Info.
