The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1946 Chevy 1.5T Flatbed - Stovebolter ... again

When I was about 30, I found an old truck sitting in the tall grass at a nearby junkyard and fell in love. Looked at it for a couple years every time I was there and finally asked about it. It cost me $150, delivered. A slightly battered 1941 Chevy 1.5 ton Grain Truck, which looked like it had been painted with a broom...assuming the broom to have been several years past its prime. I put a battery in it and some gas and away we went. It became my daily driver (for short drives, anyway) and required very little maintenance. The occasional shorted spark plug, plugged gas filter, a used tire now and then. I had it for a good number of years when a passing motorist saw it parked behind my house and asked if it could be purchased. Seems he had driven a 1941 chevy gasoline delivery truck as a boy for his father's business...he still had the tank. I agreed to sell, realizing I had under priced it when he wrote the check for $100 more than I asked. Oh, well.

Pause for the passage of 20 plus years....

I always missed that truck and regretting selling it, although the smile on the old guy's face when he drove it away was worth a lot. Now another retiree is looking for a replacement and spots one on eBay close enough to home to buy. Thus I became the proud owner of a 1946 Chevy 1.5T flatbed (actually, no bed. It was all wood and totally rotted). By the ID it was built in Kansas City. As far as I can tell, the only thing it is missing is one inside door handle. It has a Chelsea PTO and a Sprague??? Steel Products hoist. The brakes have been repaired, the clutch unstuck and several problems with the fuel system overcome (some just temporarily) and a short maiden voyage taken using a 5 gallon bucket for a seat. Ultimately, it will be painted Bud Lite blue and Black but for now, it's just great to have it as it is.
I never heard the term stovebolt in this context or knew I was a fan of an Art Deco style truck until after I bought this truck.
Of course, after I got it home, I found one I could have bought for $1000, 20 miles from home!

Only since this purchase have I learned the terms "Stovebolt" and "Art Deco" used to describe a truck. I have already saved hours using information found here so,

Thanks! to all who have contributed and I hope I can someday return the favor.

Huckleberry, welcome to the Stovebolt. I believe you'll make this your home base as many of us have.

There is even a Big Bolt forum for guys like you.


Nice story about the trucks. Now, don't let this one get away from you and RUN RUN RUN and buy the other one to. Once this disease bites you there is no known sure cure Just more bolts.

Hi Huckleberry, welcome. Sounds like you have the same addiction/affliction as the rest of us here. Be sure to hang around, lots more to learn. Good luck with it.

Leo

Hey Huck --- Welcome to the Bolt! You are definitely in the right place. Folks here are very knowledgeable and helpful. Can't wait to see some pix. I'm in the middle of a '46 1.5T Art Deco project myself, it just has a bus body hung off the truck frontend.

I love the Art Deco Bolts. Welcome!!

Well, due to prolonged medical problem and an unheated garage, not much to report. I took some light projects inside for the winter and have a nice new instrument panel. And work continues on the bed rebuild. Also playing with a project to replace the non-functional temperature gauge with an electronic replacement using another fuel gauge in the temperature gauge position.

Thats a really nice job,Huckleberry. Maybe in a few weeks you can get back outside. At least the guage project kept you from getting cabin fever!!

Huckleberry,

Nice Find!!! Looks straight also! Nice job on the gauges! Yes, you will be right at home here with the rest of the BOLT infected
group! Did you at least go peek at the other truck? Ha ha! Enjoy and keep us posted!

Hopefully done with chemo and radiation and back to more pleasant things. Bed is framed and ready to mount as soon as hoist frame is ready. But I admit to total bafflement on the issue of securing the bed decking to the frame. There was no evidence on the bed when purchased on how the planking was held in place (mostly because the planking was all missing). So, anyone have a suggestion?

huckleberry, glad to hear your finished with Chemo and Radiation. Sure hope, and pray, all goes well from now on.

Since everyone doesn't visit here in the Welcome Centre your question will be best answered in the sub forum for beds. I think its a sub forum of the paint and body..or just below it. You'll find it and also a link to Mar-K.

I will comment that as for the bed placement it may be good for you to check out Mar-k. They have a link here and I think you can see, or get, a pictorial of how the bed goes on.
I had one years ago so I'm not sure anymore....but there are cross sills that go across the chassis for the wood to lay on and "generally" the boards are held down with metal strips that have the square headed bolt hole's that the bolts drop down through between the boards.... that is how I remember it...and basically how my 37 bed is on my pickup.

Coming along, if slowly. Interior is in progress, bed is finished. Most of electrical has been replaced (fyi: LED marker lights marked 12 vdc which I was going to modify for 6 vdc, worked fine at 6 volts with no modifications at all). Visit to body shop is close now that vehicle is street legal. Still waiting for new fuel tank.

I like it, I like it, I like it. Got to get me a flat bed one day!

Looks really good. Those gauges are sweet!

VERY nice! I love that body style.

Truck is mobile..Now just waiting for somewhere to go now that It's all dressed up. Adding some pictures.....1946 Chevy Truck

Wow. nice project. Keep on nickle diming it, and soon it will be done.

Looking really nice! I assume there's no hoist on it?

Hi Rich,
Yes, it does have a hoist. I have a post on the Big Bolt forum looking for someone who can identify the manufacturere.

Keep the progress going, less than 6 years please.

Oh, OK. I didn't see any controls for it on your interior shot, which is what prompted the question.
That is one beautiful truck!!

Nice grille and instrument panel.

Ed

Good morning, great story and best of luck on your project, I don’t own a1.5 ton but a 33 1/2 ton commercial that I’m redoing, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it regardless.