Stovebolt.com Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre New Girl, Less New Truck

Hello,
My name is Rae, from metro Detroit, and just bought a 1937 Chevy pickup on Thursday. It runs....and stops....and that's about the end of it. Saw it at a bar last year and mentioned interest (understatement), this year the guy let me know he was ready to sell. I'm totally unprepared for a project truck - just bought my first house in the fall and I haven't even run electricity to my garage yet. But, you know, dream truck.

I need to replace all the wiring(the cloth is toast), want to put disc brakes in the front, drain the sediment out of the gas tank, rehookup the proper fuel line, do something about the generator that doesn't function well, get rid of the clamp holding the exhaust manifold and header (?) together, change everything to 12v from the current 6v system, rebuild leaky carb, probably replace a lot of misc gaskets, redo the whole interior, etc etc etc. I intend in leaving the outside as-is (it's ratty in a way I am attracted to), maybe put a matte clear coat on or something.

So, dems da plans. Trying not to get too overwhelmed. Small girl, big plans, small garage, big truck *grins*

Are there groups of people who get together and work on old cars together or does this tend to be an independent sort of hobby? My friend restored an old 60s Avanti with an "Avanti gang" who rent out a shop, is that normal?

Anyway, I have some experience with fabrication (brackets or spacers or adapters will be no problem), but not much mechanic-type experience. I'm a metalworker apprentice (big 3).

Rae,

Welcome to Stovebolt.com

Post your location in Michigan and maybe other members are located near you.

Here are some MI clubs.
Here is the Google search that found that list.

Check with the VCCA Chapter near you - they might have leads on smaller groups.

The ATCA does not have MI chapters, but the ATHS has a few MI chapter. These are big truck people, but they may know of other groups.

Go slowly and have fun. Maybe get it running smoothly and safely (brakes, front end, fuel system, electrical wiring) and then decide on the bigger changes?

Good luck. Post photos of your progress - no matter what you decide to do with the truck.

Truck
Truck2

Hi Rae....welcome to the Bolt !
Sounds like a great project. This site is a wonderful source of information and discussion - chances are whatever problem you might have, someone has solved it along the way. Enjoy the journey.

Hi Rae,
Welcome to the stovebolt@! Lots of great folks here and I'm sure you will get all the help you need. Tim has some great suggestions.

We do LOVE pictures, so please post a few. Let us know if you need help.

Enjoy!

welcome, you link is not linking

Welcome Rae, sounds like quite the project you have there. Hopefully it's not too rusty. Good luck with it and enjoy it.

Leo

Try this...

another

Welcome to the Stovebolt, Rae. This is the best site on the world wide web for old chevy truck lovers. You will find many folks who have a 37 like you. In fact, looking at your pictures brings back a lot of memories!!!

Be sure to ask questions in the best/most appropriate forum for great results. Like Tim says, there are probably bolters around your area that maybe you can get together with. Watch the events section here for events that may be coming up in your area. Watch guys who post and you can see where they're from. Check the Bolt daily. Even though you may consider yourself a novice I assure you that with the help of the bolters here you can do most anything.
Good luck. We're here to help.

I'd give a big hunk of Fred's money to own that pickup...