The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1947 Chevy AD 3800 - Now needs a shop dog - Gallery update

You might have read some of the exploits we have had thus far with "Matilda", including her living up to her full name: "Waltzing ...." John will fill in "all pertinent details", I just wanted to share one of my favorite pictures of Matilda, DH and our new "rescue" dog: Bodie

photobucket.com

A match made in heaven.... from the "real" Knedert (aka Rose)

....a man needs a good shotgun rider. Looks like Bodie fits the bill... and loves it

Hey Alvin -

We're NOT going to sell the '37 Big Bolt.... Just to follow up on SWMBOs remarks, and to finally get some info gathered for
the Gallery... Here's the CV on the truck, so far:

We purchased "Waltzing Matilda" in early July (2010) sight-unseen from an ad on Craigslist. Our work truck had recently had a stroke and with the economy being the way it is.... Somehow something older seemed "purer".

The folks of one of my High School friends had a couple of AD 1/2 tons back in the mid '70s - boy did we have fun driving
those trucks around. That is probably the impetus for getting this one. Back then we would go out on this one stretch of
back road after we had consumed a minimum of 3 quarts of water (we were very innocent in that regard then) and do what was
called a "U.V"; a "Ur*nation Violation" - One fellow would drive at 25 MPH, the other would stand on the running board and
"mark his turf". We scored based on smoothness, length of stream and risk factors such as cops or cars coming the other way.

Maybe you had to be there to understand why this was so much fun in the summer, but it also might help to know that this was
also before cable TV, sex or microwave ovens....

The truck was advertised as a 1947 1/2 ton long bed. I now know that there's no such thing and when it came to trailering
her home, I also learned that a 1 ton, with a 137" wheelbase will *just* fit on a U-Haul trailer.

The prior owner was not a gear-head, per se. He is an artist and musician that collects cars. He had some real beauties,
but I'll save that story for another day... four words: 1960 Austin Healy Sprite... Anyway, closer inspection showed that
the truck had new seats, had been converted to 12v and had a later (~1960) full pressure 235. The truck was shod with brand
new tires - still had the nubs and some bitchen' mags. There were a handful of dents and surface rust in exchange for her 6+
decades, and of course the phrase, "it was running when I parked it". We were not able to get her to start or run before bringing her home, but she cranked over easily, farted in a generally agreeable manner and had oil pressure. The owner seemed straight up, so we agreed on a price and got her home.

We took Matilda to Rose's folks ranch so we could drive her around off-road once we got her going. We were able to get her
to start, run and die with some gas poured in the carb, so replacement of the fuel pump was first on the list. After doing
that, naturally, the carb crapped out. Tinkering wasn't enough, but a carb kit did the trick. One of the early "test runs"
left us stranded about a mile from the ranch. In my enthusiasm getting her on the road, I waved at a guy in an old Ford
truck - and then Matilda stalled out... Had to tow her home.

We went through all sorts of names for her, but the one that stuck was "Waltzing Matilda". Currently she treats staying in a
lane as a study in interpretive dance; a mere "starting point" if you will. I'm saving all of my St. Ides 40's and PBRs recycling money for Tie Rod ends and Kingpins.

Rose and I are having a lot of fun tinkering - there really isn't that much that's wrong with the truck... A whole slew of
small things perhaps, but... We're not looking to turn her into a 100 point trailer queen; she's a work truck. We will eventually fix the body issues and paint her, along with taking care of the myriad small issues, but boy - what a blast. At some point we may install power steering and brakes. Otherwise Rose is going to have arms like Popeye and calves like the Colossus of Rhodes. Not that that's a bad thing, I'm just sayin'.

I was very much chagrined to discover that 1947 AD 3800's do have a form of cruise control - and the wife has been needling
me.... When I sit in the truck, the steering wheel hits my gut - how embarrasking!

I love driving or riding in Matilda; we're not taking her out for any long trips or anything yet - still in our "shakedown"
phase. To the unitiated, she's a beater being driven by some hillbilly; to those in the know, we get a smile, a turned head
or a thumbs up. Somehow I don't think that would happen in a 2002 S-10....

In 1947 they didn't make a club cab, so Bodie will be secured in the back when we're all out for a trip. Bodie's a great co-pilot, but her feet don't reach the pedals....

John

Fun story to read and sounds like you all are having a great time with the truck!

Nice photo! I've got a shop dog (he's a rescue also) and a working truck too.
Have fun with it!

Wow, a man, his dog and his truck. It just don't get any better....oh, and don't forget the wife

Good going John. Thats gonna make you a nice busness advertiser.
Keep us posted.

I'm glad your not selling the BIG 37. Once the bug bites you real good you'll be re-doing it to haul BIG pieces of furniture!!

Lovely truck , I'm a little envious.

You know , don't you, that some people spend lots of money trying to replicate that fabulous patina.

Just saying ......