Got to love the weekend

 Today I woke up and started working on the truck.  I picked up breakfast on the way to the the parts store.   I finished the brakes and replaced one of the front wheel bearings.  I changed the spark plugs.    I ran the engine and got it up to temperature.  Then I changed the engine oil and coolant again. The oil that was 3 days and 2 miles old came out BLACK.  I drove it around the block.   Daydree insisted that she be able to ride with me on the maiden voyage.  Tomorrow I will pull it out of the garage (UNDER ITS OWN POWER YAH!) and wash it.   That way I wont get filthy ever time I touch it.  Still there is a lot to do.  My computer has been broken for a two weeks now. I got the part to fix it on Tuesday but have been to preoccupied to fix it though.  I worked right thru lunch today.  I am extremely happy that the truck is driving now.  Tomorrow Ill take it for a short run. 

New start for an old Engine

Tonight I put fuel in the tank. I refilled the oil and coolant. And I started the engine. It hesitated till it got ahold of the fresh fuel. Then started right up. I was so excited I wanted to drive it around the block. But I need to finish the front brakes. Tomorrow I will take the drums to work so I can machine them. Then I'll repack the wheel bearings. THEN I can drive it around the block. I'll wait till this weekend for the maiden voyage so it will be in the daylight.

So Much Progress, So little Time

  I got a lot done after work today.  I put the front end up on jack stands so I can hopefully finish the brakes.  I am trying to be patient and let the penetrating oil do its job.  I am sure that sooner or later my neighbors will get tired of me beating on my brake drums trying to get them off. I made sure to work on the brakes first so I could get thru the noisy part before it got late. I had to let my rear drums soak for three days before they came off for me.  I expect the fronts will be the same or worse. Good news is with the rear wheel cylinders rebuild and the master cylinder rebuilt, I am getting good brake pedal pressure.  I will still need to rebuild the front wheel cylinders just in case.  However I would like to change the front brakes to discs sooner or later.  At this point I am just focused on making the truck move under its own power and stop.  I haven't even started on the "under its own power" part yet.

        The first step towards getting the engine running is to drain the OLD fuel from the tank.  Draining the tank was actually very easy. There was a valve on the bottom of the tank that i just opened up and let her go.  The most difficult part of this operation is what to do with the ten gallons of worthless fuel.  My first thought was Waste Management.  I looked up there hazardous waste drop off location and game them a call.  Unfortunately they only accept motor oil and coolant.  Even worse they did not know where I should go do dispose of this fuel.  Luckily for me I talked to the shop Foreman at work today and he gave me permission to dump it in our waste oils tank. 

   Another thing I did today was to install The rest of the dash.  All that was needed was to put in the glove box, the radio  blank out plate and the 

ash-trey/ speaker cover.  Basically all the shinny stuff east of the speedo'.  If feels a litter closer to done with this stuff in.  I think I will wait till I rewire the truck to even try to put a radio in.  I have seen some nice ones in truck catalogs that are brand new but look just like the factory radios that came new in this truck.  That is definitely what I will be after when it comes time.  

  The very last thing that I did tonight was to drain the oil.  I think this is a little past its three month or 2000 mile limit.  No worries about finding an oil filter because there is none. Tomorrow when I empty my oil catch and gas cans I can put new fuel in and change the coolant.  Then I will hook up the new battery I bought and check the spark plugs. 

Then I can cross my Fingers and give this guy a turn.

Put the turkey sandwich down and get back to work.

OK I'm back on track. I found the right brake shoes for the truck today and put them on. Thanks to Thomas for telling me that the rear-end is off a 55 Chevy. I can tell you it is a lot easier to put together with the right parts. I hope tomorrow I can do the front brakes. Or at least put them together and turn the drums at work. There has been a lot going on around here lately. Now that I have time to work on the truck it feel normal again. Tomorrow morning the dog and I will go for a hike around lake Dixon, then get back to the truck.

rear brakes done.

OK, it seams like I'm slowing down a bit this week.  I did make time to redo the brakes in the rear with the proper lube.  We got a 9 month old Boxer-Pitbull puppy last week so he's been hogging all my attention. I want to replace one more thing in the rear before it is all done.  I am going to replace the brake line flex hose. For now though, the rear-end is still in the air waiting for me.

Brakes still only nearly done

I was going to report today that last night I completed the rear brakes... However, I realized today I need to lube the outside cups on my wheel cylinders. Of course I had everything apart last night and could have done it then but did not. So instead of starting on the front brakes today I am redoing the work I did yesterday. That's ok though, I just want it done right. I will be picking up some brake spring tools today. I have a tool for the big ones but the small ones still kicked my but last night.

Side note

And this is a DIFFERENT 1000 acre wild fire burning only six days later. These were taken from my back yard. Our whole house smells like a campfire.

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Side note

This is a picture of the 1000 acre wildfire that scared us on Tuesday last week.

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No need to repack wheel bearings.

One of the more useful things the Internet has to offer is Yahoo Groups.   There are a few Groups that are dedicated to the repair and restoration of old Chevy trucks.  And there are a few really knowledgeable guys there.  I learned from them that there is no need to repack the wheel bearings because they are lubricated by the 90 weight gear oil that you put in the rear end.  Lucky me one less thing to do.  I guess I can stop dilly dallying and put my rear brakes on.   Thanks to Tom for calling me today and letting my know that my rear end is a 55.  Luckily most of the parts I have ordered so far would have worked on all 1/2 ton pickups from 52-71.  

Brakes nearly done

Yesterday i was able to buy new brake drums for there rear brakes. So now I have everything that I need to get some real work done on the brakes. When I am done with these few things I will have rebuilt or replaced every moving part in the brake system. After that is done I will feel much better about trying to start the truck for the first time. I can't wait to hear that thing roar to life for the first time in a LONG time.

Sucsess

I know that at some point in this trucks lifetime the entire drive train was replaced with that of a 1962 1/2 ton pickup. One thing that I am not sure of is if the rear brakes are from a 53 or 62. I believe the rear brakes are from a 62. I was surprised to learn that the rear brakes on a 62 match the front brakes on a 53. I can only ponder that this is either serendipity or someone along the lines was extremely smart. I don't know if my grandfather was the one to swap the drive train or if it was a previous owner. Luckily most parts I have had to order so far are parts that would work for either year of truck. I was able to rebuild the drivers rear wheel cylinder yesterday. I am hesitant to dismantle the passenger side rear brakes just invade I need to look at them to see how the springs go on. I was told today that the springs and adjusters from a 1969 Chevy pickup will work on my truck. The 69 adjuster is a self adjusting mechanism so that would be nice. And it is all inside the drum so no one would be able to tell that it wasn't stock. Sounds good to me but I think I will do a bit more homework before I buy a set of 69 adjusters.

Sucsess

I was finaly able to remove the rear drums. I think I just wasn't hitting them hard enough. I can see now that they binding on the axel caps. Unfortunately one of the drums was too damaged to re-use.

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More History

I got an e-mail from my grandma today.  I was really excited to learn that my grandfather bought the truck in August 1973.  She also said that he paid $800 dollars for it.  This truck reminds me of him a lot.  Some times I just go sit in the truck in the garage.  It smells like him.  I am sure it is just the smell of fuel and oil and that will probably never change.  At least I hope it doesn't. 

Time to look at the rear brakes

I spent some time this weekend bleeding the brakes.  I ordered parts to rebuild the wheel cylinders and they will be here Tuesday.  I thought I would pull the rear drums off and take a look even though I don't have my parts yet.  I think I  spent an hour trying to get the drums off.  I pounded and pounded on them with a hammer.  I am sure my neighbors like me now.   I will try again tomorrow after work.   

Master cylinder is in.

My parts came in the mail today.  The first thing I did when I got home was unpack the parts and get them right on the truck.  The master cylinder did not fail but I figured if i had to pull it off the truck to get the cap off I might as well rebuild it.  I already had it disassembled and honed.  So it only took me about and hour and a half to reassemble with new parts and get it back on the truck.  I was feeling pretty good so I thought I would start bleeding the brakes.  I found that the bleeder valves were still really tight.  Fearing I might break them I oiled them up and I will let them soak till tomorrow.  At least I will have something to look forward to while I am at work.  My birthday is next week and my family is asking me what kind of tools I need.  I think that a lot of people are happy I am putting some work into the truck.  And I am happy to be working on it.  It is so pleasurable to be able to stop when ever I want.  You know they say you can withstand 10 times more pain when you know you can stop at any time.  The best part about it is there is no stress.  Its actually a stress reliever. 

Well I finally made a little progress.  I was able to pull the master cylinder out.  Hopefully tomorrow at work I can use a vice to get the fill cap off. Tonight I am going to order a new cap and rebuild kit.  It is going to be really nice to be able to go to work and use some equipment. I think one of my favorite things to use will be the parts washer.  As soon as I gut this guy it will get cleaned up.  

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How do you know when a shock is bad?

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Sadly this is a counterproductive day. Trying to remove the fill cap on the mastercylinder I broke the cap. So if I can still get it off I can look for a replacement cap. If I can't I can look for a new mastercylinder. Sigh..

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Today was going to be a big work day for the truck. I've been waithig to bleed my breaks till today. I'm having trouble getting the cap off of the top of my master cylinder. To hadesent come off in a LONG time. So I'm letting it sit with some luiquid wrench. I gave my bleader valves a shot while I was at it. Well see what happens tonight.

More history

I learned today that my Grandpa bought the truck in or around 1975.   So when my mother was in 3rd grade.  This truck has been in my family for about 33 years.  I think that's pretty impressive considering the median age of a car truck/SUV in the united states is 7.1 years. 

"Stovebolt" defined ish...

Stovebolt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term Stovebolt refers to a variety of inline-6 cylinder engines used in General Motors vehicles from the 1930s to early 1960s.

Stovebolt is also used to refer specifically to the Advance-Design series trucks with the 216 and 235 engines. These trucks were produced from mid 1947 to early 1955. In old Chevrolet truck restoration circles, these are referred to as 1947 second series trucks to 1955 first series trucks. The reason being that in 1947 they had the previous body style still being made, and in 1955 they had the newer body style coming out.

The reason the General Motors inline-6 cylinder engines were referred to as a Stovebolt was due to the engine's 1/4"x20 slotted-head bolts inside the engine. These bolts looked like the slotted-head bolts that were used on metal constructed wood burning stoves, hence the slang term or nickname of Stovebolt for the General Motors Inline Six cylinder engine.

At least I can open the doors... most of the way

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This looks cool. There is a skylight in my one-car garage. You can see I have a visor sitting on the roof. Maybe soon I can mount it.

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Last night I got the rear end on jack-stands. I am learning quickly that I do not have as many standard sockets and wrenches a I thought I did. I was told the trick to keeping a project moving is to always stop when you are still having fun. In this small garage I think I will be spending as much time cleaning and organising as I do working.

Not a lot of room in this garage.

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In the beginning there was DUST.

For me, this project begins in a storage unit in Yuma Az.  September 12, 2008 my father and I picked up a car hauler at Uhaul in the wee hours of the morning.  A 1953 Chevrolet 1/2 ton pickup has sat in repose for a decade.  Now a new start for a truck that has been a part of my family for longer then I know of.  I know my grandfather owned this truck when my mother was in high-school.  Then about fourteen years ago my grandfather, who is my mothers father, sold the truck to my father.  And early on this September morning in 2008 my father gave it to me.  I am extremely privileged to be able to inherit this truck.  Some of my best childhood memories happened in or near it.  I remember when I was a kid driving into the desert with grandpa to look for rocks for his rock collection.  When we came to visit if we could wake up as early as Grandpa he would take us to coffee in the truck.  Now its my turn to enjoy and preserve.  Soon I hope to make new memories with my budding family.  The first of which will be memories of me in our one car garage reconditioning and maintaining the truck.  I wish I knew more of this old trucks history.  So for my friends and family, and everyone else who identifies with this old truck, I will do my best to document its history and progress here.