Good day - I just joined this group after spending a large amount of time just monitoring the messages. I have just come into possession of a 1951 pick-up that is pretty rough! My two teenage sons are steadfast at trying to restore this truck - being this is our first project I wanted to solicit some input from this very knowledgeable group. Other than the parts catalog that I've downloaded from the host, can anyone suggest a (or several) manuals relating to our project? Thanks to all who respond.
WELCOME , Noob ! Larry ; THANK YOU for including your kids in this project ! . By a factory shop manual and the correct owner's manual too , they're invaluable in putting things back to-gether correctly . cheap too, under $30.00 for the shop manual and under $15.00 for the owner's booklet . Best thing to do is : NOT take it all apart ! get it running and do a major brake job , then you can wheeze it around whilst fixing up all the other things needing attention and the interest won't fade away because of the trips to get ice cream , parts and so on... (BT,DT) . It also allows you to discern the actual overall condition of the truck . Stock is the simplest way and will usually allow you to get it on the road quickest , last longer and -not- be just another Hot Rod @ the local Dairy Queen (ho hum) . Ask any question no matter how mundane , we have experts of all stripes here to help you out .
Welcome fellow Texan! Another manual that you might find useful is the 47-54 Factory Assembly Manual. You can never have enough catalogs. Get some catalogs, not downloads, from Classic Parts of America, Brothers, Truck Shop, Bowtie Bits, Obsolete Chevrolet Parts, etc. Each one of these will send you a free catalog with pictures, technical tidbits, etc. I agree with Nate 100%. Don't get so excited about rebuilding your truck that you just start tearing it down to the frame without a game plan. Take plenty of pictures along the way especially the way it is right now. Good pics beat a bad memory any day. And above all, have fun with it. These trucks are so cool and you and your sons will have many fun filled hours with it. Best of luck. Oh and BTW, when you're making those pics, drop us a couple of them!
welcome! there's a bunch of stuff online also- check out http://www.chevy.tocmp.com/ and set it to your favorites!! jon
And EXACTLY how would you know that , Jess? Huh...Huh...HUH???? The best way to NOT let the hobby suck up your funds in a hurry is to do what Nate said. I, on the other hand, tore it all down and am slowly (too slowly) putting it all back together, also with the help of my sons (and daughter). They are having the time of their lives doing it and really love to work on that old truck. You and your boys are gonna have a grand old time doing it up. Seriously, do what Nate says. My truck had no engine, trans, etc. so I had to tear it down. Switching frames, hoisting cabs, dropping in engines (and trannys on my hand...ouch). All the way the kids helped and had lots of fun. Thank God it runs and drives now to keep their interest. No sheet metal other than the cab and no brakes yet either. As a matter of fact...I think I'm going to take one of my boys out to the garage right now and get to work on the brakes. Bye, welcome and have fun (don't forget to post pics, please). Andy
Thanks for the input Thanks to all that responded. It looks like it will be late winter or early spring before the kids and I start on the project. I have to modify the barn to make room for the project. I ordered the two manuals you folks suggested and plan on taking it very slowly taking photos and making sure we log each step. Having two teenage sons and having given them some leeway on this restore project, I have a sneaky feeling it will end up leaning more to the hot rod theme. My oldest does want to keep some of the classic look, but wants the sound and dependability of the modern hot rod. Soooo, I guess this is a in between - but at least we're restoring and not crushing! Again, thanks to all and I'll get some pics up soon - but don't get excited, it's rough like I said earlier!
I highly recommend getting the "1947-54 Truck Factory Assembly Manual" and "1948-1951 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual". There are a few sites on the internet that will list these so shop for price. You can also find them on Ebay. The assembly manual shows how the factory put 'em together and is accurate for all versions from 1/2 ton to 2 ton. You will see lots of pictorial layouts with parts explosions to show how they did it and what's behind that panel you can't see through. The truck shop manual provides a basic guide on how to service most of the truck, but hang around here and you will find ways that some of the real wrench twisters figured how to do it better and faster without lots of expensive special tools. I am in awe of what you will learn here everyday. I'm building up a 1949 Chevy 1 1/2 ton flatbed and these guys have been doing their best to keep me out of trouble. It's my first big truck, although I have worked on lots of later cars and pickups, I really like working on this old iron. I hope you have as much fun as I am having. Welcome aboard.
Welcome Larry! How cool~ you already have a pit crew! Sounds like a great way to spend quality time. (and it's indoors!?) Take lots of pictures (and show them to us...) and have fun with it! The people on this site that have been-there, done-that will set you straight on whatever issues you might have. The rest is up to you. Enjoy Andy's "The Best Damn AD Parts Bar-B-Q" book/tutorial. It's priceless!
If you don't have a digital camera I suggest you get one. Tearing apart cars/trucks I have learned a roll of masking tape, marker pen, zip lock bags and a digital camera are your best friends for reassembly.
Finally a photo of our project I finally got a photo posted in the photos section - or should I say I hope it's posted! My computer skills are somewhat lacking!! AS you can see and like I put in the photo caption, we may have taken on more than we can handle. Again, thanks to all who have given input, I certainly respect this groups comments and read each and every question posted. Larry R
There is good info in a couple of books by Tom Brownell- How to Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup and also the revised edition that has better pictures and a little more info-- Have fun!
It's a diamond in the rough! Nice truck, Larry. Just take it slow, and it certainly will NOT be more than you can handle. Shoot, depending on where in central Tx. you are, I might just pop in and lend a hand or give you some of that good ol' advise (you know, the kind that if you add 50 cents to it, you can buy a cup of coffee) Keep us posted!
Thanx ! So ; It's just the one picture then ? . I love the mud line on the front tire , don't see many original gas caps these days , all the replacements are now stainless steel . Looking closely it appears this truck is close to dissolving into ferrous oxide so if you want to keep it looking like that , you'd best get some kind of sealer or clear coat on it PDQ as rust never sleeps ! BTW Ken ; where can I get a hot cuppa for only .50 CENTS these days ? Back to work , it's now over 40° F so I gotta motor mount job to do
Hey Larry, everything you have been told is good advice, especially having looked at your picture. If the truck is driveable then make sure the brakes and steering are good and drive the thing! Racing off to take it apart will only accomplish one thing ... FRUSTRATION! Take it from me, I know FRUSTRATION! My '53 was driveable but the body and cab were so bad I had to take it apart before I could register it here in NY. SO I went and started to disassemble it ... oh, did I mention that was in August, 1994 and as of today it still isn't on the road. Now lots of reasons for that, and lack of interest in the project isn't one of them. Just keep in mind that life can throw all kinds of curve balls at you and if the thing is apart and not driveable other things may have to come first! Good projects to do wth the kids. A driveable, unshinny truck is much more fun than a freshly painted one that isn't on the road!
Wow! beautiful. Larry - keep it like it is, get it running and slap a vanity plate on it titled "RUSTY". I envy your boys. My dad still talks about the 52 truck he and his older brother got for a couple hundered and were working on it together so they would have a way to get to town when they were young. Congrats and good luck!
