Hello everyone I just found this site though the classic parts page. I have been restoring a 1949 chevy for the past 3 years and really having fun. The frame motor and all that stuff is almost done and just starting body work. The picture is of the first "test drive" this summer. I have a few questions. 1. When I drive it around the yard for about ten min the little tube on the radiator starts puking antifreeze. It's got a new thermostat, water pump, radiator cap and the radiator has been cleaned. Is my timing off or is the carb not set right? 2. Does anyone have or make the parking brake parts that move the brake shoes out? 3. Does anyone have an original air cleaner for sale? 4. Does any one have a useable rear brake drum for sale? dont really want to by a new one. I think I finally got enough money put together to buy patch panels some time next week so body work should go fairly quick (I think). I hope to have it done by next summer. But some times it’s hard to get any work done on the old girl because of paying for college and making truck payments and stuff like that. Anyhow I would like to say thanks to classic parts for great parts and service. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jesse
Welcome Jesse! Nice looking frame! Looks like you've really put some work into it! I love the bucket seat I'm having the same issue on the cooling system. Find my thread "Cooling System 101". It will help you a lot in diagnosing your problem. Again, welcome aboard. Have some fun with us and have fun with your truck! Ken
Check out Ebay. Vintage parts. Take you time and check it every week and it will show up before you get the body work done. Truck payments suck!
Howdy & Welcome Jesse . Off to a good start there it looks like . The Pukin could be from the lack of Sheet metal on the front too , Not letting the fan draw the air through the radiator properlly . If anyone has a pic of what air breather is original on your truck , I might have one . . Bob
Jesse, you got a beauty! Your truck is about a pristine, a barn find as anyone gets! She's a survivor, lets help you do a really great job restoring it! I can't believe its a mid-western truck and not all eaten by salt. Flashlight
No brakes! With all those horns the DPO must not have had good brakes. That looks like a mighty fine project. Please keep us posted with your progress and questions.
Thought I'd post some pictures of the cab, patched a bunch of pin holes tonight. As you can see its got plenty of rust holes in the floor.
Gotta LOVE that barn too! Hey Jesse - welcome. Looks like you have been doing well on your own for 3 yrs so far. Nice progress. Congrats on that. Was that a local find? It looks very complete and what parts are missing, you should be able to find fairly easily. There is a section of this forum that is just for parts for sale/wanted, so you might search that as well for what you are looking for. Just click on the main link above: CLASSIC PARTS TALK and then scroll down about half way and you will see that forum section listed. If you find something listed that you need, contact the person via private message and they will get your message next time they sign on here. Otherwise, they may not regularly be checking their listing for messages. Good luck. Lots of folks on here have very valuable experience and are willing to share. You are in good hands.
Toot, toot, Brother! Those are awesome horns! Do some research on them! Find out who made them, etc, etc. As far as your question about the air cleaner. Chevy offered both a dry element air cleaner and an oil bath air cleaner. I'm kinda partial to the oil bath one myself. Search the boneyards in your area and key-in on any chevy, car or truck, that looks like a late 30's to mid to late 50's model. Here's an example of a "period" oil bath air cleaner.
I'm Stunned ! Ken , that's awsome Jesse , you'll be happy to learn that your floor is average or better , looks like you're coming along nicely . As far as the coolant puking , the correct level is really low in these trucks as there's a lot of turbulence in the top tank . Look up older posts under ' make run ' and ' tune up ' , begin with a valve adjust and go from there . Your '49 has Huck brakes , notice how they rhyme with " suck " ? they really are a weak spot and _barely_ stopped the 1937 light Coupe they were introduced on , I highly suggest talking to the guy who's discarding '52 parts in another post as '51 and newer use Bendix brakes and parts are cheap and available anywhere , it's pretty much a bolt up upgrade too , only two bolt holes to drill on the fron IIRC . WELCOME to the group ! .
Wow! Jesse~ great job, great space! Ahhhh, to live in the country... I can feel the tension in the picture where the two of you are downloading your truck from the trailer. By hand. With someone behind the truck! Obviously, it all worked out as planned. Anyway, you've done a GREAT job so far. Welcome!! These guys can help you get it back together and running like a top! Good luck! BTW, I _LOVE_ the horns!!! Those are at the perfect position to get a helper under the hood to fool with the carb while you slip around to the cab and hit the horn button! HELLO??? hello?
I Beleive these are the same type of oil baths Ken pictured Jesse , I have 2 of them in great shape . Bob
Hello Thanks everyone for all the helpfull advice. Sounds like you guys like my horns I don't know if they will go back on or not. I looked at them again today and could'nt find out who made them. When I first got the truck I tryed them but they wernt as loud as you would think, Maby some thing was not working right. Ordered patch panels last night My next question is about my lever action shocks, I cleand them up and made cork rubber gaskets. I put real hevy oil in them but they leak, I'm I using the right oil or do they all leak? Ken, that is a really good looking truck thanks for the pictuers. Nate, I already rebulit the brakes so they sould work ok for as slow as thing is goes right? What are the valve clearances and what cylinder has to be on tdc? Also do you have to do it while it's hot or cold? Bob what size is the hole on the bottom of the air cleaner and how much do you want for them? Thanks Jesse BTW the truck came from an old guys barn in northern Iowa
here is a link to the post of brakes to sell Jesse - here is that post Nate is referring to.. https://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=10899 And I vote to KEEP the horn! When you get ready, just do a SEARCH on this forum for Horns (fix, repair, test) and you will find lots of help already written. I acquired this set that looks similar to yours. I have not yet gotten to mine yet either. it can wait until my finger wears out.
Hello Bob- 2-1/4 will work, do you have the clamps for it? Also how much are you asking? gypsy truck - thanks for the link, but I dont know if I want to change brakes because I already rebuilt the old ones. But if you guys really think I should change them I might do it. Would brakes off a 54 3/4 ton work because I have one sitting out in the woods. Thanks Jesse
