VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans My 35 pick em up

Last year I bought a 35 half ton Chevy pu. It has an amateur restoration but looked and ran very good. The man I bought it from said the man he bought it from got it from an estate sale and had been told the engine had been recently rebuilt and not driven enough to be broke in yet. How true that is I have no idea but the engine ran very well.

I could not say the same for the steering however. It had about 6" of play. So of course I decided to repair that. I started with the steering gear box.

While waiting on parts a friend asked if he could hear it run. It wouldn't start w/o putting a little fuel in the carb. That was odd as it had always started right up with no problems whatsoever. A quick check showed the fuel pump was not working. Not a problem.

Eventually I got it running and the steering gear box rebuilt. There was still some play (about 2 or 2 1/2") in the wheel but not as much as before so I'll have to check the linkage. Just the same I took it for a short ride to town, about 10 miles.

3 1/2 miles down the road is starts running very rough. About 2 miles from town the temp gauge had climbed higher than I liked so I pulled over and let it cool down. Once in town I let it cool enough to check everything out. It still had plenty of water and there were no leaks. I tried adjusting the carb but got no where fast. So back home I went stopping once to allow it to cool enough to complete the trip.

There was no adjusting the carb. Compression was good through all cylinders, about 85+/-3. Timing was good. Points, rotor, etc all good. It didn't have a thermostat so I put in a 160* one and that didn't help either. So I gave the carb to someone here to rebuild. It was running very lean. I had to pull the choke out almost all the way to get it to idle halfway smoothly so perhaps that caused it to over heat.

Meanwhile I replaced the water pump just to be sure. The old one looks to be fine.

Before starting it again I decided to replace the old steel fuel line. I did that this week. The gas gauge was not working properly so I ordered a new fuel gauge sending unit hoping that will correct that problem. If not at least I'll have a new one installed. Until then I cannot start the truck as the gas tank is removed.

This truck has not been garaged. I only have room for one vehicle in my garage and it is filled by my 26 roadster. The truck has been sitting out front on the lawn several feet away from the driveway. It was safe, or so I thought.

Two days ago I saw that someone had hit the right front fender causing a dent 12" across and 2" deep.

I am not happy.

[img:left][/img]

So, now along with the steering problems and over heating problems and running rough I also have body work to do. Methinks I should also build another garage.

This is a pre-dent picture.

[img:left][/img]

If you have additional problems with your truck, call me and I will come and get it.

Bill
That is really cool looking truck! Congrats!!!

It did not come with any rearview mirrors. Does anyone know if there was ever an inside rearview mirror? If it had one I can't see where it went and I see no replacements at the Filling Station.

Thanks Ray and 37Blue

Bill,

Great looking '35!

This is a PDF of the Restoration Supply Co. online catalog. Look on pages 56-57.

I put a rearview mirror from these folks on my '36...I don't believe it ever had one from the factory, just 2 side mirrors.

Wally

Trucks came with a left out side mirror only with the right being an accessory. In the later years the inside became an accessory(1947).
I would suspect your gas tank is dirty and causing carburetor problems. Would advise to clean out the gas tank before installing a "repaired" carburetor.

Thanks Wally.

I'll check out that pdf if it will ever download. Computer connection seems very slow tonight.

I found a mirror to fit on the hinge of the left door but cannot find one for the right door. The closest to a right hand mirror I can find would attach to the spare.

Gene, I suspect the gas was rather old. Probably 4 years or more. When I drained it the other day it smelled funky but looked clean.

Is the drivers side mirror bracket on your top hinge? If so, would it be reversible and mount on your passenger side top hinge?
I might have an extra one.

Mike

I have a bracket that fits on the hinge but it is not reversible, unfortunately.

My '34 has a left side mirror and an inside mirror thatlooks original but I don't know for sure. It is also an older restoration, its brewster green with black fenders. I will get some pics and post them. Just put the engine back in, its in the garage don't have it ready to drive yet. The truck is mostly original; mechanical brakes, 6 volt, original engine and trans. looks good if you don't get too close. Where is a good place to get a gas tank?

The Filling Station has them.