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The Gallery | ||||||||
1953 6400 Chevy 2-Ton |
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# 2778 From Renee : In 1994, I was assigned to a large wildland fire near Entiat, WA. Over Memorial Day weekend in 1996, a group of friends and family were having a campout / dirtbike ride in the same area. We were out riding, taking pictures of wildflowers, etc, when we drove past "2 Ton Tess." It was a 1953 Chevy 6400. Of course, we turned around to check out the truck.
The "For sale" sign had fallen down out of view. There was no one around the nearby farm, so we went on our way. Soon after, I went off to California for my summer job fighting fires. While I was gone, my husband went back and bought the truck for my 24th birthday! The truck had belonged to the Deatherage Family, and had spent its life hauling apples and pears to the packing house. It had just over 53,000 miles. My husband and friend Craig drove the truck back over Stevens Pass, after nothing more than an oil change. When I came home for the winter, I drove the truck a little, polished a spot here and there. One day, I decided to check the front brakes and wheel bearings. By the time my husband got back from work that night, the entire front end of the truck was laying on the shop floor. The body was in great condition, being from Eastern Washington -- no rust whatsoever. Years of strapping fruit totes had taken it's toll, though. Lots of dents to pound and sand and fill and sand. Did I mention sanding? I also came to a couple of dead-ends (cause I wasn't sure how to wire it) with the electric fan, Painless wiring harness -- making it work with 12V one wire alternator, and a couple other things. I imported my friend Craig from Washington for a week to help with the first start of the engine. We all thought it would be simple. By now I knew a bit more about wiring, and had most everything sorted out and connected. Well, we spent a whole week of looong days beating our heads trying to make it run right, and on more than 2 cylinders. It sounded HORRIBLE. So, I decided to pull the engine and send it out to another machine shop. The oil had a lovely pearlescent sheen.
The final verdict was that the cam gear looked like someone had pounded it on with a hammer. The cam gear was on crooked, and was eating itself. So, I got all new bearings, seals, and rings. (The old ones weren't seating well after sitting for 10 years.)
Renee added a 1948 Chevy Suburban to the Gallery in April 2011 - an "updated" old Stovebolt to handle their high elevation in the mountains. Actually going to use it to replace a 2002 F*rd as their daily driver.
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