Mike/Michael, thank you both for the good information! I'm putting these events on the 2015 calendar and plan on attending at least a few.
Mike, 10-4 on the brakes. I went through all that when reworking the brake system on my '63 F**d.
Michael, I am not in the fire service, so I am learning as I go...SLE stands for second line engine

I did not know that Generals were originally made in St. Louis. I do know that General stopped manufacturing truck bodies in '56, so mine is relatively late model haha.
One other question I do have, while I am feeling out this project, how do you guys go about repairing a midship pump? I assume you get parts from the manufacture?
Thanks again,
Alex