The last items for this year.
The LF bleeder screw on the wheel cylinder was stripped and Craig had a heck of a time trying to bleed the brakes. He had to pull all four wheels and had to re-tap the LF bleeder screw. He had gotten a self-bleeder but it was missing an O ring and that caused some issues.
He called later to say, "We have pedal" which means he worked very hard to seal the leak, bleed the brakes at all four corners and then adjust the brakes correctly. I am sure it was a long, hard day as he commented his back hurt.
We found some tie rod ends on eBay that were in original boxes. When we got the pictures, we saw they had no taper -- so no good again. I just do not understand this at all -- how this one part can be so difficult.
We ordered some from LMC and they were wrong as well. Craig removed one
tie rod end. Either he rebuilds them, leaves them alone, or we get dumb lucky and find new ones which, to this point, has been fruitless.
I talked with the guy I bought the truck from and he gave me some additional information regarding the truck. It came from a farm in Norwich, North Dakota where it served for years before it was retired in 1980.
Craig continued to work on more wiring and by mid-December, he felt he was about 75% done with the wiring.
He had a bunch of things for me to order: a
headlight switch and gaskets, a heater switch and valve knob, one headlight and the upper and lower radiator hoses, rain tube for the cowl vent and dome light housing, and a rubber boot to fit over the master cylinder cover, a manual engine hand crank as this was an option if the battery died. I bought one more for the era and hopefully will never use it. It will go along with the old tools that will be in the bed.
Someone put a 12 volt headlight in it rather than a 6 volt headlight. I had to order headlight gaskets twice as the first ones somehow got lost in the mix. Craig got the headlights to work on high and low beams.
The
heater box is back in and ready to work. The puzzle is really coming together.
Craig set the
valves and put the
draft tube on the engine.
I sent Craig the 1949 license plate so when he is happy that his part is done, he can take it on a shake down. After all, he did all the hard work and I want him to be the first one to drive it. He'll enjoy the thumbs up I'm sure he'll get from people who see this great truck. It may be my "money pit" but when I drive this truck and people ask me about it, I will be happy to talk about my brother.
I got a
reproduction data book and an
operator's manual that a salesman would use to sell this truck. It has all the data and options that were available.
I got a reproduction tool kit bag for the truck. Ironically, I have all the tools in house that I acquired over the years.
I bought
four old style oil cans today from a collector to add to the patina of the truck.
I am looking at some interior pieces.
Craig installed the cables for the choke and throttle but I asked not to hook up the manual throttle cable as there is no need.
He installed the fan blade and adjusted the fan belt. He hooked up the oil pressure line and water temperature gauge. He also wired from the front all the way to the one and only tail light.
The dash is basically back in and together except he needs to hook up the heater/ defroster tubes and put the replacement glove box insert in.
I need to get better instructions on how to install the seat belts. Also, a new drain hose for the cowl is on order as it is so dry rotted.
Craig advised both front parking lights have melted wires from a short. That and they have original wiring! They do have the original glass however. So, he will remove the bulbs, clean and sandblast the insides and rewire.
As an update to all, I sent over 400 pictures to Patricks in Arizona, Bob Adler, the guy I bought the truck from, Stovebolt.com and Rex Rutowski, the writer from the Tribune Review newspaper. I also sent info to Hagerty, Hemmings, and the Filling Station.com. Hagerty needed higher resolution pictures for the magazine.
The Chicago Tribune put the truck on their web page. I was contacted by barnfinds.com requesting pictures as well!
I am envisioning the day this truck is in my driveway and hear every groan from this old beauty before I am unable to manage this.
Craig installed the radiator support bracket, the radiator and filled up the system with a 50 /50 mix. He installed the front exhaust pipe but not the muffler yet. He checked for any oil and or coolant leaks and found none. He installed both defroster hoses, and put in about two gallons of gasoline. Ammeter shows the charging system is working fine and the vacuum wipers are working fine. The fuel filter at the carburetor filled up with fuel immediately and we know this as I opted for the optional glass bowl filter housing. Engine temperature ran at about 180 degrees. How do I know this? Craig advised he ran the engine for about ten to fifteen minutes. I wish I could have been there to hear the engine run for so long.
Again, first time everything has been hooked up and the engine has run for more than ten seconds or so back on 10-13-13 when he initially started the engine just to see if it would fire.
Craig has to wire up the blower motor yet and has decided to put in a fusible link.
Craig posted on Facebook the short video of the engine running. All the gauges work, and the engine sounded very smooth for not having the muffler installed yet. Craig ran the engine longer than the video so it appears all is a go on this project.
Later, Craig cut the exhaust pipe to the correct length and installed the muffler. He wired up the heater blower switch and ran the wires to the fuel sending unit. The hood bracket is installed in preparation of re-installing the grille and such.
As the year ends, a little time to reflect. My reflection is solely based on my brothers and what they have done for me with this, my final project.
Anything Craig and I can do to help others when they take up such a challenge is a great way to pay back the hobby. Yes, it's a money pit, a back breaker, a stress inducer and much more. But, the satisfaction the project provides outweighs all of these obstacles.
Moving forward into the new year will bring more challenges but also will bring even more satisfaction especially when we drive this and tell the story to others.
