It's been a long time since I've been on here, but I think this is a great way to get back into the community. Here's the backstory:
Some years back I worked as a USPS CCA (City Carrier Assistant), and ran across this old gal. I struck up a conversation with her owner, agreed on a price, but had some financial difficulty. Flash forward a few years, I finally get it together and buy it.
As the thread title says, she's a 1950 3942 Dubl-Duti step van. The original owner used it to sell Cornwell Tools (thus the paint scheme) up to 1978, when he retired and the man I got it from bought it. Nothing has changed since then - not even the tires! At some point, the babbit 235 had been replaced with a '54-up high-mount water pump 235 that didn't have a stamping behind the distributor; a factory replacement engine. That's the engine that's still in it. Mileage? Who knows? Transmission is an SM420; rear axle is an Eaton HO72 with 5.14:1 gears. All five wheels are Firestone type AR 'Safety Ring' split rims with 7.50 - 17 tires.
When I bought it, very little of the electrical still worked, the tires were ancient and shot, the brakes didn't work, and the engine had a dead cylinder. Interestingly, someone installed a Grote 966-4 turn signal switch with hazards. One less thing I need to do!
Here's what I've done so far, in the year I've owned her: - Removed the cylinder head (848 casting), fixed the stuck valve, replaced a burned valve and had the seat touched up - Cleaned the points, replaced everything else - Thermostat and water pump - New hoses - Fresh oil, coolant - Overhauled the carb, fuel pump, and restored the fuel tank. Replaced the sending unit, repaired the air cleaner and installed a new element - Overhauled the master cylinder, wheel cylinders. Located a replacement return spring for one rear brake - Re-sealed the rear wheel hubs - Cleaned and re-packed the front wheel bearings - Greased everything - Changed the trans and axle oil - Restored the steering wheel; replaced the speedo - Restored the five rear marker lights - Located a replacement front marker (purely luck - spotted a NOS at Jim's Vintage Auto while looking for a rebuilt water pump!) - Replaced one wheel (crack at the ring flange) and two tires and two hubcaps so far. Restored three wheels - Removed the non-functioning vacuum wiper motors, searching for suitable electric replacements - Built new battery cables - Bought a CS130 alternator, modified the original generator bracket to accept it, and installed a 5/8" belt pulley - Restored the Panelray heater the original owner installed. Works great! - Restored the original horn and found a vintage boat/train Reon air horn at Jim's. Restored it, gonna mount it to the roof! - Restored the Mopar model 53 Comfort Master heater that came installed on the doghouse. Had to replace the housing with one I pulled from Jim's, out of a '48 DeSoto. It was missing parts, and generally pretty beat up. - Got both doors working again. Currently searching for new latches - Obtained a Brown-Lipe 5531 auxiliary transmission and shifter to add an overdrive
In one year, it went from beat-down, not running and ready for the boneyard, to running sweet and driving... well, it drives. That's the point! Steering is more suggestion than steering... But the brakes work!
Check my YouTube channel for some update vids, time-to-time! I work nearly every weekend on it, so there'll be more pics and vids.
Last edited by Alister; 03/16/20203:25 PM.
If a 'truck' is only used to haul butts to the mall, then it's not a truck - it's a car with a roadster trunk.
Old, rusty and ugly - might be me or my fleet. You decide!
