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11/19/23: I didn’t think this was going to become such an issue. I went to several salvage yards and did not find any rims that I could use.

I’m still going to look for a replacement rim but the realization that I may not find one is starting to set it. Since finding one to match is proving difficult and the fact that if I had a flat, I wouldn’t have a spare, I really thinking my best option is to buy new rims.

My original wish list had Coker W/W radial tires but after seeing their cost, I might have to revise that list. Now I’m thinking finding 15x6” rims which are closer to the original size and putting my existing tires on them, at least to start with to save a bit of money. I can add W/W tires at a later date. After discussing buying new rims with my wife a viewing a few possibilities, she really liked the artillery rims. I originally wanted original looking rims, caps and beauty rings, but after seeing so many smoothie rims on AD trucks in recent years, I’m open to the idea, still vintage looking but just a little bit different. With original looking caps and beauty ring I think it may just work.

The next project is to replace the floor and lower inner cowl panels. I figured the best approach is to replace the cab mounts first so it’s on a stable base when I cut out the floor.

I started on the front mounts removing both bolts with my wife’s help holding the wrench on the inside, they came out easily using an impact hammer. I believe removing both at the same time allowed the cab to shift making getting the bolts back in really difficult. I ended up turning a taper on a spare bolt to get the hole back into alignment. Once I got one, the other went easy. I’m not sure of the actual assembly as the assembly manual only lists part numbers without actually describing the parts so I don’t know where the rubber from the kit goes. No real issue as when I figure it out, everything is new so it will come apart easily.

Moving on to the rear mounts, I soaked everything down with PB blaster and again used an impact to remove the fasteners. I jacked the frame up on the mount, inserted a 3/4” piece of wood between the frame and the cab mount and removed the shackle mount assembly. I used a thin screwdriver to remove the rubber bushings and they came out easily.

Once disassembled I started to sandblast the components and got about 3/4 done, and started smelling something strange. I went upstairs in my shop where my compressor is located and there was a cloud of smoke that smelled like burning oil. Needless to say, I stopped until I can figure it out. I looked at the compressor and it has evidence of oil on the head. Never saw that before as it’s usually dry.

My compressor been living on borrowed time for some time now. It’s a 2 HP 20 Gal Craftsman compressor that I bought new in 1977. In 2010, I had a pipe burst in my garage where the compressor was located and of course at that exact moment it started, sucking water into the motor and into the cylinders, so it got new motor and a top end rebuild. Good as new! That compressor has painted several vans, cars, motorcycles and most recently my sons 2008 Honda Si. It had no problem keeping up with my spray guns, all of my pneumatic tools and my HF tabletop sand blaster. They don’t make them like that anymore but it’s way past time for a new compressor.