Hi all. It's been a bit since I last posted but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy! LOL. I'd been beating my head against the wall regarding the brakes on this truck. Namely, getting the original drum brakes to function with a more modern booster/master cylinder set-up. After much trial and error, I finally found a combination that works and works WELL. So much better than the original single-line master cylinder and hydro-vac did (at least while in my possession) and only for a couple-hundred dollar investment.
I also got all the under-dash wiring ran and tucked away nicely. Got the original Super De-Lux heater running with the help of a 6V resistor and the new 12V electric wiper motor courtesy of Jim Carter.
I had one of those crazy things that usually don't happen happen. While running the wiring under the dash I heard and felt quite the BANG come from somewhere toward the rear of the truck. After snooping around, I found the cast-steel "cap" that goes under the rear axle that the U-bolts go through to hold the axle to the springs had decided to shatter, and with enough force to snap off one end of those 5/8" U-bolts! I ended up torching off the rest of the U-bolts and drilling them out of that "cap". I was then able to clean up everything and weld it back together but with it being made out of cast steel, I figured it would likely break again when I tightened up the new U-bolts. I didn't even bother trying. Instead, I made some new "caps" out of 5" x .460" wall steel tubing (i work for the largest steel tubing manufacturer in North America) that I cut in half lengthwise and welded 1/2" plate with the required holes already drilled onto the tube halves. 4 new U-bolts and the rear axle isn't going anywhere until I say so!
After all that, I commandeered a trailer and finally got the truck over to my buddy Roy for the bodywork and paint! While he has it, I'll blast and paint the flat bed and give it's boards a good sanding and some varnish. I'll post some new pictures in a couple days.
It's getting close!
