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Hello everyone,

I am working the bugs out of my 1960 DR860 s/a tractor, 6-71 Detroit w/10&2 tranny. Where in the heck do I find parts for this thingy? Right now I wish to replace the brake treadle valve. The tag says it is a Midland N 3974A. Is there a place that would rebuild this valve? I am at a loss on how to find parts. Also need some tin. The "whiskers" on the grill are missing. Would someone please help this ole farmer who is crazy enough to want to fix up this really cool old truck? Thank you, Charley.

These guys can probably help you with your mechanical stuff.

wwwfleetpride.com

Charley, welcome to the site. I too am working on a 860. Great to see another one here, which by the way, we need pictures!!
My treadle vavlve had been rebuilt by the po but I know you can get a replacement. Google treadle valves, there is plenty of info out there. Apparently they are easily rebuildable.
When you say whiskers, are you talking about the outside ends of the grill? I have lots of extra parts but unfortunately, no grill parts.
Check out my album in my signature.

Dear Don S., thanks for the lead. Will check out Fleetpride. Did a NAPA search this morning, "treadle valves". They have a few & will investigate further. Thanks again.
Dear Bill M., ohmygosh, checked out your 860(s) on photobucket. Wow! Will you stop at nothing to get a perfect truck done? You have my admiration, Sir. How many DR860's have you performed your magic on? I saw 3 or so? My 1960 truck has only two rear windows, now I want it to have 4 like yours! I shoudda waited for one... learning curve blues, I guess.
3 weeks back I brought my yellow 860 home to west Mi. from far west Kansas. There's an online classifieds out there called NexTech. That's where I saw it. Saved it from being scrapped. Bought it from the scrapper himself! Good thing he put it out there one more time. I felt fortunate to be the one who came to it's rescue. Please stay with me guys, I feel I'm gonna need help.Thanks again. Happy holidays! Charlie.

I started driving bob tails almost 60 years ago and I have owned and operated semis for over 50 years. My first semi was a 550 which is the highest HP gas burner built in the 50's. I spend a lot of time in our maintenance shop and do all the parts securement. I have extra 550 grills that are painted. I'm not sure if they are the same. They look the same from a distance. I too am anxious to see pictures.

Hello Mr. Crenwelge,

Pics of my truck: I just checked this and it worked: google nextechclassifieds.com/listings/view/878161/
You may see several pics of a yellow 860. Also a short video of it running. I repaired the coolant leak and whilst there installed a rebuilt water pump. Working on the brakes now. Gotta a long way to go on this truck... It's not the destination as much as it is the journey, they say. Have a great T-day. Charley.

550 grills

Mr. Crenwelge, it does appear that GMC 550 grills would interchange with a DR860 such as mine. May we talk further? Thanks, Charley.

Charley, only one, one is enough! The first one in the album is a friend in our local ATHS Chapter. That is the truck that started all this madness. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it and had to have one. The rest of the pictures are all the same truck. It was red when the guy I got it from bought it. He started the resto on it and painted the cab green. He wanted out and I bought it and painted it to match my '46 cabover. I got it about 4 years ago and thought I could get all the work done in about a year and a half!
I saw your truck advertised somewhere in July of '13 in a Midwest auction(I think?). Glad you rescued it. Ask lots of questions and take lots of pictures. I am no expert but will help all I can. Mr. Crenwelge is the guy we both need. In fact my truck came from a company down in his part of the country.

A am assuming all you need is the pieces that attach to the bullet and sit in front of the fender. I have not been able to find the p/n for the 860. I have p/n's for the 550. Probably the easiest would be if you PM me with an address, I will send them to you and we can see if they fit. I recently bought a 550 LCF parts truck just for the air to put on an old fire truck. I also have a couple of painted 550 conventional painted grills. I have been able to get pretty nice chrome ones out of fire trucks. Fire departments were obsessed with chrome like I am, but they didn't believe in air brakes because the house would burn down before they build up air. Now fire departments have air at the fire station and keep the apparatus aired up all the time. Fire departments usually didn't have 2 speed axles either. Just one more thing to fail with inexperienced volunteer drivers.

Dear Mr.Crenwelge,

I am interested in the left and right grill pieces that you have for a model 550. These horizontal pieces do bolt along the outside of each bullet and extend over each fender. I believe they'll fit. I'm not yet sure how to send you a pm. If you wish you may call my cell at 231 750 9394. Thank you kindly.

Hi,stoveboltcharley! If you want to send a P.M.,Left-Click the name you want to send to. Left-click "Send a P.M.,and a "New Topic" window will appear. When someone sends you a P.M.,you'll see a small yellow and red envelope flashing next to "My Stuff",on the "Home" page. If you have an active conversation going with someone,you may add to the conversation by Left clicking on "My Stuff",rather than going to the forum,finding the post,(name),and left-clicking the name. Convenient! Hope this helps! B.T.W... THANKS for the Pic's!!