Our 1955 2nd series truck is a stock 1/2 ton with 235/SM420. It was bought for $450 in 1998 and restored in Oregon in 1998/99. The owner kept an extensive log of work done, but it wasn’t a full resto. And that log stayed with the truck. Unfortunately, there were no photos of it prior to restoration.
It was on-sold and stayed in the US until that owner brought it to New Zealand and sold it about 2007. The next owner kept it until we purchased it in 2015.
After we got it, I did a lot of stuff, including full re-wire, new Dutchman axles, and currently a full engine rebuild after it burnt a valve and cracked the head.
The engine has had previous work done but some of it was dubious quality. Probably when the truck was towards the end of its life and it was just kept running. Now it’s time to do it properly.
Gearbox is fine with a broken indent spring being the only repair.
It did breakdown once -- luckily close to home after a long trip. That was a broken roll pin on the distributor shaft.
The truck is no show queen but it’s in great shape and it has stood up well since it was done in Oregon. I’m looking forward to many more happy miles in it.
