The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Great old truck find - now, how to get it home

I made a deal for this old truck that has been sitting  outside,  on a rental storage lot,  for about 10 years.   It's a IRWIPI.  Far from that now.   Wheels are locked up.


I figure it's break shoes rusted to the drums. I guess the best way to address that would be to go out there with the tool box, some liquid wrench, floor jack, jack stands and a brake adjustment tool and work each wheel. Start with trying to loosen the wheel cylinder adjustment and whack around on the drum. I guess you'd have to loosen the drum from the axel or spindle first. Not sure how best the approach this. Any thoughts?

I made a deal for this 46 truck that has been sitting outside, on a rental storage lot, for about 10 years. It's a IRWIPI. Far from that now. Wheels are locked up.

I figure it's break shoes rusted to the drums. I guess the best way to address that would be to go out there with the tool box, some liquid wrench, floor jack, jack stands and a brake adjustment tool and work each wheel. Start with trying to loosen the wheel cylinder adjustment and whack around on the drum. I guess you'd have to loosen the drum from the axel or spindle first. Not sure how best to approach this. Any thoughts?

Great find indeed! Even with frozen brakes. Congrats and keep us up on your progress.

Old46,

Last week, I just jumped the same hurdle with a 41 1 1/2. Here is what I did. Some of the wheels were real tight. First I applied a liberal amout of PB Blaster in every orifice days before doing anything. I jacked the entire truck up, put blocks under the frame on all four sides to be safe. I then took off all of the wheels and attempted to back off the wheel cylinder adjusters. The back brakes complied well, but the front cylinder adjusters were frozen tight. I worked the hub with a long wrecking bar back and forth. The drums were still very tight. I then took a pressure washer and flooded the backing plate/drum area. Lots of crud came out. I then continued to work the hub with the bar until it got a little easier to move the hub. I then removed the outer bearing and CAREFULLY pried the drum against the backing plate sequentially 360 degrees around the drum. With patience and select encouragement words they all came out without breaking or distorting anything. Be in the right frame of mind before you start. If you are mad or in a hurry, pick another day.

Good luck!

Paul

Great looking truck. If it was me, I'd put the truck up on a dolly. Haul it home and put it in the garage where I could spend some quality time resolving the issues. Looks like that truck will be a fun project.
Larry

Since its parked on concrete you may want to simply try rocking it back and forth before you do anything. It may break loose. On the other hand jack up the front then rear to see if ALL of them are locked up. You just never know....otherwise, you've already received good advice.

My 48 1 1/2 ton was parked for 25 years with the parking brake on. I tried pushing it around the farm with a tractor and loader pushing it's full weight down in the bed and it still would'nt break loose. Finally got it running and jacked the rear up on stands. Chained one wheel to the frame and popped the clutch several times until they broke loose. Then just run them for a while to clean the rust away
Scott

Nice find!

That is a really nice project to work on,nice truck.
I bet that heater blower will blow you outta there.



Tim

Old46, that is a good looking project. I think you have enough advice, as noted. I'd get it home and inside so you can take your time and not break anything! Best of luck.

Thanks a lot for the great responses. What a terrific resource this web site is!

It's kind of like falling "in Luv'" or something. Can't keep the thing off my mind.

The guy I bought it from took it in trade for a down payment on mobile home, years ago. He subsequently moved and needed to store it "for a while." He gave me the name of the guy that traded it - who was then stationed at the Air Force base not too far from here. I may try and track him down - see if I can get a bit more history. I'll post anything interesting.

In the meantime - pumped up with some good ideas, I shall sally forth.

Thanks again!

Super nice truck. Surprised someone left it there so long. Glad you came along and rescued it.

Man, That is a sweet truck,, If you cant get it out,, and want to put t on my trailer,, Im game- really!

That truck looks like a headache give it to.me and ill haul it away no charge....just kidding...nice score id baby that dude till I got her rolling. The white actually looks good. Good luck with ur find

I work for a wrecker service and we use skates for sliding cars to load them they are just pieces of plastic with blocks on one end

Looks like it has a 235. Nice Score!! Congrats!!
Good Luck.

I would love to do the body work on that. Looks pretty rust free for sitting outside all those years.
APV

Just looking at the grill, one part of that era truck the hardest to restore, you can see it looks to be pristine. That to me says the truck is in great condition.
Do you think you could fit a Cadillac 472 under that hood? lol

UPDATE:

I believe you're right about the truck being in really good shape. We managed to get the wheels loose so it could be rolled under a shed and kept out of the rain. The back wheels popped loose easily after we got the front wheels freed up. On the front, the break cylinders were locked up and could not be turned to free the shoes from the drum - wound up taking the front bearings out of the hubs and rocking them back and forth until we got them to turn enough to tap the drum off the spindle . Much anointing with PB Blaster and a big pipe wrench. We took Paul WNC's 360 degree advice, approached with care, and did not bend up or mutilate the backing plates or anything else. The brake shoes really had no visible wear. Drums rusted but smooth.

The block number is 3837004 - that makes it a 55-57 235. The 12v battery had been mercifully disconnected. Engine is not caked up outside at all. A little water in the oil pan, determined via the dipstick. Still has visible antifreeze in the radiator. Points and condenser looked new. Plugs were not rusted. We anointed the cylinders with PB Blaster, and did get crank movement rocking it back and forth in gear. All gears were present. Clutch still works. I did note that the 216 water pump and fan had been mounted directly on the 235, and are setting too low on the radiator.

Man, I'm getting luckier as I go. Usually works the other way around.

This is going to be fun.

Green with envy here! You ROCK! Nice truck!

There ya go and said it...

can you jack up one end, and use casters, and then the others, roll it up to a flat bed? are all the wheels stuck or just the read end?

Drew,

We got it rolling. It turned out to be the front wheels only. The passengers side we got loose with a little elbow grease, but the drivers side was tuff. I had anointed with PB Blaster a few times and then we took the front bearing out and carefully rocked the drum back and forth until we could tap it off. The entire break system is frozen solid, so we took the shoes out of this side and put it back together. Got it under a shed for now until I make a place for it in my garage - which is a woodshop at the moment. Amazing that those old tires actually held air, except for one but the spare worked for that.