Almost Done -

We found a few more leaks, but this will be done soon.

The Devil is in the Details

.

All of these little details take time. When I took the window tracks apart last year, I found that leather grommets were used in 1953 in the window track slides to hold the window arms and guide the windows up and down. 58 years later, leather grommets are not quite the same. The windows would not roll up and down without trying to veer off a true movement.

Guster fabricated some new neoprene grommets, and with a few tweaks, these windows go up and down smoothly and true. Very nice work.

We need to install the oil pan, a list of trim items, but she sure is coming together. I don't think we'll put the baby moon hubcaps on. The less, the better - it will be the rugged truck it was meant to be

Under the Hood

The old straight six, oil bath filter, all as it was in 1953.

... Progress every day. Could be done by 12/10/2011.

What hangs better than a side of beef?

Go Guster

We are on the home stretch. Rear fenders are on

Big Springs

Going back a few weeks, Guster, who is doing the restoration, pointed out that this truck has oversized springs - a 3/4 ton truck with one-ton springs.

This truck had taken a beating, and the shackles that held the body to the frame were twisted. Guster fabricated new shackles. We rebuilt the bed because it had been hammered and dented from whatever had been carried by this truck.

Back in the 50's, trucks were not passenger vehicles, for sure. They were meant to work.

Here are the old Shackles that held the body to the frame:

And of course, credit to Guster for the new shackles:

She's a Roller

Wheels now on the truck. Coming together nicely. She needed a clutch rebuild and that delayed us just a little. The fenders go on in a day or so.