A long slow build - Family Heirloom

Ron

Ron

Dum Spiro Spero
Moderator
Joined
Apr 16, 2005
Location
Sharon, SC
When the first tool a build requires is a chain saw ...well it’s a good story.

Going to try and keep one of these threads going albeit updates will likely be sporadic.

This is one of those sentimental value builds...you know the kind. This was grandads. Parked 29 years ago . Finally yesterday at his 90th** birthday party he said I could take it and get her running.

So this is what we are starting with.... hopefully she’ll be in the shop by Monday.


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As you know, its a terrible decision. You'd be miles ahead to go buy something thats already running and driving.

Also, it's the right decision.

Looking forward to seeing it come together.
 
A few more pics.
I’ll write more later from a pc...but in the 70s grandpa and great uncle had a small company installing septic tanks and doing light grading. They bought this as a dump truck but my uncle needed a flat bed. He was a local famous welder and did a lot of work in stainless. I didn’t understand how unique that skill was growing up. We had stainless stolid all over a huge picnic table for 12+ all out of stainless etc...anyway the bed was rusted out so uncle made a bed for this thing. Finally got her free though.
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Monkeynono said:
Man, you guys got no rust down there. 29years in the woods up here and there would be nothing left.
Click to expand...

there is some rust..not as much as I feared but some.

some distant family who live up north came down several years ago and let their kids shoot guns down on our farm range..they decided the truck glass would be cool to shoot out ...rage...there wasn’t a crack in the glass until then. All of it will need to be replaced now.
 
Just getting it out of it’s resting home and ready to trailer was a chore. Minimal equipment was available because of a sensitive situation.

apparently the brakes don’t work and it was stopped and wheel chocked by an old cement mixer which is pretty cool in it own right. Just getting it out from under the truck was a challenge using only a come along

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then with it out the way getting the trans into neutral and freeing the clutch was the order of the day.

That was complicated by a visitor who dropped onto @Skyhik5jr while he was in the floor board

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I’ll try to fix formatting issues later from a Pc
 
Well she made it home, if not inside the shop yet...
What an adventure just this far has been.

Just a quick few thoughts here to answer a couple questions.
This will never be intended to be a full on resto build. That isnt in the plans or really feasible given the current state. The current plan is get it cleaned up, get it running and stopping and take grandad for a ride....which means timeline on that is ASAP...

From there maybe pull the FFA float in the local parade. Current vision is sort of a true rat rod. Nothing done to distress this or make it look old, just leave it mostly looking as is. Gt some glass in it. Get the door and windows operable. And get her driving. Then tinker from there as we go.
 
Ron said:
This will never be intended to be a full on resto build. That isnt in the plans or really feasible given the current state. The current plan is get it cleaned up, get it running and stopping and take grandad for a ride....which means timeline on that is ASAP...
Click to expand...

Totally get this! After this COVID-19 mess is done, I want to take my grandpa to lunch in his old C30.

May not fit, but if you could use anything I've taken off a '72 C30 with a 350, let me know:
Wiring harness (wiper, cluster & ignition harnesses removed)
Reman'd OEM alternator (<1 hour of run time)
Battery tray
Steering column & wheel (work, but in rough shape)
 
So a little update.
with my son being home from school he has been working on it the last few days and really just cleaning it out.

The snake followed the truck home caught him and took him down in the woods and anointed him rat patrol. He seemed happy with the title.
He cleaned the bed from 30 years of trash build up and dirt and dust....Took I think 5 large bags of trash to the dump and 12-13 50 gallon drums (mostly full) of dirt leaves and such into the back 40.

Then removed the seat, and fuel tank and cleaned the cab out good.

Ill try to get some pics later for an update.

Current stopping point is we need some tires to make it roll. And these are oddballs.
They are apparently Firestone n5 profile 2 piece rims, according to local tire shop the worst of the worst of 2 piece rim designs known as widow makers. And 8 calls to big truck and equipment shops seems to confirm no one wants to touch utting tires on these. So we are on the hunt for some wheels and tires.
6 lug on 8.75 pattern. 8.25 - 20 are stock size looks like 9-20 were used on Deuce and a Halfs and much more popular so thats current thinking.

Once she is rolling we need to attack getting the drivers door to open then on to the fun stuff. The radiator was completely empty but we filled it and nothing ran out so...we will see.
Oil still looks good. Plugs, wires, Dizzy cap, and fuel pump and a gas jug and we may try for spark by the weekend....
 
Could you adapt them up to a 10 lug or something?
 
jeepinmatt said:
Could you adapt them up to a 10 lug or something?
Click to expand...
That's a consideration...but the rear are dually that use a Budd double stud system so it would not be my first choice.
 
Ron said:
So a little update.
with my son being home from school he has been working on it the last few days and really just cleaning it out.

The snake followed the truck home caught him and took him down in the woods and anointed him rat patrol. He seemed happy with the title.
He cleaned the bed from 30 years of trash build up and dirt and dust....Took I think 5 large bags of trash to the dump and 12-13 50 gallon drums (mostly full) of dirt leaves and such into the back 40.

Then removed the seat, and fuel tank and cleaned the cab out good.

Ill try to get some pics later for an update.

Current stopping point is we need some tires to make it roll. And these are oddballs.
They are apparently Firestone n5 profile 2 piece rims, according to local tire shop the worst of the worst of 2 piece rim designs known as widow makers. And 8 calls to big truck and equipment shops seems to confirm no one wants to touch utting tires on these. So we are on the hunt for some wheels and tires.
6 lug on 8.75 pattern. 8.25 - 20 are stock size looks like 9-20 were used on Deuce and a Halfs and much more popular so thats current thinking.

Once she is rolling we need to attack getting the drivers door to open then on to the fun stuff. The radiator was completely empty but we filled it and nothing ran out so...we will see.
Oil still looks good. Plugs, wires, Dizzy cap, and fuel pump and a gas jug and we may try for spark by the weekend....
Click to expand...

Ive got 4 old deuce wheels if they will work. Stock wheels and tires are junk, but they are free if you want them.
 
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