Thanks for the kind words pgg00. I have to admit it's quite a saga now. I never expected the build thread to grow like this, but it is what it is.

I wish your dad could find his truck. It's weird to think anyone would steal an F4, since they're not that popular. Maybe they wanted it for the cab, since it fits all sizes.

Betsy doesn't really "work" any more, hence the joke pictures of hauling the heavy Christmas tree home. But I can drive her whenever I want, so in that regard, she still works.

I'm looking forward to the parade next month to display all the military flags and my Pearl Harbor survivor passenger.

 

Very small update. I took the glove box lock to a locksmith and had keys made. I can now lock the glove box if I want to. Big whoopee, right? Well, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

He couldn't find a blank that fit correctly so he had to file the keys down by hand. Still only charged me $25. I think I'll do business with him again. He used these blanks for '53-'66 and had to shorten or narrow them.



If I ever want to do it again, I guess I should buy one of these blanks from Classic Haulers...

 

Thatwas a pretty good price to get the keys made

 

Yes, I had originally gotten a quote from another shop for $25. Then I found out this guy was right down the street from me, about 4 miles closer. When I asked him on the phone, he said $25 or $30, but when I picked them up he charged only $25.

 

When I tried to get new keys made for Edith i was able to buy blanks from a lock company, a bag of 10 was less than $10. Of course I then learned that none of the current key cutting machines would hold the keys (too small), I actually cut the keys myself with a file.

Here is the blank that I got.

 

Well, it's been a while since I added anything here.

Betsy's all ready for the parade Saturday. But I've had a fire extinguisher on my work bench for a very long time meaning to get around to finding a place for it in the cab.

Today, I made a mounting bracket, mounted it in the cab and then added the extinguisher right behind the driver. And just like everyone else, hope I never have to take it out again unless it needs a recharge.



I think I mentioned elsewhere this is Betsy's 4th parade. And this year my passenger is a dear old friend I met at Boy Scout adult leader training in 1989. He is now 95 and is a Pearl Harbor Survivor. We don't have too many of these guys left... so I'm really glad he's riding with me in the Salute to Veterans Parade. He'll be 96 next month, joined the Navy in 1940.

 

Excellent Joe!


I'm glad you had a successful parade!


Bobby

 

Bobby, it's still two days away. I wouldn't dare drive in a parade without including pics (and maybe video) in the post. You guys would disown me.

 

Precious few WWII vets left, great you can give him a ride!

 

That is a good place to put the extinguisher. I should buy a pair for my trucks!

 

Yes, he's a great guy. He lost his wife of 70 years in November. They got married in '45 when he got out of the Navy. We've started taking him to lunch every Wednesday to keep him active. And we're not the only ones... he has lots of friends.

 

Well lets hope he aint like me and needing a diaper.
It's amazing how many social events I never get invited
to anymore. But I always get the dance floor to my self.
Although it does get a little slick.

 

It's short but sweet this year.

http://vid285.photobucket.com/albums...430_112044.mp4

 

Crickets..... forgot the link, Joe

 

Well, not exactly. I had a link to Kathy's FaceBook page with the video. That worked the first time I tried it, but then erred out with a privacy message.

So I had to download it from her phone to Drive, send the link to myself and upload it to Photobucket.

It should work now.