The '50 is in the Gallery

artj66 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 08:09 AM

I finally got out to the garage to take some pics of the '50 last night and I posted a few in the gallery. The gallery name is 1950 Rebuild. I would have put them all in , but between the first round of photos that I forgot about (from last year) and the photos from last night, I have over 200 pics to help me document where everything was when I finally start the tear down.
Considering the last two owners combined for leaving this thing sitting in un-conditioned garages for over 20 years, and it's believed to be an old work truck for Connecticut Light & Power (I'm going to look into that over the next few weeks), the truck isn't in too bad of shape. But it'll take some time and effort before it sees the road.

-AJ

SuperSnake · #2 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 09:57 AM

Sweet Art. That going to make a Super nice truck when finished. I hope you have room for us when we come to visit to help you on it.

artj66 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 10:35 AM

I'm sure we can find some room over here.

SuperSnake · #4 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 10:37 AM

Art What are your plans for your truck?

artj66 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 11:55 AM

I'm looking at doing some modifications, but nothing outrageous. My goal is to have a truck that has some power to it, but is comfortable to drive. Right now I'm going through it to see what needs to be done to prep it for a new suspension. Then I'll focus on the driveline, and continue from there. With my budget right now, I expect this to be a long-term project. But my first goal is to have at least a rolling chassis together before we move to the new house in a few years.

SuperSnake · #6 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 12:04 PM

Cool do you know what suspension set up you want?

artj66 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 12:21 PM

Still looking into the options. I know I want the Mustang II under the front, but I don't know if I want to go with the air ride or the coil over.

SuperSnake · #8 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 12:27 PM

I watched Horsepower tv one day and some one out a air ride suspension under a 63 Impala and they said it gave a better ride and handled better once they got the right amount of air in each bag.I don't know much about it and I looked up a system for my truck which wasn't cheap.I wonder how good it really is cause when I use to be a truck driver a few years ago the freightliner I drove had a air bags suspension along with shocks even the driver seat had a air bag and the truck rode well

artj66 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 12:51 PM

I had an air-assisted suspension in both of my Mazda pickups before I traded them in. I was actually able to supplement the air ride for a bad set of leaf springs in the 1987 B2200, and you never knew there was a problem. For my B3000, I put them in to assist with towing and it made a huge difference in stability and mileage.
The problem I have is that when I had them in the B2200, I had a bag that managed to get punctured. We saw it sitting low to one side in my parents' driveway one night (the bags were set up independently). I was no problem having one go bad there, where I have access to any tool I need. My concern is what happens when I'm on the road and something like that happens. A bad spring usually give you warning, air ride may not be so kind.

SuperSnake · #10 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 12:54 PM

I thought the new bags were made out of thicker material now than a few years ago? But with a coil over set up and good wide tires you can get a really good ride

artj66 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 07:58 PM

That was the only problem I ever had with the air ride on 2 vehicles. The B2200 had the air assist installed back in 1994, so 12 years of engineering can produce a lot of improvements.