Ok, the fabman says I need to reenlist in the Oregon chapter. Ok, lets do it. Figured I'd update my self since last I posted. Ok, down here in central Oreogn, there is a 55 Ford F-800. It's the only one you'll probably ever see that runs and drives being powered by a Caterpillar diesel. It is my project build, and the end result will be a fully operational and DOT approved and certified OTR truck (no, I will not be working it, just needed to have big ole truck). The other project, is our partially famous fire truck. It is my 53 F-750 fire truck. It was gonna get driven from Iowa, where I bought it, to here in Oregon. After my mom got killed in a car wreck, I couldn't allow the fine folks of this club to risk their own lives or anyone elses on such a mission. Since then, I sold the fire truck to a guy in Canada, my father in law passed away, and life got really really bad. Came real close to divorce, and managed to turn full circle in a matter of a few months. Aint no divorce, disproved all the BS that was being fed to me about my wife, and life is going pretty well. Guy in Canada doesn't have time or room for the fire truck, and so he sends me an e-mail that says to keep the truck, and the money, and he will right the $3500 off on his taxes. Well, getting a new truck (01 Dodge dually 4 door) yeah, it's a Dodge, but hey, I can't afford a newer Ford at this time. So, right now, my stable holds a 55 F-800, 53 F-750, 48 F-1, dads 55 F-350, moms 64 Falcon Futura. The 57 Ford 850 tractor is leaving us Wednesday. Anyhow, that's it in a nut shell, for now.

 

Great to have ya back! Sure wish we could have driven that firetruck to it's new home here in Oregon. That was a cool project that had a lot of support from many FTE members across the country. What are your plans for the truck? Sure glad everything worked out for ya. I love the old Ford trucks, I've got a 56 F600 project truck that I'm starting this winter also! Post often, and let's get this Chapter going!!

 

Since it's gonna be staying in my family for sure this time, I'll be parking it at a friends property for a little while. I'm gonna concentrate on getting the F-800 project a bit further, or maybe finished. After that, The either the fire truck, or my dads 55 F-350 will get tore down and rebuilt. I thought the cross country was a cool idea, and it was getting a lot of attention. That would of been a huge attention grabber for some of the people wanting to put signage on the truck. Too many little problems that arose with the truck, that would of been way too spendy to have fixed in Iowa. I know I already sunk around $500 into it just to get it running and driving, and that's with me doing the work, and it's not something I would drive cross country yet. I think it would of taken several $1000 to make the truck usable for that trip, with having to pay someone else to do it and all. Anyhow, finally getting started on that F-600, bout time. LOL

 

If you need any parts for the "55" I have a "56" parts truck with good sheetmetal, chassis parts etc...............I'm going a different route with my 56. I have a 68 F350 crewcab chassis that I'm gona mount the 56 F600 cab on, and "slam" it low, add a couple of 50 gallon aluminum fuel tanks, and a fifthwheel. Will use it to pull my 35' fifthwheel dropdeck with. What can I say....I like unusual projects!

 

wmjoe1953, welcome back, are you still in the same house out on the Madras Hiway? I drive by there almost weekly and I was wondering if you were still around out there.

 

No bertha, I am in the town of Madras now. Right up behind McDonalds. Can't miss my house, it's the best looking driveway in town. After my wifes dad died last June, her family decided to sell that property. It turned into a major fiasco, so we got out as quickly as we could. Was no picnic trying to get the old fire truck and the semi in to town here, and then getting them into a regular driveway.

 

Hey Don, I may have to come visit you in the near future and see what you got. I also want to get out to Hepner and try to find the 53 F-700 that a former fte members grandma has rotting away in her back field.

 

I did not think I saw the trucks there and I remember the for sale sign. I will have to look next time I'm in Madras.

 

We moved last August. The fire truck got moved last September, and the Semi got moved Last October. My wifes grandma got the place sold, walked out with $80,000 and blew it all in the last 4 months. Like I said, stuff got bad real fast. We are here in a pretty nice place in Madras. It's a large city lot, with just enough room for the trucks.