Well tomorrow morning at 10 am I meet 'Western Sky Haulers' at the rest stop at mile post 207 on interstate 5 at Smokey Point. There I will transfer the yet to be seen '42 one ton panel to my trailer and get on the 1:50 afternoon ferry back to the island. A young friend of mine, Nate who is a good mechanic and 'strong like ox' suggested I bring it directly to his shop when I get it back to the island (on a Sunday afternoon at 3:30). This way he and some of his buddies who hang out there on the weekends can help this old heart patient get that rear axle switched and some of the other heavy work taken care of before I get it up to my shop up on the mountain where it's hard to get help. I m truly blessed to live in a small community where everyone still knows what their friends need and are more than willing to lend a helping hand. Nate's shop has a lift, lots of tools and best of all a wood stove so the cold and damp is kept at bay. All's well that ends well. Oh wait, it's far from over.....

 

Sounds like you have a plan in place. I understand your anticipation. Here is wishing she is beautiful and you have a long relationship. Keep us updated. And you know, we like pictures.

 

Thanks for the updates GB, and sharing part of your old Ford world with everyone here.

 

sounds like a good plan. don,t forget to take pictures!

 

These are still the most recent photos I have. Taken Wed morning. At this end I have the reconditioned rear axle with new brakes and seals, the not smashed in hood, two brand new steer tires, one recap snow tire, Various 59 AB engines and a complete transmission worth of 4 speed crashbox parts nos, A rebuilt '42 crab distributor in a box, and a welder that I sort of know how to use. I have learned a bit from axracers tutorial, but I have yet to put it into practice. Maybe I should do the cutting and prep and let my wife do the actual welding. She had 3 years as the only girl in welding class back in the 70's and I have been fumbling through a few years with a wire feed welder. The V8 is my territory. I really hope there is life in the current engine, but if not, I will switch it out.

 

"Blind date" is a great way to describe it, Gary. Or maybe more like the old time "arranged marriages", that I guess in some cultures still occur. Hope all the dots get connected and you get her home to the mountain safe and sound. We'll be following along.

Michael and family fly in tonight for a visit, so I'll share your adventure with him. Stu

 

Gary,
Looking forward to see how you transform the 42 panel truck. As always I'll be following your progress with anticipation. Keep the pics coming.
Cheers,
Joe

 

Couldn't find my camera so I will have to use phone then figure out how to post pics. Ferry is docking soon. Details at eleven....

 

If you can't sort it out doing it from the phone email them to me and I'll get them posted. Stu

 

Getting worried! GB if yer gonna be out late, ya hafta give us a call, mkay?

 

Well, it all went according to plan. Actually they unloaded it on the Northbound side while I waited for them on the southbound side. Then we figured it out. When I got to where they unloaded it, my 15000 lb warn winch in my truck's bed refused to cooperate. Click, click nothing. So I unhooked and used the 8000 lb winch inside my front bumper. This dragged it aboard the trailer. I caught the ferry and went to Nate's shop. I cut the rusty parking brake cables and we heated the u bolts. No dice on 3 out of 8 of them. Impact driver wouldn't budge them on second heating. It was getting late and so we all left. I will be there tomorrow to swap out the axle for sure. The truck was what I thought, but maybe not as big as I was thinking. Main thing it is over 4' wide between wheel houses for plywood and well over 8' long behind the seats. Have barely looked at the engine. Of course it wouldn;t turn over rotating the fan with pressure on fan belt. Duh. We of course have grandkids over tonight so I hope I can figure out pics but it might be tomorrow. It is a very cool vehicle, I cannot wait to have it up and running. If I get a chance I will try to sneak a pic or two to Stu. Sorry I stayed out so late.... edit: My wife, bless her heart sent some pics to Stu...

 

This is gonna be fun!

 

Ya, this will be fun! A new chapter in the Sisson family Ford album.

 

No email received, Gary. I'll email you and if you want just attach the pics to a reply. Stu

 

Pictures. Stu