Nice work GB! If ya don't get dirty, you're not working hard enough.

 

Welcome to my world! Ain't bodywork fun?
All progress is good......way to go!

 

Today's progress report is pretty good. Danny, my employee of almost 16 years is still coaching HS baseball and leaving the shop at 2:30. So that's my official cabinetshop quitting time as well. This afternoon I built and installed the passenger side cab mount and took the skidsteer up to my upper lot and got some nice clean heavy gauge steel from the '58 fire engine I sold last year/ It had a large water tank which I removed and it had a 10' x 5' bolted on top. It measures about 3/32 thick and I have been preparing the panel's forward floor to accept a new floor from this material. I sawed off a section of the fire trucks bed panel which had a nice radiused bend to join onto the floor. Best part is tomorrow Danny has a game off island off island so he will be gone all day. I guess the cabinetshop will be shut down. Biggest problem is how to pay next month's bills, but I am so deep into this panel obsession, I mean project I guess I will have to figure it out. We have some lucrative jobs on the horizon and one thing I have learned from 33 years of self employment is have a little fun when you can because before you know it the $*!^ is gonna hit the fan....

 

Here's a few pictures of some of the work I have been doing to the cab area, the front springs, the front brakes and kingpins as well as tie rod and drag link. So easy with no engine and no front clip. I'm thinking of making some flanges around the perimeter and bolting or screwing in the new floor. It is just so great dealing with the master cyl and brake lines etc from the top side. It will be nice for installing the engine as well. Clutch adjustment, you name it. If I do get lazy and weld it in it will be after the Master cyl and engine are in.

 

Looking good. It's hard to stay focused on woodworking when there is a new old truck in the shop! LOL! If you need parts let me know. The guy that i'am getting the fire truck from has takin quite a few trucks apart.

 

Yes, it's pretty hard to focus on work but I must. Work has been slowing down for us and at first I welcomed it, but now I'm getting a bit worried. I continue work on my floors and my 59ab, but still trying not to spend money and use what I have around the place. Here's some recent pictures.

 

Great job fabbing up the floor and the door is looking good too! Enjoy the slow time because soon enough you'll be hopping again and wishing for time to work on the panel.
When you have a chance, post some pics of the under-hood layout of your 2 ton. I'd like to see the firewall, ground strap connections, etc. Also, my engine hasn't run in 17 years. As I recall it was running fine before we dismantled the truck. What do you think we should do before trying to fire it up again? I have put some Marvel Mystery Oil in the cylinders, had the dizzy rebuilt, and new plug wires.

 

Love build threads, I'm in

 

I really wish the panel's engine hadn't been hopelessly stuck. I decided to start with a different block and all kinds of used parts. It has been extremely stressful for me making decisions about what to replace, what is ok to re-use and finding a few mushy threads here and there and wondering should I helicoil this one.....On my two ton, I bought a local used 8ba, dropped the pan and heads and plastigauged the bearings and looked good so I painted it and put it in. It runs like a dream and I never looked back. All my life I have tinkered with things to make sure they are just right mechanically and never subscribed to the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". This is the 3rd flathead I have assembled and I really hope my next one is a good runner that someone was replacing with a modern engine. Last night at 3 am it was the clutch cover bolts I'd done that day. 3 original shouldered type and 3 grade 8 hardware store types. The grade 8s with lock washers wouldn't torque. I kept waiting for the click, but didn't want to go too far so I stopped. I took one out and installed a 5/16 automotive stud, bottomed out and locktited. Then a fine thread nut locktited. This torqued down to 22 just like the stock cap screws. Keep in mind that on these earlier engines the pan has to be pulled to get at these fasteners, so one needs to be SURE that he is happy with what's in there..... This is just one small example of adventures in used and locally available parts. I have been know to try these things out at 3am in my jammies down in the shop. My dear wife even made a mention of my 'insanity' with this panel truck the other day. So, I conclude with "I wouldn't open up a good running engine".

 

Thanks, good advice and reinforces what my brother is telling me. Now go get out of your jammies and get something done!

 

thanks on the advice,a guy hear told me the same. my engines got good oil pressure,i was planning on opening it to reseal. its going to have a wash and some coolant flush.

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it until it is...

 

Hi GB,
I posted a message to your personal message board, but based on a comment you made there, it looks like you don't check there very often. I figured I'd say something here, so you'd know to look there.
Cap'n Sygo

 

Cap'n Message sent. See you there!Ok I have the bottom end together, pan on, oil in. Tilted it both directions and both crank seals held for hours. Installed the starter I made from two bad ones. Had to torch away part of my chenese engine stand to get it in.....Cranking on 12 volts I show 50 lbs of oil pressure. The block I'm building wouldn't do that even up to speed with the old crank and bearings, so I think I have done well so far. Mine and Tinman's valves in and adjusted. Tried out a crab dizzy that was of course in a coffee can in the attic. Cleaned points and adjusted to .015. Old 12 volt coil and fat blue spark. I'm not too far away from fire up. I cleaned up my best heads with a cup brush on the angle grinder and have 3 intakes to choose from. So far I found one oil baffle for the valley. Are they both the same and it requires two? I may have to pull an intake off a junker to find another one. Gonna go with mechanical fuel pump , I think I should have an nos one in the attic I used to carry for a spare. Excitement builds!

 

I am glad your work is slow. Your going right ahead on
the Panel Gary. And having more fun. Although your wood
work is fun also. But not so much when you have your mind
on the Panel. Does the Panel have a wood floor?