HanksB3B

Jeff don't forget this is LA. My wife is always on my case for letting the LA idiot drivers get to me. The other day somone turned right in front of me and the only explanation I have is that I must have taken an invisible pill and it made both myself and my truck totally transparent only explanation I can come up with. She has to remind me people shoot people on the highway these days. Watch out ! Hank

Nice Ute mate (is it still called a Ute even though it's a flatbed) and it's a five window ! Nice find those Fargo Badges will show up don't worry, Welcome and Good Luck ! Hank

Now there's something I don't have...a floor shift ! Good Idea, Hank

think it's an indian head nickle or something...? uh ? Jeff ? hank

it's beautiful Hank

I don't know if I like rebuilding carburetors or brakes better... hard choice...they are both a lot of fun. But one thing that can mess you up is doing them in a hurry because your vehicle is not driveable and you are in a hurry. If you can, first time around it's best to buy all new brake components NEVER SURRENDER YOUR CORES pay the core charge and buy the rebuild kits. Then you have relined shoes, master and wheel cylinders waiting till you need them. Have fun ! (and cool on the bug sprayer) Hank

My condolences to the family and I'd want to know a little more about his life and his love for his ride. May there be a Pilothouse in the sky Rest in Peace, Hank

Right from the start you decided what level of body work and paint quality your truck was going to get, I respect that. I'm glad you are enjoying your truck Jeff and the best part of it is just like you say when someone comes up to you and admires your truck. Once some fellow came up to me and said "We had a truck like that back on our farm in Indiana we used it for years and years for every farm chore you could imagine. One day dad dug a big hole in the ground and buried it " (Tim E's guessed response.... "You remember just where that hole was ?) Another man, a school bus driver back in Chicago pleaded with me to start the engine and said "I remember the sound of that flathed so well I just have to hear it again" Our trucks were meant to work all 87hp and 220lbs of torque..Whether it was for hauling childred to school on icy streets, or hauling timber back in the day. I have to laugh at how people have to turn plywood on it's side to load it into one of those Cadillac Escalade ? Pickups...me I just unhook my tailgate and slide the 4x8 sheets in. For me. six and a half foot bed and an 18 inch tailgate... 8'-0" perfect! Hank

Dear Jeff, Ha Ha Jeff as a small child (please try to be understanding) ha, ha Hank rules ....mess with the Ram...you get the horns. Hank

Ouch ! It's gunna Hurt ! Vintage Power Wagons should be able to fix you up...Good News looks like they are both included bad news $375 + Gaskets + (and this is important) My bet is that your manifold was attached to your engine without the special manifold nuts and special brass washers as the original design/build calls for. You can always wait forever and eventually you will find just about anything from eBay or other virtual junk yards. Hope you find what you need either way, you would be wise to install your new manifolds with Vintage Power Wagons manifold kit. http://www.vintagepowerwagons.com/pdf/parts/01engine.pdf Good Luck Hank

After only 34 years, my truck has become what I can call a daily driver. My truck spent many years as a overworked, neglected roofing truck. The PO thought nothing of throwing out the rear fenders, cutting the running boards off just behind the cab, bolting makeshift tool boxes either side of the newly created wheel well with a sheet of steel bridging the gap to cover the tire. The smartest thing he did was cutting a portion of the 90 degree bend of the low bed side just above the axle so they could load more tar. The roof rack buggered up the stake pockets. All I'm saying is that I respect my truck and whenever I can I try to be smart and make use of either a sheet of plywood, a tarp or blanket. No trailer queen here, just don't want to tell myself "could've, should've, would've. Hank

I think I need to make a Blanket Statement here: I'll think of something... Hank

Yes, but your engine blew up. (or was that the second time around) Oh that museum perfect crate engine you did, still have the pics you posted.Hank

To make it easier to fill, you can rotate the cover plate 180 deg. I know it's better I aleady did that. The cost of re-doing your entire brake system all new lines slaves and a master cylinder can be done for under $400. It sounds like a lot, but afterall it is your brakes. Good Luck with your truck, Hank

Hats off to Brazil (if that's where they are from) Someone knows how to machine stuff !

What rpm is your engine turning when you drive 65 mph ? Hank

(True Story) At the hardwood lumber business I work at. A Los Angles County building inspector told me yesterday that people in Hollywood and Beverly Hills don't understand why they can't build 1,600 square foot tree houses for their kids. Somehow they can't grasp that trees move and connections do not always stay connected especially in a seismic zone. Hank

Fernando Sounds pretty good. So I guess I'll save the postage and keep the one I was going to send to you as a spare. Glad you found one, Hank

Awesome work ! I have a 3.54 from a Custom Royal Coronet...I might need some advice once I get started. Hank

That's the old paddy wagon they used to use for blokes so drunk they couldn't fight their way out of a canvass bag. Hank

So what you are saying is: If my head bolts were new when my engine was rebuilt if I broke down and had a spare gasket I could re-use the head bolts. I assumed that new head bolts should be used. Hank

You are correct Jeff but that's not my engine and that's Rod's hands on his grandfathers torque wrench and his engine. As for my engine...not a clue what was used and in what shape they are in. After helping Rod and picking up some techniques I'm not so sure a mechanic would take the time to Chase all the threads with a standard and then a bottom tap, use all new head bolts, use either antiseize or better yet plummers compound to minimize the inevetable rust that will bind a bolt, make it difficult to remove or snap off years later at the time of removal. There is a lot to be said for Don's choice to go with studs and nuts instead of head bolts. I think Rod did the job as well as anyone possibly could. It was fun and I didn't bleed. Hank

Chevy Headbolts Don't look like no Chevy to me. At $2 a bolt I'm not so sure I wouldn't want to carry them onboard, that is if I drive to Tims.

And it's going to be a Beaut.!

Don, Thanks. We talked about left hand thread but you moved out of California long ago so we couldn't just drop by pick you up and get you involved. Looks like (and keeping my fingers crossed) all will be well once the machined head gets picked up and Rod's truck gets back together. I'm waiting for a NOS vacuum advance for my spare distributor. The two longer distributors will be available after I finish them or if you want the one I have not worked on can be shipped to you for you to restore. However you want to do it. Thanks Hank