coW52Dodge

That'll probably be an upcoming winter project for me. All my wire is that old stuff, just waiting to short against something. Does a loom diagram exists where you can just place the diagram on a piece of plywood, pound some nails in it where you need branches or bends and start wiring? I was debating to create something like that but if it exists already, it would make that job a lot easier. If so, I can possibly also get a jump on it.

Thanks for the clarification. I thought so but just wanted to make sure I didn't miss some sort of nuance particular to this truck.

I didn't really give this thought until now, sitting at work pondering what I'm gonna do to my truck when I get home later. While doing my brakes, I noticed that the lug bolts of rear driver's side and front passenger side are left handed thread. The rear driver's side makes sense but why is the passenger side left handed? Is that normal? I thought that the school of thought was that one tightens in the direction of the wheel rotation. Could it be that someone swapped the drums in the front at one point of the truck's life?

Very nice job - it looks great! Something like that would make a nice winter project.

For sure - While I was waiting for the local tow truck to arrive last week, two guys independent of each other stopped by, wondering what it was.

Cool! Thanks!

Thanks, Mario. Yup, I think she'll love it here in CT, especially when it will be able to stop again: The transport company delivered it to a parking lot of an abandoned dealership on King's Highway. While waiting for the local tow, I rolled it around for a while, doing large circles. I had fun driving it around this large parking lot - it really is a pleasure to drive but, when it came to stopping, the brake pedal went to the floor. It stopped but not really well, as you can imagine. In retrospect, it was surprising that it was actually stopping at all because the system was totally dry. After bleeding it three times on Saturday, the pedal felt pretty good again - the travel is a little more than is my liking, though. Yesterday I found a puddle under the master cylinder and some brake fluid in a drum. Clearly, a major leak was the reason for it being dry. Since the MC and at least one WC have to be replaced, I''m also replacing the rubber hoses, all the wheel cylinders and very likely the shoes. I also can't pull the hand brake: it appears stuck so that will need some TLC. It also needs new tires. After that, I'm rolling it around - can't wait..

It lived on a farm most its life so that could very well be.

This is not a quiz thread but it could certainly turn into one, after my question is answered. The passenger side of my truck has this thing mounted. It has a piece towards the top that appears to be some sort of locking arrangement. Is suspect it is for mounting a spare gas tank or fire extinguisher but don't know for sure:

By way of update, the NAPA store near me had a small batch of them. The guy says that they are not a hot item, with not a lot of people having a need this particular one. The thread was what made it different than most, apparently.

I stopped by BJ's (a buying club here on the East Coast) a little while back and they quoted me $120 per tire, mounted. That's the route I'll take as well, then. This forum may have limited exposure (like our pilothouses) but you guys know your stuff. Thanks, guys!

Gotcha. Thanks! Dealing with these trucks is totally different than dealing with aircooled VWs so thank you for being patient with me. In that case, I may leave the rims alone so the hubcaps work without problems. I'm sure these tires are not original 1952 vintage but they've been on the truck for quite a while - this truck lived on a farm for most its life so the owner just did the basics to keep it rolling, it seems. The tires are cracked but worn. The stems look different than anything I've seen so assumed they were old or special. Looking around for info, I stumbled across this chart. It seems to cross a 700-16 to a 215/85R16. In case I can't find a 700-16 locally, can I just buy the 215/85R16 as a replacement or is there something else I need to look out for?

Should I keep the original rims, is it practical in that the tire places know how to deal with the square stems? Or would I need to buy stems from somewhere?

Sorry about the million questions but I'm new to my 52 B 1/2 ton truck. The tires will definitely need replacing: all but one are all cracked. If I drove it, it would only be a matter of time before they blow out. The tire reads "7.00 16 LT 6 Ply". I am not sure whether my rims are stock. When I measure diagonally from the rim's edge to the other edge, I get about 17". It also has a weird square stem. I'd like the truck to be practical so that I can get the tire fixed or replaced anywhere, along with replacing the stem and such. If I want to standardize to something modern for that reason, would I need to replace the rim? WheelVintiques has some really nice stock looking rims but what would be a good combination wheel/tire for a pilothouse? Getting a slightly taller tire may help me with my low rear end ratio, right? I don't want to change the look by putting really fat rubber on the truck but what standard run-of-the-mill tire would look good and work for me? What have you guys done?

That's good to know. I don't play golf but will have to get some now.

Thanks. That sounds like solid advice. I'll do that.

I started bleeding my B3B's brakes yesterday, starting in the back. Going around the car, I found that one of my wheels was halfassed by the PO in that he screwed a bolt in where there should be a bleeder screw. Is that a standard bleeder screw that you can get at NAPA? I'm temped to take it out and compare it in store but don't want it to bleed all over my wheel in the process so was hoping someone here knows.

Thanks - I'll do that first. When it was dropped off the other day, I've only driven it around the empty parking lot as it wasn't registered. It stopped but not exactly on a dime. CT requires a VIN check as its only inspection for out of state vehicles so my first concern is getting it to the DMV safely. The truck has been sitting around for a while, is what I understand, so what your saying is a great suggestion. Thanks to all for your advice.

Really?? I did not know that. Another case for renewing to disk brakes, I guess. Would you know where I could take them?

Now that I got my truck home, first order of business is to make sure it stops well. Over the winter I want to convert to discs but don't want to get too involved and tear anything apart yet. What is a good source for brake shoes? The people at my FLAPs look at me like I have two heads, when I ask whether they have them..

The truck got home today. The transport company's idea of "Door To Door" service meaning nothing after they have your vehicle on their truck, they dropped it in a parking lot a couple of miles away so had to arrange a local wrecker to get it home. I'll definitely need to do the brakes before I can try to register it.

Okay, I got a reply from my buddy:

He lives in Wilder (near Boise) so not far from there. I'll ask him.

I like that^, seeing the truck is being used for what it is made. Mine will definitely be doing home depot runs.