54Dodgeguy

Becky & I should be able to make it. Have enjoyed meeting all the people and sharing ideas, stories and just plane friendship these last two years. My '54 Dodge 'runs' now. Not well enough for the highway but should be ok after I tinker with it a bit. Still needs some wiring work, new muffler & tail pipe. The biggest hold up is finding the 'clutch bull gear' cover. It was on the truck when it went into the shop but they can't find it now. Hopefully by next March I will be able to find the correct one. After I get it running and all the parts found and put on I will e able to hit the Nevada DMV for a registration and plates. Looking forward to see everyone next April. Update: We found the clutch cover in Colorado. It's cleaned up, repaired and on the truck. Still looking good to make the BBQ in April! Time is getting closer to April 1, 2023! Finished going over all electrical wiring and correcting where previously wired wrong Have replaced components, electrical and mechanical, that were discovered to be bad, going bad or just plain not sure why they were there. lol Down to "cosmetic" items like seat, mirrors, bed boards, etc Hope Nv DMV doesn't find anything wrong when we go in on March 2nd to get it licenced. Won't be much time to make adjustments and still get a rescheduled appointment with them. We have our fingers crossed and a positive outlook for being over to the BBQ. Guess this is not the place to get information from those attending the 16th Annual BBQ for MoPar friends but I will give it one more up-date. Took a BIG step backwards this past month. The engine I spent 1000's of dollars and years rebuilding crapped out and is toast. Good news is I found a mechanic that deals in only Classic/Vintage vehicles and he located a 'good' '54 241 V8 to replace mine. Now we are back on schedule. DMV took an hour and 5 employees to work out how to license a classic truck that had not been licensed for the past 29 years. But we made it! See you all at the BBQ.

UPDATE: Becky & I have reservations at the Holiday Inn in Lodi. We will arrive on April 1st and be departing for home on April 4th. Good news....our '54, 241ci V8 is running but needs a lot of sprucing up to be show worthy. In that regard we are trying to find a way to trailer it over for the BBQ. U-Haul says our Ford Ranger 4x4 is too small to tow it with their trailer. (Ranger has a 6000 lb tow capacity) U-haul's computer does not have a 1954 Dodge C-1-C in their files to plug into their towing capacity program. So they are guessing on the weight of our Dodge. I thought I had the weight someplace but can't find it. Does anyone know where I can research and find the standard unladen weight of a 1954 Dodge Truck? Bad news....if we can't find a way to tow the truck to the BBQ it will have to wait until next year. I made the mistake of just "not registering" the truck when it went down and not runnable, in 1994. Nevada DMV is not easy to work with when you just stop giving them their registration money. Now they are talking about steep fines and/or requiring back registrations. We are still coming one way or the other. Prefer towing the '54 but will have to find a tow trailer. Ken

It has been a good run and we all thank you! Now with that settled, maybe you can just leave the gate open, the BBQ truck available and a place we can pitch a tent or two. The rest of us can bring the fixings, trucks to tell lies over and good friends to enjoy. If you are needin the hay cut around the summer house and barn just let us know where you keep the scythe. Looking forward to seeing everyone in April....If I can find a starter for my truck. ken

Tim, Becky had so much fun this past BBQ, she didn't even hesitate with her enthusiastic YES! Let's go! I hope to have my '54 Dodge back running by then and will bring it over. Lookin forward to seeing our new friends and talking MoPar Dodge, even if your guys don't believe my 241 Poly V8 exists. Ken & Becky

Thanks for the location of the BBQ. Looks like we are almost neighbors. I live near Las Vegas, NV.