Merle Coggins

I got the engine set in this weekend, so it's starting to look like I'm making progress. I will be making up new battery cables as the Neg one looks to be original and the Pos one looks like a newer replacement, but too light. The Pos cable was laying loose in the truck when I got it. Can anyone tell me where it connects to the engine/chassis? the Neg cable was still installed so I can copy it pretty close, but I'd like to do the Pos cable correctly too. Merle

I heard that Grainger was coming out with a shovel that will stand up by it's self. That'll put a lot of municipality workers out of work

I noticed that earlier, and even posted a similar thread on the OT setion. Don, I guess 100 gets you to Senior Member, but you must have too much time on your hands to get to 101.

Mine is a '50 and the title has it as a '51. As you state, the body style and VIN match a '50 model year. You're not the only one. Even in Don Bunn's book he states that this was fairly common on these older trucks. Mike, do you have any pics of you truck to share? Maybe add one to your profile? Merle

I used Dupli-Color Engine Enamel from Checker. It's also available at my local Farm & Fleet (like an oversized Tractor Supply for you southerners:p ) and other stores. I painted it as I was assembling it, so it was rather clean. I prepped it with a 3M pad, then washed it down with Brake Clean. Then I primed it with "Engine Primer - DE1612". When that dried I topped it with "Aluminum DE1615". I also used the Dupli-Color High Heat "Aluminum DH1606" on the manifolds. It looks good so far. I can't vouch for it's longevity yet as I have only test ran it, on the floor, so far.

Reg, I don't have mine in the truck today. I just returned from a 12 day motorcycle trip yesterday and I haven't reprogrammed the memory cards with my local maps yet. But according to Garmin's site it has a 3.8" diagonal screen. ( http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap276c/ ) I know a guy that has a Lowrance unit on his bike. It is HUGE compared to mine. Maybe that's what you saw on Ebay. I don't know much about that one, but as far as I know he likes it. Merle

Reg, I have the Garmin GPSMap276C. It is designed for road or sea duty. You can load detail maps on memory cards from different Garmin maping software programs. I use CitySelect North America. There are also Topo maps for off road use, and Blue Chart maps for use on your boat. I love it. I use it on my motorcycle and in my truck. It does everything a Street Pilot will do in a slightly smaller package, but with the same size screen. Merle

When I got my truck the head was laying in the bed and the cylinders were VERY rusty and full of an oil/water mix. I had to drive the pistons out with a large rubber mallet after cleaning the bores with a wire brush on a drill. A couple of them I had to drive lower with a wood block and a large hammer, reclean with the wire brush and solvent, then drive them back up with the rubber mallet. They eventually cam out with damage to one piston skirt. I thought the block was junk, but I took it to a machine shop and all it took was a .030" bore/hone job to salvage it. He also replaced all the valve guides and seats, milled the block deck and shaved the head. It runs nicely now. Your engine is probably salvagable too. Merle

Actually I took this pic a couple of years ago, but it's one of my favorites.

Yes, there are a couple of different manufacturers that make attachments like that. It looks like that one is of the retractable type. Some of them were automatic and would lower at a certain speed. Others were manually operated. There are also a couple of models that stay on the ground all the time as a sort of poor man's trike. And to answer another person's coment... Most Gold Wings since 1988 have reverse. Only the most basic model, the "Interstate", didn't have it. Since 2001 all Wings have reverse. On the '88-2000 1500cc Wings there was a lever to engage the reverse gear, then using the starter to drive the bike backward. On the 2001 and up 1800cc Wings there is a button to engage reverse, and again the starter button will back you up.

ANyone have any idea what these scoops are for on the back of the car? Possibly for the A/C system? Here'a a close up of one.

I saw this car this morning at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. I thought you car guys would appreciate it. I know I did.

On display at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, FL. Now all I have to do is talk Big Daddy into selling it. It was hard to get good pics through the plexiglass case without bad glare.

Bob, The beds were always black except for a few "Spring Special" models. I believe Jim's truck is the original colors. Mine is dark green on the cab and front end with a black box. I am planning to keep that color scheme. The only difference is that on mine the grill bars are color matched to the cab with a cream pin stripe. I like the stainless look, like Jim's, but I plan to keep mine painted like original. Merle

Lookin' Good Jim. You should be proud of your achievements.

In the reproduction manual that I have for B-2 series trucks, in the front axle section, it has information on the B-2-PW axle. It looks like a 5 bolt wheel. In some of the discriptions it even refers to "The front axle of the Dodge Power Wagon (4 wheel drive truck). The rear axle secion groups the D, PW, and EU Full Floating axles together. I guess I just assumed from that there was a Pilot-house type Power Wagon model. Merle

My contact info is; luv2wingit@sbcglobal.net or 262-542-9107 Merle

I get those all the time. I guess I should have tried to collect on them. I could have had all kinds of toys by now.

Sounds like Tim has the most need for it, and might be the closest. I probably wouldn't be able to get out there to pick up parts or the whole truck, so Tim, it's all your's if you can work it out with Dave.

Well, it looks like Norm took some inititive and set up a meet in January, nere near us in the Milwaukee area. I also got some feedback regarding spring might be a better time so some could bring out their vehicles, and one comment that the car show idea sounded nice. So, here's the plan for now. For anyone that wants to have a weekend getaway in January, come on up, over, or down to Brookfield and have dinner with us at Uno's. Check Norm's post regarding time and dates on that one. If you would like to make a weekend out of it I can get some hotel info in the area and maybe we can do a Sunday brunch thing too. Then in May we'll plan to meet up in Wisconsin Dells over the car show weekend (May 19th & 20th). By then my truck may even be road worthy. Again I'll check into area hotels and/or camping. I enjoy camping and for those who might like to check out Todd B's Pilot-house camper, (it's very nice by the way) a camping get together might be fun too. I know some people's ideas of roughing it is a Motel 6, so I'll gather local hotel info too. How does that sound for everyone? Merle

I'd be interested in the rear fenders, Dave. Would you have a way to ship the larger parts out, or would we have to come get them? Merle

Norm, Sounds cool... keep me informed. Bookfield Square is right down the road from me. Ed, Wis Dells is north of Madison, so it would be closer to the Cities by about 1/2 hour. Fred, I'm not limiting it to WI, MN, IA, and IL. That was just to identify members I knew of in the area. Anyone that wants to make the trip would be welcome if it happens.

Check out the full post with the same title over on the truck side. I don't feel like retyping the whole thing. I could do the copy and paste thing too, but you can click over to that one just as easy.

I brought this up last night during the DPTECA chat session and got some good feedback. My idea is to organize some kind of get-together, some time after the holiday season (read Football season), for the members of the DPTECA and this forum. I know there are several members in northern Illinois, a few scattered across southern Wisconsin, as well as some in eastern Minnesota and across Iowa. I had thought about an afternoon dinner party/social somewhere in the Madison or Wisc. Dells areas. This would be somewhat centrally located for the IL and MN members, as well as the WI members. This would give us a chance to meet one another and chew the fat (so to speak) about our trucks and/or cars. If done over the winter we'd all probably have to bring along our photo albums, which could be interesting as well. If done toward spring those with drivable vehicles would be encouraged to bring them. I know as spring approaches lives get busier and it gets harder to plan these things, but if planned far enough in advance it may be possible. The question is... How many would be willing to travel to the Madison or Wis Dells area for something like this? Would it be better to find a hotel that we could all stay in and make a weekend out of it? One other option would be to coordinate it during the Wisconsin Dells Car Show in May. ( http://www.dellsareacruisers.com/events.htm ) If we did that, maybe we could get a few classic Mopars entered in the show too. Just some thoughts that have been rattling around in my head. Earlier this summer I had the chance to meet Todd B at the Iola car show. Even though it was brief, I enjoyed the encounter and would like to expand on that. Please respond with your thoughts on this, either here on the forum or email me direct at luv2wingit@sbcglobal.net If there is enough interest, and maybe better ideas on how to conduct this, maybe we can get something planned and rolling. Who knows, maybe it'll turn into a regular "Old Mopar Meeting Place" gathering. Merle PS. Bob Koch, can you help me out with getting this info out to the DPETCA members that aren't active on this forum? I have a membership list from earlier this year. Have there been any new members added since then that I should add. Or can you send a group emailing to all members regarding this?

Steven is correct.