Merle Coggins

It’s not in the vacation budget for this year. Todd will have to take my place this year. We can’t have too many Wisconsinites in California anyway. It would likely disrupt the space-time continuum.

The Rusty Hope for our trucks uses an '85 Dodge Diplomat (or similar) rotor.

I was just going to look for my pic of that Good People Brewery sign. I recall snapping a picture of it at the Birmingham airport a couple years ago.

You’ll get longer life out of that tire that way too. LOL.

Actually the book author is Don Bunn, and he has published several books on Dodge trucks. The one you want is called "Dodge B-Series Trucks, Restorer's & Collector's Reference Guide and History". It has a lot of great information on our trucks. As for originality... that all depends on what you want. My truck is mostly original and I enjoy it. Mark's (ggdad1951) truck is about as original as any I know and it is awesome. I also know of several that are modified and they are very nice too. I don't know that either way detracts form it's value. As for "Numbers Matching", the only numbers that seem to count are the engine number (stamped into the block just above the generator) and the chassis serial number (on the ID tag on the left side A pillar, and stamped into the frame, left side near the front axle). Often times the title is registered to the engine number, and the engine has been replaced with something else over the years. This can create some issues with the DMV.

Looks like the kids enjoy flying the chair.

Welcome to the “family”. It’s like the old saying... How does one eat an elephant? One bite at a time. I guess it depends on what your end goal is. You may want to focus on getting the engine running. Then get the brakes working and drive it a bit. That’ll really get you hooked. Or you could do like I did and dive right in. I pulled my engine out and did a full tear down, due to it’s condition and state of seize. I then continued to strip it down to a rolling chassis. Then one bit at a time I put it all back together and have a great running truck. I wouldn’t recommend that process unless you are an accomplished mechanic.

Mark probably has a couple spares...

The head measurement is what is referred to. You have a small block, 23", engine.

You found Acme thread bolts at your local Ace?

Hey Tim... Here's an idea for some upgrades to the B1BBQ...

Without cross checking, I would speculate that the timing chain sets are different between the 23" and 25" engines. As for your, "maybe sprockets too" comment. They must be replaced as a set. Timing chain and sprockets. All from the same manufacturer to ensure they match. Merle

My wife always says that if we were to get a different house with a better garage/shop that she would never see me. She may be on to something....

Maybe Paul (pflaming) needs to get a Bantam Cock to guard his garage from stray cats...

Just sits there.

Simple console with cup holders on the seat. Also serves as arm rest and small storage.

For me it’s motorcycles...

Wheel base... 1/2 ton = 108” 3/4 ton = 116” Wheel lugs... 1/2 ton = 5X4.5”. 3/4 ton = 5X5” Bed size... 1/2 ton = 48.5” X 78” 3/4 ton = 54” X 90”

Left front cab mount arrangement shown in the left picture. The right picture represents the other 3 cab mounts. The left front must be stiffer due to the steering column being attached.

The T142 engine number and ‘51 as a model year tells me that it likely a late build B-2, similar to my truck. Could be either 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton with that engine number. The other codes I have no idea what they are, but it appears that the empty weight was 3360 lbs. Is it a pickup, or a flat bed truck?

Jeff, Those eye bolts wouldn’t actually be anchored to the frame. They look like they’d be anchored to the ends of the cross members, 3 of which are in turn anchored to the frame with the main bed bolts. I’m sure they are quite effective though. I’ve thought about doing something similar in my truck. Not that I haul much, but sometimes what I do have back here I dont’ want rolling around. Merle

If you’re nice to Mark (ggdad1951) he may stamp the flat spot, and hole, in the center bar for mounting a mirror. It makes it easier to mount than to work on the rounded surface. Or I may even have a spare one laying around that is already stamped. Somehow I ended up with an extra one, but I’d have to find where I stashed it.

Can also be used for carburetor jets, or any other orifice that needs to be cleaned out. A handy tool to have in the tool box.

You'll have to run your numbers through a gearing calculator. There are many available online. With tire diameter as a constant you can change the RPM to see what the final ratio would be, or tweek the final gear ratios to see how it will effect the RPM.

The tool... https://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-1949-1950-1951-52-1953-Dodge-Truck-Pickup-Cable-and-Switch-Nut-Removal-Tool-/152789269913?vxp=mtr&hash=item2392f33d99