Desotodav

Thanks for the offer of window cranks Mark, but even our window cranks here in OZ are slightly different to your USA ones. We seemed to do a lot of smaller things different here back in the day! I wrote that article a while ago and tidied it up recently for publishing. I am pretty well right for parts now as I have bought a number of complete trucks over the past years. I'll be chopping another parts truck up as soon as my 53 coupe truck project is finished, but will be stripping every possible salvageable part off it before the bare body goes off for scrap metal - some of them are just too far gone to save. I'm working on obtaining another truck at present... but wifey doesn't know about that one yet! There will always be another truck out there for me!

I'll drop in and give you an autograph when I'm down your way next RetroAutos magazine is only available on-line as far as I know. It's actually quite a good magazine as it often has interesting in-depth articles on car design... as well as interesting articles of those with an 'illness' for old cars/trucks!

Thanks for the heads-up AndyD, and the well wishes from others. I wrote an article on my blue 52 truck "Ernie" and supplied it to the magazine editor (David ) earlier this year. There was a full version of this article in the July issue of Retroautos (pages 45-57)... https://issuu.com/retroautos . David informed me that he intended to run the article in a few magazines, but other magazines had requirements which would require the article to be modified. I am well pleased with how the story came out and can only hope that my effort can generate more interest in these old MOPAR trucks. I most look forward to the 1st May 2017 as I will be travelling down the Coast to take the original owner (Ernest) of the blue 52 truck for a drive to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Well done to you Paul. If only there were more people like you in society. I have come close to being killed on the highway's a few times throughout my duties. I had a couple of workmates who were very lucky only a few weeks ago when a truck plowed into their patrol car - both are well, but still off work recovering. The life of a 'Highway Patrol Officer' can be challenging at times!

My heart goes out to you and your family Rick. My family struggled through a similar incident some 20 years ago when I lost my brother, so I feel your pain. Truth be known... you may never find answers to the questions you raise. Be strong my forum brother. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Try this thread... http://p15-d24.com/topic/24189-routing-brake-and-gas-lines/?hl=routing ... as there is some good information located within. and pictures towards the end. Edit... Picture from manual added also.

Now, where did I put that wrench from China?... ahh there it is... ...

Engine details...

Welcome to the forum Dave, I entered your serial number in the registry Dave and it returned the attached result...

We rarely see the COE models here in Oz, so I'm sure that it would be snapped up really fast for the asking price here. I wish you well with it Joe as it sure looks like a nice original old truck.

From memory, the wire with the cork on was crushed flatter to prevent a small metal washer (placed between the plastic float and the end of the wire) from slipping off the end of the wire. I pressed the wire in a vice to enable removal of the old cork float and then I crushed the wire again after I had the new metal washer float installed.

I removed the cork float from my 52 truck sender unit and replaced it with a plastic float from a 70's GM car. A tip when you do it... measure the distance from where the gas tank sender mounts in the gas tank and bend the sender arm slightly to allow a little extra in the bottom of the tank - when the sender makes your gas gauge read 'empty' this will give you a little reserve gas supply in the tank.

I've ended up with a few crank handles over the years. The handle which I have in the blue 52 truck has a loose sleeve over the handle and a CDDP part number stamped along the shaft. I was worried what the Customs Officials would make of it when I traveled to LA with one in my suitcase for Hank back in 2014, but they asked no questions. I suppose that the handles would be easy enough to make it you had a bender with the correct mandrel.

We have discussed fuel lines before - check these threads... http://p15-d24.com/topic/34658-carter-carb-fuel-filter-fuel-line/ , and http://p15-d24.com/topic/34858-factory-brake-and-fuel-line-routing/?hl=%20fuel%20%20line ... for detailed information.

That's funny Brent. I haven't spent much time down in the shed of late as I have been working plenty of overtime at work to fund panel-beating bills on my 53 truck build, so the shed is actually a bit messy at present! I will update my build thread soon as re-assembly of some major body parts for the coupe truck is about to begin. It's a good thing that you don't see photos of the other end of my shed as it is full of medical and surgical supplies for third world countries. Mum and I are working on sending hospital supplies in another 2 shipping containers to Papua New Guinea and Africa later in the year... so the other end of my shed is full of hospital beds, oncology chairs, wheel chairs, walking crutches, ECG machines and many operating theatre supplies. I'm hoping to bring my big workbenches down from the other shed once the hospital supplies have been sent and then I will start getting my spare truck parts better organised.... but I'm not sure how that will work as our charity work sees a continual stream of medical items coming and going through that shed!

I copied the rear brake lines from original ones for my 53 truck recently. Hope these photos help...

I made up a removal tool (after seeing how Paul removed his) and my WDT came in out in pieces. Seems to be about the only way to remove those old steel WDT's.

Looks like you are making good progress Paul. Personally, I would want to overhaul as much of the suspension as I could for safety reasons. Keep up the good work! I notice that you have springs installed around the brake drums and wonder is some here can satisfy my curiosity. I have heard a couple of stories of springs being installed around brake drums as an squeal minimizing measure, and another story of springs being installed for a heat dispersant for drums which are getting thin. I don't want to hijack your thread Paul, but just wondered if someone in the know had a simple explanation.

You are doing all the right things. Best to do a forum search on 'water distribution tube' for more information as we have discussed this problem on numerous occasions.

It's funny as we here in Australia use thread terms as either 'metric' or 'imperial'. Looking back at one of the invoices for bolts I purchased in May 2015, the majority of them for the 53 truck build were 5/16 UNF 24(tpi)x3/4(long) - price was $14.58 per 100. I suspect that the early trucks would use the same.

That's a bit rough if they have stamped the dot on the sprocket in the wrong place. Mine lined up ok, but I have not fired the motor up in the 53 truck yet...

Your handbrake is slightly different to the one in my 52 truck but the working principle is the same. The 2 metal clips drop into the grooves to stop the shaft in place. Maybe those small clips just need to be cleaned and freed up?

I haven't seen a truck here in Oz with a bumper on the bottom edge of the hood half... but then again we do things a little different here in Australia. Maybe you guys did it different over there? The bottom edge of the hood doesn't touch on the top of the fender on my truck/s as the hood is supported by the welting on the cowl at the rear of the hood, and also at the rubber bumper on the radiator top cover at the front of the hood (see photos) - apologies as photos a bit grainy as it was a little dark in my shed.

There was a thin bit of felt strip where the inner fender bolts to the fender - more of an anti-squeak thing I think.

There is a strip of welting which attaches to the cowl area at the back of the hood. I'll be down the shed later so will take a photo for you.