Desotodav

Well done Ian. I wondered what you were up to with the old truck as I hadn't heard from you in a while. 4 months full-time with the Mechanic usually equals large bills! Sorry to hear about your Grandfather passing. What a fitting tribute to have the old truck there for his funeral. I didn't think that you'd have too many troubles getting his old green truck registered. Have you brought it home yet? It's getting too cold now down the farm where it has spent all its life! Desotodav

I agree with Tim mate - "don't be down on yourself". You (and Dave) have done a fantastic job on that old truck and I reckon that your great grandad would be grinning from ear to ear! I certainly experienced a few small hiccups along the way during my truck rebuild, but managed to overcome them all. I'm sure that that good wife of yours can provide you with the balance and stability that you need to see the project through (sorry mate couldn't resist - see attached)! A big pat on the back from me for the outstanding results you have achieved so far!!! Desotodav

The gear shift handle will pop off without removing the shaft Paul. You just undo the parts that they call 'Screw' and 'Bearing' shown in the attached diagram. If you do want to remove the shaft though, it should slide out after removing the part they call the 'Lever' at the bottom of that shaft (providing that you have enough head room inside the cab?). Desotodav

It should just screw off anti-clockwise after a good soaking Paul - although maybe it's clockwise for you guys over there as you do things different to us here in the land of Oz! Your water even swirls down the plug hole the wrong way over there doesn't it? Desotodav

They would want to be new ones at that price wouldn't they? Maybe I should clean up some of the spare ones that I have here, throw a coat of paint on them and advertise them for sale! I suppose as time goes by though - where else are you going to get them! Desotodav

Good on ya Sam. Nothing beats the feeling of that maiden voyage! Desotodav

Your interior light looks very similar to this photo that I snapped of a 48 Dodge truck here in Oz Paul. The truck here that had this light fitted was very original. Desotodav

The trucks don't seem to have as big a following here in Oz as the Ford and Chev trucks do, but interest for Chrysler's appears to be on the increase. The trucks are out there - it's just a matter of chasing them down. I have 4 trucks put away in the shed at present, but I'm always working on locating and obtaining others. I would really love to find a panel truck like yours - I have a later model 'suburban' which is similar. I'll just have to look a bit harder and maybe a panel truck will eventually turn up! Enjoy your project. I am sure that you will find this forum a great help throughout your panel truck restoration. Desotodav

Welcome to the forum Karl. Good looking panel truck you've got there! I wish I could find one like it here in Oz to add to my small collection of trucks. Enjoy the forum mate, there's plenty of good minds and information here. Desotodav

The axle grease on the chapped lips from your #4 sounds a bit harsh Paul. A farmer once told me that the best things for chapped lips on the farm was to press your lips against the butthole of a cow - reckoned that it didn't fix them but it sure stopped you from licking them!!! Desotodav

There is a fellow that seems to sell them all the time over your way on Ebay. Try this...http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_nkw=dodge+steering+nut&_sacat=0&_odkw=&item=270965985159&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&_osacat=0&hash=item3f16d4cf87&vxp=mtr&_ssn=tippicanoe . Desotodav

Well done Bob. Your new place looks great. Hopefully life will return to normal for you again now and you can sit back and relax a little more now. Desotodav

From the photo, it looks like you just have to go slightly forward a bit Mark. The fold in the door about 2" down from the window ledge should correspond with the one toward the back 'B' pillar of the cab and yours looks pretty close. The manual shows a crude way of adjusting the doors with that method involving a wooden block and a bit of pressure applied in the right area of all things! I managed to get some adjustment out of the doors on my 52 truck by lifting (or pushing?) them in the correct position with the door slightly opened. I would imagine that you wouldn't need much of an adjustment. Be mindful that the dovetail might pull the door into position when it connects with the latch - so keep that towel handy to avoid chipping paint! Desotodav

I remember discussing these door check arms in this post... http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=25939&highlight=DOOR+CHECK . Ours here in Oz appear different to yours in the States. I like the door latch feature that your check arms offer over there. I have seen numerous trucks over here that have the tell-tale crease down the door indicating that the door has opened too far against the back edge of the guard. Desotodav

We don't really go for the sheep thing here in Oz - it's more of a Kiwi (New Zealand) joke here. I thought that you might enjoy the attached photos.... I reckon that old mate with the BBQ on the bike would be closer to an Aussie tradition than the sheep in the side car! I thought all would enjoy the Asian fire engine so I attached a picture of it too... Desotodav

Well spotted Tod. The B295 look similar to mine and the 1790 almost resembles the ones that Mark is after. Desotodav

Now there's a great barn find in Oklahoma - 49 Dodge Coronet 4-door with 49,000 genuine miles on the odometer... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Coronet-1949-Dodge-Coronet-All-Original-Car-Sedan-Vehicle-Shedded-One-Owner-/160787623101?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item256fb06cbd#v4-48 . I hope one of our forum member's are bidding on it! Imagine what it would look like after a good wash!!! Bidding presently around $4k. Desotodav

I would love to have helped you out Mark but ours (here in Oz) are quite different to yours on that side of the pond - ours have nasty teeth (see photo)!!! I recall DollyD was chasing some a while back... http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=31236 , but I didn't see the outcome. Might pay to check up with him. Desotodav

I can't help you with the Trico number for the blade GTK, but I did find some replacement wiper rubbers along the way and they were numbered A222 on the packet. Did you try adding a slight bend in the wiper arm to increase pressure? I picked up my wiper blades (here in Oz) at a boat chandlery for just less than $10 each. It would appear that these wiper blades still have an application in boats! They had the 11" and 12" ones in stock, whereas the auto shops seemed to only stock 8" to 9" blades. Desotodav

The headlight and parker light wiring connect to the same connector block on the earlier model trucks (well earlier than your 78 that is). Maybe you have a loose connector at the wire connector box? Bit too much of a coincidence to have 2 bulbs on the same side go at the same time (IMHO). Desotodav

I found that it depends on what wiper arm you use GTK. I think that 12" was standard but I'm running 11" on mine as it fits better. Desotodav

Email sent with photos. I hope that helps ya Ryan. Desotodav

Hopefully all is well again for you AndyD. I was supposed to be down your way this week but ran into a little diff problem in my white ute. Pity, by the sounds of it I might have been able to come to your rescue!!! I should be down there late June so will try to catch up with you then. Desotodav

Try this thread Gary as you'll find pictures of most of our trucks there... http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=50&highlight=picture+truck . Desotodav

I don't think I have any spares??? I will have a look on my next lot of days off. Things are still a bit messy down at the shed after my recent move. I'll get back to you via email. Mark is going to have the wingnuts made soon, and the other nuts shouldn't be hard to come by providing the thread pitch is still around. The shorter 2-staged bolt would be a pain to make but the bigger one wouldn't be too hard. I will see if I get time on Wednesday to drop over and see a nut and bolt supplier friend of mine. You guys have some really good suppliers in your part of the world though. Desotodav