Jeff Balazs

Damn Tim....you have good eyes! Dolly Dodge to the rescue. Gotta love that! I wonder how many "saves" Dolly has had in it's long career? Jeff

Hey Martin; I think the answer is yes....and no. The system capacity is probably more than adequate. The original radiator and core was made for a non pressurized system however. I don't know for certain but I would guess the 318 is probably happiest with a #6-#8 cap. So technically speaking an original radiator with the stock core is probably going to give you problems. When I had my radiator re-cored with a modern core the shop tested it and warrantied it up to #12. I put a #10 test on it when I reinstalled it with no problems. Since I still have a flathead 6 I put a non pressurized cap back on it. This works fine for that application......but if I were to re power with something modern I could. So yes if your radiator shop will warranty their work. Hope this makes sense. Jeff

It is of course each mans eye. And a bit of lighting and computer resolution thrown in. A color like this is funny how it picks up tones from surrounding items. On a white background in daylight it looks like sand to me. Definitely a brown tone. On an overcast day like today with some satin black trim on it I can see a bit of khaki or olive in it. Either way I think it is going to work out just fine. It isn't a factory original color but it is going to look as though it could have been. I am going to try it with the black grill for a while. It is easy enough to change if I find I don't really like it. I am just sort of taking a queue from the black headlight trim and bumpers and running with it a bit. To my eye the same color grill has always looked a bit lost. Again we will see if what I am doing works. Thanks for to all for your input. Jeff

Yes lighting and monitor settings can make a huge difference in how certain colors like this look. The cream I have has definitely got a light brown tone to it. I am having the entire truck painted this color with the exception of the running boards, bumpers, grill and trim pieces which are a satin black. The wheels are powder coated off white. I think the contrast between the sand color and the black looks pretty good. Paul is correct about this color not highlighting the old scars & dings that much. They do show but not as much as they would with many other colors. So far I am happy with my selection.....we will have to wait a while to see how it is really going to look when it is all assembled. Hopefully when I am all done it will look like what it really is.....an old work truck. Jeff

Here are some better shots of the color.......with flash and no photofix. It is called cream.......but it is more of a sand color to me. Jeff

Thanks Guys; Just trying to get all this sort of stuff together. I know this is an important aspect which can have a huge affect on the overall quality of the build. A lot of these materials were completely missing from my truck when I got it. I figure the previous owner had it apart to do body work and reassembled without. Mark; I was thinking that self tapping sheet metal screws would be best for the headlight buckets. I have also been thinking about applying some type of undercoat to some of the parts before assembly. Probably a brush on or roll on product. Certainly the inside surfaces of the fenders would benefit from this sort of treatment. What sort of experience have you had with this and what products would you recommend? Thanks, Jeff

Page 97 of Don Bunn's PH book say the dry weight of a 218 with clutch and tranny is #645. I don't believe it but that is what it says. Jeff

Tim; The actual color is very close to that on your firewall. I am sorry the photos are not good.....everything does match. Got fresh batteries for the camera and will shoot again. Jeff

Hi Guys; I have a few questions about assembly that I am certain some of you can answer. When I got my truck it was missing a few items that I have since sourced. I was able to get some really nice headlight buckets and I have ordered the gasket that goes between the buckets and the nose section of the body. What sort of screws are used to mount the buckets? There was no evidence of clip nuts ever being used here so do you just use sheet metal screws here or something else? Is any sort of welting or gasketing material used when fastening the nose piece to the front edge of the fenders? Again I have ordered fender welting material from Roberts but am a bit uncertain of where all it is used. I should have my bed back from the painters in a week or so. I would like to get it reassembled and put back in place fairly soon. Is there any welting used at the junction of the sides and the front panel? Also what sort of rubber pads work best at the mounting points on the frame? We are planning to make a family event out of the bed assembly and install..... sort of like an old fashioned barn raising. My birthday is coming up ( so they can't say no ) and I figure this is one activity where some extra hands will be really useful. Everything is all clean, freshly painted and the hardware is all new so even my daughters can help. Thanks, Jeff

Ok Guy's......here are some photo's. I really like the color. Sorry for the photo quality....flash was acting up. I decided to leave a fair amount of the scars, dents and bruises it has as testimony to a long hard life. These pieces don't show much......but others do and will. I know that this is not going to be to every ones taste........ but the way I see it we all have them.....and there really is no point in hiding it all. Hope some of you like it. Jeff

Mark; Sorry.....no smart phone here. Pretty smart though......I am the last guy on earth that isn't "wearing an electronic leash". Photo's this weekend I promise. John; I know exactly where you are talking about and it is a particularly dangerous spot at night and when it is raining. I won't be going there until the truck is well sorted out.

Saw the first batch of parts today. The front end is done......the bed and rear fenders are next. These guy's did a really nice job......just what I asked for. I want some of the old scars and they have left some of the small ones but fixed the bad stuff. I am really happy with the color selection I made. It is a late model Chrysler single stage cream. I know it is not a stock color but it sure looks like it could have been. Very 50's. Should be pretty cool in the summers here. Will look real sharp with satin black trim. I will post some photo's this weekend. Man am I getting excited. Jeff

Chris; If you have a 1/2 ton then those kits are pretty straightforward. Not sure if anyone has ever fitted a kit like this to a 1 ton axle if you are still considering that. I am fairly certain that what I lifted out of my truck was well over 600#......fully assembled flathead, bellhousing with fluid drive & clutch and factory NP 4 speed. I'd guess more like #900+. Maybe someone out there actually knows the true weight? I am going to assume that you plan on really using this truck. Otherwise why bother with the diesel ? Right? Again I am no expert....just an interested observer......but I think I would look at a Dana 44 with disc's for the rear. Seems to me that you might find one fairly cheap that would be an pretty easy swap. I've swapped a Dana 35 with 12" disc's into my 3/4 ton and that was dead nuts simple. Hope this helps, I look forward to hearing about your project. Jeff

Chris, Are you planning on adding disc brakes to this truck? If so then you may need to factor this into any axle swap you are considering. I wonder what the actual weight difference is between the new diesel / tranny combo and the original engine / bell housing / tranny is? It may not be significant. I pulled the flathead -bell housing with fluid drive & tranny out of my truck as a single unit this summer and it was one heavy brute. It could very well be that your combo won't be any heavier than that one.......if so then the set up from a 3/4 ton should be up to handing it. I am no expert on swaps like this but it seems to me if the weight is fairly similar it should work. Is your truck a 108" WB or 116" WB ? That would make a difference in handling as well. Jeff

I used to watch Sheriff John every day........does that count? I do like them....but I am fairly certain they need to be amber here. Jeff

Thanks guy's. Those are some excellent shots. This was just the sort of info I was looking for. As usual this group is awesome. I can't imagine trying to put one of these trucks together without it. It is really a pleasure to be part of it. Jeff

John; Don't get yourself in any trouble on my account. I just saw the nice horn ring and was concerned that it might suffer a total meltdown..... I wouldn't want to try and make money doing an old truck of any sort. Purchase cost and parts aside..... I don't see how anyone could if they factor in an reasonable labor cost. If we are honest with ourselves it really isn't about that anyhow. From what I have observed about the members of this forum it seems unlikely that very many of us are in the market for a completed truck like this. It's value....whatever that is.... is to someone that doesn't want to put themselves through the entire process. Is it worth that sort of money? It might be to the right fellow. I know one thing......I watched people spend what I consider to be silly money on cars and trucks at the B/J auction this year that I would have not even glanced at. Like a lot of things in life what strikes one man's fancy doesn't do it for another. Jeff Jeff

A dark paint job? Really? Can you imagine how hot the sheet metal on that truck would get in Palm Springs? John ......... see if you can get the horn ring out of it before it is lost to spontaneous combustion. When I was a youngster we used to visit a cousin of my father who owned a citrus and date grove in Thermal, Ca. Thermal is about an hour south of Palm Springs. I knew by the time I was 8 years old why all of Cousin Fred's trucks and tractors were some shade of white. I wouldn't be too surprised to see the monetary value of our trucks take a decent jump up in the next few years. There is big upsurge in interest in classic trucks. There were scores of 50's trucks sold during the last few B-J auctions......and for the most part they were the same old thing........Chevy's and to a lesser extent Ford's .....over and over. Nothing really unusual or unique on it's own merits.......and literally not a Dodge to be seen. Many of the trucks sold had "over the top" mods done which can only be a sign of a desperate attempt to be something different. Honestly I think the market for our trucks is just about to change. Think about it....we don't have to do any outrageous mods or crazy paint jobs on our trucks to stand out .....or actually be different from the rest of the crowd. We are in essence already there. Jeff

Tim; Point taken. And night vision is one of those things that seem to deteriorate over the older we get. I was thinking more about keeping others from plowing into the truck. Especially in some of the local parking lots. That and backing out of my driveway.......first house in the tract. Jeff

Tim; Certainly the ideal situation is that they worked like "modern" back up lights and came on when reverse is engaged. This probably is not a big deal to the folks who live in rural area's ..... but here with the unavoidable crowded parking lots and parking structures it is a must. I actually like the idea of even adding a beeper as it could make a positive difference in a lot of situations. I am just not sure how best to actuate a system like this on one of our trucks. If you add something like this it needs to be rock solid reliable and shouldn't rely on some fussy cobbled together mechanism. I will have to give some serious thought to this. There are a lot of things to consider if you plan on really using an older vehicle like this as your daily driver. I hate to say it.....but just because something was good enough back in the day.......doesn't make it so now. Let's face it things have changed. Congestion on the roads. Typical vehicle speeds. And most definitely a greater number of drivers who lack the basic skills.....or the common sense......or any respect for the folks they share the roads with. When I started driving a little over 40 years ago.........literally no one tailgated here. If they did they got busted PRONTO! Now look at it....... The more I think about it.......I don't think you can be too careful about details like the ones we have been discussing here. I know that some of what I am planning to do with my truck affects the originality of it.......but honestly it was meant to be used ..... and to do so today I think some careful modifications are absolutely necessary. One thing that came up in this discussion was the addition of a third brake light up on the cab. I hadn't got that far in my thought process......but I have to say that it is a great idea. And I think it can be accomplished in a tasteful way that does not detract from the look of the truck. To me this is a no brainer....I will be adding this. Thanks again for sharing your ideas and thoughts on this topic Jeff

I watched the greatest movie ever made again last night....."The Rounders"....... I noticed something about their Pilothouse I missed before. It definitely has amber parking light lenses. Jeff

Man.....this is really disappointing. Should be a whole lot easier for something this simple. I really thought that this was going to be much more straightforward. They make a point of showing a Chrysler focus.....and if they don't provide a fairly accurate reproduction they should say so. I am not sure why you would even bother making these if they were not pretty darn close to the originals??? Jeff

Joe; Sorry about that .......and here I was thinking I had made some great find for the gang. Not sure what to say about those. I wonder if they match some of the Chrysler car knobs ? One thing is for sure there is no point in even asking if the cable ferrules match up to the originals. Bummer. I was all set to order these and be done with this......... Jeff

Merle I have the one small mounting point on my cab ceiling. You could try a rare earth magnet to find the mounting pad. The hole is right in the center. Jeff

Bradley; Thank you for that link. Finding just the right fixture will make a huge difference between appropriate looking and slapped on. My goal has been since day one to have my truck just look like an old work truck.......but be functional and safe on today's roads. Wherever possible I like the idea of recycling period items for daily use. Some correct looking old fixtures updated with LED'S should fit the bill nicely. Paul; I will.....but if I find the right items I don't mind paying for them. Time constraints and lack of local sources make options like this seem fairly viable. Thanks for all your responses. As always very helpful. Jeff