TrampSteer

It's funny that Amazon has two pages, one for each truck cover. Blue Link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0395250188/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Red Link http://www.amazon.com/Truck-Rebuilding-Worn-Out-Post-Technological-Adventures/dp/0874517559/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 I ordered from the blue link and then followed-on with an email to the chosen bookstore to cancel the order if it was that red chebby junk. I didn't order from the Amazon warehouse because it reminds me too much of an Indian Jones movie ending .... http://mentalfloss.com/article/61249/13-secrets-amazon-warehouse-employees

SUCCESS! Thanks for all the help and advice. The parts are a perfect fit. I just went through the truck part lists again and based on serial number, they are calling out two of the same part. Clearly one needs two with a dual bore system. I am going to conclude that part of this front end is from a slightly older vehicle. Lesson learned: take it apart and measure everything first. I'm too spoiled by just ordering for modern cars. That alignment tool cannot be beat. It is so easy to use and makes such a difference. Thanks Deathbound! What I ended up needing to check for (what was important) was: bore diameter (1/38 front, 1/14 rear) which determined I needed two different cylinders the placement hole size ( 2.0 ) the mounting hole position center-to-center ( 1 3/4 ) break line fitment ( 7/16-20 ). So in 60 years when I do this again, I'll have it down right the first time. Andy's part number was G-205.

Didn't see it on his website so dismissed it. That may have been a poor assumption on my part. Parts from Andy came in this morning and they measure exactly to what I need. Going to go out to the shop and find out for certain in a bit.

Thanks John. That has potential. Waiting for the Bernbaum order right now. <crossed fingers> Hagen or Bernbaum has gotta be better than a $400 inner sleeve job. I'll hack the backing plate before that. Thanks for the option Derek but because it is a tapered bore it's like paying for it twice they say. I spent the extra $300 on seat belts this morning instead. The fact that Hagen's '52 is basically the exact part (well, internet exact) also lends evidence to the hypothesis that the P.O. cobbled different years together - as first suggested by Jeff. But how would you know that ahead of time eh? Reminds me of that Johnny Cash song my Dad always told us about as kids. "It's a 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55,56 automobile" If this happened on my car I'd be ticked off. But like a lot of things in this project, it just makes me laugh; makes a great workbench conversation; is no end of delight to my mechanic friend; and gives me a good story to recount to others. Plus all this great advice. Thanks guys.

Just got off the phone with C.H. Toppings and they were sure they got the part, but it turns out it was the 2" Napa part MBFowler measured up. Thanks Mike, you just saved me two days. Called Andy Bernbaum and he was able to physically measure one he has in stock so I pulled the trigger on that. Sorry I missed your post ggdad1951, I had not thought to look at power wagon parts. Now, if everyone can cross their fingers for the next couple of days while it ships ....

Bummer, same wrong part then.

It measures 1 3/4 on center. For all the other welcome comments: Saw Vince this morning. They have a search out on it now as its not in their inventory either. If you have a matching NAPA part I'd be greatful. If not I may have to resleave. Orielly didn't say anything as it was on-line. All I got was a return auth number. Thanks all!

Well, like my Mom used to say: "If it ain't one thing, it's another". Turns out those parts - ordered based on the store's meticulous description right down to the serial number of my truck - don't fit. I don't know if it is the wrong part for the vehicle or if the previous owner installed some other backing plate or suspension parts. All I know is I'm 1/4 inch off. So I left the truck on the rack today and kept the part in my dirty little mitt. On Monday morning I'll try C.H. Topping here locally and just hand it to him saying "give me one of these".

There are a lot of "B" series registered here (I'm on page 9 ). http://www.townwagon.com/4853registry/displaygallery.php

Thanks guys. I'm finding your generosity overwhelming. I'd love to do breakfast again. Next HIPO is on the 11th. If the parts come in on time I should be able to make it in the truck. (Napa canceled my order while I was out on vacation because they couldn't find two of them). I just reordered through O'Reilly so I am hoping I'll be getting them installed this weekend.

I guess I better open up my passenger door on the truck. Might be I don't have one.

Dave, Thanks. It's always good to have a second pair of eyes. Merle - Mike, That makes sense from the additional reading I've done on the forum since writing this. The parts catalog people don't have that level of detail to confirm it nor the knowledgeable staff it seems. I feel confident enough to order the single Napa part number now so don't go to any trouble digging anything up. Deathbound, My driveway is getting to look pretty ratty so I just want the quick solution to put in new parts. And yes I have your tool and a pang of guilt every day! It really helped a lot. Figure I'm getting that back to you next breakfast meet. Let me know if you need it sooner and I will drive it up straight away. Thanks guys.

You don't need to hide the still if you did what my grandpa did. He made shine with the local Sheriff - when the Feds came around, they set up a different still somewhere else. The Sheriff would lead them to it where they would smash it up, congratulate each other and go home - while grandpa kept the real still running. Everyone was happy. The most extensive discussion on rear-end swaps is probably this one here

Both of my '53 1/2 ton front wheel brake cylinders are holding fluid mostly because of the rubber boots. Looks like some severe pitting. I plan on just replacing the cylinder instead of trying to use emery cloth. I've been going through the online manuals and find a reference 5-64-1 for the part. I am using DPETCA information on-line. The details for part numbering look like they changed a lot per model and the closest I can figure is that the B4B of my serial number (853xxxxx) needs two 1393-269 parts. I think I'm reading it right but these things are new to me. I have concluded that any reference to the left or right on the front is probably a reference to previous year models. I'm having trouble converting this data (that I hope I have right) into a part store number. Robert's shows a T-31 assembly with no reference to left or right or front. Hagen's shows 10588 for either side, but also lists 10580 through 10584 for front lower and upper Left and right. In general, they don't specify "truck" so I don't know what to think the part is for. Napa gives a single 17789 for the front but also lists a Left and right for the front as 3595, 3596 and they all have the same picture and NAPA doesn't know which one I should order. The web chat guy basically guessed I should get a left and a right. I'm leaning tow the Napa 17789 but was wondering if anyone could confirm? Thanks in advance Mike

I've been asked a lot of things by a lot of different people in my life. Giving advice, lending a hand, being politely asked to leave..., they are all generally of a similar class of requests such that not many are ever a surprise anymore. That was true most of my life until as of late. Now I'm getting surprised all the time. Here's some examples. Looking for any and every excuse to drive my truck, I took my kids to a birthday/costume party. In a few minutes parents were asking for kids to pose in and on the truck. Why not? A couple weeks later, again looking for an excuse to drive it, we used it to go to the local Chili Cook-off. It was pretty easy to just put the old slow cooker in the back and drive over. I stopped to drop off my entry and then went and parked. Within 30 minutes the organizers were looking for the owner of "that old black truck". They wanted to park it in the middle of the event for ambiance. Well, ambiance and picture poising. So many people wanted to crawl in and out of it, my view was obscured more than once. The wife bought a new mattress and box spring from Sears but refused to pay the $80 delivery charge. She was going to bring it home on the top of the Ford Escape. I mentioned that I had a truck which she had not considered. Not sure why she didn't - too "special?". We laughed. So we drove down to the outlet, tied the new items up and headed home. Near home I was trying to make a lane change but was blocked by some lady in a car. She kept matching my speed! I finally just decided to turn right. She ducked in behind us and followed. I remarked to the wife that if she pulled along side that the truck was $17,5k firm. We laughed and turned left. The lady followed. A couple of stop signs later, the car behind us pulled up and waved for my wife's attention. Seems she was getting married Saturday and wanted to be taken to the church and reception in my truck. My dirty, old, smells like gas, farm truck. If you would have seen her smile, heard her excitement, you wouldn't have said no either. What to charge her got me thinking about one of 48Dodger's blog posts. The question was about being able to put a proper the price on our parts or services. I was struggling with that and it took me a while to come up with a clear answer for myself. In the end I didn't charge her a penny. Couldn't really. There was no price on a blushing bride, clearly happy about going to her wedding in an old farm truck. There was no payment large enough for the looks on people's faces, the thumbs up, as we passed them on the way to the church. You certainly could never have found enough of any payment of any kind for the entire church gathering's collective look as we drove off with the newlyweds in the front cab. I got paid with this story. With smiles. Good feelings all around. I'm lucky enough to be in a position to make some people happy. Whether you know it or not Tim, you do the same thing for a lot of people here. Did for me.

I nominate Don as President ...

All good stories are a little inflated aren't they?

I think Rod gets the points for that one. Great to meet and chat with everyone. Next time I'll take the stealth filters off my truck so it doesn't look like a 2010 For Focus. Mike