MBF

When WIX stopped making the filters I needed for my 53 Chevy (this is back in the early 70's) an old mechanic told me to pack the cannister tightly with "sanitary napkins" since it was just a bypass filter anyway. There were supposedly also some that you could use rolled toilet paper in as the filtering media. As far as what happens to the water-I think that probably gets circulated back through the oil and if the engine runs hot enough should vaporize and vent out through the draft tube. Like I've said before, with the newer oils, and a PCV system my engine seems to run a lot cleaner. There was even and article in Vintage Trucks that suggested an alternative was to get rid of the filter and go back to changing the oil more frequently as the newer oils woulld keep the engine cleaner. Mike

Cow-nice truck-is he crossing NY State on his way to you? I'll keep my camera ready and send ya pictures of it when its done (that is if GB doesn't grab it on its way through PA)! What part of CT are you in? That is a nice looking find. And if you can weld on a VW, doing patch panels on these will be cake since the metal thickness is about double. Good luck with it. and post some more pics when it gets home. Mike

Are you using good quality battery cables rated for 6 volts? If they've got corrosion inside or you're using the thinner batt cables for 12V that'll cause excessive amp draw and result in a shortage of oomph. I'd then check your batt voltage at the battery and starter-you may have excessive power draw at the starter during hot starts. I'd check the amp draw at the starter and make sure all connections on the batt, starter, ground, and chassis to engine ground are clean and tight. You may also be be experiencing fuel vapor lock when hot. Is the needle valve and seat in good shape and properly adjusted? Is the heat shield on your fuel pump intact? Had this problem w my 36 plymouth. Mike

I don't know how true this is, but when the guy did my windshields he told me not to mess with the rear window glass when it came time to replace it. He said he'd make a new one as the old one would probably be too brittle to reinstall. Mike

GB-that's a great feeling (been there done that). Do you should have long enough legs to bring it to Macungie this year? Mike

I know from maintaining a fleet of over 500 DC powered vehicles (material handling equipment) that any wet cell starts deteriorating as soon as the electrolyte is added whether the battery is used or not. Sulfation is the biggest killer from non use. The intelligent chargers for the larger equipment, and the battery buddies for the automotive applications extend battery life considerably. Supposedly the new tube type batts are even better for low use applications, but I'm not sure how cost effective they'd be. Mike

I just installed a used 4.3 in mine that I got out of a junkyard. I was amazed how easily it came out of the parts truck (had been sitting for many years). I can run along at a little better that 45 comfortably according to my speedo, but I think its reading a bit slow. I'm planning on changing the 6:50 x 16 duals in the rear to 7's or 7.50s to give me a little more speed and keep the original look. I chose to replace the carrier assembly instead of a rear swap to avoid the engineering problems of moving the spring perches, etc. I wouldn't go much under a 3.9 if I were you-I think you'll be short on power. Mike

I paid less that $50 for the two windshield halves about 8 yrs ago from a commercial glass shop. He even installed them for me using my new gasket. Shop around I think you should be able to get the windshield done for far less than what was quoted. It took 2 guys that knew what they were doing less than 20 minutes to install both halves. I took them an old windsheild to use as a pattern. Had a door window made a couple of years ago-no vent window cost $27.00 and did the install myself. Mike

Well-I guess you start with the radiator mounting and build from there. I'm kinda of the opinion that manufacturers spent a lot of money paying designers to design their product so it would sell. I'll just leave it at that. Mike

Be happy it wasn't an I N T E R N A T I O N A L:D (for a couple of reasons) Mike

Thanks-the rims I have are the dual offset variety-actually have a few of 'em. I was just wondering how wide a tire I could go to. I may see if I can find a set of the Ford rims-drop center would be even better. These can't be spaced-the rims are coined, and the lug bolts aren't long enough with the single nut design. Mike

Welcome PH! Nice truck to start with-really nice. You'll find the truck guys are a lot less judgemental than some of the car guys are. My 52 is actually a '49 with a conglomeration of parts that it accumulated before I got it over a dozen yrs ago. She's all MoPar and all PH with the exception of the 13speed shift knob! Starting to see more and more MoPars at cruises and shows. Good luck w your project. Mike

You can try softening up the old rubber using armorall on a rag. Keep working it into the material and you should be able to fold the inner lip over to allow you to install your headliner. Mike

Since they used these engines until '59 would NAPA be able to get these for you? Sometimes their listings go back further than I would have imagined.

Going to put some new bias ply tires on the back duals of my 1 ton. There are 6:50x 16's on there now-will those 6 hole 16" Budds allow 7:50's w/o the sidewalls touching? A friend of mine has a late 60's Dodge firetruck with 7:00's on the back and you can't get your hand between the inner sidewalls. My reason to go 7:50's is the larger tire diameter,and I already have 2 that will be good for the two inner tires. Mike

GB I didn't do this on my Dodge yet, but I did try this on my Ford Louisville-and for the same reason-road time and shakedown. My windshield gasket was badly cracked in spots. I masked off the edges, and used some of the urethane seam sealer (the black stuff that comes in a tube) that Eastwook sells. I filled in the cracks, made things look a lot better, and made the gasket watertight again. The important part is to mask where you don't want it to go, and wear disposable glove as this stuff sticks really good once it starts to set. It dries to a semi gloss type finish-may be one of those temporary to permanent repairs. Mike

Hi GB. Do you have good spring tension on the brushes and is the commutator clean with no debris between the segments? The only other thing I could think of is maybe the switch contacts are weak or dirty and not making a good connection within the switch. If that's ok I'd check the motor ground. and see what type of voltage you have going to the wiper switch. If all else fails I have another unit you can try. I kept the vac setup on mine-that's what I grew up with on my 53 Chevy, and since my truck is now 12 volt I'd need to put a resistor in the line anyway. Mike

Dutch-nice finds as usual. No big deal to register for the Yahoo discussion group. There may be some other groups that are of interest to you too. Mike

NAPA does sell both styles new and rebuilt. Bought one of each last year. Mike

I saw an east cost pilot house in that kinda of shape once. I believe it was back in 1959! What a great starting point to work from. Mike

He's got too much cribbing for me. I'd have one piece holding the truck up so that when the tank blows it comes down fast and gets it over with-I'm not one for lingering pain. Mike

Bob-if you can get it clean it can also be leaded (less heat). Are you trying to fill it in or just fill in the pockmarks? Mike

GB-you can tell the guys that have successfully done the adjustment with the sheet metal intact-they have scars from 2nd and 3rd degree burns on their arms! Seriously-the innner panel on my 52, and on my 36 Plymouth were both missing bolts when I got them. I'm assuming that was done for easier access to the side covers. I was at the board mtg in Boyertown yesterday-the ATCA Macungie show this June is shaping up nicely. Additional activities on Sat night, and we have the park until Sun morning. Mike

It'd be interesting to see the dash to see which version of the PH cab they used especially w the 1 pc windshield. Looks like they used 48-50 style doors. Mike

Yup-and our economy / bailouts will soon be is slowly but surely adjusting this the other way towards reality. Mike