It Runs! The Big Black Beauty

[KJ's Dodge]

After over 25 years of sitting idle, it runs!! My truck is back and running great thanks to many of you and this forum. It has been a great month putting the final things together to get it done. Still have more to go but having it running will be a major plus to the progress. Still have tires, brakes and a small fuel leak to deal soon with but she is back.

I blew out a large wasp nest from the exhaust stack. Fire wasps now. I had a nice solid brake pedal at first but now no brakes and it goes to the floor now. The hand brake worked to stop me in the pasture. Thoughts here?

The truck has a special deluxe filter that is over 8 inches in height (pic 2). I couldn't find an exact match but thanks to Bob and his resourcefulness/ recommendations, I ordered both the Napa (#1503) and a Wix (51503). I installed the Napa filter which was not quite as tall as the original and did not have the flared ends or steel casing, but it should work since it is tight to the inlet tube that runs in to the center of the cartidge. And than came my barn finds at the farm that the truck resides on.

As luck would have it, when looking in the loft of the barn where the truck was stored, I found a full case of the filters (pic 3). I opened up the box and I now have 24 filters that match what was there. They were in dark cylinder containers that are individually sealed. After looking around the main floor of the barn I found another dozen new filters. So, I now have a total of 36 of them. The truck is good for the rest of my life and I will returned the WIX.

Besides the oil filters, I came across a case of new mud flaps, a pair of good looking near new 900 x 20 traction tires, a box of miscellaneous parts (after I reviewed the drawings Bob posted to my initial thread about my truck, it looks like the original dual exhaust pipes (the paint is still on them and those bends from the shop manuals would have been the hard part (pic 4), the original single barrel manifold and carb (the crate was propably for the dual carbs and exhaust installed by the dealer in the early 50's), three oil bath air filters one new in the box (one of those was probably original to the truck, and what looks like a reserve gas tank for the truck (was this an option?).

If the creeks don't rise, I should be able to make one of the small town 4th of July parades in my corner of Washington with the Big Black Beauty.

Thank you all,

KJ

Edited June 19, 2010 by KJ's Dodge

[Dave72dt]

You've got a leak somewhere. Brake lines get rusty over time and sitting that long, none of them will be very good. Be safe. replace ALL the brake lines and hoses and rebuild/replace wheel cylinders and master.

[KJ's Dodge]

Most likely I lost the internal diagram to the vacuum brakes. I will know tomorrow. It is a Midland single diaphram type to the best of my knowledge. All my brake lines are solid and I have no leaks at any of the wheels, but brakes and tires were high on the list for updating. Still grinning ear to ear!

[HanksB3B]

Now that is something I'd like to see. Are they original Mopar Mudflaps. Would love to know how much those oil filters cost back in the day...

Hank

[Bob_Koch]

Did they really run the exhaust up through the hood? Truck looks good.

[Frank Elder]

Did they really run the exhaust up through the hood? Truck looks good.

X2 Hay hauler deluxe:D:D

You are going to reroute the exhaust, aren't you?

[1949dakota]

routing the exhaust up cuts down on field fires

[insaneradio]

Congrats KJ!!

It is a great feeling getting one up and running that had not for so many years. My hats off to you young man! Look forward to further pictures.

Dave

[KJ's Dodge]

This truck did haul a lot of hay in its day. One of the neighbors said Bud (PO) would stack square bales nine high. I may have some pictures of his loads, there are hundreds of pics left at the old stead. At a ton per row, he definitely wasn't afraid to really load his prized truck. So, yes hay deluxe!

Given the hilly Palouse Country side and this truck being prior to the "Green Revolution" (I knew Vogel, the legendary wheat breeders at Washington State University), the exhaust was routed through the fender. Wheat use to be 6 feet tall prior to harvest, until the semi darf wheat was introduced by Vogel, and the stubble as high as today's wheat given the rolling hills of the Palouse. New self leveling combines cut much lower to the ground today as well.

You could loose your whole crop with one spark from a muffler down near the wheat that is dry as dry can be prior to cutting. A good wind and it would whip up a fire storm that would not only jump property lines but county lines out here. So, routing that exhaust that way was about practicality not looks. I will return it to it's stock location.

Edited June 20, 2010 by KJ's Dodge

[Frank Elder]

routing the exhaust up cuts down on field fires

We just ran ours out front, not thru the hood.

[oldmopar]

That is a good looking truck and the original spare parts is a great find. As to the brakes I will repeat here a replay I made to another posting.

Dealing with single cylinder master cylinders best option is to change every brake component. Its really a matter of safety no brakes you crash

[Bradley S.]

Great job!

I know how you feel. It is great to take something left for scrap and bring it back to it's original glory.

Look forward to seeing more progress reports. Take a short movie, I want to hear that beast growl.

Brad

[KJ's Dodge]

Hey all,

I got the truck home to my property yesterday where I could work with air tools, power and have it where I have easier access to it (the pics are after arriving back at my place. I did drive it using the engine, and the emergency brake to stop and crawled home to my property. I only traveled dirt/gravel roads. I christened it with a beer as I left the pasture and we were off.

With four follow/lead cars and trucks of buddies that came out for the 10 miles maiden journey. I never did over 20mph, the Eaton two speed axle works fine, and the truck climbed the hills really well. The truck is geared so low that down hill it never went over 10mph.

The truck was in the air today to start the tires and brakes. With the weight of this truck unloaded at 18,500lbs, I double blocked it with rail road ties and very large maple round tree trunks cut to length. Thankfully, I had next winter's wood supply sitting close to where I parked the truck.

Tires are off and being dismounted, shipped to the Les Schwab where they will be sandbasted and powder coated black for under $30 per rim. I know the rims on these truck (10 bolt budd rims) were only available in black. Was the black paint gloss, satin or flat on the rims? Any one know? Were any of the rings or trim on the rims painted any other colors? I thought I saw some pics on DPETCA or this forum with an ivory or silver color ring on the big rigs.

Thanks,

KJ

Edited June 24, 2010 by KJ's Dodge

[jakenoklahoma]

what a cool truck....I love it

[KJ's Dodge]

Thank you. Here is another picture of the my big rig. I am just shy of 6 foot tall, so given that you can get a close idea to the size of this truck. Once she came out of the dirt (the tires had sunk in to the ground to the rims), tires were properly aired up and she was on the flat I nearly fall off the running boards and I hadn't even had a beer yet. I had got use to the height as I was working on getting her to move.

KJ

[48Dodger]

Great picture!

48D

[Jim Gaspard]

Big John...just sounds right!

[jakenoklahoma]

great picture and the truck looks to be in fantastic shape. If only I could find a big one like that around here.....

[KJ's Dodge]

I have made some substantial progress on the truck. In the clean up and sanding for paint I uncovered the identifications marks for my rear end. It is an H300. The gear ratios stamped on the rear axle do not match what I anticipated (631/ 8?2 (can't make out the middle digit)?

I have been scrapping, wire brushing, sand blasting and busy with a DA getting it ready and painting the underside (frame, tool box, front of the grain box, bed deck, rearend, front axle, springs, hubs, etc.). It is looking really good. Once I started there really was no good place to stop, so all of it is getting a new coat of paint. The deck is being sanded down with a drum sander, primed and painted black. Nearly finished with that too!

The rebuilt brake booster arrived from Reman on Friday. So that will get installed later this week. Unfortunately, one of the lock rings on the rims was cracked and Les Schwab found that after sand blasting the six rims. I had to send them the one off of my spare. I am going to have to look for a lock rings to put back together my spare. The new tires should be coming together later this week. The extra time and delays in both brake parts arriving and rims have really allowed me to get alot done, again much more than I had planned.

Enjoy the pics,

KJ

Edited July 18, 2010 by KJ's Dodge

[Dave72dt]

That axle cleaned up really well. Good work!

[Bradley S.]

Think that truck has enough leaf springs? Wow!

Nice work, looks great!

[KJ's Dodge]

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I have been getting close to finishing the really dirty work. Everything under the cab (underside of the floor pan, the frame rails (inside and outside), underside of the running boards, and drive line) is ready for paint. The bed has one coat of oil based primer and two coats of black enamel.

The rebuilt brake booster is ready for installation. I will be bleeding on the bench before the install. The rims came back from Les Schwab and the new tires are mounted. They are beautiful! I went with the original Bias Ply 9.00 by 20 with 10 Ply since I am trying to keep it as stock as I can.

I have really been getting down and dirty but I leave for Seattle on business so it will be put on hold through at least Tuesday. A little more work on the inside of the frame under the bed and the last paint will be shot and I will be finished for awhile.

The cab maybe painted next Spring or Summer but that will be done by a good friend who has got the most paid for his cars he has take to auction in Reno. The barter has been made and the painting of the cab paid in full via the barter. The picture below is what I had to barter with for my future paint job.

Edited August 29, 2010 by KJ's Dodge
Adding Pics

[KJ's Dodge]

Think that truck has enough leaf springs? Wow!

Nice work, looks great!

Wow is right. There are 22 leaf springs in the rear of the truck to support the load. This was the stock configuration for the RA. The casings and attachments are a work of art.

The bed is really nicely finished and machined. I will post some pictures later this week once the painting is done. I think my bed was made by Gar Wood with a St Paul Hoist based on the Special Equipment Manual in the dump equipment section. I would love to get a closer look at the special equipment manual but the online resources at DPETCA are to blurred to confirm my suspicion that the bed was manufactured by Gar Wood. St Paul was a sub-division of Gar Wood Industries and I know that my hoist is a St. Paul for certain.

The weight of the beds are in the section of the special equipment manual but I can't make it out the detail in the digital version. My bed is 16 feet long. There maybe some identifications on the grain racks but there are none on the bed.

KJ

Edited July 29, 2010 by KJ's Dodge

[41/53dodges]

Thank you. Here is another picture of the my big rig. I am just shy of 6 foot tall' date=' so given that you can get a close idea to the size of this truck. Once she came out of the dirt (the tires had sunk in to the ground to the rims), tires were properly aired up and she was on the flat I nearly fall off the running boards and I hadn't even had a beer yet. I had got use to the height as I was working on getting her to move.

KJ[/quote']

i know how you feel about the truck getting taller. i used to be taller then the 41' until i pulled it out. now, its about 2' taller than i am, and i myself am about 5'11"

and i just realized from your pics, you have the exact same seat cover as my $10 big lots cover!

[OLD DODGE]

It is an H300. The gear ratios stamped on the rear axle do not match what I anticipated (631/ 8?2 (can't make out the middle digit)?

KJ

KJ,

The H-300-DPH is a Timken two speed axle rated at 14,000 lb capacity. The standard ratios were 6.14/8.15. There was an optional ratio of 6.67/8.85.

I just love the big trucks.