Took the truck to its first full cruise night

[rustyzman]

Just had to get out and say that I got the '54 out to its first full cruise night (last of the year here) last night. I had stopped by the week before, but left pretty quick. My buddy and I went along with my two neighbors. (the white Cobra, the black Falcon wagon and the white Country Squire wagon.) Actually stayed till dark, made possible by some quick down and dirty lighting repairs this past week.

This is exciting for me because I have had this truck for a couple years and have been working to make it street driveable, at least for short distances. It was not licensed for about 15 years prior to my ownership and likely not street driven for many years prior to that.

Just as expected, the more I drive it, the better everything works. Less smoke, better operation of everything that had seized and better braking every time I drive.

I am a very long way from done, but it needed to be mobile.

Looking forward to next year.

link to picture.

http://www.hotroddeals.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=myphotos&page=normal&pid=101670&aid=1375&id=2303&sb=id&sbo=asc&row=99&the_start=97&rows=8

[JBNeal]

NICE...I like them west coast mirrors and plan to use a set on the one ton if I can find a pair that are as stout as yours. That ram hood medallion is a detail I like about the C-series and think it's ironic that it wasn't used again until the '90 Dakota & '94 Ram. I've got a medallion from the B-series cabovers and can't help but wonder why Dodge didn't use this on all trucks as it is obvious that it's cheaper to make than a full ram hood ornament yet an easily recognizable icon as the Ford blue oval, the Chevrolet bowtie, or the International IH. But then again, Dodge innovated by being the first truck to put the gas tank between the frame rails in '48, then regressed & stuck it behind the driver in '61, so eliminating a corporate icon for decades falls in line with other questionable business decisions made by Chrysler.

[MBF]

That is one sweet looking truck just the way it is! I take my 52 1 ton to a lot of cruises and shows. Even though it isn't a showpiece I get a lot of comments from both spectators and fellow cruisers. Hate to see the nice weather and long nights come to an end. The last show for the season is tomorrow, and the cruise nights are shutting down weekly. Come on April!

[rustyzman]

Thanks for the compliments. The west coast mirrors were an ebay buy for about $25 each from a guy named justharris. If you email him, I bet he can still get them. Stainless steel tubing and mirror frame. It had a set on it from the original owner, but they had been communing with nature for a long time and were basically gone.

I am missing the DODGE emblem from the front, but may just make up something custom at work if time allows. We'll see. Also have better fenders in the rafters with the double arrow type emblems on them from a '57.

It came with a big strap iron grill guard up on the front bumper, but that was removed on arrival day. Probably won't go back on. Maybe I should bring it to a swap meet and sell it. I can't wait to get to work on the stake bed and really restore it. Right now there is not much of any real good wood left and it is covered by a layer of rusty sheet metal nailed to the rotton wood.

Once I get the rusty wheel situation corrected, I will feel far more comfortable driving longer distances. Much to do, but no time limits on how long it takes!

My buddies kids were playing with their hot wheels on the bed at the show and we had a little picnic dinner up there from Senor Taco's. People loved that.

Love the '52 stake bed MBFowler. Nothing quite like a dually with a stake bed.

[MBF]

Take your time-you'll never be done. I've been working on this for over 16 yrs now, and still I'm not anywheres near finished. Yesterday I started working on an under the bed toolbox for the right side (period correct). I enjoy driving it whenever I can-heading out to the final show of the season today! This winter will hopefully be a trans replacement and a rebuild of the differential so that we can start doing some longer trips. Mike

[carls 49]

cool truck, way to go.

[DollyDodge]

looks cool