Hound dog hauler

[RNR1957NYer]

There's an old hot rodder's saying: "If it's perfect, paint it black."  The follow up should be: "If it ain't, paint it flat black."

 

In any case, you're doing great!

[ggdad1951]

Base coat..

[bkahler]

Nothing wrong with a 2-tone paint job   They were quite popular back in the day.....remember the spring specials.

[Los_Control]

Well yippie and look at what I did! .... Just goes to prove even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in awhile.

 

I actually grabbed the correct bucket of paint and sprayed the fenders   ... One of these days I may wash this truck

 

While the weather was cold I started working on the wiring .... Thanks to @Sniper I have a working charging system.

Today I spent way too much time on building the tail light and trailer connection wiring .... but I got er did.

 

Then I moved to installing the vacuum wiper system .... what a treat that was and took the rest of the day.

 

Did I mention I also got the inside of the cab painted? .... been working at it.

 

I have the fuse box mounted .... I was finally sensible and installed it inside on the kick panel.

 

Not as sexy as @bkahler lights .... for a beater with a heater they will work     

 

 

 

[bkahler]

13 hours ago, Los_Control said:

Well yippie and look at what I did! .... Just goes to prove even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in awhile.

 

I actually grabbed the correct bucket of paint and sprayed the fenders   ... One of these days I may wash this truck

 

While the weather was cold I started working on the wiring .... Thanks to @Sniper I have a working charging system.

Today I spent way too much time on building the tail light and trailer connection wiring .... but I got er did.

 

Then I moved to installing the vacuum wiper system .... what a treat that was and took the rest of the day.

 

Did I mention I also got the inside of the cab painted? .... been working at it.

 

I have the fuse box mounted .... I was finally sensible and installed it inside on the kick panel.

 

It makes for a good day when you accomplish a lot of tasks. 

 

 

13 hours ago, Los_Control said:

Not as sexy as @bkahler lights .... for a beater with a heater they will work     

 

I don't think my name and the word sexy have ever been used in the same sentence before 🤣

Thanks for the laugh

 

 

13 hours ago, Los_Control said:

 

 

 

 

This looks great to me.

 

 

[Los_Control]

12 minutes ago, bkahler said:

I don't think my name and the word sexy have ever been used in the same sentence before 🤣

Thanks for the laugh

Your truck has the real cool cloth covered wire protectors .... that's sexy.

I wanted to ask you where you got it from .... to be honest, the plastic works fine for the purpose of this truck .... a daily driver. Cheap and easily replaced if needed.

[Young Ed]

25 minutes ago, Los_Control said:

Your truck has the real cool cloth covered wire protectors .... that's sexy.

I wanted to ask you where you got it from .... to be honest, the plastic works fine for the purpose of this truck .... a daily driver. Cheap and easily replaced if needed.

I've been buying that wire loom stuff by the foot from Mac's. They are a Ford place but that stuff isn't specific. 

Edited February 3 by Young Ed
Typo

[bkahler]

On 2/3/2025 at 10:00 AM, Los_Control said:

Your truck has the real cool cloth covered wire protectors .... that's sexy.

I wanted to ask you where you got it from .... to be honest, the plastic works fine for the purpose of this truck .... a daily driver. Cheap and easily replaced if needed.

 

I've been buying the fabric wire loom from Amazon.   It's relatively expensive and if I was smart I should have just used plastic loom like you did or wrap in harness tape, which is what I did for the main wiring harnesses I made.

 

[Los_Control]

3 hours ago, bkahler said:

 

I've been buying the fabric wire loom from Amazon.   It's relatively expensive and if I was smart I should have just used plastic loom like you did or wrap in harness tape, which is what I did for the main wiring harnesses I made.

 

I dunno, I think the way you have approached and built your truck .... it deserves the extra niceties.

While my truck is often built on git me byes.

The tail lights I posted above are cheap $10 lights sold for semi trailers .... they should work for 3-4 years and then I can decide to buy better. .... I can also decide to install better wire loom at that time .... this will get me on the road.

 

Today while working on wiring, I spent the day connecting engine controls.

The choke cable is for  chebby and was 8" too long so I needed to modify it.

Throttle cable went back the way I removed it.

 

The E-brake cable is also from some chebby truck and is too short, it rubbed on the throttle linkage so I made a bracket for it. ..... I suspect some day I will be installing a different rear end with different brakes .... this is a git me by that works ... Temporarily. Possible if I reroute it, I can gain the 3" needed.

 

My wiring looks exactly as it should .... A mess. But it is slowly getting closer to what it needs to be. I'm satisfied with what is finished .... just what is not is a mess.

 

So yeah I have plastic sheathing on my wires for now ..... I reserve right to change that at any time in the future.

 

[Young Ed]

2 hours ago, Los_Control said:

I dunno, I think the way you have approached and built your truck .... it deserves the extra niceties.

While my truck is often built on git me byes.

The tail lights I posted above are cheap $10 lights sold for semi trailers .... they should work for 3-4 years and then I can decide to buy better. .... I can also decide to install better wire loom at that time .... this will get me on the road.

 

Today while working on wiring, I spent the day connecting engine controls.

The choke cable is for  chebby and was 8" too long so I needed to modify it.

Throttle cable went back the way I removed it.

 

The E-brake cable is also from some chebby truck and is too short, it rubbed on the throttle linkage so I made a bracket for it. ..... I suspect some day I will be installing a different rear end with different brakes .... this is a git me by that works ... Temporarily. Possible if I reroute it, I can gain the 3" needed.

 

My wiring looks exactly as it should .... A mess. But it is slowly getting closer to what it needs to be. I'm satisfied with what is finished .... just what is not is a mess.

 

So yeah I have plastic sheathing on my wires for now ..... I reserve right to change that at any time in the future.

 

I'm still running those temporary lights 20y later. If they work they work

 

 

[Merle Coggins]

I ran those cheap Peterson tail lights for several years before I bought a set of reproduction 'vintage' Dodge tail lights. I like the look with the 'DODGE' logo in the lenses, but the Peterson lights were better quality in regards to the light socket and wiring. 

[bkahler]

1 hour ago, Merle Coggins said:

I ran those cheap Peterson tail lights for several years before I bought a set of reproduction 'vintage' Dodge tail lights. I like the look with the 'DODGE' logo in the lenses, but the Peterson lights were better quality in regards to the light socket and wiring. 

 

The tail lights I'm using came from Roberts, bought back in 1997, turned out to be poorly made at best.  I ended up removing the bulb sockets and silver soldering in new replacement sockets.  I also had to remake the lens gaskets out of 1/4" thick cork in order to get things to fit properly.  The body, trim ring and glass were ok but for $100 I expected much better product.  

 

[Los_Control]

15 hours ago, Young Ed said:

I'm still running those temporary lights 20y later. If they work they work

I agree with you on that.

While mine seem to fit and function as they should, sockets are good enough .... the cases are all plastic.

I feel I built sturdy brackets and ran external grounds to them ..... They have every chance needed to last a long time .... I'm just not very optimistic mine will last 20 years.

[Los_Control]

Been lazy today ... I did order 2 tires today 235 75r 15 ... being cheap as usual. I only have 2 wheels painted and ready to mount tires on.

Get those mounted and can then remove the tires on the other 2 wheels and get them painted while waiting for the next 2 tires to be delivered.

As they say in the semi truck world, a set of drivers for the rear and I may want to run a smooth highway tire for the front.

At least with 2 I can play with it and decide later.

[bkahler]

6 minutes ago, Los_Control said:

Been lazy today ... I did order 2 tires today 235 75r 15 ... being cheap as usual. I only have 2 wheels painted and ready to mount tires on.

Get those mounted and can then remove the tires on the other 2 wheels and get them painted while waiting for the next 2 tires to be delivered.

As they say in the semi truck world, a set of drivers for the rear and I may want to run a smooth highway tire for the front.

At least with 2 I can play with it and decide later.

 

Put those tires on the front and big wide slicks on the back 😁

 

[bkahler]

40 minutes ago, Los_Control said:

I agree with you on that.

While mine seem to fit and function as they should, sockets are good enough .... the cases are all plastic.

I feel I built sturdy brackets and ran external grounds to them ..... They have every chance needed to last a long time .... I'm just not very optimistic mine will last 20 years.

 

Unfortunately,  not to many things last 20  years anymore

 

[Young Ed]

8 hours ago, Los_Control said:

I agree with you on that.

While mine seem to fit and function as they should, sockets are good enough .... the cases are all plastic.

I feel I built sturdy brackets and ran external grounds to them ..... They have every chance needed to last a long time .... I'm just not very optimistic mine will last 20 years.

Now it's been a while since I've messed with them and it's in storage so I can't check but I think I have the next level up generic lights because I believe I have metal housing 

[Los_Control]

11 hours ago, Young Ed said:

I believe I have metal housing 

If mine were metal, I would not give them another thought.

Thinking that some day I may run across a set at a swap meet or yard sale. Then restore them.

Plastic in the weather is doomed to turn brittle and easily crack and break some day.

While metal can be repaired and live on forever.

 

Naturally I wake up at 2:00 AM and start thinking about building a set. How hard can it be?

Cut the bottom out of heavy 16GA and roll the sides from 18GA ... make the diameter the same so my existing plastic lenses will fit ... easily find replacement lenses .... some day when I'm bored 

[bkahler]

12 minutes ago, Los_Control said:

Naturally I wake up at 2:00 AM and start thinking about building a set. How hard can it be?

Cut the bottom out of heavy 16GA and roll the sides from 18GA ... make the diameter the same so my existing plastic lenses will fit ... easily find replacement lenses .... some day when I'm bored 

 

Half hour tops, is all you should need 🤣

[Los_Control]

Welll I finally did it!!!! .... I washed the truck today.

 

Now I still need to connect the headlight switch, brake light switch and turn signals.

I'm pretty sure I need to pull the front fenders, hood back off .... I;m thinking the wire harness for the front lights needs to be installed before the body panels  

The bolts are all finger tight for adjustment .... no big deal.

 

My gas gauge just quivers when I turn the key on .... I know it was really low on gas when I connected it .... I put in 2 gallons since then and the gauge still does not rise .... I dunno, new wires, tank, sending unit, 12V > 6V reducer .... I think all is correct, I have a different gauge on the shelf I can try.

 

I did get my new tires in today ... I'm OK with going all 4 the same. I was worried they looked too aggressive for the front.

I realize I can put the raised black letters inside and not so aggressive as I thought .... still good traction tread though.

[9 foot box]

   If you have to move the front end, it would enable you to pull the right side of your bumper back into place. With the fender out of the way you can pull it far enough back to allow for spring back. The twist is an easy fix. I added a class 3 hitch to my 47 one ton. You’ve come a long way, considering the van engine change. Rick D.

[bkahler]

9 hours ago, Los_Control said:

Now I still need to connect the headlight switch, brake light switch and turn signals.

I'm pretty sure I need to pull the front fenders, hood back off .... I;m thinking the wire harness for the front lights needs to be installed before the body panels  

The bolts are all finger tight for adjustment .... no big deal.

 

You shouldn't have to take the fenders off, all of the wiring is easily accessible with them in place.  I did all of my wiring after the sheet metal was in place.

 

9 hours ago, Los_Control said:

My gas gauge just quivers when I turn the key on .... I know it was really low on gas when I connected it .... I put in 2 gallons since then and the gauge still does not rise .... I dunno, new wires, tank, sending unit, 12V > 6V reducer .... I think all is correct, I have a different gauge on the shelf I can try.

 

 

I don't remember how many gallons it took for my gas gauge to start registering.  I'm pretty sure it was more than 2 gallons.

 

[JBNeal]

Before there was a Low Fuel Warning Light, they had fuel gauges that would register E when there was a few gallons left.  I adjusted my float arms to read E at about 3 gallons cuz there's a hill to climb to get back to my place, and without tank baffles, having less than 3 gallons in the tank transformed me into a pedestrian on more than one occasion.

[Los_Control]

10 hours ago, 9 foot box said:

 If you have to move the front end, it would enable you to pull the right side of your bumper back into place.

I'm at peace with the front bumper as is for now .... considering where it came from.

The bumper has lived a hard life, it is bent, twisted, torn where it mounts and it has damage from where they welded the bars to it .... It is on my list to find a replacement for it some day.

What really does bother me is the lower grill bar and the goofy grin the truck has with it curling up into the air.

I spent some time straitening all the bars and thought it was good enough .... then when I installed the lower bar and saw I missed the curve .... That bums me out because I know I can do better and just missed it.

The bumper, I did the best I could with it with the tools I have available .... I even welded a 8' 2.5" thick well casing to it for a lever to take the twist out of it .... It kicked my arse and I accept that.

 

Leaving the lower grill bar the way it is is just laziness .... I have been known to be lazy also   

 

10 hours ago, 9 foot box said:

You’ve come a long way, considering the van engine change. Rick D.

Thank you for the kind words. The van has side lined the truck project a few times over the years .... and is about to do it again.

I just needed a break from the van and to make some progress on the truck .... and think about the issue the van has.

I have received some good advice in another thread on it .... Today I'm convinced it is a grounding issue and the computer is stuck in open loop ... should be a easy fix .... 

Wife has DR'S appointments and a surgery coming up next month out of town and would be nice to drive the van.

[Los_Control]

5 hours ago, bkahler said:

You shouldn't have to take the fenders off, all of the wiring is easily accessible with them in place.  I did all of my wiring after the sheet metal was in place.

I see you are correct, I have been taking sideways glances at it ... trying to not get distracted and stay on the work I was doing .... Now the headlights are the work in front of me and I have removed the buckets ... I see how the original harness was ran and no need to remove the body panels. .... For wiring.

Still not sure how I will get at the front grill bar.

 

You and @JBNeal are also correct about the gas gauge.

I know it was low and was expecting it to run out any time ... I ran it a lot since the electronic ignition install and had 2 gallons gas here for when it did, just never put it in .... So it was basically empty and the 2 gallons was all it had.

I rocked the truck back and forth pretty hard and thought with 2 gallons the gauge should kinda move a little.

It did not.

 

I put 4 more gallons in it today, so 6 total ... The gauge moves.

It just comes off of empty, but I have it nose high in the air on jack stands with front tires removed ... all the gas is in the back of the tank. On level ground it should come up more .... it is promising that it works, no idea on accuracy.

 

Tire shop was closed today so no new tires mounted til next week.

Will be 87 degrees today and the last day of good weather. Will be highs in the 40's tomorrow and same for the next week ... so not much getting done. For awhile.