The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 Hello fellas. I have recently purchased a '55 job rated t dodge. It was a bush truck for the Wichita fire department. She has a 22k gvw and a 331 hemi. The truck was sold to a private party in the early 80s and he parked it in the mid 90s. A friend of mine purchased the truck from the previous owners estate sale. While the truck was in storage, the facility had a small fire blow onto the property and the Dodge was damaged. My friend decided to sell to me since I am going to try and preserve the truck as closely to it's current state because the irony of a fire truck that cought fire is priceless to me. I do intend on upgrading to a 4 barrel and some headers as well as converting the 20" widow makers to 22.5 radial tires. I am so excited for this project and to share with you guys my progress. I am also looking forward any information that will help getting her road worth again. In the mean time it is being used as a decoration. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 money maker....can see it now...riding around pumping in all the cooking oil from the restaurants and making bio-diesel for fun and profit....or you could convert it to a vacuum tanker and clean out septic tanks...but that is a crappy idea.... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brent B3B Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 I like it! a lot! do you know how much the truck weights (or rough estimate) going across a scale? sure stuffed that trailer congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Los_Control Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 yup yup yup, love that one. I like the idea going to a modern radial tire. I do not think those wheels you have are true widow makers, looks like regular spit ring and think they call them California bud wheels (bolt pattern/center section) May be difficult to find the 22.5 wheels for those but I never tried. Either way, the current wheels you have should be no problem getting tires repaired at a truck stop. Truck looks great as yard art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 Thanks fellas. We are going to use it as a cruiser and occasionally fill it with water for use out on the property when we burn or decide to take the 4 wheelers mudding. Haha. We do not have a for sure weight yet but if our math is right it is around 9k pounds as she sits. I can change 22.5 but I have never had to do any tubed bias plys so they are being swapped for sure. We have to get a couple other project out of the way before we go through her but I am excited for it. 331 hemi with I think a 4 speed and a 2 speed rear end. There is allot to look over thanks to the fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brent B3B Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 once you have it up and running and everything working, I would be curious if your home owners insurance gives you a discount for having such a vehicle...... 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 I hadn't thought of that. I will have to check into that when it comes time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted December 18, 2018 Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 8 hours ago, The_FIRE_Truck said: Thanks fellas. We are going to use it as a cruiser and occasionally fill it with water for use out on the property when we burn or decide to take the 4 wheelers mudding. Haha. We do not have a for sure weight yet but if our math is right it is around 9k pounds as she sits. I can change 22.5 but I have never had to do any tubed bias plys so they are being swapped for sure. We have to get a couple other project out of the way before we go through her but I am excited for it. 331 hemi with I think a 4 speed and a 2 speed rear end. There is allot to look over thanks to the fire. Should be a New process 5 speed with a Timken/Rockwell "L" series double reduction 2 speed rear end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pflaming Posted December 18, 2018 Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 " . . . once you have it up and running and everything working, I would be curious if your home owners insurance gives you a discount for having such a vehicle......". No, not if you have a cat!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted December 18, 2018 Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 Now that's my kinda truck!!! 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Rogers Posted December 18, 2018 Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 I love your truck. So very cool !!! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted December 18, 2018 Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 (edited) By the way those rims are not the RH-5 widow makers... You're tires/ rims are a split rim with a solid one peice side ring .I think you will have a tough time changing them out to 22.5's because of the 20" cast spoke type of wheel hub. I've serviced these types of rust free wheels with no safety concerns. They are not that hard for a competent person to do. Edited December 18, 2018 by Dodgeb4ya 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 Hmmmmmm so how do these types of wheels go together? I take it these are less likely to explode during inflation then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 I have already posted about the truck over on the club portion of the site so I won't copy it word for word, but I did want to share with everyone else. I have recently purchased a former Wichita FD bush tanker. She is a 3 ton truck with a hemi that had an unfortunate run in with a field fire. I have already had an immense amount of help in understanding the truck thanks to Dodgeb4ya. I look forward to sharing progress through my project and the info I undoubtedly will pick up as I go. Go check out my other post for more info. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 This is how she is being displayed while we finish a couple other projects. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radarsonwheels Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 Wow that is so cool! I would have such a hard time keeping it as a fire truck I think I would lose the tank, make it fit in a parking space, and try to drive it to work every day. Hopefully you have the wisdom skill and resources to restore it or at least preserve it like it should be as a piece of history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Elder Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 I told ya this was the joint you wanted to join up with.........welcome aboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggdad1951 Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 moved and merged 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd B Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 Welcome to the cult!! That would make a cool camper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Todd B said: Welcome to the cult!! That would make a cool camper. Dang Todd, that's a good idea. Plenty of locked storage on the sides and the back could be built up into a great cabin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big50Dodge Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Awesome truck !! How did that Dakota (?) Tundra (?) pull it...? I too would be interested in the total weight of that tow. Hope you didn't have to pull it too far to get it home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_FIRE_Truck Posted December 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2018 The truck that pulled it was a 16 f250 with a powerstroke. It pulls as well or even better then my 95 dually 7.3. We are guessing the weight of truck and gooseneck to be around 15k pounds. It pulled well. I hope santa has brought some wonderful surprises for you fellas. Santa dropped of an awesome gift on Monday. I don't know when he painted the sleigh brown. Merry Christmas! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted December 26, 2018 Report Share Posted December 26, 2018 Wow ... that didn't take long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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