mattb73lt

Great pics!! You’re getting it done now, though!!!

Really cool early find!! Are you doing a full restoration or just a preservation?

Excellent!! Glad your helper is available full time. Should be a great learning experience for him.

Very sad news. My condolences to his family. Bought some stuff from him a while back and always appreciated his comments on my progress on my truck. He will be missed.

I'm trying, so much to do!! Huge progress from this time last year, but it'll get done when it does. As much as I'm dying to drive it, you can't rush a good thing. So hard to not just start slapping things together, though!!

It is ALIVE!!! Started it up on diesel today, after fabricating the fuel lines between the pump and tank. Blew a little smoke, then cleaned right up and had a nice clean idle. Revved it up a few times and sounded really good with just a straight pipe. Another milestone in the books. I had a nice one minute video, but it was too large to post. IMG_3691.m4v IMG_3693.m4v

Looks great!! Minor concession and I agree with the others that it looks better.

Nothing beats laying down color to finish off your work! Looks great!

The digital format is amazing. Yeah, you can post it immediately, which in itself over the top. But being able to manipulate it, zoom in, adjust and the photos are so clear. It's just so easy document your work and disassembly sequences. When I bought this, I was still using a 35MM instamatic camera, which sucked. Not good resolution and a lot of detail was lost. Then all the developing and enlarging, if needed, only to find out it was blurry or a useless shot. I probably a have few thousand pictures I've taken that are digital. I had a 35MM small album of pictures I literally wore out referencing it for my work. Now, I have albums broken down by work area on all my devices, kind of my digital note book I use while I'm working, which is invaluable. Yesterday's and today's efforts, getting the right fender extension on so I can assemble the air filter and induction system. It's slow going getting all the hardware ready and trying not to scratch the paint.

It is about 4”s it seems. I never really thought there was such a difference between the two models.

The view out of the windshield has changed a little since 1998. Doing a little alignment to the cab and radiator. Both were slightly askew from where they need to be. Shouldn’t be too long before more assembly goes on. Going to get it running and moving soon.

I posted this pic on someone else’s post. Oops! But any way, there’s tons of room and really no chance of interference with the cab. The cab sits a lot higher that I recall. I put a seat in it today and when I raise and lower it, the gearshift’s are a lot lower than a standard B cab. Almost as if I need extensions on them. Moving right along, though, and so much to hook up yet!!

I’d love to!! Trying hard, but maybe Gerhart’s?

Everything is so nice and clean!!

Thanks for all the great comments. Today was a great day. It was a lot of work and working in the sun with the heat we had was exhausting. It went on pretty easily and the lift I had was invaluable. The thing that strikes me is how tall the truck is. I don't recall it being as high as it is. Much taller than the B-42 by a big margin. But it looks so amazing at this point, all that frustrating, hard work really paid off. I keep scrolling through the photos we took and some videos my wife took from the second floor of the house, while she watched us. So much to hook up and complete, now, but it's really moving along.

No problems at all with it passing through.

JEEZUS, I can't believe it!!!! We did it, it took all four of us to gently lift the cab and set it in place. A gigantic leap forward on getting this done. It really looks amazing, I can't tell you how happy I am to see it like this. It's way beyond how I thought it would look all those years ago.

Great progress, it's really starting to move along!!

I feel like I'm waiting for Christmas! If I had the hands here now, I'd put this cab and radiator on today. The lift showed up yesterday and just getting everything organized for Sunday morning when everyone shows up. Had do a little mock up as I got things lined up in the shop, though. I think it's been about 23 years since this cab sat on the frame. Time flies while you're living life.

The cab is looking real good. It’ll be very unique when it’s in its original colors!

I believe the wheelbase measured 249", when I checked it. It'll get a 24' Jerr Dan roll back mounted to it.

Hammering away. Got the center section of the drive shaft back and was able to get all three sections aligned and installed. I have the parts I need to complete the hanger bearing supports and after having two sections cut down and one modified, it fits. Roughed in more of the exhaust and the rest will have to wait until the cab goes on and I can verify what I need for the stack. More connections completed and air brake parts installed. Sunday is looking better each day.

I had a Bostrom seat identical to Harry’s first, but it was worn out. Then a pair of ‘95 Mustang bucket seats some one gave me mounted to the same spring bases. Those really didn’t fit well and the high backs with headrests took up more room. I built frames for the bases to use the original bolt holes and another frame to mount the seat. The 20” wheel makes a big difference in room. I have a large Sheppard box out of a B61SX in it. Which makes it steer like a car. Here’s some comparisons of the two wheels and the bases in the cab.

Yeah, I agree. As they age they get brittle and break. Finding good ones can be tough. These are cheap ones that I use mostly for layout purposes.

No worries. They're just temporary to hold things in place until I can secure them with clamps. Helps keep things organized and makes re-routing easier as I find the best way to lay it all out. If you look at the last pic, there's one installed on the battery cables I laid along the lower lip of the frame rail.