mattb73lt

Slowly filling up the firewall. Searching through old 35mm pics I took years ago to figure out what holes get used or not. Digital pics are so much better and clearer to figure things out and to manipulate. The Lizard Skin has helped seal the multitude of unused holes. I’ve just been poking it out where I need to, the rest aren’t very visible. Had to use my Dremel Tool to modify some grommets to allow the cowl vent drain lines to pass through. My dust barrier is pulling double duty by cutting the shop area in half, saving gas by not heating the whole thing. Lots of small tedious things being finished off, a little bit every day.

I was 13 at the time. My Dad was in charge of maintenance for the local school system. He always brought the school plow truck home during storms so he could get an early start to try to get the schools open on time in the mornings. The night of the storm, he gathered us kids and a few of our neighbor friends, piled us in the truck and went to the middle school. That was where the town pool was. We spent the evening swimming, diving and snorkeling in the pool while the snow went by the big windows sideways. Early the next morning when the snow stopped, he gathered us up and all the neighborhood kids he could find and wanted to make some money. Took us over to the schools and issued us a shovel. There were about 12 of us kids (all about 12-16 years old) and a bunch of regular custodial workers, a few plow trucks and a ford tractor with a bucket on it. We went from building to building, through the entire school system, and cleared all the exits, walkways and access points. Lunchtime, they opened one of the cafeterias and the workers cooked us lunch. We had a ball, they payed us minimum wage, which I think was around $2-$3 an hour, then. That was a lot of money for a 13 year old. In later years, my Dad was in charge of school bus maintenance. When it snowed at night, he was up early to start putting chains on the fleet of buses to try and get them on the road to minimize opening delays. He would take my brother and I with him to help out, at 3-4 AM!! We'd wear yard clothes and take our school clothes and books with us. We'd use wooden blocks on the inside duals, to drive the bus up on to throw the chains on the rear tires, lock them on and put the tensioners on. We'd also chop up short pieces bailing wire to hang on the inside mirror bracket for the driver, so he could wire down a broken link so it wouldn't beat the body up. When we were done, we'd get cleaned up, change and he would drop us off at school or we'd catch one of the buses, after we ate breakfast. I can't believe we did that back then, now that I think about it. But it was like a normal thing, we were helping out when something needed to get done. I also don't think you'd be able to get todays kids do that, even if they wanted to.

Typically, the frames were the same color as the cab, into the early 60’s. You could order a different color fame and cab, also. In the early 60’s they went to black fames and colored cabs. I have a ‘60 that’s red on red and a ‘63 that’s green on black. Not to say you couldn’t order a different combination to match your fleet or preferences, though. Someone may have more specific info here, but that’s what I’ve seen.

Restoration Specialties has the door seals, hood lacing and rubber seals for the cowl to fender transition. Chuck Roser has a lot of small stuff for B’s at decent prices, too. kingofsalvage.com

Well, yeah, considering how rough it was to start. Certainly things migrate from time to time into the house, especially when I don’t feel like heating up the barn. My wife is a saint with what she puts up with, at times. My skills have certainly improved over the years and I haven’t been this deep into a restoration in about thirty years. Everyone’s comments and insights are so appreciated as this progresses. I just keep thinking, it’s FINALLY getting done!!

It really is! After all the work the last two winters and painting it in October, so rewarding to be at this point. I’ve had a few friends stop over, that saw it sitting when I took it apart to store it, and can’t believe how it looks now.

But I know it’s there!

The paint really came out great. I try to keep the cab covered when I’m not actually working on it, to keep the dust off. But, I can’t help looking at it. I try to be so careful working on it so I don’t mess it up. No rings or watches and try to pad everything, two hands on the tools so I don’t slip....

I saw that. Looks pretty used up, but could be a good candidate. It has an interesting transition between the cab and sleeper.

Congrats on getting it home. Looks like a great truck!!

I sent you one, too.

Details!! Lots of small things happening, brackets going back on, holes being refilled and progress!! Spent $130 on hardware, yesterday, nothing bigger than a handful of 5/16 bolts. Cowl vent doors are adjusted and finished. Chrome shop called, my lot should be back in about 8-10 weeks. So, finishing the doors will be a while. I have a tentative date around the beginning of April at an upholsterer to cut, sew and install the headliner and back wall. He did sew me up 22’ of matching windlace to go around the inside door jambs.

Nice barn find, literally!! Thankfully it was sheltered inside for all that time. That’ll clean up real nice.

I’ve been hunting for a good wiper setup to replace my dual air motors. They’re a pain, they leak, don’t park and drift across the windshield while driving. I’m pretty set on a pair of electric motors. They have variable sweep, two speed and positive park. The park can be set to inboard or outboard. Separately, there’s a module I’m buying that allows high-low, variable intermittent, positive park and will synchronize the sweep when operating. Trying to source it from West Marine in the next few weeks. They only real mod will be drilling the shaft hole out slightly to fit the larger shaft,

That’s got to be a great feeling, starting the assembly work. Really nice work and great workspace, too.

Last batch of red for the cab and a whole bunch of assembly to get done. My motivation is really picking up as this is looking so good and at times it seemed as if this would never come. Plus, I can't believe this page is now 19 pages long and over five years old!!

If you use them, get a copy of the catalog, first. There are images and measurements inside that are not on their website. The images are actual size so you can make easy work matching up what you need for clips and special items.

A batch of black for the cab, yesterday. Mostly floor parts. A small batch of red, today. That should finish ALL the cab painting. Parts are rolling in and still a bunch of hardware to source.

Here’s another outfit I’ve had really great luck with sourcing those hard to find small pieces. Very good prices, too.

I don’t believe that is a wet sleeve engine. That could be trouble or something easy, like a head gasket or an oil cooler leak. I’ve had engines that have done that and the block was fine. Still a big concern, until identified. As for gaskets, Olson’s Gaskets and Egge Machine Works, are two places to start looking. I’ve got a couple of carb’s and fuel pumps I’ve been trying to find a home for, if you need them.

That is some really good panel work!! Amazing truck from end to end!

Wow! That's really looking nice. Great work.

I was trying to keep them clean, after working on the other filthy harness. I wore rubber gloves so my hands wouldn't turn black, it was that grimy!

Yes, you can still get them. They are unbelievably expensive, now. I've seen them for around $2400!!! For that, I would buy the supplies and make my own or buy a modern one for a hot rod and make it work. I bought this one back in 2006, when I thought I was going to start the restoration. They were much less expensive, then.

Nice greasy pile of spaghetti!! I saved the old harness when I took the cab apart. Figured I’d use it as a template when the time came. Chased out all the wires from what I had tagged a while back and labeled everything I could identify. Also, to become familiar with the wiring system when the time came. Broke out the new harness, that I bought way back in 2006(!!!). From what I see, the only big difference is the spacing between the instrument cluster and the circuit breaker panel. Standard B’s it’s further to the right in the glove box. L’s have it in the center of the dash, so they’re a little shorter and I’ll have to route the new harness around to use up the excess. The only other issues are that there’ll be no series parallel switch and to modify it for an alternator. I added another pic with the new harness tagged out. The wires are numbered from the maker, but I like chasing the wires to prove out the numbering and I find it makes the installation easier, with less errors.