Coca Cola LJ Mack colors

[1961H67]

Here we go, I dug the doors out of the barn shed a while back, they had 25 years of dust on them, I pressure washed them off and brought them in, started tearing them down , cab and wiring pretty much completed ( except the headliner) . 

[mowerman]

Excellent, thanks for that… bob

[mattb73lt]

The only thing you can’t get for them are the rubber vent window seals. I sourced most everything from Restoration Specialties. To dress up my inner door panels I put in stainless hardware from Totally Stainless. The doors look in pretty good shape. As long as there’s no real rust or damage, you’ll go right through them.

A little trick on the vent window seals. If you take them out, be careful and go slow. They can be brittle and they’ll crack and break on you. If they’re covered in paint, don’t chemically strip them, the chemicals may dissolve the rubber. Run them, gently, through a glass bead cabinet to remove the paint. I did mine that way and they came out really nice.

[mowerman]

I do remember that stage and thinking you got to be very fortunate…  bob

[mowerman]

And yes, the doors look pretty good to me also from the photos let’s get her done…bob

[1961H67]

Thanks for, the pictures , I’ll flip them and post a picture of the vent windows , the chrome is pretty rusted . Otherwise the doors are pretty good. A little rusted at the very bottom , I’ve got 4 parts doors but they are worse, just good for extra window parts I guess. Thanks for the tips ! Yours turned out Great! 

[mattb73lt]

Yeah, I kind've went all out in restoring them. Took them completely apart to re-chrome everything. A little over the top, but I was pleased with the results. If you do go for re-chroming the vent window pieces, there's some small parts you'll need. Like some pretty small hollow rivets for reassembly. I've got the source and part numbers for you if you do.

It's looking great and you're nearing the end of a long road. After the doors, your fenders will probably be your last big hurdle.

[mattb73lt]

Here's something else I had to fabricate, the door check stops. I couldn't find these anywhere, so I made them out of a scrap piece of stock I had laying about. The pivot pins are actually 16P nails, cut off then peened over on the bottom. 

[Brocky]

Tom (Bub) Warren of Amarillo Texas  had purchased Diamond T rubber and was producing items for other makes as well. BUT I have not heard anything about him since his Father Tom Warren (EX ATHS President) passed away early last year?????? I have his email address and  the shop phone number, if it is still in business?? PM me if you want it..

[1961H67]

Thanks Matt & Brocky for the info, we have some rain coming in so hopefully I can get them took apart and kinda get a idea of how much work they need, definitely the chrome will have to be redone, and the door stops are junk,,I do have new window felt for the tracks. , After the doors im probably going to redo the skirts around the battery box and running boards, hood,  Shutters. Fenders probably last. ( Great job on those door stops) 

[1961H67]

I flipped one for a picture, they are not dented , only one has a patch of rust in the very bottom, not on the skin. ,, Short story of trucking with this truck when I was 18 , That drivers side window was cracked for a while, then the piece fell out one day when I closed the door, I put it between the seat, when it got Real Cold outside I would place it in and roll  the window up tight,, it stayed that way for about a year until I stopped using it. After 40 years I can’t find my “ Plug “ So I guess I’ll have to finally replace the glass ! 

[h67st]

Something else I learned about working with the vent window rubbers, make sure they're warm. I tried to work with one when it was cold and it cracked. I pointed a heater at the other one while working with it and no crack. Also put a coat of olive oil on them and let sit overnight, they will be more pliable and soft. It's supposed to make rubber last longer.

[1961H67]

Thank you, I will surely use the olive oil, I removed the vent windows today and the rubber might be salvageable for them being 10 years older than our H Models . I’ve got the doors completely stripped of all hardware, ( and mice ) ! 

 

 

 

 

 

[1961H67]

I steam cleaned both doors, Then brushed some stripper on ,, So far I’ve sandblasted all the other body parts and frame ,, I might end up doing that too the doors, About 4 coats of paint! Original Primer & Factory Red , Coke yellow/ orange, The welding company just painted the doors to change the name, it was a bright yellow, then my gray primer and Carolina blue ( there is a story about why I painted it blue in the late 70s ) 

[mattb73lt]

A lot of history in those layers of paint! They look pretty solid.

[1961H67]

Yes they are, and for sure the area below the mirrors has the most layers from 2 name changes ( we never had our name on the door) . They are pretty solid, one rust hole in the very bottom of the driver door, the drain holes were clogged, it should be a fairly easy fix. , I’ve taken pictures and measurements of where the paint lines are from when Coca Cola Painted over the Red in 1951 , I’m going to try to get it as close to that scheme as possible, black window frames and all. 

[1961H67]

I never realized the doors had so many holes, I think it had another set of mirrors, I’m not a expert on “West Coast Mirrors “ but I don’t think they got popular until the late 50s . And I think the welding co that had it before we got it had warning signs on the doors ,,,anyway I’ll weld them up at keep going. 

[1961H67]

I saw a YouTube video on this LJ ,, it was posted about 5 years ago. It looks like the truck was being parted out, the video may have been taken in NE Pennsylvania. If anyone recognizes it please let me know, Here is a screenshot of the video, Many Thanks. Dean 

[mowerman]

Sorry, can’t help but it looks like there’s quite a bit there. It’s probably nothing left, but the frame rails. Good luck bud…. Bob

[1961H67]

A little more sanding, a little more priming,, beautiful day today. 

[Vladislav]

On 2/25/2024 at 4:31 AM, 1961H67 said:

I saw a YouTube video on this LJ ,, it was posted about 5 years ago. It looks like the truck was being parted out, the video may have been taken in NE Pennsylvania. If anyone recognizes it please let me know, Here is a screenshot of the video, Many Thanks. Dean 

I saw that truck in person in the summer of 2018. But don't know the owner. It was in PA indeed, parked in a yard near a local highway. The fenders were not absolutely perfect but quite good. The chassis looked cut in the middle with new longer rear section welded up. If it's up for parts definitely worth checking out.

There was a huge and neat looking RD800 parked in that same yard. White cab with black fenders, hooked to a low boy trailer. I'm pretty sure I saw that truck's photo posted on the forum once a couple years back and too probably by the owner. That's a possible way to count out any contact info on the L-model.

[1961H67]

Vald , Thank you for the information. Hopefully I can make a connection about it, or another set of fenders , I’m making pretty good progress on the doors, I’ll keep chipping away. 

[1961H67]

I’ve been making a little progress this spring, Then Baseball Season got in full swing for my Grandson . Got some more parts blasted, primed. Trying to get a few hours in a week. 

[mattb73lt]

That's all looking really nice. I had a lot of slow downs, breaks and distractions trying to get mine done. When it gets slow, do some little stuff or order up some parts to be ready when time permits getting more accomplished. Nice work!

[1961H67]

Got another day in ! A little progress!