Home        Television        Me        Real job        Links      Navy      Garage      More cars       'Possum       Video
Trunk Monkey     Guitar     Snow
 

Go to 45 Ddoge page 2
 
Current project is a '45 Dodge pickup that needs everything. We drug it out of the weeds, where it had been sitting for about 40 years. I was told it was a '42 when I got it, but have since found out (from the 39-47 Dodge truck Yahoo group) it is a 1945 Blackout model WC. The blackout is a war production truck, with absolutely no chrome. Keep in mind, I'm doing this truck on the cheap, and using it to do things I've never done before. What a way to learn!!!
 
The Dodge Some pieces missing Original flathead 6
So far, I have dug out all the rat nests, stripped and primed the interior, and installed bucket seats. I have also done all the tune up stuff, and discovered you can no longer get wheel cylinders for this (go figure). I found some wheel cylinder's that were geometrically close, at the local Carquest, by going through boxes. I had to modify the backing plates, but they work. Master cylinder was perfect. Honed and kitted. The broken front spring that was bailing wired out of the way has been fixed. I have started to rewire the complete truck from scratch.

I have a '39 Plymouth bed for it, and am now thinking about going without fenders. I will also add a homemade Rat Fink style shifter and a frenched antenna. I also have some gauges from an '89 Freightliner (Thanks Stauffer Farms!).
   
The gauges installed A home modified fuse block...a first for this truck! Old school meets high tech...using lasers to define cut lines to chop the top.
   
The top is off. Blue portion will be removed. Inside view And, of course, some rust to fix
   
The rust is fixed   The top is back on...   One more lateral cut is needed across the top of cab, to align the rear. I will use the metal removed from the rear of the cab for fill.
   
Removing the back half of the roof. It was stretched one inch. That is Jim Lauer helping me.   The roof back in place. Note the 1" filler.   The doors back on.
  The '45 is back in the shop again!!!   Hmm...It seems I'm missing a couple pictures...maybe I downloaded them at work.
I hope so.
Overall view of chopped cab.
   
My new tool box showed up yesterday!!!
(That's Candy Apple Red, BTW)		   The old box. Limited edition, I could not get matching expansion units for this.   The old and the new...
The new one is 13" wider, and the drawers are 29" deep! That's 9" deeper than the old box.
   
Old suspension.   5" channel for suspension mounts.   What a cool tool...ya gotta get one of these bandsaws. Cuts right through the channel
   
Front mount mocked up   Rear mount...I should have put the channel upside down from this.   Side view with new Volare suspension and 8 1/4"
   
Original fuel tank...needs patched. This tank held fuel last time this truck ran..   The back of the cab was rusted out where the bed had rusted apart and leaned against the cab for years. I again used the laser to define cut lines.   New patch panel fabbed up.
   
All cleco'd in   New cab back. Man, am I learning the hard way how not to do this type stuff. And then, my paint gun clogged up while priming.   Homemade headers...
    Click here for the video!
...with intake. It actually runs, after sitting in a hedge row for years. Last time it was tagged was '67.   The electric starter from a combine engine. A little longer than the original, so I had to rework the oil lines in the area.   Vidoe of the engine running, 2:29 long. It hasn't run since the late '60's, and seems to run better the longer it goes...blowing the cobs out, I suppose.
   
A new driveshaft! Hoff Machine made this for me. They even had the correct u-joint adapter to fit my transmission. They said it was pretty dusty...   The interior is going back together. The old floorboard was rotted, so it got some new plywood.   Homemade fuel cell...temporary, of course.
   
I built this tool for adjusting the steering linkage.   I had way over 300psi oil pressure, so I took the pump apart, thinking there may be a bypass valve stuck. No such luck. The pump did look great inside.   Found the bypass valve...really good location, under starter, with brake lines in front of it. Stuck TIGHT. Not sure how I will get it out...The valve in my spare engine came right out.
   
New crossmember to mount the shocks. These are gas shocks from a Chevy.   Well, the engine is just not going to be viable...it's coming out. The frame will be painted chassis black, holes in the firewall filled, and firewall painted red (I think)   Here's the "new" engine. It runs pretty well. It was taken from an old combine going to the crusher. I will have to fab a new front mount. This engine has been rebuilt somewhere along the line, as there is a tag from the rebuilder. The block was cast on 10-25-1954 (day shift), so it is 10 years newer.
Here's the firewall with the holes filled. Today, (Feb 3rd) I applied Flame Red in my garage with my new HVLP gun. I wasn't sure how to use it, so my friend and professional body man, Ben, came by to give me pointers. Goat will pinstripe it, but it first has to cure for 2 weeks... I'll be gone on business for 2 weeks...perfect. While I was at it, I shot the new engine.
My friend Eric pulling some lines The finished (for now) product...tomorrow it goes back together! The combine engine is in...
Same view with parts going on... Grille and radiator on, temporary fuel system Left side, ready to drive!!!
 

I drove it this weekend! Runs and drives pretty well. It's only been around the block a couple times, as I have not yet registered it. Come on, cruise nights!

 
Go to 45 Dodge page 2