What did you do to your truck today?

[markeb01]

Got the snow tires installed.

[Vernski]

Markb I like the look with the rally's on your truck, I just bought some a few weeks ago, they are being powder coated may pick them up tomorrow, I'll post some pic's when the tires are mounted. I like BFG T/A's what is your preference in tires? Thanx---Vernski

[markeb01]

I've been running Radial T/A's almost exclusively since they came on the market - until recently. I like the fact they're dirt cheap compared to other performance tires, and have that classic styling. The downside being the center of the tread always seem to wear out prematurely, long before the rest of the tread - especially on the rear of the truck. I had the same problem on my 46 Ford. I just got tired of replacing half worn tires because the centers were getting bald. I've run the pressure as low as 24 psi and it didn't seem to help.

So the last time I needed rear tires, I bought Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires instead. I like the way they look better than the T/A's. They have a more squared shoulder and look more impressive (IMHO). They also ride smoother, last longer, wear evenly, and cost about the same as the T/A's. They are what's mounted on the rear mags in the recent posts. The front tires remain T/A's. I'll probably replace them with Firestones when they wear out.

The tires on the rally wheels are Cooper studded snow tires. Cooper makes great snow tires. They were standard on the ambulance my wife used to drive when she was an EMT. I once made the mistake of thinking this meant all Cooper tires were good. I bought a pair of regular non-snow Coopers for the front of the truck years ago, and they were so soggy it ruined the handling and I got rid of them.

Studded snow tires were just about mandatory when we lived up by Athol, or we couldn't get to the highway during the winter. When these wear out many years from now I'll probably just stick with the street tires during the winter. As long as I have the extra wheels and tires I'd rather keep the Americans in the garage during the winter months when the streets are being sprayed with mag chloride.

Just curious, are you using the powder coating outfit over on Atlas? That's where I used to have all mine done, they did great work.

[Captainfab]

Are you talking about Lake City Powder Coating? They do the best powder coating in the area. They were one of the first in this area.....been doing it for about 25 years. They are convenient for me since I'm within walking distance.

Originally Posted by markeb01

Just curious, are you using the powder coating outfit over on Atlas? That's where I used to have all mine done, they did great work.

[63deluxfleet]

Originally Posted by markeb01

I've been running Radial T/A's almost exclusively since they came on the market - until recently. I like the fact they're dirt cheap compared to other performance tires, and have that classic styling. The downside being the center of the tread always seem to wear out prematurely, long before the rest of the tread - especially on the rear of the truck. I had the same problem on my 46 Ford. I just got tired of replacing half worn tires because the centers were getting bald. I've run the pressure as low as 24 psi and it didn't seem to help.

So the last time I needed rear tires, I bought Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires instead. I like the way they look better than the T/A's. They have a more squared shoulder and look more impressive (IMHO). They also ride smoother, last longer, wear evenly, and cost about the same as the T/A's. They are what's mounted on the rear mags in the recent posts. The front tires remain T/A's. I'll probably replace them with Firestones when they wear out.

The tires on the rally wheels are Cooper studded snow tires. Cooper makes great snow tires. They were standard on the ambulance my wife used to drive when she was an EMT. I once made the mistake of thinking this meant all Cooper tires were good. I bought a pair of regular non-snow Coopers for the front of the truck years ago, and they were so soggy it ruined the handling and I got rid of them.

Studded snow tires were just about mandatory when we lived up by Athol, or we couldn't get to the highway during the winter. When these wear out many years from now I'll probably just stick with the street tires during the winter. As long as I have the extra wheels and tires I'd rather keep the Americans in the garage during the winter months when the streets are being sprayed with mag chloride.

Just curious, are you using the powder coating outfit over on Atlas? That's where I used to have all mine done, they did great work.

hey i used to live in chicago for a few years and here they salt the roads, my question is how does your truck stay rust free??? they tried that non eroding snow melt stuff but its all the same here it still rusts cars...my 02 neon has cancer in the rear quarter lol

[Vernski]

Just curious, are you using the powder coating outfit over on Atlas? That's where I used to have all mine done, they did great work.[/QUOTE]

Markb I was recomended by a friend to try Evergreen Powder Coating in Spokane. My buddy raved about them and showed me their work, looked like good quality work. I should get them back tomorrow I will post a pic.

Hey Cap I called them but but didn't return my call so I took them to Evergreen.
I may try Lake City for future stuff though depends how this turns out.
Vernski

[Bugeyev8]

Fixed more Rust on my 62 today !! wow...I work on British cars and though they were bad for rust...they got nothing on my old Chevy !!

[bubba327]

I had a spare ,warm sunshiny afternoon , so the transmission came out again and the 168 tooth flex plate came off and the proper 153 tooth flex plate went on. (A big hurry caused the mistake)The new starter will now fit but I cannot find the starter shims in my garage any where! so I cleaned and looked for those silly shims and the gauge. Progress is one thing at a time.

[DPowers]

I love this thread!!!!

[sams60gmc]

Originally Posted by DPowers

I love this thread!!!!

I'm glad! I enjoy reading what happens everyday. Seems like its a big hit already. I think I started it a week and a half ago and 6 pages already. What do we have to do to make it a sticky??

[DPowers]

Replaced the heater core, switched to braided hose fuel line, installed flexplate cover on 350TH.

[Tx Firefighter]

Fellas, you might not know this since I have usually hung out on the 67-72 section, but I have a powdercoating shop. If you get chrome powdercoating done, you must clear coat it. The finish will deteriorate quite quickly without it. Any reputable chrome shop should know to do this. It even has warnings to the fact on the labels on the container the powders comes in.

This is ultimate chrome powder with clear. It's a license plate box for a sport bumper 67-72 truck I did for another board member.

[Tx Firefighter]

And to respond to the thread...I did a front suspension swap on my 63 today. I used an 83 Suburban front clip with new ball joints, poly bushings, disc brake goodies, all powdercoated. I also put a sway bar on which was a pain having to drill the frame rails. I ran out of daylight on the last part though, so I just installed the bar without powdercoating it. I don't sweat it too much since it's a beater truck.






It was a full day and I am pooped.

[TimE]

I thought about my trucks while I was at work today...

[joe231]

Nice work Kevin!

is that the stuff out from under the other truck?

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by joe231

Nice work Kevin!

is that the stuff out from under the other truck?

Yep. I'm cutting the pink truck up into scrap metal and parting out what I can. All of the goodies are going under this truck.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Just for kicks.........
I dusted today!!!!!!!

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Sometimes I have to get on my Dad when he is working in the shop.......
What the heck??????????
Respect a mans truck!!!!!!

"What was that Boy????????"
"You Sass Mouth'in me Boy???????"

"Sir!, No Sir!!!!"
"I didn't here you Boy!!!!!"
"Sir!! No Sir!!!!!"

[sams60gmc]

Just paid for my stepside beds. Going to pick them up soon!

[DWright]

Just got done with hacking my '79 donor with the good 'ole red-wrench and tractor. Now i have ps, power disc brakes and a 350 w/ 62cc heads to go in front of my camaro T5. SLowly making progress...

[Dan in Pasadena]

I like this thread too.

Today I (FINALLY for Gawd's sake!) picked up my '46 from the shop that rewired it. Incredibly, it was there 2-1/2 months.

I drove it home about 15 miles. I only had this truck about 2 weeks before having it flat bedded to the shop so really, I've never driven it except to test it and in/out of the driveway.

It ran well: 25-30 psi oil pressure at idle and in the 55-60 range at speed. Water temps even in slow rush hour traffic held about 175-180 degrees. Its got a large pusher fan that is manually controlled and I left it on the entire drive.

This is a pretty lightweight truck and has a 350/350 with a Jag rear end but the acceleration is good but not super impressive. From my searches online I think the rear end I have probably has the somewhat common for Jags 2.88 gears. That's very high in my opinion. Even a mild change would make a big acceleration difference.

Unfortunately, I lost one of my one-year-only '52 car hubcaps on the trip back.

The truck has no overflow tank and when I got it home it barfed a little coolant, not much but it was mildly rusty. That's gotta go.

I will not be able to work on it this weekend, but as soon as I do all the fluids, filters, belts and hoses will be changed to sort of "baseline" the truck as mine. I'll keep you guys posted and of course add pictures...

P.S. I hope the moderators don't toss me for posting about a non '47 or newer truck.

[Tx Firefighter]

I got a used engine and trans for my quick build 63 farm truck.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I got a used engine and trans for my quick build 63 farm truck.

Tx, did you get it installed? Any issues?

[monolith]

Rattle canned the bed flat black and installed some new 2 ga battery cables on the 64 GMC- now I need a new carb.

[DWright]

Originally Posted by monolith

Rattle canned the bed flat black and installed some new 2 ga battery cables on the 64 GMC- now I need a new carb.

What carb do ya' need? For which motor?