April 2003

Wow where did 2002 go?

Jette & me & our Japanese maple Jette & Me at Winfield 2002 (thanks Ron for picture)

Well I was busy getting engaged to Jette Palkowetz Wedding in October - The truck must get finished this summer!

I also repainted my old Jeep and sold it also Jette & I refinished a room in our basement. The Taxes are finished, time to devote all time to the truck.

I have been spending every night this week till 3am working on the truck

Old manifold cracked off corners New manifold set no-cracks

21 Apr 8 Hours

Welded & machined broken cast iron part of engine. The corner broke off during disassembly.

Water pump back plate that I manufactured (old one was badly pitted). New clutch plate & pressure plate & machined Flywheel.

22 Apr 8 hours

Finished painting some engine parts. Began stripping front end off chassis.

23 April 8 hours

The chassis is half way into the garage with blocks holding it up. I removed all the leaf springs and front end stuff. One of the springs was broken on the end. After I removed the springs I found that both need to be rebuilt, the upper leaf needs replaced on both sets along with pins & bushings. I am guessing the damage will be @300$.

I removed the vacuum brake assist (power brakes) it was totally non-functional (like everything else). I called OHIC to try to find a rebuild kit. I did get it cleaned up. OHIC is having a sale on all the rubber so I will purchase all the rubber parts soon.

Chassis, axel just dropped Spring shackle hanger - needs machined & sleeved

24 April 8 hours

I used my cutting torch and cut off the rivets holding the brackets that the front spring shackle attaches to the chassis. The old brackets were worn through the bushing, the machine shop is going to bore out the brackets and insert a steel bushing then the brass bushings. Then I spent many hours sand blasting........ my favorite job.

Sand blasting is like painting everything with a 1/4 inch paint brush...... except dirtier.

25 April 8 hours

More sand blasting.... getting ready to do some painting this weekend.

26 April 8 hours

I did some more sand blasting then I primed all the parts. I cut new grooves in the clutch pedal with a file..... the groves were worn from use. I had some fun today also Jette and I went to Bill & Signey's party near Oxford, KS. We stopped by the Oxford mill, a historical sight & restaurant. I just about electrocuted myself by flipping an old electrical power switch that looked like a prop but, it actually was used to power the ceiling fans. I am glad I didn't tough any of the bare metal parts.... wow.

Jette & Me on the road Bill checking out the amazing beer drinking tree frog

27 April 12 hours

I painted some black and red parts today. I finally got to see what the final color will be. I am trying to paint everything the original color. Most of the chassis is red! that surprises me. I also spent 8 hours sand blasting. I have most of the small parts blasted, I need to finish blasting the front axel and steering arms and the springs (when I get them back from the shop) then I will blast the front of the chassis. I am planning to get the front half of the chassis painted this week. Then next week I can actually put the front chassis back together.

28 April 5 hours

The horn was missing when I bought the truck so I bought a non working horn from my contact in Quebec, I fixed the horn, the contacts were stuck closed. The horn had some rust I blasted it and hammered out the dents, then I bondo'ed the hammer marks. I know it didn't seem necessary to fix the dents in the horn but the Horn is the first thing that you see when you open the hood. I also spent some hours blasting the chassis.

The broke springs What is this thing?......... power brake unit

29 April 4 hours

I took the front axel to Atlas today to get the king pin kit installed (I bought the king pin set off Ebay fro @ 20$). They called me back and told me that the axel was worn too bad, it needs to be bored out and sleeved, estimated $350.

I also spent some hours blasting the chassis.

30 April 8 hours

I picked up the front end parts from atlas 755$ total. They replaced two leafs on one spring and one on the other, bushings were replaced on the ends of both springs, the shackle hangers were bored out and sleeved and bushings added, the axel was bored out and sleeved where the king pin mounts and the king pin kit was installed. Atlas had to redo one of the springs because the didn't notice that the second leaf down circled around one of the bushing ends.... they replaced the second leaf.

I blasted the frame for hours..... I am just about finished blasting the front half of the frame.... I should finish tonight.