Posted by Paul Cook on Wednesday, February 02, 2005 at 10:53AM :
In Reply to: Re: I shouldn't have sold it! posted by Phil Street on Wednesday, February 02, 2005 at 5:31AM :
It's a 1954 C-1. The bed is a flat top and was apparently adapted from a 2WD. We have a 1954 Dodge 1-ton, dually pickup with the 9 foot bed. That has a sloped top and a center pocket. I would guess this bed was adapted from a late 50's, 8 foot bed. It has the same wheelwell indentation as a second series.
The bed was well made but whoever did it forgot to use a measuring tape. The front of the bed slightly touched the back of the cab. The combination rear bumper/rear bed side support/taillight mount assembly was welded to the frame - very well welded - and the bed could not be adjusted back to clear the cab. In a perfect side view, the rear fenders are not centered on the rear wheel. This image shows that a little.
Mechanically, the truck was excellent. The power steering consisted of a Ford PS pump mounted at the right front of the block. A piston mounted on the axle housing applied power to the tie rod. It was controlled with a spool valve inserted into the drag link. Simple, but wonderful. I wish I had "reverse engineered" that set up so I could put PS on my other trucks.
The transmission was a 420. The PTO was from an M-37 which is why it had a one sided output.
I only sold it to reimburse the Museum truck fund for the 1942 WC-52 I bought at Iowa. Those were the days I went to events with one truck on a two-truck trailer - but always brought two home. (My wife hated that trailer. I have a two truck trailer for sale to anyone who is the boss at home.)
It's a good truck.
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