Posted by dave horvath on Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 5:29PM :
In Reply to: A comment on us PW guys.... posted by Eric B. on Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 10:30AM :
I got my 1950 B2PW126 from Herb Hobie in 1996. It had fairly good sheet metal and ran when I got it. However, it needed a new front differential and axle rebuild and like most trucks, it needed all new brakes and interior. I ran it on the farm for a few months before stripping it down to the frame.
At first, I had it in a barn in PA with no water or electricity. At the time, I was working in Virginia. I'd come home on weekends and take something apart, haul it to Virginia, rebuild it there and bring it back and put it on the truck. I did the whole drive train this way.
Then I got a job in PA with access to a garage. I sandblasted and painted the wheels, mounted new Denmans from VPWs and had the truck towed to the garage. There, I stripped it down completely, drug the frame out to the parking lot and sandblasted it. I took the engine and transmission to be rebuilt. The engine alone was $1,800. I had the springs rebuilt, with nos top main leaves. Every assembly has either been rebuilt or replaced. Parts that couldn't be sandbalasted were derusted in acid and painted.
I took the cab to a local vo-tech school to have some holes and cracks repaired and was hoping to have it painted. They did the welding, but let the truck sit for six months with almost no progress. When I questioned moisture soaking through filler that isn't immediately primed, the instructor got offended and told me to get it out of there. I grabbed a few students and loaded the cab in my truck right then and there. I took it back and did the bodywork and primed it myself. I finish painted the underside and the firewall myself and mounted it on the refinished chassis. I installed a new wiring harness from Precision Wiring Service and a nos carb, air cleaner, two-quart oil filter from ebay. I also rebuilt the starter and generator.
Next, it went to a body shop for the finish coat. They took a few shortcuts, but the paint job is pretty good. I brought it back and began working on the bed. I ordered skid strips and side angle from Bruce Horkey and a friend helped me with the wood. In fact we made bed wood, side rails, and cab mounts at work for awhile.
Around this time, I bought a 1967WM300 on ebay. It needed all new brakes and a water pump, and had alot of rust. I removed the flatbed and began to strip it. Here in the east, unless you get a really good condition original truck, you find alot of work that needs to be done to save the truck from further deterioration.
Local politics caused me to leave my job afetr five years and bring the B2 home to WV. I blasted and painted the bed sides, had a stake pocket replaced, and found a friend the right tailgate for his truck so I could have his which is right for my truck. I got like-new front fenders from Thailand and repaired the rear fenders which were bungled by an auto body shop. I replaced all of the glass, insulated the cab, and installed a custom gray headliner. I got reproduction running boards from Dennis Sherman.
The WM300 went into the barn in PA. I stripped it completely too. I had the cab sandblasted and primed and brought it home. I repainted the engine, installed a new water pump, and had the manifold repaired.
Along the way, I've been to 2 rally's, bought and sold a brush truck, parted-out a Bell Telephone truck, bought a ton of new or nos parts, helped two friends rebuild trucks of their own, built a new house, raised a son, found a new job, and saved a marriage. I have made plans and stuck with them or changed my mind along the way!
Everything I know about auto mechanics and most of what I know about body work has been learned in the last six years on these trucks. I am itching to get the B2 back on the road. All it needs is the bed and fenders painted and seat back from the upholsterer. I've made great friends and enjoyed the journey, even if my trucks aren't on the road yet. Life happens!
P.S. I have a bunch of pictures that I would like someone (hint Eric!) to scan and create a web page for me to share.
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