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Jumping in from WI

Discussion in 'New to the H.A.M.B.? Introduce yourself here!' started by Havs, Aug 1, 2019.

  1. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

    Hey HAMB,

    I stopped here and browsed before, watched some of your builds and read about the hot rod/classic car-truck world. I've been wanting to jump back in to this world of wrenching on a project for quite some time (since my oldest was born-17 years ago!) and now seems to be the time!

    I purchased a '55 Dodge C-3 pickup a couple weeks ago, trailered her home and have begun cleaning, inventory and formulating a plan of attack. The good: she is solid, no rot and have maybe 90-95% of everything, plus some new chromed trim and original emblems. The bad: the previous owner disassembled everything and put parts in coffee cans, boxes and bags then tossed in the bed. Just received a C-series Mopar parts book (never owned a classic Mopar before...) and now begins the fun of hunting down the 5-10% of what was missing (like a bunch bolts and fasteners-argghhh, aggravating to be missing these), getting the 318 running and then tackling the body for paint and interior stuff.

    I will post updates as I dive back on in and get her back on the road! And I'm sure I will have lots of questions for the more experienced members.
    Havs
     

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  2. ol-nobull
    Joined: Oct 16, 2013
    Posts: 1,655

    ol-nobull
    Member

    Hi & welcome. Looks like a great beginning. What part of the country are you located? Post more photo's as work progresses. Good luck, Jimmie
     
  3. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

    I’m in SE Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee.

    Wiring harness just arrived-now i need to find a source for misc size fasteners for body and other components (hood lever, door latches and window roller assembly, dash, wipers, etc). Anyone got suggestions? I see Auto Body Toolmart has assortment kits.
     
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  4. ol-nobull
    Joined: Oct 16, 2013
    Posts: 1,655

    ol-nobull
    Member

  5. ROADSTER1927
    Joined: Feb 14, 2009
    Posts: 3,127

    ROADSTER1927
    Member

    Welcome and a nice project! I would suggest you finish filling out your profile, it is better for finding close help when needed. Gary:)
     
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  6. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

    IMG_4517IMG_4517resizedCOPY.jpg IMG_4504IMG_4504resizedCOPY.jpg IMG_4514IMG_4514resizedCOPY.jpg D7BD0891-7C81-4713-821B-282A18A55A88D7BD0891-7C81-4713-821B-282A18A55A88resizedCOPY_1.jpg So, I've been working on the '55, slowly but surely. I made the decision early on that I would try and keep her as close to original as I could, just because of the rarity of these Dodge era Job Rated trucks. I did a lot of online searching for info on this truck over last winter. With the SN# plate, I was able to contact Chrysler Historical Society in Detroit. As my truck was a very early production '55 (in the first 100 off the line in Detroit that year), they were able to locate the factory data/build card. With this, I was able to get some help from Dodge aficionados who were able to tell me it was a two-tone truck, a long bed, and she was a Job Rated Deluxe w/factory electric wipers, original door switched dome light and heat/defroster. Very cool what they can decipher from an original build card!

    Now trying to keep her original has been a challenge! In between stripping down the 8-9 layers of paint and primer, I also pulled the 318 poly (I still have it, this will go in next TBD project down the road), swapped in an original era VT334 code 241cid V8 and 3 speed column shift trans. Rewired her using a Rebel Wire basic kit (keeping her 6V pos ground), rebuilt the carb, had starter rebuilt. The generator somehow still charges (knocking on wood...). The exhaust was rusty, and what a nightmare to locate parts! This truck ran a single exhaust with an under the oil pan pipe to a y-pipe and heat exchanger on the pass side. I opted to eliminate the exchanger and got the front exhaust parts from Waldron Exhausts in Michigan (great to deal with). I've been now parts hunting for the better part of 9 months, brake hoses/wheel cylinders were bad, gas tank was horrible, (pinholes and rust around the middle strap. I repaired and resealed it myself. Voltage regulator was bad too...finally found an original gauge cluster, speedo and parking brake handle. Hard to find things like an accelerator linkage firewall bracket was finally located in FLA.

    Next, the clutch froze up BAD from sitting, this was my latest project-yanked the tranny, fight to get clutch plate loose, clean 'em up, reinstall (Note to self, get alignment tool for next time...it will need a rebuild at some point). Clutch linkage needs some adjust yet, hope to do some shake down test runs before the snow flies. Then, yesterday she wouldn't start. Troubleshooting today came down to somewhere between coil and distributor. Turns out a bad ground wire from coil to distributor was the culprit. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, points and condenser all replaced (in addition to the pesky ground set up they had). Now she fires up and idles great.

    I'm still looking for some original parts for her, like a seat frame and riser, horn, rear view mirror, bumpers, and 4-original 5x4.5 rims w/hub cap clips still intact (I have 5-original hub caps, plus the spare tire/rim as well as spare mount). I'd also like to find a chrome steering wheel horn ring (good luck!). If anyone has a line on some of this stuff, let me know!

    The goal was to get her in epoxy primer this fall, but many things got in the way so this will wait until spring '21. In spring I hope to get to the rest of the bodywork, prime and paint her. The minor details and rest of parts I need will be worked on as I go, but I want to get her to local car shows (when we have shows again) next year. I will update this and post new pics now and again, as I continue on this epic rebuilding journey. I also learned something very important about this great hobby I joined-plan on at least twice as long to finish the project as you anticipated at the start and spending twice as much in expenses (maybe a bit more...).
     
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  7. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

  8. ol-nobull
    Joined: Oct 16, 2013
    Posts: 1,655

    ol-nobull
    Member

  9. ol-nobull
    Joined: Oct 16, 2013
    Posts: 1,655

    ol-nobull
    Member

  10. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

    Thanks for the info, I will give them a look. Shipping is the hangup on these large items like bumpers and seats.
     
  11. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

    IMG_8504 2.jpg IMG_8506.jpg IMG_8512.jpg IMG_8515.jpg Finally got the clutch linkage sorted out, she moved under her own power for the first time in a VERY long time (early 1980s last I can tell). Whoop! Happy moment! Started mocking the bed back up in place, I think the bed wood will be salvageable. Blew a 30A fuse when using the dash light dimmer on the headlight switch-might need to replace it...or not use the dash light dimmer...
     
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  12. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

  13. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

    wicarnut likes this.
  14. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

  15. ROADSTER1927
    Joined: Feb 14, 2009
    Posts: 3,127

    ROADSTER1927
    Member

    Great progress and co pilot! Gary:D
     
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  16. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

    Had her out on a longer run today, 40-45mph. Starts, runs, stops and sounds decent. Few more days and she's going to the father-in-law's shop for winter body work... IMG_8640.jpg IMG_8642.jpg IMG_8645.JPG IMG_8646.jpg
     
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  17. wicarnut
    Joined: Oct 29, 2009
    Posts: 9,052

    wicarnut
    Member

    Welcome ! from the Northwoods, kool project. Enjoy ! A fellow Cheesehead, Beer drinking, Bratwurst eating, Packer fan.
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2020
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  18. Havs
    Joined: Aug 1, 2019
    Posts: 13

    Havs
    Member

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