Restoration Begins!

[Resto Ray]

Thanks DOC for the TIP on the build sheet. I'm going to look in to getting one ASAP.

[Resto Ray]

Cab Comes Off

Alright, found a little more time this weekend...removed the cab from the 55. Learnt a few things about the 4 mounting bolts-they don't come out easy! The bushings from the rubber mounts seize to the bolt and make it impossible to remove. After fighting for an hour I discovered that cutting the head of the bolts and punching them through the opposite direction was the quickest way.

[Resto Ray]

Rigged the cab and used the Bobcat to lift off the frame. I should of used a piece of 4x4 to go across the doors instead of the strap. The strap bent the metal window weather strip..not too bad but enough to cause a little extra work. I will apply the new method for the next lift:).

[Resto Ray]

I could not get the steering wheel to budge...so off she came as an assembly. I will now work on removing the steering wheel in a press. The outer tube is cracked at the base near the steering box. My understanding is this is quite common. I'm also debating a retrofit to power steering.

[Resto Ray]

Marker Lights

Not original but must of been an accessory for the period of time. Really like the marker lights and will restore these one. The lenses are made of glass and chrome plated steel. Anybody else recognize the brand and no the history?

[Desoto61]

If you're considering one of the Ugly Truckling power steering kit, or any of his other kits, it would be good to decide now. He's in the country for another few weeks before heading out again.

Keep up the good work! Disassembly is probably the fastest progress you'll make the whole project.

[Doc Dave]

Doray was a common brand back in the day, I believe. Glass is more "correct"; now marker lights are plastic.
I bought some "new" Arrow brand marker lights for my '52 off of ebay. Someone had collected the original glass lenses and cleaned them up, then mated them to new stainless steel housings and sold them as such. They looked like brand new lights overall.
Per the law for most U.S. States in the '50's, tall trucks were required to have three spaced "central" marker lights. Wider than normal trucks needed two outer ones, one on each side.
So, to be strictly Kosher, as I understand it our power wagons would use the central three due to their height. If the truck was a dually (wide) they would need the outer ones too (high and wide truck).
But, I liked the looks of 5 lights on my cab, so installed them that way. Looks sharp.
Don't feel bad about not being able to get the steering wheel off. It took me many days pressure from a correct style puller, penetrant and and an air wrench to get the wheel off on my '52 B-3 flatfender. On the '53 M37, I never was able to get it off, so had to cut it off.

[Matthew Ziegler]

steering wheel puller

If your interested my dad invented his own steering wheel puller out of a ten inch c clamp and some half inch plate, this thing never fails, although the wheel on my buddy's wc51 flew a good ten feet when it let go. If your interested, e mail me at mattrziegler@gmail.com and I'll send you some pictures, it's pretty simple if you have a drillpress or mill and a welder.

[Resto Ray]

Cool. Thanks for the info Dave...so maybe this thing came from the US after all. I have no idea whether this was a law in Canada too for the period. Any other Canucks in the know ? I have always liked the look of the marker likes on old and new.

Thanks Matt. I've sent you an email. I have 2 to remove so any help is much appreciated!

[Doc Dave]

Ray,
THere very well might have been such a regulation in Canada too. THis reg was mainly designed for big trucks, I think. Tom Petroff is who sent me this info, from the Interstate Commerce Commission. THis office regulated the trucking industry. I imagine there is a Canadian equivalent.
I notice that in the States (and perhaps in Canada too) modern 1 ton pickups come with 5 marker lights stock. So, that implies to me that the specs are still in existence.

[Clint Dixon]

Ray,
THere very well might have been such a regulation in Canada too. THis reg was mainly designed for big trucks, I think. Tom Petroff is who sent me this info, from the Interstate Commerce Commission. THis office regulated the trucking industry. I imagine there is a Canadian equivalent.
I notice that in the States (and perhaps in Canada too) modern 1 ton pickups come with 5 marker lights stock. So, that implies to me that the specs are still in existence.

I have a book that was issued in 1946. Don't have it with me at the moment, and can't remember the name, but it came from some government office. It lists all of the vehicle requirements for that year. There was a BIG difference between states. For instance, I had a Power Wagon that came originally from PA. It had the three identification lights (that is the correct term for the three grouped together) at the center front of the cab, but no others anywhere on the truck. That was a requirement in PA on that size truck at the time. Illinois did not have that requirement that year, but they did require clearance lights on some sizes of trucks. These are the two ligts - one at each corner at the front of the cab. The colors of these different lights also varried state-by-state, as well as turn signals, brakes, and about any other piece of equipment you can think of.

[Resto Ray]

More Progress

Tackled cutting all the welds from the bed..what a mess! The traditional wooden floor was replaced with 1/4 steel plate welded in every spot imaginable. I must of went through 10 or 12 disk high quality cutting disk to cut away the welds while being careful not to damage the original sheet metal. Notice the custom extra leaf springs...looks factory but what a nightmarre...it completely stressed the frame.

[Resto Ray]

1/4 bed plate is off!

5 hrs later... took some cutting torch work as well.

[Desoto61]

You know if it had helper springs it was used hard. My frame had the frame perches snapped off from being overloaded.
Keep up the good work!

[Gordon Maney]

You know if it had helper springs it was used hard. My frame had the frame perches snapped off from being overloaded.
Keep up the good work!

Wow....