Shop truck build

[MP&C]

Here's my shop project, making this former fire truck into a car hauler. It was originally built about 1953 or so into a firetruck for Idanha Rural Fire Protection District. I've got the original registration card showing that, and it was the only time it was resistered. I think they are up NW of Bend, in the mountains. I was looking for a cabover at the time I saw this, happened to be looking at an ebay ad for a pickup truck, and this truck was in the background of one of the last pictures. Emailed for more info, finally got ahold of the guy a week or so later (non-email owner, his buddy listed it for him) I had seen quite a few closer to me that all had the typical rust in door bottoms, cab corners, fenders, etc. This one has none of those issues, probably the only reason I didn't pass it up.





I've been collecting parts for getting the cab and chassis ready for a ramp bed, and unfortunate to the truck's heritage, the tandem axles don't work well with a ramp bed (nor do the 8.50:1 gear ratios) So here are some other goodies collected, plans for air ride front and rear, air brakes all around....should stop on a dime!











Recently though, I had been having trouble with the old girl running rough, just falling on it's face. Kinda takes the wind out of your sails as far as project enthusiasm goes. I was leaning toward a fuel pump issue, and when I pulled the inlet line to the fuel pump, the slight trickle was a good indicator of some sediment in the tank behind the seat. As the factory tank size limited your range anyhow, time to upgrade. We (the VP of ATHS and myself) went on a road trip to RLJackson truck salvage in Port Tobacco MD, and picked up a nice 33 gallon saddle tank version. That should about double the effective capacity/range.





The truck's past history as a fire truck in the mountains of Oregon was evident as some reminders of the old body still remains on the frame, so first order of business is to clean those off .....







Test fitting....











I did wind up moving the tank up a bit more, the top of the brackets are 3" above the frame. The frame on this is three thicknesses from the front cab mount back, and as the outer one was installed circa 1953 when the fire truck conversion was done, they aren't tempered. Even though the 18v Milwaukee was going through 3/4" or so, it was rather easy drilling.







Drained the old tank and thought I'd use some paint strainers to keep from having the fuel flow issues with this tank. I think we may have found the problem...





Got the old tank drained and removed, it will be a good time to vacuum out all the crevices back there behind the seat to keep the lower cab corners rust free.... Here it is after the test run (and fuel fill up)





One item crossed off the list, next will be to get started on the rear(s) swap.