Spring 2011

This spring we focused on getting the engine running. During the process we noticed the valve guides were cracked. The heads had to be removed, valve guides replaced and heads re-installed. Unfortunately the number six head bolt hole on the right side of the block broke. After having the truck towed to the machine shop and a heli-coil installed, then towed back home, the heli-coil failed. The truck was once again towed back to the machine shop where they repaired the bolt hole. With the heads replaced, we had a running engine and were finally able to install the wiring and take the truck around the block. The good news is, the transmission was functioning as it should (since we had no idea if it was good).

Finally, some cosmetics were addressed, such as, repairing the rear fenders, shaving the hood, sandblasting and body work on front fenders, and installing frenched headlights. We decided to go with all in one headlights (headlights, parking lights and turn signals), so we welded over the old parking light holes. More body work to come...

Winter 2011

Our winter project (after some awesome Christmas presents) was to fabricate and install the exhaust system. A lot of customization was necessary. Here are some of the "in progress" and final photos:

Summer 2010 Progress - Bed, filler cap, etc

The progress this summer included finishing the truck bed - we used a honey color spar varnish. We had to recess the bolts into the bed, and drill for the filler cap, which we also installed. The stainless steel strips and wood all had to be trimmed to fit and the gas filler tubing had to match up perfectly with the filler cap - quite a challange, but not impossible. We also installed the refurbished gauges.

New gauges!

Freshly primed truck bed!

Stained and ready to go...

Filler cap installed (attached to gas tank)

July Update

This month we received our 1951 newly refurbished gauge cluster and speedometer, along with the sending unit, a new oil dip stick and the ignition with keys!!! (pictures for that to follow).

Dad and I fitting the sending unit.

There she is!!!

Sending unit going into gas tank.

The final product.

Water temperature sensor installed!

Tubing for oil pressure installed.

The newly refurbished gauges have arrived!!! Now to install them!

View from the driver seat!

After drilling hole, fitting grommet for
oil pressure tubing and temperature gauge.

Next up: The 51 gets a new set of keys!!!

June 2010 Gas Tank Filler Port

June, 2010: Today we tackled the install of the gas tank filler port. Of course, like anything else, you can't just "install" it, you have to measure twice, cut once (sometimes measure and cut again) until you get it just right. The top of the opening to the tank needed to be shaved down and the bottom of the filler port needed to be cut down as well, along with the rubber tubing and re-drilling the hole for the filler cap safety chain. All in all a good morning's work, with some supervision by Mom.

Dad measuring for the hole to be cut into the wood bed.

Checking for clearance and figuring out
how much needs to be cut off the filler port and tank opening.

Dad drilling the hole into the wood bed using a hole saw.

Hmmm, that looks difficult... You sure you have that hole right Dad?

What you doing Sherm? Are you ready to go yet?

Mom supervising!

Trimming down the gas tank opening.

Installing rubber hose for filler port.

Filler port installed!!!

Safety chain reinstalled on newly trimmed filler port