Page Last Updated 05 June 2005
May 31, 2000. It's my birthday and my wife got me this cool clock. It's been a valuable part of the shop ever since!
A person needs his signage! I mean, how else would I remember what it is I'm doing?
These are some shots of John Erb's auction. I met a fellow oletrucker there (Brian Stephens) and it was a pretty good day. I had spent the three weeks prior helping John get ready for it. Wouldn't you know he would pick 100 degree days to do all the work! :-)
John wasn't just an expert in ADs, but an antique tractor buff as well.
He knows his tractors and as a result did pretty good at the auction.
Here is me shooting the bull with my dad (left,) John (sitting,) and my master welding instructor and good friend Gene Swartzendruber. Good company! As payment for preparing for his auction, John overhauled this overdrive transmission for me to put in my 49. This is a rare item and I am very lucky to have it. It should add quite a bit of speed to the top end.
The 49 3/4 ton's cooling system died (completely) and needed an overhaul. I had to replace the radiator, water pump and hoses. I took the time to refurbish the heater control valve. This is something that is almost guaranteed to leak if you don't replace the seal. These pics were going to be a step-by-step on how to do it, but the film didnt turn out on all the important pictures. Suffice it to say that I did it and can help you if you need it too!
This is the done heater control valve. Not impressive unless you see all the pics I had to throw away that were the in-between shots. Oh well! Meanwhile, I added a gooseneck on to my little trailer to accomodate the higher hitch on my 49 3/4. What is unique about this trailer is it uses a 1947 3100 front end as its axle. Even the rims sport the proper baby moons. Plans are to sandblast, repaint and add side rails to give it more depth. I have the side rail pockets already but havent taken the time to weld them on.
I purchased about 700 pounds of nuts, bolts, washers and misc small AD parts from John before the auction. They are useless unless properly sorted so they can be found when you need them. Me being a clean freak, I decided to sandblast the whole lot, then take them to a barrel plater to have them all replated. This small parts basket has been a real help. You fill it about 1/4 full and use the blast cabinet to remove all the crud. VERY time consuming, but I think worth it in the long run.
Here I am at the auction beside my new aquisition. I was sooo surprised when I turned out to be the only bidder! I got this 1948 1-1/2 Ton (4400) for $50.00! I wanted it for the 1959 235 engine, but after looking it over, its very complete and I feel a good candidate for a complete restoration. As if I need something more to do! Meanwhile, We had a terrible fire at one of the storage buildings around Hesston. It was devastating for many people who lost some very valuable cars and trucks. I was given this 1954 3100 for the price of hauling it away.
As you can see it isn't pretty. Fire does awful things to a truck. Warpage is the worst. Just getting it on and off this trailer was a task I would rather forget!
The carb just melted all over the manifold and the interior was a mess. Is this one heck of a deal or what?
After evaluating WHY I want this thing in my shop, I determined the entire rear of the truck was almost undamaged (other than surface appearance) and would make a great pickup bed trailer. It even has the cutout fender and spare tire carrier. Yeah, I see some value here. Meanwhile, the engine looks bad, but also looks like it could be cleaned up and rebuilt.
After much ado... and I mean real pain considering that not only had the fasteners been on the truck for 50 years, but they were further cemented on from the fire, I got all the sheetmetal apart and loaded on the truck for the metal reclaimers. Trust me, nothing worth saving here. I would have gone to the ends of the earth to save it if there had been any chance.
After removing the engine, it was time to take it to John's son, Dwight for bending the frame together and removing the front part to make it into a trailer. The best pickup bed trailers use the original frame and this one will be no exception. It trailed pretty good just setting the front of the frame on the hitch and hauling it 8 miles!
