Drove my truck for the first time.

[PackardV8]

I'll have to get new wheels if I go to 16". Right now it has 15" on both ends.

Wow. The guy who built your truck had some interesting ideas and some absolutely inexplicable execution. That weldment on the front axle is just wrong and taking the trouble to make custom 8-lug wheels, but in 15" diameter to fit cheapo car tires, again just wrong. The good news is there is a great supply of inexpensive 16" 8-lug wheels in both steel and aluminum. They were used by Ford, GM and Dodge, but with differing center hole diameters.

jack vines

[52-fan]

He didn't make the wheels. They are after-market and were chromed, but had gotten rusty. The truck was from Southern California and even had some papers in it that makes me think a dealership may have used it in the early 60s. Some of the modifications are well done and some are questionable. I wish I knew more of the truck's history.
Right now I just want to make it safe to drive and then I will address the things I don't care for.

[mch]

congrats on the time, expense and frustration to get her running.
Mark

[52-fan]

congrats on the time, expense and frustration to get her running.
Mark

Thanks. I have wanted a 2R pickup for a long time. So far, I have a lot of time involved, but not a lot of money after the purchase. I recondition as much as I can and my brother has given me some extra parts he had on hand. I enjoy making things work right again and I am blessed with a bit of an aptitude for this stuff.

[52-fan]

I thought I would throw in an update. I am slowly getting things refurbished and put back in place. I still have a long list of things that I need to do, but I can drive the truck around town with no problems. Latest projects have been the 12 volt wipers and Climatizer. I still need to hook up the Climatizer, but yesterday was the first time in a year the knobs have been back in the dash.

[JoeHall]

She it lookin great, and I bet the fun factor is off the chart! Congrats on getting her on the road. It's all downhill from here. LOL.

[52-fan]

Another small step. I cleaned up the kickdown switch and rewired some of the overdrive and it works! The first time I lifted my foot the overdrive engaged smooth as silk. Now I can easily go with traffic, but I really need to get the wheels balanced and check the toe-in.
While I was wiring anyway, I also rerouted some wires to make things look neater. It is also nice to be rid of the large purple wire the PO had used for power to the relay. The wire with wire nuts someone had used is also gone.

[studeclunker]

LOVE your truck!!

[50Champ]

Nice job so far on the truck. Keep up the good work....

[Charlie D]

Howard,

It is looking really neat. Elbow grease and time can go a long way. It is really nice that the OD works. Hopefully will see you and Joe next month in Branson.

Charlie D.

[52-fan]

Howard,

It is looking really neat. Elbow grease and time can go a long way. It is really nice that the OD works. Hopefully will see you and Joe next month in Branson.

Charlie D.

We plan to be there even though we leave for Mansfield just a few days later. I will probably drive the Commander to Branson although I would really like to drive the truck. I look forward to seeing you in either case.

[52-fan]

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments. The truck looks better in the pictures than up close, but that makes it more usable. I couldn't enjoy a show piece as much.