Posted by Chris Davis - Centerville, UT on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 11:26AM :
Well, I found out Friday that our 12 year old dog, Taffy, has cancer. The vet says she is in no pain from it, but gives her only a couple months, maybe less.
I broke the news to our five kids… (no fun I tell you), but later in the day my wife says… “You know, Taffy loves to ride in the open trucks. Do you think you can finish the Dodge before she goes?”
How can you say no to that? I explained that I had a long way to go, and that I’d basically be living in the garage for the next month… and even then, there is a good chance we won’t make it. Annette said she understood, but that she thought it would be worth it.
So I spent the rest of the weekend in the garage. I have the bed off and disassembled, and the cab off and disassembled. I’m going to remove the wiring harness and fuel tank, then clean years of oil and grease of the drive train and frame.
Then I’ll rent a sandblaster. It would take weeks with the little compressor in my garage. I’ll tent the garage in plastic, seal any openings on the motor and blast the frame, axles, springs and drive-train.
Then I’ll do the cab and bed side boxes, bed sub frame, fenders, seats, etc. Return the compressor, clean up the sand, and use my plastic tent to primer paint, then finish paint. I’ll just have to re-assemble the pieces then.
Piece of cake. (Yeah, right.) :)
Now, I wondered if I aught to spend the time with the dog, rather than with the truck. She likes to ride in them… but would this really be her “last wish”? However, her condition leaves her tired. She’s not up to romping or fetching, or even a walk. She seems to like to lay on the cool garage floor and watch me work. So I think I’m going to press forward.
I’m taking next week off (3rd thru 11th)… we’ll see how far I get. I’ll take photos as I go, but I don’t expect to have much time to post anything until I get done… or the urgency goes away.
I’m going to forgo any engine rebuilding at this time. I’m not very experienced in that area, and lack some of the tools (valve spring compressor, ring compressor, etc) So I’ll live with the low-ish compression until I can afford a proper rebuild.
I do want to replace the water distribution tube and the freeze plugs while I have it apart though. I plan to order the tube from Mid-West or VPW, but would the freeze plugs be a NAPA source-able part?
I also broke one of the windshield to cowl hinge retaining bolts… Does anyone have an extra they need to sell?
I have new wiring harnesses, flex lines for the brakes, red oxide primer, and paint already… I’m ordering seat canvas and welting today.
Any other “pre-order” items I’m forgetting?
I’ll try and keep the group updated.
Chris Davis
Centerville, UT
’45 WC-51 Weapons Carrier
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