Posted by dave horvath on Friday, July 19, 2002 at 11:23PM :
In Reply to: how long posted by matt's wm300 on Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 4:10PM :
Matt. I'm five years into a frame off restoration of my 1950 B2-PW-126 Forest Service truck from Idaho. Purchased from Herb Hobie way back when and shipped acroos the country. Stripped it down to bare frame, drug it into the parking lot and sandblasted. Built it back up starting with the axles.
Gordon Maney's service manual and original parts books and shop manuals were a BIG help. Harvey Bush, of Jeanette, PA rebuilt the engine for me. It's actually a 218 out of a 1940 one-and-a-half-ton Dodge now bored 60 over.
Cleaned, painted and rebuilt everything except transfer case, which was fine. Many new or NOS parts from the gys at Vintage Power Wagons. Running Boards from Dennis Sherman. Lot's of NOS parts from ebay (don't tell my wife!). Lot's of parts and advice from this Forum (thanks Joe!).
Primed cab and had it painted with Dupont Centari enamel by local body shop which is now closed. Just got a set of front fenders from Detroit via South Viet Nam, via Thailand via Iowa courtesy of Dave Butler.
Custom gray headliner installed. Upholsterer has had seat and arm rest for a year or so. Made my own firewall pad in his shop. New wiring harness mostly installed.
We made the wood for the bed in my shop at work.
Final things to do are meatal work and body work on bed and rear fenders and it will be pretty much done.
A 1967 WM300 distracted me for awhile, but seeing my frind Joel's truck on the road has lit a fire under my butt again.
Take your time. If you get frustrated walk away and come back fresh. Work on one or two, or three, or four assemblies at a time. Whatever suits you and your schedule and budget. Enjoy chasing down parts and leads. Learn fom others.
As much as I know I will enjoy that first drive, I'll also miss the journey that got me there. Hope to put together a web page with pictures and details. Take care.