Truck Restoration

[tugboat-2]

Thank you Jesse. And no they didn't send any back issues, but this one is great and should keep me busy awhile.

And yes, I will join in the Discussion Groups shortly. At the moment, I'm trying to get the old place tightened down for the winter,..firewood in and stuff put away, cleaning gutters and doing weatherstrip stuff. Clean up my driveshed so I can get my tractor in for the winter etc and so on. Give my kitchen wood cookstove a tune-up before the steady winter fires. My truck needs a winter tune-up grease and oil also,....and,...it snowed real hard today but luckily didn't last,..but,..makes you hurry along!

Actually, I am just trying to keep this thread on page 1 a while longer also, hate to NOT see it!

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[JESSE1]

Tug, have you picked out a truck from the classifieds yet? I don't know if they'll send one but with your membership you will receive an issue of Showtime, which shows pictures of all trucks that attended the national show. The national show is in early June at Pleasanton, CA. You'll receive Showtime around September.

 

[czechsonofagun]

That's really pretty! And nice surprise, for the thread title I actually expected some silly lowered ride. This is a real truck and beautiful too.

 

[tugboat-2]

Yes Prokop,..it really is a "pretty" truck,... (although I prefer to say "handsome"),..I think he did a fantastic job. I would be so proud to drive that "Big-Red-White" beauty on cruise night with the antique cars and the "silly-lowered-rides",..OH Yeah!

...er,...ah,...no offence intended,.. "lowered-ride-builders". (I put lowering blocks and fender skirts in the rear of my 48 Dodge as a teen as we tried to attain that "boat" look,..and hollywood mufflers of course!).

No, Jesse,..I haven't made a choice yet,...but I'm still dreaming out loud. May have to settle for my buddy's restoration for a while. Besides I don't have "quite" an adequate shop to work in,........yet. My old driveshed needs a little renovation first,..especially if it is going to hold an Oshkosh, FWD or Autocar I'd prefer. Did you get a chance to check out that 4400TD as yet,...sounds interesting?

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[JESSE1]

I took the truck to its first "show" today. Actually it was the Henderson, Texas Heritage Days, aka as the Syrup Festival. They use a mule powered ribbon cane crusher and then boil and make the ribbon cane syrup. Lots of antique tractors, a '34 Ford PU and one BIG RED TRUCK. Many antique cars but they are located in a different area. The scale JD and Farmall were built by two men for their grandchildren. Both use the engine, clutch and transaxle from Cub Cadet garden tractors.

 

[mjncad]

That would have made a neat photo if your White and the Ford pick-up were parked together.

 

[JESSE1]

One of the requirements I specified when I had the truck painted was that PPG paint was to be used. I am a member of the American Truck Historical Society American Truck Historical Society and PPG is a sponsor. PPG also has an ad program where they feature trucks that have been restored using PPG paints. When the truck was finished back in July, I sent photos of the finished truck to ATHS headquarters and they forwarded them on to PPG. About a month ago I was notified by the ad agency that PPG uses that my truck had been selected for their new ad campaign. The ad will appear in the January/February issue of the ATHS magazine Wheels of Time. Red should show up well in the ad.

Here's the finished ad. It will appear in the Jan/Feb issue of Wheels of Time.

 

[tugboat-2]

CONGRATULATIONS Jesse !!!! Quite an honour indeed to have your truck selected by the paint manufacturer,....for their ad page!! A special honour I would think, because it means all the underlying work had to be excellent in order for the "paint" to look good. If I was the paint manufacturer, I would want the paint job to be "excellent",...and I guess your truck stands up to the test. Very nice job over all,..you have every right to sit tall in the cab and be extremely proud of a job well done!

I realize you "blame" the shop for the great work,...but you are the owner and the one who "oversaw" the work and insisted on the paint,...so take the credit, you deserve it!

As I said before, my project is on hold for a bit and I thought I'd have to satisfy my yearnings by hangin-out with my buddy during the restoration of the 54 Kenworth,....however that is now on hold till spring I guess?

He has the frame, the engine, tranny, tandem rear axles etc pretty well done, painted and put back together. The cab still sits on a dolly in the corner and all else is covered in quilted blankets and tied down for now.

This trucking company's brokers were screaming for inside space to work on their tractors,...which meant the restoration got shoved into a corner and covered till spring when they get some working space again. They peeled back the covers for me to see parts of it and it looks great in the company dark blue. One of the biggest changes was swapping the 5 and 4 boxes out and putting in an 18 speed instead. (Long time ago, but I recall one arm through the steering wheel, doing two-stick shifting,..ha, ha!)

Anyway they still have the plumbing and electrical and the cab to do and I've insisted I be notified when they start pulling the blankets off. They plan on having it ready for the big Fergus Truck Show here in Ontario in July.(one of the biggest truck shows in North America).

I'm disappointed at the delay, but I'll have my camera shined up and ready in the spring and I'll be sure to keep us all up-dated as it goes along.

And Jesse I got my Nov/Dec WOT today,...what a great publication, Thanks!

CHEERS !
. . tug

 

[Diamondpilot]

Wow! What an honor.

Chris

 

[mjncad]

Jesse1:

Congratulations!

 

[tugboat-2]

Hi Jesse1, .....I was just cruising through your photos again and was interested in the interior shots. I recall you were considering looking at an identical 4400 for the idea of temporarily swapping some of the dashboard gauges. I wondered what came of that?

What did you ever do about the headliner, did you complete that chore? The dash looks really nice from what I can see and the colour, which looks to me to be a light grayish-green colour? I have wracked my brain for an accurate memory but can't quite find it,...the closest I can come is to say I "think" I recall the ones I drove many years ago to be roughly the same as yours?

Is it possible that during that era,... White kept all the dashboards the same colour? (Just a wild guess). Or did you "decide" on that particular colour for your personal choice? Either way, it is beautiful!! Did you ever notice how when people examine a vehicle, (car, truck, boat, bike, airplane or whatever,....one of the first things they look at,...is the "dash",...and I guess that likely includes you and most certainly me!

So IMHO,...it is important to ensure the dash is,...(at least)...."nice". But clean, shiny, interesting and of some beauty, if possible? From what I can see from the photos, I'd say your dash passes the test for all aspects. What really grabs me,...is that old fashioned, ..huge, white,...steering wheel,..I love it !!!!!

My goodness, but you should be proud to show that gorgeous,..."Big-Red-White" !!!!!!!

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[JESSE1]

Tug, I never heard any more from the seller of the 4400 I was interested in. I had requested more photos but he hasn't sent them. I am looking at a '68 White 4000 winch truck that is only 5 miles from me. Tandem axle, 250 Cummins with 10 speed Roadranger trans. Cab has some corrosion though.

I haven't had time to install the headliner. Pretty big job but I'll get on it soon. I painted the interior with Rustoleum Smoke Grey. It's a match for the factory grey White used. The dash is grey and the panels the gauges mount on is a slightly darker grey. I've had the tachometer and air gauge restored and hope to send the speedometer off soon. The steering wheel is a new old stock wheel that I bought from a friend in San Diego who specializes in classic White trucks. It's a 22" wheel compared to the original 20" black wheel.

 

[JESSE1]

Christmas parade tomorrow! Do you think they'll be able to see us? Had to give Red a bath to get the dust off. My supervisors made sure I did a good job.

 

[tugboat-2]

Beautiful Jesse, just absolutely beautiful !!! In fact, you should be running just slightly ahead of the reindeer, "pulling" the big Santa float!!! What a great combination that would make!!

But on second thought,....maybe not the best idea. Cuz the folks would all be looking at Santa and perhaps wouldn't quite "appreciate" the Big-Red-White as much as they do when it's coming along all by itself,..big and shiny red!

Try and keep your mouth closed if you can. The word is out that folks are blinded by the double row of pearly-whites on the proud smiling face of the driver that grabs their attention just prior to the flash of bright "red" !!!

But seriously Jesse,.....I'll bet it was a whole lotta fun !!! I'd love to have been standing on the curb, . . or better yet,...ridin' shotgun for you!! (Or is that seat reserved for the Supervisors?) .....anyway all I got to say is: "WOWeeee!!"

All the best to you,....and CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[JESSE1]

Well, survived the parade. Started drizzling rain but still about 3000 spectators. Not a whole lot to see when you're in line, Sandy Claws was about 50 yards behind me. Typical East Texas parade, lots of horses and ATV's. Lots of complements on the truck and lots of pictures taken of Red. There's a real good chance I'll pull Santa next year.

 

[tugboat-2]

Hi Jesse,......was just wondering if you have some sort of "sign" either mounted back behind you, or perhaps hanging on the doors,...telling what make and year etc that "Big-Red" is?

I was thinking something along the lines of a neatly printed sign a couple feet square that might attach magnetically to the doors for such things as parades, fairs and antique shows or cruise nights etc. that would be easily attached or perhaps just hung from the windows for the affair?

You've never mentioned or shown us anything along those lines,...so I wondered what you do,...or do you just explain it to "those" who ask?

I think big trucks tend to look the same to many folks who aren't particularly interested in such things untill they see one in a parade or antique show, then wonder about it. A little different with antique cars that tend to show their age moreso than trucks. ....Wha-da-ya-think?

I think if a person saw the "age" of the truck,(and realized it was "50"years old), and still "looked" brand spankin new! .. regardless of all else, they would take a better look and depending on the situation, ...would be more likely to come over and strike up a conversation about it? ....Doncha-think?

Just something I was kickin around and thought I'd mention. Hope you don't mind because I just hate it when folks don't realize what they are actually looking at. It would bother me to see someone glance over at the truck and look away as if it were just a late model Ford,.. all because they didn't "realize" what exactly it was they saw!!!! SORRY for the rant & rave!

CHEERS!
. . tug

 

[JESSE1]

Here's another potential project. Found this truck about 15 miles from home. The truck is owned by an 80+ year old lady who doesn't live in the area. She has the local postmaster conduct her business for some property she has rented out to a trucking business where this truck is located. The White is the same basic model as my '59. It looks rough but all trim pieces are there. Don't know if it's for sale but I'm going to try to contact her or the postmaster soon.

 

[mjncad]

Wow....that White needs a lot of TLC! If you decide to tackle it, please start a thread with a cross reference to the new thread in this one so those of us subscribed to this thread can find the new one.

 

[IMCA38]

Cool old truck. I like the "mother-in-law" seat by the winch.

 

[tugboat-2]

Hey Jesse, . . . looks interesting,..lots of work but if (as you say) all parts are there,...it'd make a great mate for "Big-Red"! Good luck with the old girl! (the truck AND its owner).

CHEERS!
. . tug