My Grandfather's pick-up

Did you wax the hood? It looks shiner and darker.
That truck looks like new.

 

:2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

:2_thumbs_up_-_anima
Stop slobberin on it Tedy!

 

Only thing that would make that truck look better was if it was in my drive way.................

 

Jeez, Tedy, ya bandwidth hog!!!

The truck's looking a lot better. How many times have you put polish on? And have you waxed it yet?

 

What a great thread. Don't know how I missed this one before.
An amazing story, for sure, Orthmann and it's great to see the Ford is in such good and caring hands that are intimate with the history of it. You are so right about the wheel treatments; it looked great with the old caps and unpainted wheels, but the new caps and cleaned up wheels make it look absolutely mint. You have to be so psyched and rightfully so.
Of course, there is a price you'll have to pay now, however. Whenever you want to go somewhere how in the world are you going to decide whether to take the Plymouth or the Ford? Very, very tough decision.
Congratulations.

 

No, so far all I've done is wash it.

Thanks Snoot. It is actually a bit of a hard decision actually, but it's a good problem to have.

 

Just read thru this thread, charming story. Thanks for sharing.
Am relating to the truck as my 72 F100 is same body and dash and such.
Has same 360 2V and trans. Keeps trucking along hauling stuff.
Good solid simple trucks. Will serve you well.

 

Thanks, it's a gem, that's for certain. I drove it to work the other day (when it was about 102 degrees) and it overheated on the way home. I think the thermostat is stuck, or just not working at all. I got a new thermostat and upper and lower radiator hoses that I plan to put on this weekend. I think a coolant system flush may be in order as well.

 

Drove it to work the other day. I had to haul a hutch that my wife sold on Craig's list. I put some tire shine on it that makes the wheels look wet. Not sure if I like the "Wet" look, but either way, it still looks good.

 

Love those old 'big rig' mirrors......

 

Yea I miss my removeable RV mirrors from long ago and those "West Coast" mirrors on my later trucks and motorhome. Vision was really good with those.
Even had heated mirrors on the motorhome. Then moved to Florida.
Just remembered, my Dodge truck has heated mirrors. Had it for nearly ten years. Wonder if they work? Most of the time the mirrors are already preheated.

 

The big mirrors are great. They look a little out of place on the truck now that the camper is off of it, but I dig them, so they will definitely stay. They have a sort of "Mater" flair to them.

I went over to my folks place this afternoon so my oldest son and I could get our hairs cut. (Thanks Mom ) While Nathaniel was inside I tackled the hose and thermostat swap.

Like most projects that should only take half an hour this one wound up taking about two.

The old hoses came off fine, as did the thermostat housing. It turns out that putting in the new thermostat was the easy part. I was reusing the hose clamps and one of them ended up giving me grief, then the new bottom hose didn't want to go onto the water pump. My Dad ended up helping me out and in the end we were victorious.

I took a bunch of pictures, but they are mostly "dirty old hose, new hose, new dirty hose" etc.

Dirty hose:



Old thermostat:



New thermostat:



Overall, it was a good day. I got the new parts installed, got to talk with Grandpa for a while (he came out to inspect our work) and listened to the Mariner's ballgame on the radio while wrenching with my Dad. Good day.

I brought the buffer home from work with me today, so tomorrow afternoon I hope to get to shinning the paint.

 

Cool beans Jeremiah!

I have a hose clamp story................took our 25yo Trooper in for his last emissions test(25 yrs is last time a vehicle is required to be inspected in our county in GA). While up on the "treadmill" doing his stress test, I started to smell antifreeze and notice some steam starting to come out of engine(hood was open and fan in front of radiator for extra cooling.) Figured the heater hose sprung a leak right at the clamp fitting so sliced it off just aft of where I thought the hole was since there was some extra play in the hose and thought I had the problem solved. Turns out it was the clamp that had failed. First time I've ever had one fail before.

I had previously replaced this hose and always make a habit of using new worm drive clamps on install. Thank you China parts!

 

Yes sir! Hate to pick on them but it's gotten to be a nasty habit with replacement parts of all kinds. Sadly Canadian and USA made are getting hard to find.


I like grandfather's mirrors because they have that louvered look.