Happy Birthday!

Long time, no post, eh? Well, its not because I haven't been working on the old truck. I got stuck several months back on the clutch. It seemed that the clutch slave was not working well enough to disengage the transmission from the engine. So I rebuilt it. It still didn't work. I tried to find a new one but there were none available. Like anywhere on the planet. And I looked. I spent hours at various auto parts store thumbing through their catalogs. I checked all the old car catalogs as well. Still nothing. So, I rebuilt it again. Still nothing.

I broke down and called my good friend (actually he has now moved from 'good' to 'excellent' status), Pat Tate. He came over and taught me a few tricks about bleeding hydraulic lines, but alas the clutch would still not disengage the transmission from the engine. Now I am really getting depressed, because let me tell you something, if Pat Tate can't fix it, brother, you are screwed!

So... I let it sit for a few weeks and I schemed.

I eventually got the idea to winch (literally, because it takes a lot of leverage to move it) the clutch fork back to see how far the clutch slave had to throw before it would work. Well, I pulled it farther than it should have gone and still nothing. This indicated that the clutch was stuck to the flywheel which meant that the clutch slave was likely working the entire time and that the solution to my problem was dropping the transmission, replacing the clutch and trying again.

During this time I talked Pat into selling me his 4-speed transmission which was the exact transmission that my engine needed. He even helped me put it in. What a guy. Where do you go once you reach 'excellent' status. Wherever it is, you will find Pat.

So after some nifty fabrication work customizing the gear shifter, trimming the radiator fan for its new attitude and re-working the floor board to accommodate the larger transmission I decided it was time to take her out and run her through her paces; all 4 gears. William and Marina were as excited as I was. So we piled into the squishy seats, fired her up and eased into the night not knowing what to expect. It was quite a feeling to combine the throaty rumble of the V-8 Falcon Sprint engine with the rush of the wind on an unseasonably warm (perfect really) night. It is hard to describe the feeling of running it down the road after it sat quiet and dormant for 20 years; patiently waiting for a familiar and loving hand to bring it back to life. Harder still to describe is the satisfaction of doing this myself (this was not done without much help and support,mind you. In fact, I will go far as to say that this would have been impossible if I had acted alone). There is a lot of work left to do; wrapping up at least 100 loose ends, body work still looms large, blinkers, new glass, etc. We'll get there.

But for tonight, I am happy. I sit here, almost 1 year after bringing the old truck over to our house to start working on it. And, well, she runs. And she runs damn well I might add. So fittingly enough, tonight, December 9, 2009, on what would have been my dearly departed father's 72nd birthday, I say 'Happy Birthday Dad. We're all well, but we miss you. The truck is running good, almost as good as you had it running... I just need to fix a few more things. Some things never change, eh?'

Until the next time,
Bill

Time for a Photo Journal

Mom dug up these old photos. Thanks Mom!

Rat Rod for sure

July 4th weekend 2009. Wow. I have had a lot going on in my life. Don't we all? It seems like it is one thing after another. If I can figure out a way to express it and still be true to everyone, I will blog about it. Until then, I am escaping into this particular submission.

The truck is moving along; finally got the front axel bolted back in, figured out how to install the new front disc brakes; I now have a better understanding as to why these cars are called 'Rat Rods'. I am learning how to fabricate parts and don't think twice about cutting something down or re-engineering the current design. When you buy a part from an after-market distributor and they say 'This should fit with no problem', what they really mean is that if you are one smart and crafty bastard, this should take you no more than 4 or 5 weekends if you call in every mechanical genius that you have ever met. This is total live-by-your-wits operation which I believe fits in nicely with the rat family.








I stopped keeping a ledger of all the costs associated with this venture. I frankly don't want to know how much it costs. The fact is... that I am hell-bent on getting this thing back on the road and realizing a dream for my dad. It is going to happen and it really doesn't matter how much it costs. I have discovered that even the parts I am removing have a value and can be bartered for other parts. I am new to this but I am rather starting to enjoy it. The stopping of the ledger reminds me of my friend Brian Walley's oft-quoted maxim of 'A fool and his money are soon parted'. I think that pretty much sums it up.



This old truck is still around today because my uncle, Jimmy Pratt, wanted to do something nice for my dad. My uncle was a painter by trade; houses, cars, anything really. So he spray-painted the truck, as it sat in the open air on the end of our driveway (I didn't say he was a perfectionist, I just said he was a painter). For years afterward there was a shadow of overspray on the driveway; kinda like the chalk outline of a homicide. My dad never said a word about it. That simple coat of paint staved off rust for another 30 years. Thanks Uncle Jimmy.








Well, the truck got a new set of sneakers this week. In fact, this may be the first set of new tires and wheels it has had since it was built 77 years ago. I am working trying to rebuild the hydraulic clutch and master cylinder. If I can get those kinks worked out, I will be ready to take it around the neighborhood. If you hear the A-ooo-gah horn, you'll know I got it running :)

P.S. Thanks Pat for spending July 4th in my garage. I appreciate it more than you know.

Getting by with a little help from my friends...

Josh Mills from Mills and Company ; this guy is as good as gold. He is so careful and thorough. I finally picked up my front axle this week. There were so many things that were wrong with it (lazy shackles had marred the axel, the axel was clearly bent and it handled like it!, needed new king pins and bushings, needed bearing adapters pressed on... the list goes on) and Josh was able to identify them all. He has gone out of his way to help me get the old B model back on the road, and I know he is going to be an integral part in future upgrades. I have talked with several different rodders, parts suppliers, etc and all roads lead back to Mills and Company. Check him out and you'll see why ( http://www.millscustoms.com/ ) Thanks Josh!

Pat Tate, mentor and mechanical genius-extraordinaire watched over me as I rebuilt the old autolite carburetor. This was huge. He (we) spent his Easter Sunday in his garage where he cleared a table for me and provided great advice over and over again. Two weekends later, Pat traveled to my house to help me adjust the rocker arms and valves, I would have 'hosed' it up for sure had he not been here. Truly. The way I read the engine rebuild manual, I had done everything right. When I called Pat and told him what I had done, mind you, I was all proud that I had done everything by myself, he said... ' Whatever you do, do NOT try to crank that engine. You will bend every pushrod in the engine and it will not start. Well. That was a bit of a reality-check, no? He was right. I had overtightened the valves. He loaned me all the tools to get the job done and then added a heavy dose of conventional wisdom. Thanks Pat! The old engine is running better now than I ever remember it running. Would have never happened without you!

Jerry from Pete & Jake's said that current master cylinder will suffice for the disc and rotors, I just need to dial in the proportioning valve. I hope you are right. I will give it a try. Thanks Jerry!

William, my son, helped sand down and paint (flat black) the steering wheel.

It looks ten times better. Thanks William!

Marina, my daughter, is working on sanding down the window crank. Thanks Marina!

Ron Jones provided support and expert advice while changing out the valve stem seals. Ron is always just a phone call away. Thanks Ron!

Thanks Everyone!

The Brotherhood

Okay, here's the thing. I want to tell you every detail about what I am doing on the truck. But the truth of the matter is, it gets a
little boring and dry talking about where I got part x or how I didn't know how to do something and I just had to figure it out, or more often than not, how I
would ruin a part trying repair it and have to buy another one because I had never done that particular thing before. And while I am loving every
confounding, knuckle-bleeding moment of trying the beat the king pins out of the axel and calling any- and everybody I can think of to help me do it, it's
really not what this sojourn is about. This is about some unfinished business and making a dream come true for someone that simply ran out of runway. But,
and as my friend Erica Neligan (or maybe it was Chris) would say, "This is a big butt', it's also a journey of discovery and of new learnings for me. Life is
a journey after all; not necessarily a destination.

One of the pearls I have discovered in this journey is that hot rodding is stitched together by a brotherhood , and I mean a BROTHERHOOD (think Band of
Brothers) of guys that will do anything for you; even though you may be a complete stranger. I have never witnessed the willingness of someone who will drop
everything that they might be doing to help a fellow rodder-in-need. Who does this nowadays? Aren't people (especially Americans)
supposed to be self-absorbed, selfish, only concerned about things that will benefit themselves and just generally Machiavellian? I have found a few who are not. Ron Jones and Ray Greer are of a different ilk.
Both of these guys live in my neighborhood. They stopped what they were doing to come see my project. Between the two of them they have given me drum brakes, catalogs
and plenty of ideas, tips and tricks. Dan Osborne, friend and neightbor, has also given up precious weekend time (lots of it) to help bring the old truck back to
life. Pat Tate (pictured with the 302 he is building for his Falcon Sprint) , another instant friend has been enormously gracious and equally helpful. Pat, who I found out was a Vietnam Vet (helicopter pilot), has
offered to help me rebuild the 2100 carburetor. He has also offered to teach me how to change the valve seals. How often do you find someone who is willing to teach? He also has a 4-speed which would fit perfectly in the
old truck. I continue to work on him to that end :) I will let you know how that works out. I think his wife is 'in my corner'. I haven't met her yet but I can't wait to. Pat has some wonderful rodding stories about his rather feisty wife. I hope to relate one of those in a
future posting. I will post pictures of each of these guys as soon as I get them.

Karla King, a friend from work, read this blog and suggested that I add a picture of my Dad, who has inspired this whole thing. Amazingly, I have not been
able to find a picture of my dad with the truck. We just didn't think about things like that. We so totally took this truck for granted, that having my Dad
pose with the truck would have been like having him pose with the refrigerator. Seriously. Anyway, here are a few pictures of Dad in various phases of his life.

Until the next time, think about those people who have given of themselves to make your life a little better and then think about how you can make someone
else's journey through life a little bit easier. See you soon, Bill.

It was the points.

Okay, the date of my postings are actually different than the actual date when the events occurred. So far its been a couple of days in arrears but that is always subject to change :) Sometimes it takes me a while to update the blog. I do actually have a life outside of this truck! So when the date is significant or worth mentioning, I will post it in the text of the blog and you will know to ignore the automatic date that is shown. In fact, ignore that anyway.

The date is Valentine's Day 2009. There are many things to do on Valentine's Day; the least of which is working on the old truck. After doing all the things that I want (and need) to do, I finally make my way to the garage. I replace the points and condenser. My wife actually helps me bump the engine over in order to gap the points. I tighten everything down and test for a spark to the plugs. To my utter disbelief, there is spark to the plugs. Finally. Let me repeat that, I said "there is spark to the plugs".



In the depths of my heart, I know that the fuel pump and the carburetor will need to be rebuilt before she will ever run. Sitting for 20 years will guarantee that much. ... but I am an optimist. Did I tell you that? So encouraged by a spark to the plugs, I decided that I should try to see if it would at least sputter. So I poured a little gas into the carburetor, being careful to pour equal amounts precisely into the two barrels. I positioned the fire extinguisher close to the truck and then pumped the accelerator a few times. I turned the ignition key and... it rumbled a little, grumbled a little and then... she actually came to life. The engine actually started and ran!!! OMG. It was running!!! The Truck was running!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Valentine's Day 2009; what a gift!! I had envisioned that when it first started running again, I would have it outside so that the accumulated oil in the cylinders would smoke a little and dissipate. But noooooooo, I had it fully inside the garage and one of the garage doors was closed. I never expected it to actually run. But now that it was running, I was afraid to take my foot off the accelerator for fear that it might die. So I started blowing the a-ooo-gah horn trying to get my wife or one of my children to come help me. Again, noooooOOO. Does anybody else have teenagers in their house? Then you know what I mean. I could have been drowning or worse, and if they were in the middle of texting someone or i-m-ing, then I was surely going to die. So I sat there gunning the engine and building up deadly fumes. When I couldn't stand it anymore, I took my foot off the accelerator and ran for fresh air. To my utter disbelief, she kept on running. I stood out in the driveway looking back into the garage and looking with amazement as it billowed smoke ...and I got a little pensive. It was running... OMG, the truck was running. This was a full 3 months(or more) ahead of my timeline. All that I wanted to do was call Dad and tell him the truck was running.


My senior year in college, I remember my dad calling to let me know that the truck had stopped running and that he had tried everything to get it running again. The points and condenser were new so those were the last things that he thought could have been wrong. His health had really begun to fail and it was probably a call for help as much as it was a call to relay information. Sadly, I had no bandwidth. I was 'heads-down' trying to wrap up and graduate. We never got around to trouble shooting. Shortly thereafter in 1990, we almost lost Dad. He lost consciousness for a few days and at that point his health dropped off precipitously. One thing led to another... marriage, babies, work, grad school and suddenly 20 years had slipped away. Dad passed in 1998 and the truck still wasn't running. Somewhere along the way, I decided that I would bring this dream to a conclusion; both as a gift to my dad and journey of discovery for myself.
So here I am, right in the thick of things. I was so elated when it rumbled to life; so elated! I was giddy for hours. I remember looking at my wife and saying ' I want to call Dad and tell him the truck is running'. She said, 'He knows'. And so just in case... Dad, if you don't know... it was the points. Who would have thought?

Step Two - ...still and yet.

Have you ever experienced one of those events that went beyond mere chance? I have had so many that I should probably be the subject of a documentary. A chance encounter happened to me today when I went to the Advance Auto Parts store on Canton Rd. (where they
had every single part I needed in both standard and improved variation. An arguable miracle considering no one else had even the
standard version). Is that normal? I am twenty years removed from this sport of auto rehab. I was at the counter in the middle of the day, on a weekday, in a down economy... ( i.e., think, nobody else on
the planet should be there at this time...) . I told the guy at the counter that I needed a set of points and condenser for a 260,
V-8, 1964 Falcon Sprint motor. The only other person in the store, and indeed the only person within 2 miles looked over at me said
"So you're a Falcon Sprint guy too?"

All I could think of was that I was in the twilight zone, or on 'Candid Camera'. Amazingly, I had had a chance encounter with someone that was mid-way through
their second Falcon Sprint restoration. His name was Pat Tate. And by luck, fate, or divine intervention, I was standing face-to-
face with a man that could shave years off my journey. And while I am enjoying the 'ride', I am also plenty happy, and I mean
PLENTY! happy to take a few short-cuts :). We instantly bonded and started talking cars. He had a plethora of
pictures of his current project and it was easy to see that he was doing it the right way. It was also easy to surmise that he knew a great
deal about cars in general, but especially the Falcon Sprint. As it turns out, he runs the Firestone in Woodstock, so stop to see him if you get a chance. He was a true master craftsman and was clearly well-versed in the art of
restoration. Anyway, we exchanged numbers and went our ways.

Got home and changed out the plug and coil wires. STILL NO SPARK TO PLUGS! (Pictured: My son, William, helping me check for spark.) Family duties were calling so I had to postpone further
work until the next day.

Step Two - ...still

Sunday, I started to work on the front brakes. They have essentially locked up. Keep in mind that there is no brake fluid in the
brake lines and the front wheels will NOT roll. I had to beat the right front drum off with a 'one-by' piece of oak and was ready
to start the re-honing process when 'Dan O' (pictured) walked up (thank god). I quickly abondoned the brake job and began to focus on
something that I needed help with... STARTING THE ENGINE.



We whittled down that we were getting spark to the coil but not getting anything else beyond the coil. Comical note: We were
looking for an electrical tester but couldn't find mine. Its a fancy-schmancy model that has a lot options. I truly only know how to operate the continuity function. The rest is a mystery to me. Dan had an electrical tester (much like the one I had but couldn't find).
But neither of us had the expertise to take advantage of its superior technology. So when we couldn't figure it out, we devised a
tester by wrapping a wire around a 12V light bulb (probably an 1157) and tapping the base to a common ground. In our case a
negative post on the battery. It worked like a charm and was a good match for my intelligence.

Our assumption was that the coil was the problem. Good assumption considering that the coil was 30
years old. So we ran up to the local parts store and purchased a new coil. Brought it back and tested it. SORRY! Still no fire to
the spark plug. If anyone reads this and has a suggestion for testing a coil. I would love to hear it.



So on a whim, we decided to test the coil wire. These were plug (and coil) wires which I personally custom fit to the engine 20
years ago. To my surprise (and Dan's) the coil wire would not transmit current. A closer look revealed that these plug wires were
'Mallory Silicon Core' wires. They would not pass any type of electrical activity. I did a little research and discovered that
these type of wires are infamous for crapping out. We were sorely disappointed but happy to determine that we were closer to
actually getting the engine to run.



So, I'll make a run to the parts store and pick up new plug wires. While I am at it, I will also pick up a condenser and points. Hopefully replacing those will finally
get us fire to the sparkplugs. Stay tuned...

Step Two - Continued

Truck still not running, but I have made progress. I replaced the gas tank, reconnected the fuel line, replaced the fuel filter,
added a gallon or so of gas and... no leaks!!! That is really amazing since I had to fabricate a couple of the gaskets myself. I
bought a new battery and attempted to crank the engine. To my surprise it turned over, but not much else. What did I expect? It's
as if it has awakened from a 20 year coma. It's a little groggy. It effectively hit the snooze button and rolled back over to
continue its slumber. I can't wait to see the shock on its face when it finally hits the road for the first time and sees all the
salacious new models. LOL! I will bring jumper cables and a cell phone in case it has the equivalent of a heart attack.
Anyhow, it doesn't appear to be getting a spark to the plugs. So, I need to do a little research to see how I test to see where the
disconnect is. Other than touching the wires with my finger.

In the meantime, I tested the old horn to see if it would work. Ignition on, pressed the button and... nothing. 'It lay there like
a slug'. So, I pulled it, took it apart and cleaned it up. Like everything else I have removed so far, it too had to be sanded and
painted. The horn is a simple contraption and I was amazed to see that something so simple could make such an interesting sound. So
I got it all put back together... ignition on, pressed the button and... A-OOOO-GAHHH!!! It made me laugh to hear it and all the
neighbors peered out their windows in bewilderment.
I also have learned a few more things about the engine and will list the specifications here for posterity sake.

FORD 260 V-8 Engine

Year: 1964

Engine type: 8 Cylinder, 90 degree, Overhead Valves(OHV)

Displacement: 260 cu. inches (CID)

Maximum Torque: 258 lbs/ft @ 2200 RPM

Maximum Horsepower: 164 BHP @ 4400 RPM

Firing Order: 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 (number one cylinder on right-hand bank nearest radiator)

Bore & Stroke: 3.80" X 2.87" (96.5mm X 72.8mm)

Compression Ratio: 8.8:1

Compression Pressure: 130-170 psi

Oil Pressure (hot): 35 to 60 psi

I also found out that a 260 was used in some of the early Cobras! The specs for the Cobras were different than those previously
listed.

I have also been able to positively identify the carburetor. Honestly, what did we do before the internet? I'll tell you what we
did; we lived in IGNORANCE! Case in point: Since I was a youth, I had always thought that this carburetor was a Holley of some sort
or another. Wishful thinking (or so it seems) of a kid who used to thumb through his father's Hot Rod magazines and see all the
performance engines that had the Holley carb upgrades. There is no marking whatsoever that would make a rational person think that
it is a Holley but then again, I was (am) not rational. Anyway, as it turns out, it's better than a Holley; if you believe the
article I read on the internet. And BTW, if it's on the internet, it must be true, right? So the article says that this carb is the
original Autolite/Motorcraft 2100. It has a 1.01 imprinted on the side which identifies the venturi diameter in inches. So now I
know which rebuild kit to order, b/c I assume that it too will not be functioning properly :) The article goes on to say that the
2100 was likely the most reliable carburetor ever made!!! I am beginning to love this engine! I just need to get it running.
Until next time...

Step Two - Prep to get her running

Where do you start on something like this? Everything needs to be repaired to one degree or another. To use one of my wife's nursing expressions, this thing is a 'train wreck'. We need a triage session to put things in order.Okay, let's forego triage. There are too many things that are broken to do a triage. Let's just try to get the engine running, no? It was running the last time I drove it (20 years ago), so this should be pretty simple. If you can't see me, I am smiling with that wry smile that wreaks of sarcasm.

My dad said that he pulled the engine from a 1964 Falcon Sprint. The Falcon I had always imagined was like the 1961 Falcon that my grandmother used to drive to church. It was a powder blue 'grocery-getter' that couldn't get out of its own shadow(bless its heart); and to my tastes was none too attractive. Think Barney Fife's patrol car, with nice, rounded, soft corners and a tall , protruding frontal lobe of a forehead. Her car was painfully slow and she drove it even
slower. I can remember going on trips to Grant City and Kmart and being passed by people on bicycles:). Really! So I did a quick google search to see what a '64 Falcon Sprint looked like. I took cover and expected the worst. I was
pleasantly surprised to find the 1964 Falcon had been redesigned to attract the racing crowd and was actually raced at Monte Carlo! See article... http://www.hemmings.com/hmn/stories/2006/11/01/hmn_feature10.html If it weren't for the introduction of the Mustang, it might have become 'THE' muscle car for Ford. Who knows, but I am happy to find out that it has the heart of a racer. Racing has always been close to my heart and definitely created a further bond with me. And if I was tempted to pull the engine and replace it with something different (and I was), then I am happy to do all I can to prop it up and
keep it running for as long as possible. Funny that my dad never explained to me the legend of the Falcon Sprint. Perhaps he was
being protective of me (as I have been with my children); protecting me from fool-hearty youthful fantasies that are likely to put
youthful ambition ahead of youthful capabilities. I have a lot of experiences to relate here but will refrain for obvious reasons.

Regardless, to attempt to start the engine, here is the basic checklist:

*Check fuel system- Removed fuel tank which is located under the seat. Took it to Marietta Radiator where they boiled it out and
removed any old fuel deposits. They forgot to give me the gas cap which I luckily remembered. What I didn't remember was the drain valve. They removed it and neglected to give it back to me. So I had to run to a few places looking for a 1/4" plug. Marietta Radiator was a little off their game this time but I forgive them because they had given my dad many years of great service.

*Blew compressed air through the fuel line and purchased a new fuel filter. Every item that I pull off, I sand, prime and paint flat black. The idea is to stop the progression of rust. I hope to find a full budget for professional paint later. Right now, I am just trying to preserve the orginal Henry Ford iron.

*Replace oil- The oil looked good but it was, after all, 20 years old. Also replaced the filter. It was easily available at NAPA and Walmart.

*Replace plugs- Check/Add water - will flush the cooling system if and when it runs.

*Rebuild carburetor?? Maybe, let's see if it will pump
fuel first.

I have enlisted my good friend, Dan Osborne, to help me bring the old truck back to life. I feel a bit like Dr. Frankenstein and believe in my heart that we will need a lightning strike in order to get her running. Dan is a great resource though. He knows a lot about a lot. And if he doesn't know about it, he can quickly find out.

I will let you know how we fare. Stay tuned...

Step One - Moving it to my house

Okay, the first thing I needed to do was to move the truck to my house. My mother had been threatening to haul it to the junk yard for years (Remember, my dad had a longer relationship with the truck than he had had with my mother. So there was some residual resentment between her and the truck :) ).

-

It had accumulated 20 years worth of junk in my mother's basement... the junk was placed on top of and around the truck. It was literally under a mountain of boxes, discarded carpet and any other thing that might be found in a typical or not so typical basement. I am sorry that I didn't have the foresight to take pictures, but I didn't consider doing a blog until later. So, use your imagination. To give you an idea, it took me an hour to unearth it.

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Under a heavy coat of dust and mold, it appeared to be the same old loving machine. All four tires were flat with apparent dry-rot. A press of the brake and clutch sent the pedals directly to the floor... from which they didn't return. I did have the foresight to remove the battery 20 years ago, knowing that the acid would inevitably leak out to do damage. Score one for the novice!

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I had considered renting a car-hauling trailer, but finally decided that it would be worth the incremental cost to have a professional tow it. Boy, was I ever right! I called 'Marietta Wrecker Service' and Cameron took care of me. A true professional, he was able to winch the truck out of a 90-degree position and onto his $80,000 tow truck. He had to do the same in reverse when he reached my house. It was a Herculean feat considering all four tires were flat, but through his perserverance and expertise, we got the truck comfortably into its new resting spot. I hope Cameron never finds out that all four tires actually would hold air for a few hours at a time. We both assumed wrong and it would have saved Cameron a lot of time. Makes me think that the truck has a little spirit to it! As I have been told before, ...'perhaps it has a bit of the devil in it!' If it does, its okay with me. We'll be kindred spirits.

-

Anyway, as I followed Cameron from West Cobb to East Cobb, I thought that it would be a good idea to keep a log of the experience. So I got my daughter (Marina) to take a picture of Cameron and myself after he got the truck in the garage. Thanks Cameron!!

Background

I inherited a 1932 Ford pickup truck, a 'B' model, when my father passed away 11 years ago. It had been idle for 9 years before that. This is a truck that he had before he was married and he got married in 1962; so its been in the family for a while. I don't know the story of how he came to own it. Hopefully, I will uncover this and many other things along my journey.
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It has not been pampered. It got used as a work truck around the house as we used it to haul firewood and rocks, pull stumps and any other thing that might damage one of the newer cars. I know many of you are probably cringing. If it was used to do the dirty work, it didn't mean that it wasn't loved as evidenced by the fact that it is the only vehicle to have survived 50+ years in the family. Everyone in the family has at least one memory involving the old truck. As for me, there are as many memories as there were days in which we drove it.
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Dad and I bonded over the years as we cut our knuckles on this old truck as we tinkered on it to keep it running. He had always dreamed of restoring it and taking it to car shows but his health failed him early and there was just never the means to get it done.

As for me, I am capable of anything but I haven't really worked on a car since before college. And since college, I have mostly thrown myself into finance and accounting work. So to say that I am a little rusty is a bit of an understatement! But maybe this will serve as an inspiration to others who may find themselves in a similar situation.

And the blog... I wanted to blog for a couple of reasons; 1) I have never done one and wanted to learn and 2) I wanted to keep a log of the progress and log of 'particulars' along the way.

So here I am in 2009, feeling nostaligic, optimistic (probably overly optimistic) and motivated to get started with the restoration process. My wife and I have three children that are approaching the college years so money and spare time will serve to limit the pace; which is fine because I want to enjoy the journey and not rush through it. See you soon. Bill