Anyone Interested?

[Gunner1]

i was hit in the head with blast debris at Khe Sahn. We didnt have TBI back then. I ended up rated 70% disabled for PTSD. Tell your son Semper Fi from this old Marine. And that it does get better as the years go by.

 

[1STMP]

i was hit in the head with blast debris at Khe Sahn. We didnt have TBI back then. I ended up rated 70% disabled for PTSD. Tell your son Semper Fi from this old Marine. And that it does get better as the years go by.

Will do, and thank you for your service.

 

[MoparMur]

1STMP I'm intrigued by that small "bus" steering box. Is it a 1:1 ratio? What kind of GM bus did it come off? I have a Massey Ferguson 202 Workbull tractor here at home that needs a total revamp of its steering and I'm thinking that part may work for me.

 

[1STMP]

MoparMur,
The box is from a model 06 RTS Motorcoach.
90deg mitre w/1:1 ratio. The shafts are 1" 36
spline.
The one I bought is an "engineering prototype"
as they are not for sale to the general customer,
though you can call to verify. It's been a long
while ago when I got this one.
I believe you can purchase one via a business
license, or find a RTS bus for a used one.
They are well built and robust. Hope this helps!

 

[MoparMur]

Wow what a neat piece! What a fantastic build you have going there, absolutely beautiful work. Thanks for the info, and keep those pictures coming. Truly a first class job.

 

[1STMP]

Thanks MoparMur.
I've got another miter box, but the shaft
rotations are opposed. (turn right to go left).
If you think you could use it, PM me and we'll
work something out.
I worked for TMC/NovaBUS for 15 years as a
mechanical engineer, hence the idea for the
miter box. I needed some way to get the steering
past the headers to the rack&pinion. It works
great w/no freeplay or backlash.
It's strange that I live 9 miles from the old
plant, and there are zero scrapped/ junked
busses anywhere near here.
The search for a used box would be in most
major cities. Boston, LA, San Francisco, NYC/
New Jersey. Calls to salvage yards there,
you may be able to locate one.

 

[Bb70charger500]

I'd like to suggest a name change for this thread !
To everyone stop and look!

This is amazing .please thank your boy for his service for me !
And you guys are amazing !!!

 

[1STMP]

Bp70Charger500,
I humbly accept your compliment.
46 years of doing something you love to do
is not a job, but a passion. 26 of those years
have been spent building this truck. We're really
close to getting her on the road.
Car shows and drag strips are planned for my
retirement future.
I will convey your thanks to my son.

 

[1STMP]

i was hit in the head with blast debris at Khe Sahn. We didnt have TBI back then. I ended up rated 70% disabled for PTSD. Tell your son Semper Fi from this old Marine. And that it does get better as the years go by.

Gunner1,
The guy I bought this truck from was a Marine
who also served in Vietnam. He was also my
supervisor when I worked for the fleet dept
for a major power company. He was a Mopar
nut. It was he that suggested I take this project
on, as he had an old dilapidated Plymouth truck
sitting in his yard with weeds growing all
around. He sold it to me for $1.00 more than
he bought it for. $51.00.
He succumbed to cancer this past year which has
only strengthened my resolve to see this done.
Thank you once again for your sacrifice to this
great country of ours.
This was one of his cars:

I've given my truck a name. Vern.
True friends are rare and hard to come by.

 

[MoparMur]

Thanks so much for the info. I'm currently doing planning to set a '59 Fargo 1/2 ton on a Dakota 2WD chassis. May need something like this. I will definitely keep this in mind, and keep watching your build.

 

[1STMP]

Thanks so much for the info. I'm currently doing planning to set a '59 Fargo 1/2 ton on a Dakota 2WD chassis. May need something like this. I will definitely keep this in mind, and keep watching your build.

I'll help in any way I can. This is a great forum,
where any and all here will have suggestions
as to how to accomplish your goals.

 

[1STMP]

Cad files. I have a few more of these but they're
.bmp files. Will post more once I get the file
transition to work.

View attachment RR_AXLE_ASM_ASM.jpg

 

[Gunner1]

Gunner1,
The guy I bought this truck from was a Marine
who also served in Vietnam. He was also my
supervisor when I worked for the fleet dept
for a major power company. He was a Mopar
nut. It was he that suggested I take this project
on, as he had an old dilapidated Plymouth truck
sitting in his yard with weeds growing all
around. He sold it to me for $1.00 more than
he bought it for. $51.00.
He succumbed to cancer this past year which has
only strengthened my resolve to see this done.
Thank you once again for your sacrifice to this
great country of ours.
This was one of his cars:
View attachment 1208450
I've given my truck a name. Vern.
True friends are rare and hard to come by.

I just saw this. What an amazing story. I am loving this place. It is really an uplifting place to learn about cars and make friends with some really great people.

 

[1STMP]

Hard to believe it's taken two more
years where the truck is to the point
of paint and interior. All of the
powertrain bugs have been worked
out. She starts and runs well, brakes
and cooling system good. We've only
run it on the street a couple times to
get everything fine tuned.
Windows, window regulators, door
latches and handles have taken
quite a bit of time to figure out.
Titling has turned out to be a different
horse altogether. DMV just doesn’t
see many custom trucks this old with
pieced together bodies and homebuilt
tube chassis.

 

[HawkRod]

Titling has turned out to be a different
horse altogether. DMV just doesn’t
see many custom trucks this old with
pieced together bodies and homebuilt
tube chassis.

Is the DMV giving you grief about it? If so, why? Are they worried about the strength of the tube chassis?

 

[1STMP]

Is the DMV giving you grief about it? If so, why? Are they worried about the strength of the tube chassis?

NM is a "title for title" state. This truck
is pieced together using sheetmetal
from three different vehicles, and all
bought on a bill of sale.
DMV wants me to apply for a duplicate
title on a 83 year old truck cab. (the
only part on this truck with a serial
number tag). It's an 8 digit number
and current vin searches don't work,
so tracking down the former owner(s)
is impossible. Most trucks of this
time period were bought to use on
on a ranch (usually registered only
once at time of purchase) and that's
where they stayed, never driven on
public roads.
30 years ago DMV would accept a bill
of sale to transfer ownership, they've
since cracked down and require a
title.
I'm now waiting for a level 3 vin
inspection thru the state police and
once cleared, will apply for a bonded
title.

 

[64fury74charger]

Stunning rebirth of a truly one of a kind vehicle. Amazing fabrication and problem solving skills that only proved to be no match for you and your son’s skills. Please thank your son for his sacrifice and service from an old army dog. Thank you for your time and patience to post your pictures and details here for all of us to follow along. The title issue will seem minor when you’re blasting down the road laughing and enjoying your work.

 

[1STMP]

Stunning rebirth of a truly one of a kind vehicle. Amazing fabrication and problem solving skills that only proved to be no match for you and your son’s skills. Please thank your son for his sacrifice and service from an old army dog. Thank you for your time and patience to post your pictures and details here for all of us to follow along. The title issue will seem minor when you’re blasting down the road laughing and enjoying your work.

64fury74charger
This project started out as a test to
my capabilities and vision. It has since
morphed into a salvation. When my
son returned home with an honorable
discharge, with his TBI and PTSD,
I struggled with how to get him
focused with those terrible thoughts
and visual memories trapped in his
head. He spent the first three months
once back home, on the roof of the
house. (on guard duty).
Patience has been key on my part.
I'm very meticulous when it comes
to organization and planning. To see
my "kid" run against my own habits
has taught me the value of patience
with a whole lot of understanding
thrown in. He can't remember where
he set his car keys down.
I did the chassis of this build, he's done
100% of the bodywork under my
direction. It's to the point now where
he'll question some of my decisions
and the direction this build is going.
I welcome the debate. Afterall, I am
leaving him with a ton of memories
and a legacy.
When I'm dead and gone, his ol' man
will be riding in that passenger seat,
w/ a big ol' smile on his face.
Can't thank those here enough that
put their lives on the line, with
heartfelt understanding of what
we're going through. God bless.

 

[1STMP]

Wow what a neat piece! What a fantastic build you have going there, absolutely beautiful work. Thanks for the info, and keep those pictures coming. Truly a first class job.

Please keep me posted as to wether
you're able to find the miter box. I will
gladly assist you in locating one.
I can also assist with u-joint and
shaft P/N's.

 

[MoparMur]

So glad to hear you've made such progress. Truly a work of art you and your son have created. Well I'd like to report similar progress on my truck, but definitely far from roadworthy at this point. But we'll persevere. As with all of us, life sometimes gets in the way of our projects. Matter of fact I still am interested in the miter box. Tractor hasn't moved an inch since our last correspondence, but the ideas I have for it are, I think, still the way I'm going to go. Just finished some engine work on car I bought to flip. So now it's the tractor's turn to come in the garage for a good lookover. I'll get it in and do some planning, and will definitely let you know if the miter box will work. Thanks so much for keeping me in mind.