stakeside 229 Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Checking if there was a vin tag on the toeboard as it was on my 29DB. It is located as shown. I was able to salvage my original vin plate but it was in bad shape. I did manage to make a reproduction . Were you able to find a frame number? yours should look like this: Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 20 hours ago, Ben P. said: Reason I ask is: There was a nice article on here re. testing the glass to see if it was plate glass or safety glass — something about sunlight and water drops. Tried it out and couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Not really anxious to ‘fix what ain’t broke’ and open that can of worms... But as I can’t tell.... The windows are out. Haven’t replaced the glass yet but yes I am. I kinda didn’t want to but everybody scared me into it. The window frames need some love anyway. They were froze right up but we got them moving. They are getting a complete rebuild. Also after talking to several people apparently the vacuum windshield wiper bodies that were that trash pot metal are all destroyed and finding a good usable one is next to impossible. And isn’t not something we can rebuild so it’s getting a hand operated wiper. Already purchased one. Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) 20 hours ago, stakeside said: Checking if there was a vin tag on the toeboard as it was on my 29DB. It is located as shown. I was able to salvage my original vin plate but it was in bad shape. I did manage to make a reproduction . Were you able to find a frame number? yours should look like this: This is the dash plate and the original toe board tag. I can get way better pics if you would like but these were taken the first time I seen the truck Edited February 20, 2020 by Kegan (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 A couple more pictures of the wheels I’m quite proud of them. I threw a tire and cap on just to see what it was gonna look like! They are not as dark as they look in the last two pics but I love the color! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 The oil pump rebuild. Not quite sure how that oil pump was ever pumping anything. It was so plugged with sludge. The new gasket we made for it turned out quite well and then a pic of it installed! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) All put together restored, rebuilt and painted this was a big day for me! There are so many little things I’m skipping over in these posts but if something seems like it’s out of sequence it because I just found pictures or remembered something I forgot to share. Like I said before I’m just trying to get everyone up to date so I can do a weekly post instead of a daily post Edited February 20, 2020 by Kegan (see edit history) 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 21, 2020 Author Share Posted February 21, 2020 This is what I decided for the floors and bed. The floors and bed were both rotted badly. I couldn’t decide what wood I wanted to use. I had a few black walnut cut out of my front yard and had the pleasure of using a friends Minneapolis steam engine and saw mill to process the logs. The boards have been drying for two years. Gonna go through the stack this weekend and pick out the boards I want. Get them ready for the planer. I’m sure original was ash or white oak but I don’t have a stock pile of ash or white oak and not everybody gets to say those birds right there cane from my front yard and I got to saw them into lumber with a steam engine and be a part of every part of the process to being floor boards. Should be beautiful. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 21, 2020 Author Share Posted February 21, 2020 (edited) This was a pleasant surprise. Took a DA sander and wore wheel to the body. There’s a lot of original blue paint under all that filth. I think it’s gonna get a good go over and clear. I like ol Norman’s patina. There’s something to be said about original. It only original once! Edited February 21, 2020 by Kegan (see edit history) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
stakeside 229 Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 Sent you a private message 1 Link to post Share on other sites
stakeside 229 Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 (edited) Here is some history . The frame will be in one of these groups Edited February 21, 2020 by stakeside E (see edit history) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 This truck sure turned out to be a much bigger project than I had anticipated! I would like to stop here and say THANK YOU to all my friends for the help and support I have gotten with this truck! It would never be where it is now without all of them! I’d also like to say to all of you. The next time somebody walks by and asks a question (no matter how stupid you think it is) or says nice job or wants to show you what they have, give them two seconds of your time. I all to often have been snubbed at tractor shows by some of the big boys thinking. The attitude of what a stupid question, or they don’t know anything why are they even here, or oh they just have a little piece of shit ________ fill in the blank, or that guy doesn’t know anything! Those are the new people in the hobby. Those are the people that in a few years after gaining some knowledge will be your next buyer, your friend, your driving partner. They just want to learn. Without the friends I have made through the whole process I never would have been able to accomplish this. These rare people took time out of their lives, space out of there garages and barns, room on there work bench, took time out of their own lives and have shown and taught me soooooo much! Those are the people that make this love of things old go round and round! Without the teachers this is a dying art! I know of several people that wouldn’t give me the time of day on this project but I also met several people that have dedicated their minds to this project and me. Be one of those and not the other! 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted February 25, 2020 Author Share Posted February 25, 2020 (edited) I was really hoping to save the top but it just wasn’t possible. Both outer rails were badly rotted. Three of the ribs were broken. Most of the top strips were loose with several broken. So off she came, loaded into the truck and headed for the wood shop! The same friend that did the beautiful job on the back doors is also doing a whole new top! I’m excited to see it when done! Edited February 25, 2020 by Kegan (see edit history) 2 Link to post Share on other sites
stakeside 229 Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 (edited) here is link to older tread for a 27 GB screenside. You may find it interesting. I replaced all my wood. I had some original pieces in fair condition to use as patterns. Since some pieces were in bad shape i build the cab base with sugar pine to assure a good pattern. This was easier to work with and produce descent fit. I used white oak as the final wood and I believe my original would was white oak. I have heard ash would also work. Take good notes and measurements. Edited February 26, 2020 by stakeside e (see edit history) 2 Link to post Share on other sites
stakeside 229 Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Here is link showing construction of the top and the door header. I used alder wood for the form of the curved portion. Note all the wood screws. This construction is for my 805 closed cab and yours may be similar. The long pieces under the header is for the side panels. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
stakeside 229 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Found this pic on eBay. Thought you would find interesting. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
vicpanza 57 Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 Wow....super cool truck. And thanks for sharing your project pictures. So glad to see this being preserved. If you haven't done so, you might want to get a copy of Don Bunn's book, "Dodge Trucks" published by Crestline. It covers truck production from 1916 including the Graham relationship, etc. You have an incredible piece of history on your hands and appear to be doing it justice. Now, I want to come out and help:) 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted March 10, 2020 Author Share Posted March 10, 2020 Next on deck. Brakes and getting the wheels put back together and new tires on so it can be rolled down to the other shop do a little body work and lots of clean up and sanding and a little paint. Those mechanical breaks are no joke. Lots more to them than you realize. The lining was garbage so bought new from Myers Early Dodge and new rivets. Gonna have to replace a couple springs which Myers carries as well. We decided to take one apart at a time just to use the other for reference. The emergency break and moving pets inside were quite froze up. Larry got the whole system apart and blasted and painted and the new lining put on. I’ve been underneath scraping grease as hard as stone and thick as can possibly be getting ready for some chassis saver for the axels and frame before the brakes and wheels go back on. This is gonna be a semi slow process cleaning the undercarriage as it is covered in funk.... 2 Link to post Share on other sites
30DodgePanel 1,403 Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Ahhh the fun stuff ... (sarcasm alert.. I'm allergic to brake work 🙄) These photos are a good reference tool for many owners who have similar vehicles or who may be tackling similar tasks.... Amazing progress so far, thank you for keeping us updated and for clear photos. Link to post Share on other sites
Kegan 52 Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 Hey all I haven’t gave up we just had to shut it down for a bit till this plague blows through. Should be back to work on it in a few weeks I hope 1 Link to post Share on other sites
BruceLeClaire 1 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 I have a 1927 Graham Brothers panel truck box, floor, roof, and rear doors. I picked it up in 1975 from Ai Fiberglass in Baltimore. This had been a Rice's Bread truck in Baltimore. I am never going to do this truck now at 73. Anybody interested...I am in Maine. 207-712-2460 1 Link to post Share on other sites
nearchoclatetown 346 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 The DBC has a set of blueprints available from AACA library for the roof of commercial cars. They were donated by a DBC member. If you contact AACA library you can purchase a copy. Not exactly sure how close the drawings would be for this exact truck, but would give lots of insight. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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