FARM FRESH 1969 359 PROJECT

Several members have suggested I start a thread to chronicle this project. If you are a purest you may not want to follow. This is going to be more of a resto-mod type project, with some carnage. There will definitely be some scrap metal left over when I'm done. She will lose length, height and weight!

For a history of how I came to own this nugget see: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ete-on-your-stepdeck-shot-in-the-dark.309320/

The plan is to shorten it up, possibly a single drive axle drop it down and maybe chop the top. Hardwood floor for sure.
This truck carried water on a farm in CA most her life so I thought a logical place to start would be to remove anything added for that purpose.



I'm gonna cut the frame where the back of the upright was.

The good news... while I worked on the back I let the truck Idle for more than two hours, it was 84 degrees and sunny and this was just before I shut it down.



More good news... just for fun I spent 3 minutes with a rag and some polishing compound on the door. The paint that remains came right back to life.

Well that got lengthy quick. More to come,

 

I started to include that myself. @NorthernMechanic is familiar with this truck, having participated in the above mentioned thread and he has been very helpful. His thread for his KW inspired me to get things rolling today.

 

It's my understanding that the old Detroit Diesel 2 strokes idled between 5-10 psi safely and operated under load at about 30 psi. If I'm wrong please enlighten me, anyone.

 

Odd coincidence!

 

Question. Did the old Petes with aluminum frames have steel inserts in the frame behind the cab. I know this was a trouble area. I ask because this one does and they have traces of the original paint. What it standard? An option? The cross members are made to fit between these steel inserts and don't appear to be altered.