1948 Thriftmaster

[joedoh]

teardown is fuuuun [cl[cl

 

[forbigpicture]

Boy that's a big fan on top of the stove...does it work good ?

[P[P

 

[BillM]

Thanks Old Iron - PM sent.
I don't know about the tear down Joe.....it's a bit nerve racking trying to wrestle with rusty fasteners - I don't want to break anything and cause more work, I have to be careful with the amount heat I use - don't want to ruin that gorgeous patina!
FBP - you like my "rat" wood stove? It works great, I fabbed it up many years ago. The blower pushes air down onto the stove, through a heat exchanger at the base of the stove pipe, down the back of the stove and the up the sides. It blows heat like crazy, but consumes wood with the same voracity. I installed a NG tube heater a few years ago, but like to use them both....especially when it's -24C like this morning here!!!!

 

[forbigpicture]

BillM, thanks for the info...looks like it would work good...
built a stove for my buddy last year.

We have since made a few mods and added a fan, he
burns pellets, says it works great and puts out little to
no smoke....

 

[BillM]

Thanks FBP - it does work well, and yours is a work of art! Mine is pretty rough, but it does the trick.

A little more progress, I have the front end completely stripped now. I've been busy planning the front and rear suspension, and have been picking away at dollying the dents out of the front fenders. I have a few cracks in the fender flanges, and am debating whether to braze or mig the cracks. I'm just trying to minimize any "work" that might disturb the patina.

 

[BillM]

Still having fun breaking the old girl down. So far, no ugly surprises!

 

[joedoh]

nice and clean!
[cl

 

[forbigpicture]

nice and clean!
[cl

Sure does look it!!!
[P[P

 

[Torchie]

Really solid looking truck Bill.
Usually the lower cowl and toe boards are all rotted out on these.[cl
[P[P[P
Torchie

 

[BillM]

Thanks everyone - hopefully I haven't painted too rosy of a picture - there is a little bit of patchwork required on the inner kickpanels. The floor is surprisingly good, but I think I'll patch the kicks where there is a little rot. There's one small area behind the passenger side of the seat where the floor will require a small patch as well. There's also a small spot in the frame that I need to patch, again, passenger side where the frame is boxed near the rear spring front mount. None of these should be much of a problem to fix up.

 

[kenny c]

That truck Has less rot than the 72 F100 I was driving to high school and I was asked to leave in 1982.

 

[DozerII]

Sure makes the project a lot easier when you start out with solid truck to begin with. [P[P

 

[BillM]

Thanks guys - it's really solid, like I said, not perfect but really good bones to work with. I lifted the cab off this morning and put it on my dolly. I thought I'd have to modify my dolly but it fit perfectly. It's a bit low for me to work on, but I'll likely move it up onto some horses to get it up to a better height. I have plenty to work on with the frame for the next while, so that should keep me busy. I'm on the hunt for a rear end, and once I have that, I'll order all the suspension pieces and get at it!

 

[Torchie]

That's the nice thing about truck Cabs. They are easier to handle by yourself.[cl
[P [P [P
Torchie

 

[Old Iron]

Here's a width chart for donor rear ends.
You're looking for one in the 60" range [P[P[P


https://m.roadkillcustoms.com/rear-end-widths-classic-american-cars/

 

[BillM]

Thanks OI! That's a great chart.

 

[Bamamav]

I've seen that chart several places and they always print the same errors. It has a 67 Fairlane listed at 63" and with coil springs--no such animal. 67 Fairlane is 58", same as 66, same as Mustang. Another oddity is the 67 Cougar being listed wider, it's the same as that year Mustang. I don't know on the GM and Mopars, but suspect you'll find errors in them, too. Still gives you some ball park figures and vehicles to look under, if you can find any of them in a yard anymore....

 

[Old Iron]

I've seen that chart several places and they always print the same errors. It has a 67 Fairlane listed at 63" and with coil springs--no such animal. 67 Fairlane is 58", same as 66, same as Mustang. Another oddity is the 67 Cougar being listed wider, it's the same as that year Mustang. I don't know on the GM and Mopars, but suspect you'll find errors in them, too. Still gives you some ball park figures and vehicles to look under, if you can find any of them in a yard anymore....

Thanks Bama, It looks like the 2000+ 8.8 Explorer rear end will work in the Fairlane etc. then, they are 58"

 

[charliebob]

It looks like the 2000+ 8.8 Explorer rear end will work in the Fairlane etc. then, they are 58"

Actually, I think they are 59.625" WMS to WMS, at least the one I have from a 2000 Explorer/Mountaineer is.

 

[Old Iron]