1948 Thriftmaster

[BillM]

Thanks ZZ, coming from you that's a compliment that I appreciate! They are a bolt in kit that's made by Altman, specific to AD's. Not cheap, but everything fit really well. "Bill's Truck" in Oshawa supplied them for me - shipped to my door in less than 24 hrs, for less $ than it would take me to drive one way! (and I didn't have to fight through Toronto traffic!)

 

[BillM]

I finally got some projects out of the shop and moved my truck in for a few little tweaks. I spent the better part of today under the truck, changed the trans filter, changed the trans cooler hoses (I used the wrong hose when I put the truck together!). There's nothing like working overhead with bifocals. My neck is going to be stiff tomorrow.

I want to put a little more caster into the front end while I'm at it. It drove really well last summer but didn't completely return to center after a slow speed turn
I wasn't sure what alignment specs to use initially so I set it to standard MII, I guess I'll add a little more.

 

[DozerII]

Working the bugs out takes a while, winter is a good time for it.[P[P

 

[Old Stuff]

Insanely late to this party but man the truck looks super. The wheels are perfect for it.

Taking the glass half full approach, working out the bugs means you are driving it! How super that is!

 

[BillM]

Finally shipped the 51 out for it's interior, hopefully the owner doesn't bring it back! It's been stored here more than worked on I think.
I reset my front end alignment from 3* caster to about 4.5*. I found the drivers side camber out a bit as well, so it's been reset. Its just one of those old magnetic dial levels that I use, so it's pretty tedious.....but tedious is right up my alley lately. Lol. Hopefully that additional caster helps it center, and adds some "weight" to the steering feel.

 

[DozerII]

There is something about doing your own alignment and getting it right that makes a guy feel good. [P[P

 

[bob w]

I agree with Dozer. The satisfaction is good. Saving money is nice too.

 

[dutch]

hey Bill, that delivery looks almost as nice as your truck...

 

[MercuryMac]

Bill, I believe that when you do your own wheel alignment you can use the machine numbers and common sense, where as the the shop guys can only use the machine numbers.
Keep up the good work.

 

[Old Iron]

We have a half dozen shops around here that will set them to whatever you want.
Doing it yorself is satisfying tho.

 

[BillM]

I had a local pinstriper/graphic artist come by yesterday and put our farm name on the truck. As a kid, I don't recall any doors painted on any of our trucks, but I can remember the placard on the stake sides of our old 63 International. I gave him a little direction as to what we wanted, and asked that the lettering look like it had been on the truck for 74 years. I couldn't be happier with what he did.

 

[forbigpicture]

Looks great Bill !!!
I think you found the right guy for the job...

[cl[cl[cl
[P[P[P

 

[Old Iron]

Sign painters and pin stripers are a bread of their own.

 

[kenny c]

Excellent![cl

 

[zzrodder]

Looks like it's been on there for decades, great job! [cl[cl

 

[dutch]

That turned out awesome [cl

 

[bob w]

Just right.[cl

 

[soltz]

Profectoo [cl

 

[BillM]

Thanks all!
Finally received my vibrant resonators, so they are installed now. The truck sounds about the same, but I won't know if it solved my drone issue until I can drive it again. My laneway is a bit of a mud hole right now so a test drive is likely a little ways off yet. I'll be disappointed if the drone is still there, but I do have room for a crossover tube, and then J tubes if I get really desperate!

 

[Torchie]

Love the doors.
Torchie