Posted by Chewie [172.69.17.130] on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 16:25:16 :
So it's been a while since I posted much of anything and since things seem a little slow around here, I thought I'd start something.
My retirement countdown is now at 20 months. I'll be 57 then. Union shop, so 30 and out with pension and insurance. I had nine years in with the othery factory, so I'm absolutely ready.
When I brought home my first truck (79 Scout), I worked on it a little at a time, but when I started the new job, I learned that the overtime and nature of my union position was never going to leave time to get it done. Even less time after I got married. So I sold it, and we started looking for (and buying) future projects for my eventual retirement. We have a B-3PW, a VF, and an M37 as projects. We moved a few times, hauling them with us, storing them when we couldn't take them until we finally ended up with a place that has everything we wanted and a place for everything we have.
We've had lots of different ideas for the trucks over the years. They change when I find parts. Or another truck. But so far, the VF is getting the 9 foot bed and a V8. The M37 has a 318A already, so swapping it for another V8 won't be much of a stretch, but it will get an automatic so Cheri can drive it. Foot and back surgery has made driving a clutch difficult for her and she really likes that truck. The B-3 is a (big) question mark. It needs about everything done, including frame work. No title and I have not had much luck finding all the digits in the VIN. Truth be told, I've been on and off the fence about selling it.
We also started a small business repurposing wood from old barns. Many years ago I tore down a small barn (with a hammer, crow bar and a step ladder) and sold some of the wood to a family member. I've done the same with old house trim a time or two, and as there are a lot of old barns around here, (and I like old Dodge trucks) we decided to set up a business. Since most barns here in northeast Iowa are big, a guy needs big equipment to salvage them. I've managed to bring home a W500 bucket truck to get up to the peaks, a W600 crane truck, 'cause who doesn't want a crane? It's got a Cascade (TCM) knuckle boom a bed mounted 10K Braden with gin poles. We also bought a D500 with a dumping grain bed. All I need now is a sweptline short bus to use as a tool crib/break room and I will have a whole set.
Tear down a barn, save the good wood, store it, sell what I don't want and save the rest for future use.
I bought another W600 last year that has a Brazilian diesel, an Allison MT653, a Spicer 6231 (2.14, D, .69), the Rockwell TC and 4.88 gears. I'm going to swap in a Cummins and move the rear axle farther back to lengthen the drive shaft. The current shaft is really short with steep angles. I think they swapped a whole ford driveline into it, but left the axles. Rockwell rear and a 6K closed knuckle Dana 70 up front with 4.88's. I want to swap a crew cab body onto it and use it to haul other trucks and pull a camper..
I drive the 65 D500 mostly every day. Hard to park, but it's easy to find. The only issue it's had is a rusty fuel tank. I swap fuel filters on a regular basis and I just put in a sediment bowl to help until I can get the tank replaced.
I don't think I've ever written this much, . Cheri had me send her a copy of this so she'd know what to do if I don't live long enough to get them all done..
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