It has been about a year since I have reported on the old truck. Progress has been slow, with very little to see.

I got an exhaust system on it. This is mostly made up of scrap pieces that I got with the '68 engine. The muffler is from the '68. The hanger (on top of the muffler) is the same one Kirk used, and might be an original '41 part (one of very few I am reusing).

I relocated the muffler to the right side of the truck so that I can (eventually) put the gas tank on the left.

I finally got my brakes done. I put brake fluid in it a few weeks ago, and after fixing a few leaks, the back brakes feel strong. There are no front brakes at this time. I plan to replace the whole front suspension at some point, and brakes will be part of that, but for now, the front lines are plugged off.

I replaced all of the brake line. This shows some of the plumbing.

I spent a lot of time shortening a water pump pulley. The original pulley on the '68 engine was definitely going to hit the radiator. There is a 5/8 inch shorter water pump that will fit this engine, but that would mean the pulley would no longer align with the rest of the engine. So I had to figure out how the shorten the pulley by 5/8, while keeping it centered up and true, a whole nother story in itself: "How to shorten a water pump pulley".

It now might clear the radiator. I will be mounting an electric fan on the front side of the radiator.

I replaced the battery box. Time and battery acid has not left much of the original. This box will mount in the same location, under the floor, and also will hold the parking brake lever, which use to attach to the transmission.

I dont have any great pictures of it installed, but you can kind of see it at the bottom of the parking brake lever. This picture also leads me into the new floor pan. The original transmission was quite a lot smaller, and the floor pan was one large flat panel. But the new transmission sticks up a little, requiring a hump in the floor. For ease of maintenance, I am going to make the floor three pieces instead of one.

This shows how much the floor will have to raise over the transmission. This piece used to go straight across where the transmission is. I have modified it for clearance, and it just barely clears.

Its not done yet, but this is how it will fit.

-bill