Buying '78 Lil Red Express Truck

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

I finished repacking the bearings on both front axles today. The passenger side had plenty of grease and looked good, but replaced grease and seal anyway. Gonna take the rear drums off tomorrow and inspect shoes and hardware. If all good, I'll button it up and replace the brake fluid with my Mighty-Vac either tomorrow or Saturday. Next, install the new fuel pump, install the heat manifold, and run the vacuum lines as was configured from the factory. I'll post pics tomorrow or Saturday.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I purchased a new thermostat and coolant to change them out. Will likely flush it next week.

Cheers, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

Great you are moving along glad found no problems with the front discs, hope that is the same with the rears, good idea to replace the seals. What kind of coolant does the '78 take.

 

[Wiredawg]

I bought the garden variety yellow Prestone, concentrated. I think I'm going to install a Prestone flushing kit into the heater hose too.

Cheers, Ron

 

[TFucili]

I bought the garden variety yellow Prestone, concentrated. I think I'm going to install a Prestone flushing kit into the heater hose too.

Cheers, Ron

The good old days when coolant was coolant. No worry of HOATs, OATs, Barley, Wheat, Hops, or Alfalfa.

 

[HPSimpson]

Great Prestone coolant easy to have on hand, when I but coolant for the other four Rams I have i write on coolant bottle which truck it's for.

 

[Wiredawg]

Rats, no work on the LRE today. Box blades the 1/4 mile road today. Maybe get some done tomorrow.

A little sore.

Cheers, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

Looks good do good work with little tractor, what do you spray on the road keep dust down?

 

[Wiredawg]

Looks good do good work with little tractor, what do you spray on the road keep dust down?

We don't spray it... still moist from rain. It can be like talcum powder when dry. We crowned the road and filled chug holes.

Cheers, Ron

 

[jhenderson]

When I worked for our town I made a calcium chloride brine to apply to our gravel roads. Applied at about 2/10ths of a gallon per sq yd it made a huge difference in maintenance costs. At that rate vehicles picked up no solution that would cause corrosion because it was absorbed immediately.

 

[Wayne M.]

When I worked for our town I made a calcium chloride brine to apply to our gravel roads. Applied at about 2/10ths of a gallon per sq yd it made a huge difference in maintenance costs. At that rate vehicles picked up no solution that would cause corrosion because it was absorbed immediately.

Or you could just do what some guys went to jail for about 40 years ago. Use the PCB oil on landfill roads from the transformers and other sources. I do remember the sheen those roads had when going to the dump as a kid.

 

[Wiredawg]

Welp, just straightening up today... got some RV buddies coming over to plan 8 to 12 months RV outings. They still work (AF retirees working Civil Svc).

Here's a couple pics of completed fronts and open rears. Shoes and drums in perfect condition, hardware crapped out, broken springs. Got new wheel cylinders, a hardware rebuild kit, and plenty brake parts cleaner. Will git'r done Monday.
Fronts done

Crappy rear.

Love these COOL LED work lights... no more mechanics sun burn and sweating.

LRE on jack stands.

Cheers, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

Looks really good coming along, what did you think after 42 years things do tend break, yes those LED lights are real nice I like the little cart deal.

 

[Wayne M.]

Ron, do you have a stuck wheel cylinder or park brake cable? Why isn’t that leading shoe on its anchor pin?
I thought they went through this truck before you bought it?

 

[Wiredawg]

Ron, do you have a stuck wheel cylinder or park brake cable? Why isn’t that leading shoe on its anchor pin?
I thought they went through this truck before you bought it?

Has a broken spring... all the hardware on the rears is in crappy shape. Parking brake worked great. Very glad i got around to pulling the wheels, hubs, and drums. I'm still excited and happy with the truck.

Looks are great, inside and out, engine, transmission, front end, steering, drive shaft, rear end all in great shape. Hard to believe the electrical, brakes, and details on the engine were bad. They had to be charging the battery at the consignment business to keep her running. I imagine there's some shady deals going on and I had opportunity to have a mechanic check it out, but I didn't. I lucked out.

Still, happy with it, looks and mechanicals will be great with about $500 I invested in parts, tools, and materials. Glad I'm gifted in the areas that were lacking.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

Looks really good coming along, what did you think after 42 years things do tend break, yes those LED lights are real nice I like the little cart deal.

You're exactly right about 42 year old truck. I should've done this right after getting electrical redone. There was a definite insinuation this had a frame off, and likely did, just some things half arsed. I'm just very glad I AM doing this. When done, this truck will be rock solid. Hard to believe new shoes and pads. Grease in hubs was new and so were oil seals.

I'm still really excited about this truck and now will have full confidence in it at any speed.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wayne M.]

Ron, please know that I’m not knocking the Lil Red! I just thought all that was gone through.
I like doing those brakes! Brings me back to my youth when I did em all the time.
I had to assemble this setup from a jumbled box of parts as one task to get my job 31 years ago. One caution is to make sure you keep the adjusters on the proper side as they’re threaded left/ right. You flunked if you assembled anything wrong, and the proctor would pluck the adjuster cable to see if the star wheel would advance, and the adjuster would extend.

 

[Wiredawg]

Ron, please know that I’m not knocking the Lil Red! I just thought all that was gone through.
I like doing those brakes! Brings me back to my youth when I did em all the time.
I had to assemble this setup from a jumbled box of parts as one task to get my job 31 years ago. One caution is to make sure you keep the adjusters on the proper side as they’re threaded left/ right. You flunked if you assembled anything wrong, and the proctor would pluck the adjuster cable to see if the star wheel would advance, and the adjuster would extend.

Hey Wayne, I know you're not knocking it. I consider we're all friends with many common interests. I was actually knocking it a little myself, for what I paid should hav NOT had to do anything. This truck was recently redone... it had not been on the road or very little. Happily though, it's easy stuff that's inexpensive for do it youselfer, like me.

We're good and I always appreciate your comments and advice.

Cheers Brother Wayne, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

Ron, I am really glad the pest Homer keep after you to do through inspection of the running gear, your absolute always appreciate the help!

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

I finished the left rear brakes today. The adjuster was rusted frozen, but soaking with WD40 fixed it. Really nice having the FSM.

Cheers, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

Glad to hear you now have real brakes to stop the Cop Motor!