Ironmightys Americana 1952, 58,59, 73 & 85

[ironmighty07]

All the old fluid purged out the Plymouth, still need to swap in all the new components(Master cyl & servo, rear cyls and calipers plus hoses) but fair to say the old stuff was proper rank😱.. even now the pedal feels better though

The water leak on the E350 was what I hoped for, so despite ordering fresh main hoses it was the connection between heater and the block...

Whilst despite some awesome access around the engine this connection is a pita to get at, and don't have any hose to finish it today....

and I found that there's some sketchy electrics needing sorting...pretty confident those glow plug connectors aren't Ford OE😳




Lots on the "to do" list, but just got to work my way through them and no doubt keep finding other 'challenges' along the way🙂

[ironmighty07]

Addressing the hose issue today, whilst the little hose was the problem for water loss, glad I made call to change them all. Both main hoses showing signs of misshapen/bulging.. didn't get finished as didn't have enough new hose clips and every factor in town doesn't open Sundays😔


Did manage a little trip out in the sunshine in the Plymouth yesterday, last time before I rebuild the front suspension and upgrade brakes/steering.

[ironmighty07]

OK, this just "happened"....

... jokes aside I wasn't happy about how cracked all the sidewalls were on the current tyres and since its not MoT exempt it would get called out come April.

Despite having 2 sets of decent wheels(including awesome slot mags), they're both 16.5"diameter, which is pretty impossible to source in All Terrains now and at a cost that makes sense😵‍💫(Northants advised they are an obsolete size for non plant/HGV applications effectively but suspect they could be found in the USA) ...so decided to bite the metaphorical bullet and go new, and also step up to 17s(16s wouldn't clear the calipers on the front)...looking forward it's far easier to source 17" tyres in the UK. First job of the weekend is get them out the living room and onto the vehicle.

So if anyone wants to buy some 16.5s 8 Lug rims then drop me a note🙂
Did think polished with a glass top the slots would make an awesome coffee table.

[glenanderson]

Nice. Looks like they've got a different offset to the ones on there, or is that just my eyes/the camera angle?

[ironmighty07]

Oct 27, 2022 10:18:51 GMT glenanderson said:

Nice. Looks like they've got a different offset to the ones on there, or is that just my eyes/the camera angle?

Combination of angle, slightly less offset and a narrower rim(these are 9"wide, the others were 10"). Took that decision to reduce amount to which it protrudes beyond the arch despite how good it looks as a "swamp" truck.

[glenanderson]

Oct 27, 2022 10:26:54 GMT ironmighty07 said:

Oct 27, 2022 10:18:51 GMT glenanderson said:

Nice. Looks like they've got a different offset to the ones on there, or is that just my eyes/the camera angle?

Combination of angle, slightly less offset and a narrower rim(these are 9"wide, the others were 10"). Took that decision to reduce amount to which it protrudes beyond the arch despite how good it looks as a "swamp" truck.

Cool.  

I was trying, politely, to say "they look like they won't stick out as much as the current ones", but I didn't want my own personal aesthetics to be weeing on your fireworks if that wasn't the case!   

Will be good to see them fitted, I imagine they'll be a big improvement all round. 

[Ralph.Wrecked.It]

Oh yes, strong choice. They are going to look absolutely spot on! Can't wait to see the update after the weekend.

So happy I get to enjoy this van vicariously through this forum and yourself, as I fell in love with the looks of it when it was up for grabs.

[ironmighty07]

Like a kiddie at Xmas I couldn't leave the wheels in the lounge....and its an easy job to do at night if light got the better of me....



Slight stumbling block encountered... rear wheel studs are OE 9/16UNF....the fronts however are 1/2UNF with it being a 4WD front...enthusiastically scuttle to the garage as got some US long Lug nuts, but turns out they're metric, so hopefully right ones here for Saturday🤞
With the rears on, and the spacers removed the rims sit just about right in the arches to avoid incurring unnecessary legal scrutiny🙂

[Ralph.Wrecked.It]

haha good man, yup that is a 10/10 win from me!

[crockpot]

That'll do, don't bother wrapping it, just drop it in my drive.

[glenanderson]

Wheels and tyres make or break a vehicle and those, IMHO, look absolutely spot on.  

[ironmighty07]

1/2 UNF nuts didn't land on Saturday so front wheels are still in the living room(have mounted 1 of 2 spares in the van... second to go on swingaway spare wheel when I decide to how to fabricate it.

Decided to take down to the local Cars & Coffee event, only small but 10-15 mins from home...arrived to find a leak(suspected that last weekend but too wet to find it). Tracked to the bottom hose, a borrowed screwdriver and approx 3/4 of a turn later and no more leaks finally😊...










With the cooling system now sorted(including quite a functional heater), wheels to sort next week, its time to address the leaky roof and grotty rain channel/gutter.
Think I'm subbing out painting the Plymouth tailgate/spare wheel cover, before stripping the front suspension for rebuild now.

[ironmighty07]

The full set of wheels are now on, interestingly, the front axle appears slightly wider than the rear.
Safe to say I'm very happy with the outcome after the faffing. I could have held off and done them at a later date nearer the MoT, but sometimes you just have to do the fluffy stuff. Next up welding the rocker cover which is damaged(hammer strike I think) and fit decent c/case breather system, relocate batteries and a proper air intake and filter.

[glenanderson]

Definitely an improvement 👍👍👍

[Morris63]

Well, that's your winter beater well and truly sorted!

[ironmighty07]

Amidst the various jobs on the ole American trio bits of body work(specifically paint) was needed on the big Plymouth. Without the room to fit it anywhere indoors at home I made the decision to sub it out..... ironically the most impressive bit is the least visible... The twisted Valance now lovely and straight🙂




Also whilst keeping the patina on the main body the roof and gutters needed a refresh...

So from this...

To this....


Best crack on with the Transmission change on the Chevy before I rebuild the Plymouth front suspension🫣

[grenade]

That van is awesome. All this stuff is! How did I miss this

[ironmighty07]

Taking the opportunity to do some work on the assorted projects(and consider adding another😳)

Not necessarily the most productive weekend, the HEI distributor swap on the Plymouth didn't work, clearly for a later 318 so going for a PerTronix unit now... more delays and hassle waiting for spares.

Since it was now partially stripped decided to start the Servo upgrade... knew the bracket would need modifying but trial fit(bulkhead reinforcement bracket is being refitted but trialled on the existing mounts) confirmed it fits... but couple of challenges. Firstly needs bracket needs sectioning to create a more upward angle(presently pointing about 10° downwards) , and the clevis to the pedal is offset to one side so a tweak needed there.

It's close to the rocker cover, without catching and will make accessing the spark plug awkward isn't impossible but more confident brakes are worth if. Looks like there's a balance valve mounted on the chassis rail somebody fitted as part of original disc conversion.



Then onto the Ford, MoT upcoming and a couple of the ball joint boots look a little sketchy...and here's the run... an obscure 4wd conversion means trying to ID drag links and track rod ends is steeped with risk of the wrong parts... it "might" be early non-IFS F250 front end, or they "might" be original E350 buts.. so educated guess and a Rock Auto order is on the way(but forgot the replacement steering damper)


And finally, the vision for the panel truck is taking shape.. M57 conversion to happen(donor sat at a different location), so will build it as a patina model for this year but have a colour scheme in mind for 2024 as cool as patina is it's a pain to maintain.

[ironmighty07]

I am Ironmighty07 and I have a problem with discipline😳



Working my way through the other projects, still having problems sorting the correct electronic ignition for the Plymouth including shipping issues and goods not even getting out the US. Really frustrating issue. Hopefully finalising the servo bracket modifications this weekend though.

At the third spares order I now have all the "right" parts for the steering refresh on the Ford... mostly it's all period appropriate E350 spares and not earlier F250 spares as potentially indicated.

[ironmighty07]

Definitely one of those frustrating days, with pretty much everything part dismantled right now...
Today was sort the punctured right rear, thankfully able to get that plugged and then fix the leaking wheel cylinder... seller had recently replaced the seals, but clearly damaged them assembling it, sorted but now can't find my single person bleed kit🙄




As always, as you dig into any new acquisition, especially one that's 71 year old, you find lots of stuff you don't like /aren't happy with and today was wiring... chunks of 3 core mains cable and 7 core towbar cable running through parts of the vehicle.. lots of black cable that is 12v live so more work needed earlier than planned... and I can't find the wing mirrors I have stashed away somewhere either😬... but like every other car on the elderly fleet, it looks cool as a penguins wotnots😎