The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Sheet metal is in mock up mode right now...but this is pretty close to the final look.


https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...15&oe=5E367FA9
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...64&oe=5DF8323C

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Holy crap Fire Truck Man...I LIKE that truck some plenty! And I hope you were serious about that being the "final" look. Fix that gap between the running board and fender and call it done! DD

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Wow love it!!!

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

That is cooler than dry ice.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Yeah the repair metal is being formed right now. I used a pair of donor running boards to cannabalize the needed sweep and length.


Other than a few spot in's with flat red and black, to just cover weld and grind areas, I'm leaving the paint alone.


I've got all the correct used vintage badges, radiator cap, horn and etc. to keep it as close to original equipment as possible.


I'm needing the stainless trim around the crank hole if anybody has one!

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

I have the parts to a ‘37 commercial that I’m going to start on soon. I took these picks in Northern NH. a while ago. The truck was at an ice cream stand... I guess they just let kids climb on it. It ought to be in the road ...... Mark

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

That looks like mine did before I took all the fire gear off!


I'd love to see a few more pics of the side with the running boards. Looks like maybe yours had the Hale Chrysler Flathead 6 powered pump unit between the box and cab also?https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...78&oe=5E315DAE

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Sorry if my post was confusing... the Firetruck in the pics was at an ice cream place in NH.
I have these two other pics.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

This is the mess that I own....

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Mess?! Looks like a jewel to me!

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

About 1995, I bought a real nice 1948 Seagrave open cab pumper (with the Pierce-Arrow flathead V12) from a guy in Mazomanie, WI. When we went down to pick it up, the guy who was selling it took us to a barn out of town where he kept his vehicles. I was blown away by the Seagrave (complete, with only 2300 road miles), but then I saw something back in the corner. It turned out to be a '37 Ford pickup that had been converted to a mini-pumper. It was a commercial conversion, not something hacked together, with a small pump driven off the front of the crankshaft and a bunch of related fire gear (pikes, axes, and a small ladder or two). It was in absolutely pristine condition with only 7800 miles. Alas, the purchase of one fire truck is a big deal, and I wasn't prepared to handle two, so I had to pass on it. The price? A princely $3000. Every time I think about it I kick myself.

This really has nothing to add to this thread, but the mention of a '37 Ford fire truck makes me want to kick myself again.

Didn't get a picture of the Ford, but here's the Seagrave. Did I mention that an antique fire truck is one of civilizations greatest social tools?

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

"I bought a real nice 1948 Seagrave open cab pumper (with the Pierce-Arrow flathead V12)"


Question about the V12. Did Seagrave buy the rights to the P-A V-12, or was Pierce still making engines?

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Seagrave bought the rights to the V12 at Pierce's bankruptcy. They continued to make them up to the early fifties. My engine is a 462 ci engine, just like the Pierce-Arrow engines. Each head on mine had "PA" inside a hexagon cast into each head. There is a thread on the H.A.M.B." where a guy in Brazil is building a speedster using one of these (it is an impressive build, BTW). His engine is later and is 518 ci and has "Seagrave" cast into the heads.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Super nice! Very Snappy! ya pretty cheezy of me... nice work!

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Took me a bit to find my archives of other "big" trucks converted to "bed 1/2 ton" trucks.



Again, very nice work, certainly how you maintained the original paint.


.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

I have a question about the bumpers.
My '35 didn't have one. I picked up a '37 for it.

I see no obvious differences from Tinkers, '35 & '36 pictures and Don's '37.

What, if any are the differences?

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

I think the bumpers are the same...only diffence being the vertical "bumperette" option.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Two obvious differences are the grills and windshields. The '37 windshield is V'd with two pieces of glass. At the very least, the grill bars run different directions (vertical vs horizontal) on '35-'36 vs '37. The louvers on the '37 hood also differ from the '35-6. DD

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

As my first sentence said, I was asking about the bumpers, only.

I learned to drive in a '36 Ford PU, that my dad bought in late '56. That's what I was looking for when I bought my '35.

The easiest way to tell a '35, from a '36, is the placement of the V8, in the middle of the '35, side hood and at the front of the '36 side hood. It's not hard to tell a '37, or later from either of them.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

I'm with you guys... This is an incredibly cool truck! I love the heavy pickups.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

A bit more progress on the Dually...


Trying to match up a 6 rib long running board to a 5 rib short board was a bit challenging. Ended up making a kerf in the center of the 3 outside ribs and pounding them down flat as possible. Had some pieces of non skid so I used it to cover up the now flat section.



There was no way I was gonna be able to match the 80+ years of rust pitting and texture of the long boards. So I did the best I could with my limited MIG and body experience.


Not by any means a "perfect" repair, but I'm trying to keep this whole project looking how it would if repaired on my Grandparents farm in the 40's and 50's.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Progress is a very good thing! Nice work.



Just a suggestion or thought (to be ignored certainly), if you stagger the ribs going back (inside to outside) it can look like a factory design, or less abrupt.



Great project and work.


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Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Not sure what you mean by staggering them going back? Can you explain?



The spacing for the 5 and 6 rib styles was way different, only the 2 inside ribs were even close.


My initial problem was the long running board was cut off years ago about 3", making it to short to bolt up to the fender. The 2 style of boards had differerent contours also.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Staggering the ribs along the board. No big deal and only a thought.



All good.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Don....That is some nice blending work! I can say that because I like your overall philosophy and the direction you're taking on this truck. I sure wouldn't mind being seen in this truck, AS IS! DD


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...6&d=1571835413

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Thanks, It's a learning curve!


Got all the original mechanical brake hardware reinstalled, adjusted and all 4 brakes operating and working well, even the parking brake system works.


Ya gotta love when 80+ year old clevis's and hardware are still serviceable.


So far EVERY grease zerk I've tried has taken and held grease.



The windshield now...that's a different story. Was able to get all but 2 of the frame to hinge screws out easily. So the stubborn ones are soaking in an acetone/ATF shower.


I'm enjoying the heck outta this...

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Funny thing Don, we live in sort of a parallel universe. As a kid growing up in North Seattle/Richmond Beach we spent most of our summer weekends at Hoodsport visiting my Uncle Dan who had a place on the canal. In recent years I also had a red '37 ton and a half for many years and have done three frankenstein running board matchups for big pickups. In my opening photo on my post 'before and after' if you look next to my daughter's left foot you'll see the joint where I overlapped and bolted the '38 cutoff front half to the bed donor's '47 rear half. The 38 has thicker running boards so I narrowed it down until where it bolts to the front fender. Some of you will know that the '47 tonner bed is too wide for a '38, so I sectioned it down 2 1/2" to clear the tires. I have really enjoyed watching what you are building with this truck. I agree it is a total blast coming up with something like this. Is there still the 'Model T Tavern' in Hoodsport?

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Yep the "Model T" is still here, I actually had lunch there today! A double stack "Model T Burger".


It's a fun project...My goal is the local small car show at the Eagle Creek Tavern in Lilliwaup this summer.

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Love the heavy stuff..... Sold this Studebaker on Tuesday to a guy on Camano Island. Yes, it has wood extensions on the M16 running boards. And I'm bringing him 2 more wheels because he is thinking 'dually'....

Re: The '37 Dually is finally coming together
 

Just now working on a quite rusty '39 windshield frame that wouldn't budge with soaking, heat, and so forth. Finally resorted to a jeweler's saw to cut the two halves apart. This works quite well, and removes almost no material from the frame itself.

Drilling out the remains of the connecting bars, on the other hand, is not much fun. But it works. Just thought I'd mention this approach as a last resort, and hope you won't have to go there!