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i bought a truck my FIRST car

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jake wells

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
well:bannana: it doesn't run so i got to fix the brakes and fuel system it is a 1948 dodge b series flatbed 1.5 ton paid 500
the guy said he put a new engine and tranny in it but the owner didn't pick it up :00000060: it has a a flathead 6 230?? dont know if its 6 or 12 volt it is solid no rotten spots and the ancient tires hold air bias ply but no pictures can anybody give me any pointers?? any help would be very helpful

thanks and god bless

Jake
 
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#3 ·
if top of battery has three caps to put water in it's a 6 volt , if it has 6 it's a 12 volt .

silver hair deere
 
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#5 ·
Well Jake - Here is a moment in time that you will probably remember for the rest of your life.

I figure there are three things a man remembers till the day he dies:

His mother's birthday

The day he joined and left the military

His FIRST car.

Have fun, take your time and enjoy your first car. I might add that you've picked a classic too.

Mark
 
#6 ·
jake wells said:
well:bannana: it doesn't run so i got to fix the brakes and fuel system it is a 1948 dodge b series flatbed 1.5 ton paid 500
the guy said he put a new engine and tranny in it but the owner didn't pick it up :00000060: it has a a flathead 6 230?? dont know if its 6 or 12 volt it is solid no rotten spots and the ancient tires hold air bias ply but no pictures can anybody give me any pointers?? any help would be very helpful

thanks and god bless

Jake
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Welcome to the forum Jake. I only have one pointer to give you and that is if you're going to tinker with this kind of equipment buy yourself a volt/ohm meter and you'll learn to depend on it. Most any simple cheeeeep analog meter will do. Have fun with your Dodge. Those engines were still used in the early 1950s Massey combines.
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And mark777 is correct. I remember my first car very well. It's the one I pushed more miles than I drove. :ROF
 
#7 ·
Find every grease fitting on it and grease them. While it is up off the tires, grab the front wheels and see how much play is in the front end. Pack the front wheel bearings w/ grease (this means taking the front wheels off) and while you are at it, see how much lining is left on the brakes and if the wheel cylinders are leaking. After you put the front wheels back on (adjusting the nut in the middle to zero play), shaking each wheel up and down will tell you how good the kingpins are (a little play is OK). Pulling side to side will show you how much wear there is in the steering parts. Have someone do it ( if you need help) and observe WHERE the looseness is, replace parts if there is more than a little play.
More important than anything else is the brakes. This is not a "Dual master cylinder" set-up where you have the front and back brakes separated so if one fails - you can still somewhat stop. You would be best to rebuild every wheel cylinder and master cylinder and replace every flexible line. Remember this is an old truck.
Are you SURE you want to get into this much work? I have just listed the BEGINNING of what you need to do.:crybaby:
 
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#8 ·
I wouldn't drive it a foot until I replaced every part of the brakes, this means linings if needed, every wheel cylinder (2 each in the front I'm thinking) every rubber brake hose & every hard line, and the master cylinder. NAPA will have it all most likely.

Then Before I tried them out, I'd also be sure the emergency brake worked. That is what I do on every old car Ive worked on. They may be ugly and they may not go very well, but they sure as heck stop.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
well guys thanks i have a volt ohm meter the brakes are shot
but that is typical i will rebuild the brakes :crybaby: and pack grease in every fittings just to ask when redone how is the brakes but this is a dodge so i think i will have fun if my Chinese made wallet can support it:praying:
 
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Discussion starter · #12 ·
JD2030 said:
I hope you have the title to that vehicle before you go dumping a bunch of money into it. Good luck on getting it fixed though.
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it does a good clear Kentucky title and i found out more i didn't look at power plant real good and i am correct this time i figured out it has a 241 V8 with a wussy one barrel
that is looking in great shape and there is bees in the gas tanks:hide:
 
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Discussion starter · #13 ·
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#15 ·
Welcome to the world of old Dodge trucks. The stock electrical system was 6-volt positive ground until about 1955 (unless you had the Dodge diesel '39-41, which had 6V postive for most stuff and 24V positive for the starter). Voltage may be marked on the generator label.

Joining in with everybody else, definitely start with the brakes and the wheel bearings.
 
#16 ·
Pull a headlight, see what voltage it is.

Wouldn't matter to me though 12v conversion is easy, especially if you have vacuum wipers.

If you have cloth covered wires with no cloth, you are looking at wiring first. I've done quite a few swaps...74 Nova wiring harness in a 1954 henry J.
1966 Chevy Impala in a 1954 ford.
 
#17 ·
Welcome to the group.

Sounds like a great project. How about some pictures? I am sure you will be rewiring the truck for safety and your own sanity. Chasing old, multi spliced wiring can drive a person crazy. Get is starting, running well, and stopping before anything else.

Paul
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
ar2stp48 said:
Welcome to the group.

Sounds like a great project. How about some pictures? I am sure you will be rewiring the truck for safety and your own sanity. Chasing old, multi spliced wiring can drive a person crazy. Get is starting, running well, and stopping before anything else.

Paul
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i dont own a camera:sorry1:
 
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jake wells
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