Parade Preparations

Almost a month has passed since the last update, and honestly, not much has changed. The truck is now registered and insured, but not inspected as of yet. I haven't had the time or energy to take the truck in for inspection since I've been wicked busy at work again (summertime, so the overtime opportunities have increased!) Some things have happened though:

Completed Items!

• New License Plates! We're now registered as an antique with the plate "62IHC"!
• Truck is now located in Raymond, NH where I live, but will still be called the East Candia Volunteer Fire Department.
• We've entered our first parade: The Raymond 4th of July Parade. Come down and see us during the parade! We will then be in the Raymond Town Fair Parade the following Friday!
• Fuel gauge was repaired (faulty ground.) Fuel tank was also resealed.
• Pump was run from the tank....still flows water, but not well. I think it needs to be greased.
• All hose was removed, the hose bed was cleaned out, and the hose was repacked (all 1500' or so!)
• Booster reels were rewound.
• Pacific Pump (bumper mount portable) was finally repaired and now runs. Tested and it pulls a good draft, flows water very nicely!

Things to Still Do Before Parade!

• Oil pan will be dropped this weekend for cleaning, and an oil change will be done (hopefully all the crap in the block has fallen down into the pan!)
• AC generator is still down, but will be remounted for parade (requires a new carburetor.)
• Flasher units for front, rear, and side lights need to be replaced as they don't flash right. They are both turn signal flasher units, so the should be easy and cheap to replace.
• Throttle linkage needs slight adjustment.
• A few bolts are needed to secure bottom of grill cowling as it vibrates like crazy!
• New fuel filters (2) need to be installed. (One pre-pump and one pre-carburetor.)
• Another wash and wax, along with an interior vacuuming.
• Pacific Pump needs to be remounted on the bumper.
  

There is quite a laundry list of things, but it will get done over the next few weeks no problem. I've also been climbing around the truck to see how it's constructed for my future restoration I want to do in a few years. I'm planning (or at least when I get my house and garage that I want) to strip the truck to the frame and completely restore it myself (yes, just me, no professional help!) I think if I take a welding class, get a welding unit, and study my project I should be able to do it no problem. What I would like to do is take the truck body off of it, replace all the diamond plate and bad metal, remove the cab and replace the cab floor, sandblast the frame and paint it black, rework the pump and all the plumbing, then put it back together and get a new paint/lettering job. It will be a long project when I'm working on it, and I figured it will take me at least three to five years to complete. But with a full restoration like that, the truck will last a very long time with some TLC. Someday.