Freightrain

Update. Pulled left wheel off, seems the brakes are fine. Got a leaky wheel seal, let some grease drip on the drum and that's all. Picking up new seals this week.

Hmmm, wish my bounce was as simple as that(as simple as that can get). I still need to get the arms out of the back and rebush them..........sometime???

Glad to see your still checking in Fred. Glenn ain't no slacker when it comes to good, useful information. Unlike me LOL!! Stan's UFO trailer is gone if I recall(don't recall, maybe it got scrapped?). Not sure about the purple people eater? I know we discussed it, but CRS really suxs. I know the Pete car hauler went bye bye last summer.

OK, let me take a look Thursday and make sure it needs them. I did notice the other weekend out it has an ever so slight pull to the left on first touch of the brakes. Not severe, but made me notice and then yesterday it has a slight squeal as it just stops. Makes me think things are getting thin.

Great!! My racing season starts this weekend. I don't have much time to screw around waiting for relines. I do have a local place that does that kind of work, I guess I need to contact them and see if I can get a quick turn around. I have a two week window after Sunday to get it back together. I think I'm going to pull it down Thursday night to inspect. Don't think I'm in serious trouble, but I don't want to tear it up any worse then needed. I found my information sheet from 11 yrs ago when I was looking for BUDD hubs FA517 axle 16 1/2" x 4" brakes Brake drum number 17QJ3162B G630-2 B206

Are front brakes a shelf item or will they take some searching?

^^^ standard operating procedure for any truck Rob is going to drive. LOL!! Of course, it it gets bad, at least he can hook the Jeep to the front and pull it??? Sure that tow bar he has should hold up?? right??? Might be a bit tough stopping at traffic signals.

I know a fellow Ron Knarr, over Youngstown way that has a Big Al in his Freightliner. All original, very nice truck. It's the picture everyones buddy Bill Johnson is leaning on in the front pages of WOT.

Keep your spirits high. Come here often!!!

That southern drawllllll and his story telling abilities are a perfect match. Kinda like Stan Walls. BTW, Stan is still kicking, though not on the internet much anymore. Got out of mobile parking lot business about a year ago. I think he is working for son #1 presently(in the machine shop he originally started before the trucking bug bit). He snuck up behind me at South Bend and I hardly recognized him. Had more grey hair(then me) and a gotee.

Well, I should have the brake drum size written down for my truck(same specs as yours). Beside, I'll be pulling mine here very shortly as I think it needs pads. It started a little squeal yesterday when I stop. Not good. Only been 11 yrs? Didn't think I wore them that bad??? We'll see. Let me look tonight at my paperwork, I forgot to get it out this morning before I left for work.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^exactly that. The "pucker" factor was very high. It also makes it hard to get out of the seat when 3" of it is sucked up inside you LOL!!!!

Actually Tom is from Vinton, Ohio which is right outside of BFE, Ohio LOL!! I used to keep in touch more often myself, but haven't the last few years. Did talk at South Bend and he's still kicking along fine. He was my first call when I bought my B model. Actually, I think he contacted me when I tried bidding on a Manual on Ebay. It was downhill from there. I used to attend more of that clubs functions back in the day. With rising fuel costs, I don't see that group very often anymore. Fred used to frequent a few other diesel forums, though I haven't been around much myself, so can't say what happen to him.

The truck was really bad around town when the fronts were unhooked. Wow, that was a real eye opener when I first started driving it. I was so relieved when I hooked the front back up.

Hey, give him time. He's still washing his hand LMAO!!!!

I still have my limiter hooked up, even though when I bought the truck the front brakes were unhooked. I hooked everything back up and the limiter DOES work> I tried it once and it surely does take away from braking power. Wow, don't ever try it bobtailing as you WON'T stop in time(I tried it on a quiet road and was like it had nearly no brakes as the back locked up and slid). Yikes.

I may not be in diapers...........but I'm STILL breast feeding!!! Num, num, num, num...................... (I don't need to be on the cover of TIME magazine though)

I remember doing my king pins. Was simplier then I ever imagined. Few hours and it was in pieces ready for new bushings and install. Took them to buddys shop for press work and put it together. I was curious too about up/down movement as I think after 10 yrs mine has some(not sure how much, need to jack it up again). Never really worried too much, just screwed the plug in the bottom til snug and then found nearest hole for cotterpin. Keep it greased and seems to steer fine after all this time. Barry got me my kit, pretty cheap if I recall.

Beats the hell outta my '72 International pickup! $150 beater, suger corn pop yellar(actually safety yellar since it was an ex township truck). Gots lotsa room for the ladies on the way home, put the top down and have fun.

The fuel tanks are hooked together with a balance line. That keeps the amount the same in both tanks at all times. Yes, there are valves to be able to shut them off, but that is not normal operation.

Wish I had the spare change AND room to park it.

I've seen something like that before on TV. Wasn't Vin's, but it must of been one of those RV shows. It was a two level 'Up/down" like that. That's livin' large.

That's actually the LATCH, not the hinge. The hinge is the part where the hood pivots(kinda like the doors on a house). Those spring latches hold the hood down(not like it could fly up since it opens forward). Remember when using a rachet(or any wrench), to look in the immediate area to what you could bang your knuckles on. Guarantee you will slip and hit that exact spot no matter how careful you are and how straight you have the wrench. I can still remember back about 10-12 yrs ago, I was working in the front fenderwell of my race car. Using a 3/8" rachet trying to get a bolt loose. I was pulling TOWARDS my face as I leaned in the fenderwell. (remember that statement above?). I slipped and sucker punched myself in the face with my own fist(holding the rachet). Dammit. It's not "IF", but "WHEN" it will happen. Just a word to the wise.

He may want to get a sleeper cab if he does want to "live large".................LOL!! There isn't much space on the passenger side of a B model. This is what the bumper looked like on my truck when I bought it: Perfect for a towing company truck(previous owned by). Big and burly(read that: ugly). When my friend said "tell me what you want and I'll make if for you".....I wasn't going to make it stock. I carefully measured and played around with designs on the computer before sending it off to him. Within a couple weeks, that big ol bounder showed up at work on a large skid. Custom, one of a kind, never to be reproduced. Friend was part owner of Atlanta Stampings(truck bumper manufacturer), passed from cancer last summer. Hope I never need another one.

Well, here's my .02. I like stock bumpers, on most things. Custom bumpers are cool too, to a point. As per my truck: I has this custom built for my truck per my drawing. Most factory sized bumpers are too wide for a B model and stick out the sides. Mine is narrow and fits the truck better.