L Fire Engine Restoration

[CaptainCrutch 91]

Just wanted to share some photos of the in progress restoration of my old LS. Right now she runs but very poorly but that should be fixed in a few weeks. After that it’ll take a while before any metal work or paint gets done which it will most certainly need.

 

 

Edited January 13 by CaptainCrutch

[Hobert62 1,130]

We like pictures.  Thanks, and good luck

[Hobert62 1,130]

What's the blueish boxy thing in the center of this pic?

[CaptainCrutch 91]

If I remember correctly it has something to do with the alternator and was added on after the fact. I’m not 100% sure though.

[h67st 589]

Is it a transformer, such as 12 volt to 6 volt (or vice versa)?

[CaptainCrutch 91]

That’s right, i believe a 12 to 24 volt transformer because it has dual ignition coils but I’m still certain it was added on after the fact when she had a bunch of mods made to her to lengthen her service life into the 80s.

[609albert 52]

It is actually a rectifier my LS85  pumper has one and the many I have seen have them to balance voltage. 

[kevink1955 9]

Getting closer, It's a Rectifier.  It converts the 3 phase AC output of the Alternator to DC for the trucks electrical system.   Same function as the Diodes in a modern Alternator.  There used to be a kit to replace it with a heat sink with 6 diodes mounted to it, worked good not sure if anyone still makes them.

[CaptainCrutch 91]

I’ve got a few build photos from and a few shots from when she was still in service. Her sister is the 1954 3 Door LS85 on that brochure. Last time anyone’s seen her was back in 2014 when she was for sale on GovDeals and all our searching for her has led us to being told she was scrapped. It’s a shame such a beautiful engine is gone, but atleast one of the duo still remains and will be roaring through the streets of Maryland again soon.

Edited January 16 by CaptainCrutch

[CaptainCrutch 91]

So we’re working on getting everything together to be able to get it painted once it’s back together and we noticed that the decal on the front fenders are missing. If anyone could get me a good picture or diagram of one that would be amazing. They were there when it was still in service and it looks like the truck was repainted in the 80s or 90s without the fender decals.

It looks like this but I don’t have any high quality images of it but it looks to be a somewhat standard thing as I’ve found the design on several other engines one of which is the lower picture.

The more I keep looking at pictures the more it feels weird not having them there.

Edited January 16 by CaptainCrutch

[CaptainCrutch 91]

Update: I’ve tried searching around and I can’t find any good pictures on the internet of the decal but I have found that it’s on a lot of old L fire trucks. If worse comes to worse I know of a company in Hagerstown with an L that has those decals so I can try to convince them to let me snap a few pictures and take measurements. Still any help is much appreciated.

[yarnall 897]

I’ll take pictures of mine if I think of it next time I am there.  Mike. 

[Vladislav 2,317]

Nice truck.

Good luck on the progress and thank you for sharing the pictures.

[CaptainCrutch 91]

We’ve finally received all the parts so she should be back together and running in the next few days. Can’t wait to finally hear that old 707 chugging the way she should after all these years. I’ll see if I can get some new pictures of her when we have her out.

[yarnall 897]

If you send me your number I’ll text a picture of my gold leaf.  It will not let me post it.  Mike. 

[CaptainCrutch 91]

In case anyone else ever needs it. It does look exactly the same as on the early pictures of my truck and the others with similar gold leaf. I’ve done some more research and found 20+ more trucks with that exact look, just never a good picture of it.

Thanks a bunch yarnall!

Edited February 2 by CaptainCrutch

[CaptainCrutch 91]

I was just at the mechanic today, the guy rebuilding the heads has been sick and now that he’s finally better he realized that some code on it doesn’t match up right so he has to rebuild them based on measurements. Should have it back on Friday. We’re so close.

[CaptainCrutch 91]

The key word with this project seems to be ‘should’. The guides for the heads were supposed to come in at the beginning of last week but they came in Yesterday. At this point we’re praying we can get it back by the end of the week but with an upcoming snowstorm on the way it’s not looking good, and we definitely won’t risk taking it home with slick roads. ‘Should’ be sometime next week at the latest but who knows at this point. It ‘should’ have been done before the end of last month, but good things come to those who wait, so patient we must stay.

[CaptainCrutch 91]

It’s coming back together!

Latest update says starting it Thursday morning and having it roaring down the streets of Maryland later that day. What funny is one of the big delays was the fact that her replacement, Independent’s new Engine 12, was also in the shop and obviously the wagon still in service took priority. I’ll send pictures when I can, but I will say that her chrome shines brightly, or atleast what you can see if it behind the rust.

[j hancock 10,537]

Nothing better than clean parts going back together!

[CaptainCrutch 91]

It’s all back in one piece, minus the hood, and we had it out and running around today. It seemed to be down on power and come to find out the fuel pump needs to be rebuilt. I’ll try to see if I can get some better pictures later.

[Hobert62 1,130]

That's a great day!   I remember driving mine the first time with no fenders and stuff.  

[Pacifica Pete 9]

Nice work, what a cool rig!

[h67st 589]

That looks kind of neat with no hood and that dog standing proud out there by himself.

[CaptainCrutch 91]

Just brought it back home.