The VTCS m756a2 Pipeline Truck

[Another Ahab]

It's shaping up real nice.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

We put the grille on today and added the oilboard stencils. The paintmask stars and hood numbers will wait a little longer.

 

[Another Ahab]

That is looking SO good.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

That is looking SO good.

It's definitely not perfect, but I'm quite happy with how it's turning out.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

Yesterday we had a chance to do some more stenciling including the hood and door stars, and the circle for the bridge weight on the door. These paint mask stencils were made by our friend Rick Larsen who was also a big help in getting this truck home to VT. Thanks Rick!

We'll add the registration number to the sides of the hood soon.

 

[EO2NMCB]

That's a great looking piece of history you have there!

 

[gimpyrobb]

I know I'm late to the party, but I have some metal marker lights and black out markers if needed. Let me know if you want pics.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

That's a great looking piece of history you have there!

Thanks!

I know I'm late to the party, but I have some metal marker lights and black out markers if needed. Let me know if you want pics.

Thanks Gimpy. I think we've got everything we need for marker lights, we've just got to sandblast the housings and put them together.

 

[onemanarmy]

Yesterday we had a chance to do some more stenciling including the hood and door stars, and the circle for the bridge weight on the door. These paint mask stencils were made by our friend Rick Larsen who was also a big help in getting this truck home to VT. Thanks Rick!
View attachment 639927View attachment 639925View attachment 639926
We'll add the registration number to the sides of the hood soon.

This is the 12" door star?

Looks incredible

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

This is the 12" door star?

Looks incredible

Thanks. The door stars are 16".

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

Added the rear duals, some more stenciling, and the exhaust stack (after replacing the bottom of the rotten J-pipe).

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

Drove the truck out the tent today, then added new headlights, new convoy lights, the worklights, and about half of the clearance lights. We also repaired some parts of the harness and my brother modified the wiring under the dash so the front park lights come on with the headlights. All the lights work so far! We're going to make new auxiliary light harnesses, there is one for the lights at the top of the cage, one for the clearance lights at the front of the bed, and one for all the rear clearance lights.

 

[Another Ahab]

That truck looks clean enough to eat off; sure is a pretty sight.

 

[cattlerepairman]

This always turns out to be a lot more work that needs more parts and more time than originally planned!

 

[tommys2patrick]

Not sure if this was asked before, my apologies if so. What are your plans for the bed--steel plate, diamond tread, wood, some combination of materials. not sure but I think the original what just flat steel plate. This is a great looking truck. Hats off for saving and the wonderful job you've all done.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

It will be wood held down with metal strips, which is original for the pipeline trucks. We've got all the wood set to go, it just needs to be painted and a few boards need some cutting to fit the stake pockets and anchor points.

 

[tommys2patrick]

It will look great I think. 2 x 6 or similar? I saw one that had been modified at some point in its life and it had a steel deck. So I thought this was perhaps the way they came. Kind of like the sides of a deuce bed were just cut off.

I assume this will have parade duty mostly? Any place your average Joe can some see?

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

The boards vary from 1.5x3.5 to somewhere around 1.5x8. The truck will lead an easy life, but it will see some use here and there. In the next week or so we're hoping to get all the essentials done to get it road worthy, including new brake lines, engine hoses, filters and fluids changed. After a couple shakedown runs it's going right to work towing home a couple deuces from across town.
Pics and hopefully some video will be posted.

 

[Another Ahab]

It will be wood held down with metal strips, which is original for the pipeline trucks. We've got all the wood set to go, it just needs to be painted and a few boards need some cutting to fit the stake pockets and anchor points.

Have you considered staining the boards, instead of painting them?

The only reason I ask is that the problem with paint is that it can flake off over time, but stain doesn't present that problem (it's "in" the wood; not "on" it). But maybe you knew that already.

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

We've thought about it but painting it will give it the look we want.


It smokes a little under load... It hasn't ran for years other than since we got it home, and who knows how long since it's been run hard. Hopefully it will clear up with some clean diesel run through it and some drive time.

The auxiliary harnesses and all the lights are now on the truck and all of them work. We still need to tidy up some wiring here and there.