NEWEST PROJECT Super-rare 1956 INTERNATIONAL 4X4

This weekend was delivery day for the newest project in the E-tek Restoration shop. This one will appeal to a different audience in some respects because, even though it's still "general restoration", it's also a rare truck - and a 4 wheel drive truck - to boot.

When people think about "Restorable 4x4 truck", what's the first things that comes to mind? For me it's gotta be a Dodge Powerwagon.  But what's even MORE COOL and MORE RARE than a Dodge Powerwagon? 

Why its a 1956 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER 4x4 

 - of course!

The IH, as the brand is best know, was deleivered to the E-tek compoound in great style. On a massive flatdeck rig, the truck, and a spare box where delivered.

 But even with the Skid-steer, moving a heavy 4x4 rig - with 4 flats - along with an extra box - was not the easiest move I've ever made!

 

Unfortunately, EVERY piece of glass had been broken - and  much of the shattered material had landed inside the cab  - which had to be cleaned up as job one. Lucky for me, I actually talked my son Colt into helping - if only briefly!

As any restorer knows, sometimes the initial cleanup can be one of the funnest parts of a build, sometimes becoming somewhat of an archealogical expedition:

A good omen? In removing the seat, I was almost certain every bolt would snap off in it's body mount - bit instead, EVERY bolt came out cleanly - with only a little WD40 to help them along.

Delivery "Crew" and owners: The Sinclairs

Now that the Camaro is  nearly done - little details really stand out and one thing that looks out of  place now is the rake - or how high the ass-end is sitting:

 There are a couple ways to remedy this on a leaf-sprung car: including changing out (or de-arcing) the spirngs, or by adding blocks between the leafs and the axle, effectively lowering the body, by raising the axle -

The kit's long U-bolts where about 1/64" larger than the originals, necessitating my having to drill out the brackets and plates to allow the new U-bolts to pass through -

Aluminum blocks from the kit are placed between the axle and leafs and the new U-bolts hold it all together - 

Unfortunately, I found that when I attached the lower plate, which locates the lower shock mount - the shock now interfered with the wheel rim. Some online reaearch showed that you also need to change out the lower plates, for ones that re-locate the lower shock mount inward. 

Deteroit Speed makes a set.

So, everything was put back to the way it was and the DSE lower plates were ordered up. 

 TO BE CONTINUED......