Recent content by FireEngineMike

Strange thing I remember from last fall when I bled the brakes. Some of the bleeders took a metric wrench. Is this normal? The driver rear is 3/8" but the driver front is metric.

Kurt, you are the winner. We went nuts adjusting all four points and finally used a hand sledge and 2x4 to remove the drum. Studied what all the adjustments did and made everything minimum. Could not install the drum. My friend suggested I press the brake pedal so he could watch the brake shoes...

Glennpm, Thanks again. A friend and I are going to play with it this evening. The important detail was learning from you and Mart that I have to turn the adjusters opposite of each other. The big question I have is why the driver rear brake locked up in the garage after I parked the car having...

glennpm, thank you for the Lockheed brake adjustment picture. Now I can see what Mart told me. I will turn the upper adjustment cams to their lowest positions on my next work session. Since the driver and passenger brakes are mirror images of each other, I assume that the diagram is correct for...

Mart, I will try your info. The instructions I have from the late Paul Garrigan via Ken (no last name in my notes) mention CW and CCW only for the lower adjusters which as you know are the anchor bolts. This is step (2) in those instructions: "Begin by backing all the way off, the two 11/16"...

Thanks. I am going to jack up the passenger rear to make sure it is free; just ran out of energy.

1. I am trying to adjust the brakes on my new to me 1940 Mercury. I bled the hydraulic system and have a nice firm pedal although it engages close to the floor. I decided to adjust the brakes. 2. The front brakes went well and are set so there is just a slight drag when rotating the tire...

Thanks for the compliment. The truck is a 1940 Ford 1-1/2 ton panel that was converted into a fire engine by the Buffalo Fire Appliance Corp of Buffalo, NY. I believe that it is the only commercial panel truck fire engine that they built. Buffalo built at least one larger sedan pumper. My engine...

Thanks for the compliment. I am glad I bought this piece of working history. I managed to remove the driver side trim ring with the aid of a plastic tool made to remove automobile trim and a mallet. I installed the Vintage Car LEDs (https://vintagecarleds.com) kit and they are way brighter off...

Karl, My panel was built by Buffalo Fire Appliance Corp in Buffalo, NY for the Clifton Springs FD between Rochester and Syracuse. It originally had a water tank that eventually rusted out. The PO had a tank fabricated, but never connected it. I have drafted water from the Erie Canal and Genesee...

I have a 1940 1-1/2 ton panel. I am trying to remove the headlight trim rings to install LED headlights. I was able to remove the passenger side trim ring. I undid the t-bar lock device on the driver side trim ring, but the trim ring will not budge. I have sprayed PB Blaster between the trim...

The last post I found on the subject is from 2014. I am just wondering if anyone has new information or a new opinion. TIA

I hope no one minds me resurecting this thread. I am getting to ready to tach up my 1940 for the Spring. I have a quote for a restored Sun 90 degree readout, 4K RPM, red football tach converted to one piece and to operate on 6-V +ground for $550. I like the look and the dual pointers on the Sun...

I recently acquired an antique "STOP" light fixture, 4-1/4" in diameter with a standard style 2-pin light socket with a one contact bulb in the inside of the socket. The opposite end of the socket has the same 2-pin configuration for a plug to provide power. Does anyone know anything about...

I get the same effect when someone emails a picture from their phone. There is something on the phone that allows resizing the picture to make it appear normally. Someone who is not a troglodyte like me can probably jump in and help.