Hello Everyone,           I Got my 1958 A-120 4x4 in November of 1998. It was given to me by a good friend of my family. It had been in a field for seven years, housing packrats and rust demons.           When I got it home, I cleaned out the old farm truck of its old baler twine and other old farm items.           I then had to pull out the starter, and with the help of my Dad, clean and paint it. I also had to pull the gas tank and flush it. The pickup tube inside the tank was also packed with gummy old gas and rust.           After that was all put together, we tried to start it. The first starting obstacle was getting the motor to crank. It had been semi-frozen and when the starter cranked, it only turned the motor over about half an inch before quitting. We poured a teaspoonful of 10W30 oil down each of the six cylinders in the 240 ci motor. Half an hour later, it would crank! we then proceded to set the timing and then we got it to fire. After some fiddling with, and cleaning of the coil, it ran!           This was early January by now, and I had been working on my truck all winter, brrr it was cold!. The next day, I moved my truck to a place where the snow was not as bad,(I switched places with my dad's 1 ton). I then decided to work on the brakes, but I didn't get too far. I managed to pull off the drums and shoes from the driver's side, but I saw that this was going to be alot of work.           After some haggling with my dad, he let me take my truck 4x4ing in our field without brakes. I then went 4x4ing but got stuck and had to leave the truck with the animals. The next day, I went and saw that my truck had leaked antifreeze all over the place. I then saw what had happened, the water pump was shot. I then decided to go 4x4ing again after the truck was unstuck (I just filled up the radiator with water) and travelled into our riding arena. After trying to negotiate a turn, I got stuck, called it a day and went inside.           Later I got the truck going again, turned it around and tried unsuccessfully to get the truck up the hill and away fom the field. My dad had a go too, but also got stuck. We then proceeded to tow the truck out. In the first two tries the rope snapped, but after a coffee it came right out. I then went to Napa and ordered a rebuilt pump which came a week later.           After the new pump was installed it ran great. My dad also painted the fan and a couple of other parts. I then went 4x4ing again (it was April 1999 by now) and managed to get around a small road that I made in Oct. 1998, and didn't get stuck. I drove it around for a while until the summer when I pulled the master cylinder because it was leaking, I had now had brakes at all.           Around April 30th I picked up a fleetside short-box for my truck that was rusty for $50.           I then had my truck parked until July, and then I finally got the truck transferred into my name. It hadn't been registered since 1973!           I took my truck out once in the summer and brought it up to tighten up the clutch linkage and I also took off the front drum to checkout the shoes and hubs.           It has now been parked since September and is under two feet of snow. All I have done to it since is buy some some shocks. This is to Jan. 22nd 2000. February 2000:           I received a headlight bezel and A-120 emblem in the mail from Tom Walker, who found it in a junkyard. November 2000:           Beginning in May, I started the large task of doing the brakes on my truck. The first thing that I did was pull the wheel cylinders and brake shoes off of  my parts truck. I then proceeded to pull all of the brake lines off of my other truck.           That was  (is) very hard work, because after 4 days, I still haven't gotten the lines off of the truck yet! (May 15th) I pulled the rear lines with ease, except the rear right line came through the backing plate with the wheel cylinder attached.           I also had to pull the front splitter, and it took me a long time to pull it, because the line were on there really tight. I had pulled the M/C a  while back, so all I had to do was buy a new one to the tune of $160 Cdn.           I  managed to get the splitter off with some effort, but the front line broke off of it. I then had to pull the front right line, the hardest on to get  to, because of the exhaust. I now have to get that line off the wheel cylinder, but it is still atached to the frame, and then I pulled the speedometre cable. I sure need a new one! The old one is so twisted that it has come through the cover. I need to have a new one soon, does anyone know  where I can get one? To get the front line off, I have to pull the shock  mount and inner fender, and I will do that next week (in May). I then pulled the old bumper, the PO welded it to the frame. I had to grind it away for about one hour! I then pulled a few old exhaust brackets, and an old box mount.           The next weekend, I managed to pull the front clip off. Here is the story.           After the screw/bolts were off, all that was left was the two screws that held the fenders on, but my dad managed to drill them out. The bolt that holds it on the front had to be hacked off. I am getting better, and better at this, because it only took an hour, I'll have pictures up soon. (They are now up in "Pictures of My Truck") I can now get my brake lines off, paint the frame & front sheet metal up, and it will look sweet.           I managed to pull the brake line, and painted the rear of the frame. My dad cleaned up the motor, tranny and t-case, while I cleaned and painted the rear-end and frame.           I also sprayed bedliner on the floor of the cab. The only rust I had on it was only on the surface. On the cab, there are only 2 rust holes, which I will fix with sheetmetal or fibreglass. I will post some pics of the bedliner/rearend painting project soon.           I then got the rear drums turned, and had to buy some new front and rear shoes for the truck. I put rear together, and then started the front brakes.           I pulled the front wheels and drums, and was pleased to see that the PO had installed new bearings on the passenger side.           I, however, found a problem on the driver's side. When I put it back together, I forgot to tighten down the lockwasher on the bearing retainer nuts. I had only moved the truck about 100 feet with the tractor, and heard a squealing. I was unpleasantly surprised when I pulled it.           The nuts had come loose, and stripped the front spindle. I bought another axle for $100 (from a '63ish truck) and the spindle on it did not fit my truck.            I am currently saving up a few bucks to buy a new (or good used one) for it. When that is done, I will put the brakes on it. May 2002: Well, It has been a while since I have put up the story of my truck. I still have to put up some more pics as well. So, my '63 spindle does fit, so I put it on. I also put on some new tie-rod ends. I put the brake shoes on all four wheels now. I also rebuilt the two front wheel cylinders. Where the spindle came off, I also toasted the bearings, so I have also put in brand new wheel bearings in the front end. I have also have installed grease nerts in the front axle, to lubricate the front drive shafts. I also checked the front diff, and I found that it was oil less, looks like I will be buying some 80 weight oil! I hope that the front axle doesn't sieze going down the road. So, I am also going to change the oil in the engine, tranny, t-case and rear end. I have also been given another 1958 IH, but I have to drive 200 miles to get it. I will have to grab a trailer, and go for a trip. Oh yeah, I also put new shocks on the front. I will put the rest of the brake lines on, and install the master cylinder soon. Atleast the truck is back on four wheels. I will post my pics, and more progress soon. Thanks for looking, Mark

The Story of My Truck

This page was last updated on: May 8, 2002

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