San Diego CA
52 Chevrolet COE Hose Wagon
This was relatively easy compared to the other two. The cab was perfect, the paint was ‘thin’ and showing primer in places, no dents, no rust.
We sanded it and primed it NO body work at all!! All of the rubber around the windshield and glass was in good condition
I had a body shop respray the cab, they matched the original red from the factory,
under the hood is pretty much original and original red paint, not repainted there.
The interior of this truck was good, I did respray all of the interior metal it is close to original, metallic light tan,
and we put on new inside door panels.
Hardest part on this was getting the updraft carburetor out from under the floor, very difficult to get to it.
Manifolds and brake and clutch linkage is all in the way. Floor panels do come out but you are almost standing on your head.
Difficult to find the rebuild kit too. I could not do that part today. This was about 12 - 14 years ago, I was more limber. LOL
The rubber replacement pads on the fenders were difficult to find back then, and kind of expensive for what they are, total of six,
4 steps and 2 pads to keep from scratching the fenders. Also not the best quality, I think someone was making them in his garage,
they may be better now, I have not checked, no reason to.
This truck has a huge generator, because it was a fire truck, lights, radios etc. it looks ‘factory’
I hope it never goes bad it looks expensive to fix (alternator time).
We replaced the wood on the sides ‘true’ 1” x 4” and 16’+ long, had to special order, we refinished in clear.
The bed floor is mostly oak planks, we cut out a small area do to rot, replaced with fir. Hose truck, no tanks no pumps.
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