This weekend was a whirl of activity on the homestead.  The weather was perfect for outside chores. 

We finally got to work on Dixie! 

Who is Dixie?

For many years I have wanted an old truck.  I love the big, boxy look of trucks built back in “the day”.  Yes, the cars of that era are sweet as well.  For me, there is just something about a truck. 

We have a nice, big barn used by the previous owners to store their toys… boats, motorcycles, and a sports car.  I dreamed one day, when I retired, I would buy an old truck that I could restore.  I kicked around the idea of getting something that needed EVERYTHING done, versus something that just needed some loving care and elbow grease.

Someday.

“Someday” came last fall in a secret venture plotted out by Hubby and his best friend.  Dixie was the biggest surprise present I have ever received!  She is a 1959 Chevrolet Apache pick-up truck.  She is dressed in tartan turquoise with a white roof.  I named her “Dixie” because Hubby found her in Alabama.  She arrived in excellent condition.

She needed some love.

Outside, the truck is immaculate.  Even the cab was well restored and looks great.  Under the hood… well, that is a different story.  During the first month, the engine DID turn over. 

Once.

Fortunately, we have friends with excellent knowledge of engines.  We had our dear friend Jeep Guy give us lesson number one.  Jeep Guy does restoration on 1940’s Willy’s Jeeps, and has been doing it for many years.  He knows his way around old trucks.  I felt like I was back in school when we lifted the hood.  Jeep Guy started pointing and talking… and I took notes.  He walked us through the process of how the engine is fueled and from where.  He explained the electrical system, despite its simplicity, needed to be in good working order as well.  There was much to do and I kept writing.

After that first lesson, the work started.  Not work directly on the truck, but work at the computer.  I thought it would be as easy as getting online and ordering some parts. 

Not so fast.

As a kid, I loved to do jigsaw puzzles.  Mum would put up a card table and we would scatter the pieces around the top.  We had a system.  Sort the edges and start connecting the frame.  Then, begin building inside on the patterns.  As an adult, I still love puzzles. Dixie has become a most challenging puzzle.  Not only is she a puzzle, she is a mystery to solve.  She is a hands-on project where I can start a job and see an end result.  Each part of the process takes time and patience, and I am truly enjoying my lessons, however frustrating they can be.

It is time to get back to ordering the parts.

Visual inspection of the engine revealed that there were 6 spark plugs, in line, running along the engine block.  Therefore, the engine is an inline 6-cylinder (“inline 6” or “straight 6” in gear-head language).  We found metal brackets that had been cut with a torch low on the frame that indicated a larger engine had once been used to make her run.  Therefore, this was not the FIRST engine used in Dixie. 

So, which “inline 6” is it? 

You need to know THAT to buy parts.

My research taught me how to determine the year and size of the engine by finding identification numbers on the engine block itself.  Mind you, these are not easy numbers to find.  Thankfully, I have long arms and plenty of patience.

I went back to Dixie armed with engine degreaser, a scrub brush, and my cell phone for taking pictures in spaces I could not fully visualize.  It was a messy job, but I smiled as I felt I was on a scavenger hunt!  Slowly, the necessary raised numbers started to show themselves through the years of grease.  How exciting!

Once armed with the specifics, I could match the engine numbers to the information provided by motor head archivists.  It is amazing what people have learned and share on those web sites! Finally, I got the information needed to buy parts. 

There are many companies that supply parts for old vehicles.  I had to do some searching through a few different sites, but found the parts.  The parts arrived, and that started yet another round of learning!

Working on Dixie has become a bit of an addiction.  Given I have a love for other passions, and have those annoying adult responsibilities, I will pace myself and share the stories as they unfold. I will enjoy sharing my stories about Dixie with you, and hope you will enjoy reading.

She is almost ready to roll!