Modern Vespa

imagine a bike that is balanced like a small frame, can make absolute gobs of power all over the RPM range but doesn't feel like it's going to grow wings and take off when you're hauling ass.

but unlike vespas, you only really need one. maybe one and half, with that half being an extra motor.

picked this up the other day. so, the summer of citrus carries on...



it's a 70 Dodge D300 with a 383 2bbl and a automatic. ran pretty good, but figured I'd throw a tune up at it.

the good, it'll now roast the bald AF duals out back.

the bad, the bald AF duals out back. on split rims. *dies inside*. a cracked exhaust manifold and carb needs gaskets, which I didn't order, like a dum-dums.

I figure it can carry at least 6 scooters.

I would roll in that thing any day. Assuming it has AC, anyway.

it does! and power steering and brakes! downright luxo! but the AC isn't hooked up, not a biggie. planning on upgrading to a more modern compressor along with some other things and stuffs, depending on how far I wanna take it. after all it is just a work truck.

so, they sold these as cab and chassis for upfitters. this one was originally a motorhome. they made car haulers and oil tankers and dump trucks too-- which this is going to get a new flat bed with dump kit installed.

but it's typical big ass old work truck: vague steering, shitty brakes, odd clunks, sounds like you're riding in a tin can. but it's big and dumb and fun.

Got the doors hung yesterday. One side won't close all the way so I'm gonna have to go back and put spacers under the hinges one day.

That reminds me of a 1972 3-door suburban I once had. It was school bus yellow and had been a farm truck, so by the time I got it, it was in pretty bad shape and the electricals were pretty much gone. We ran loose wires inside the bed to replace broken brake and tail lights. Not having the driver's side back door really helped keep people from tripping on those wires and pulling them out.

The gas gauge didn't work, either, so I ran out of gas a lot. Especially because that was back when I was so broke that I'd have to buy gas like $5 at a time, which was about enough to get that beast around the block.

Eventually, I got a better car, but since it wasn't worth anything by that point, we had the bright idea to cut the roof off it with an angle grinder to make it a convertible and it went downhill pretty fast from there. We had some good times with it in its final days, though. You can pack a bunch of twenty-something dumbasses into a suburban with no roof.

I'm guessing you have that hinge spacer penciled into the calendar for early 2028?

Sounds like a ham bet…

Old big trucks rule the road because they're rough, tough and the owners don't mind a few more scratches. The only thing higher on the pecking order is a train - nothing running on the ground beats a train.

I like that scene - looks class. Love the cornice.

Thanks! That cornice is solid plaster too. They sure don't make them like they did in 1867 anymore.

wow those look great man!

try giving one or two of the screws on the hinge what for and it might suck in enough to get the adjustment you need. if not using shims (just the general wood framing ones) under the hinges can work too-- loosen up the hinge and just slide the tip in (heh heh) and use a flush cut saw or whatever electric implement of slicing desired to cut the rest and clean up the edge.

basically, anything to avoid taking the door back down!

I just retired from Plastering after 47 years. I ran miles of cornice.

I imagine your shoulders appreciate the break! That's hard work man. That's one thing I can't do anymore with 2 robotic arms. You'd think that would make it easier though.

Catching up here:

Those doors are amaze!

That dodge truck is fire!

Ned.. your paint and your bouncy house are just outstanding. Setting the bar as per usual.

Nice job on those door, man! I'm not sure I would have even attempted it.
I am a bit torn up, but for the most part doing ok. I was a sixth generation plasterer so I had a lot of good advice on how NOT to hurt yourself. I did not take it all to heart though, as I still needed 1 hernia and 2 back operations. "Don't get in hurry, it will only slow you down" - especially when you hurt yourself and get sidelined for months.

Fixed blinkers. Tried to fix tail-light. No bulb and need one of those longggggg m4 for the tailight covers. Need to send speedo off to Speedo King.

Risked ham bets by ignoring ET3, but I did ET some hams. So… thankful for all that.🐷

Beautiful!!!

Your 70 Dodge flatbed and my 71 ford flatbed. I'll probably wait until it warms up next spring to start working on it agin.

Looks sweet!

love me a bump side! something tells me that's had a plow on the front of it at some point!

yoinked a flat bed off the younger brother of yours I found at the junkyard, so now I can get rid of the bobo junk that's on there now. next up is the dump kit!

I partly got into Vespas to downsize from VW's. Clearly you have a different agenda.

More hauling == more vespas

That makes sense. Functional hauling vehicles, but still with an appreciation for the vintage. Old vehicles just feel like actual driving. Nothing like it. It's been awhile since I realized I wasn't going to live forever and have started choosing my rabbit holes more carefully.

Still on my list is a fast bug with a big bore Type 1 engine.

Someday…

Not all done today but …. Lost a bit of weight since last year.

Good job - looking fit and good for 5 more mph at WOT

Great effort, well done.

Looking good! Probably feeling a lot better, too.

Congrats man - best thing you can do for yourself! I could lose about 20 - 30 lbs. myself.

I had a bit of scooter sadness today. While running an errand on the Smallstate, I managed to seize it due to a cylinder stud coming loose and a leak at the cylinder base.

I had just gotten on the highway a couple miles earlier and was cruising happily at 70. EGT was just under 1.000. CHT was 320F. Nothing to indicate that I was about to be pushing a couple miles home.

Anyways...I get home and pull the top end to no surprises other than a base leak. The entire rest of the motor was clean and tight.

So while it looks like there's some nicasil damage, it was all low enough that I decided to clean up the piston and ring and give it another shot.

It started second kick, seems to be running great, so hopefully I dodged a bullet for a while, at least.

Crazy town. Glad you're ok.

Weird the temp sensors didn't spot it. Wonder if the temps were actually ok in the head but it's the cylinder walls that got hot. Piston seems to have taken most damage.

Great you managed to get it back running though. A save!

Can't get over how sexy 3 hole exhaust port looks.

our lady of blessed acceleration don't fail us now!

*BBBbbbbbbRRRRRRrrrrrr*

well, at least it's a flesh wound?

what's the orange junk on the base? würth? reinzoil? wekem? rtv? (*cuts eyes*)

oh, and look at the bright side, you got your steps in!

Maybe cruise at 60?

You look fantastic! No doubt it took a LOT of discipline and hard work. Your amazing results speak for themselves. No doubt your joints are thanking you as well? I happen to be a skinny guy with a fairly low body fat content, so i'm on the opposite side of the spectrum, but seeing your results inspires and motivates me!!! Thank you for sharing!

I have both a bump side and a VERY nice orange colored dent side 1977 f250 4wd "lowboy". I purposely never put a lift kit in that truck, so it actually makes the truck stand out even more!

The finishing touch for that green truck like that would have been a plow, but we don't get enough snow where i'm at to need one. So i ended up modifying the bumper to accept a customized Warn 8274 winch that could spool up 250' of cable on the drum. I bought the green 71 truck back in the early 2000's for $200. It was an ex-Cali vehicle. It still had the old black and yellow license plates! At some point there was a music band that used to haul all their band equipment in the back of the truck when going on tour. They had ALLEY BOYS (which was their band's name) stenciled on the front bumper. At some point someone had swapped in a 66-67 Mercury FE 410 engine in place of the 360. All the truck sees is work. About 20 years ago i found a brand new universal dump bed hoist kit on craigslist for $600. I bought it up lickity split! Once i finally got it all welded into place and dialed in, it was a total game changer...like out of this universe game changer. The most weight i've hauled in the bed was 4-3/4 tons of a dirt and concrete mix. I also happened to out shuck n jive a PDX po-po cruiser at the same time...all on surface streets with my top speed of about 17mph. It was the funniest thing ever. I bet ol smokey is still PO'd that he got duped.

At one point i had installed power steering, power brakes, Dana 70 rear, HP60 front, Detroit lockers both ends, AA Ranger overdrive torque splitter, NP205. A couple summers ago i sold off the engine, transmissions, and transfer case and swapped in a 1995 Cummins 12v, NV4500, NP241, hydroboost brakes. All of that stuff is currently installed where it needs to be. I just now need to figure out a radiator that will fit well with my intercooler...and my planned AC condenser.

my man!

you had me at 12V cummins. the rest of that thing sounds like a total battle wagon.

dream is a 30's~50's COE on a mid 90's 3500 dually frame with a 12V and custom dovetail car hauler deck.

but till then, slow and steady upgrades for this work truck. nothing too wild!

I'm actually downsizing. well, sort of. I sold my 14ft dump trailer and got this. which is a move toward getting rid of the F350 and thereby just having the one tool for both jobs. and free up some space.

part of the appeal was that I know that I can fix anything that may break on this beast, parts are relatively inexpensive and it's not precious in that I don't have to sweat rock chips and trips to the dump. or, like putting in an 6L LS motor if push comes to shove.

and yes, I've already looked at chromed stacks and running boards, polished aluminum saddle tanks... heh heh heh.

but first disc brakes. speaking of rabbit holes...

That's definitely part of the appeal. Being able to fix stuff yourself…and that requires a good stash of good spare parts. The self sufficiency aspect is why I like old vehicles so much. Anyone can buy one, but not many can keep them rolling.

Wow man! Congratulations. Lost 85lbs a couple of years ago, some of it snuck back on. I've been working on it but you've inspired me to redouble my efforts. Thanks and congratulations again.

I've got to ask, did you deflate tires so motor on engine lift would clear truck?