Guess I should start a build thread - 1946 IHC K1 Panel truck

I always wanted an old panel truck, and after going to the F-100 Nationals this year, I got home and started looking on Craigslist. Found an ad for a 1941 International truck. It was a week old on Craigslist, and I figured it would be sold, but called anyway. He still had it and was only 8 miles from my house. I went to see it and was willing to give him the $1500 he wanted for it. He seemed kind of agitated, and was in a rush to go somewhere and said if I took it that day I could have it for $500.I bought it, and the neighbor dragged it home for me on his car trailer. I used my pressure washer to remove some of the paint and 70 years worth of crud. I had to sell my Mustang to make room in the garage, got that done and moved the truck in. First thing was to finish cleaning the body up. I spent about a week scraping and sanding paint and rust and sprayed some rust converter on it to seal things up some.

here's a few pics, Ive got better ones and more of them on my desktop I'll post later.Attachment 59909Attachment 59910Attachment 59911

here is what I did with my 1948 IH before and after photos full construction photos at daytonagary.com
http://daytonagary.com/internationalms2.jpg
http://daytonagary.com/3p2.jpg

Great truck and a great price! Thanks for sharing the pics too!

Great job. Selling your Mustang sounds a lot like what I do Build one sell it and build the next. I wish I had the room and money to keep one once in awhile.

Now that most of the paint, rust and crud are gone, it was time to think about seperating the body from the frame. I had the wheel dollies the wife bought me years ago to move the truck around, but what do I do with the body?
I built a body dolly out of some leftover 2x4's and 4x4's, and bolted some wheels under it, and now both pieces roll around to be worked on.

Wasn't one of the safest ways to remove a body, but when your working by yourself, you do what you have to.
Now that the body is off, it's time to strip the frame down. My shop cat likes to check out my work!

With the frame all stripped down, it was time to box the rails in. I cut the pieces out of 1/8" stock, and welded them in, and sprayed everything with a rust converter.

Now the tough part starts! Deciding what suspension to use front and rear, what motor and tranny, and tons of body work. If only the money was as plentiful as the work.

Special memories for me! I learned to drive in a '46 International pickup... and when dad was doing tune-ups and oil changes, he told me I needed to know how to work on vehicles. That was the start to a 50 year career ...so far! :-)~

Like your get up and go with the project. Wish I could move that fast. One thing troubles me is the concrete block used in lifting. I am sure you know they will explode on you. A solid block is much better. If you continue to use them, at least turn them 90 so the holes are down and not horiziontal, you are asking for trouble.

The concrete blocks can be made safer also, by a piece of plywood on top and bottom. It will serve to cushion the block and prevent fracturing from point - pressure.

Better yet, if you have some of those 2X4s left over, make a solid lift block by nailing them in perpendicular layers.

Speaking of the 2X4s, your body dolly looks pretty stout, but might benefit from some cross bracing.

Good start on the project.

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Originally Posted by Scooting

If you continue to use them, at least turn them 90 so the holes are down and not horiziontal, you are asking for trouble.

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Like Scooting says, at a minimum turn the blocks so the web is vertical, in compression. Blocks are weak when loaded on the sides as you have them.

Cool! Keep posting!

X2!! Digging this one! Don't see to many panels around anymore.

Heck yes, I'm enjoying the trip so far so thanks for posting and the photos. I too ain't familiar with the small Inters and this is certainly the first van body one I have seen so excellent score at a really good price. Now to be cheeky, big block Chevy, 5 speed gog box to a IRS with IFS so that it sits down in the weeds. Oh no fuel injection either unless it is fitted to the top of a polished blower. Yeah right, I hear you...... look at my name and see if it will be a Bowtie before a Blue Oval.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by daytonagary

here is what I did with my 1948 IH before and after photos full construction photos at daytonagary.com
http://daytonagary.com/internationalms2.jpg
http://daytonagary.com/3p2.jpg

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Good looking truck, hope mine turns out 1/2 that nice.

Well, I spent most of the winter hibernating, but did have time to buy some parts for the truck. Finally found a good IRS from a '99 Cobra, only to find out the spring mounts too far outside the frame, so I guess I will go with a 9" on rebuilt leaf springs.
Found an engine on craigs list, but it sounded too good to be true. It was listed as a 1995 351W removed from an F-250 with 18,000 miles. I assumede it was rebuilt with that milage, so I called the guy. He insisted it was original mileage and true. He claimed the truck was impounded due to being stolen and then used in a crime. Well, apparently the great state of Pa. lost it in it's records and it sat in the impound lot untill Jan. of this year when it was sold at auction. I went to see it, and bought it for $500.
Well I took the intake off today and was surprised to see the insides of this thing. It looks brand new in there. Oil pan will come off tomorrow to check things out, but I believe I can run this without a rebuild.

Good to see you got back! And another good score with the motor.. congrats...

I believe your'e right. Looks pristine.

Oh dear, there goes my cheeky comment above about BB Chevies etc going into the Van. Looks like it will be powered by one of those other thingies . Excellent score though and I will still be keen to follow the build along....

Nice score on the engine. It does look pretty new inside. Not sure how to prep it other than some new oil! Maybe a bottle of techron with the first tank of gas will flush out any residue for sitting so long.

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Originally Posted by blueovalguy

Well, I spent most of the winter hibernating, but did have time to buy some parts for the truck. Finally found a good IRS from a '99 Cobra, only to find out the spring mounts too far outside the frame, so I guess I will go with a 9" on rebuilt leaf springs.
Found an engine on craigs list, but it sounded too good to be true. It was listed as a 1995 351W removed from an F-250 with 18,000 miles. I assumede it was rebuilt with that milage, so I called the guy. He insisted it was original mileage and true. He claimed the truck was impounded due to being stolen and then used in a crime. Well, apparently the great state of Pa. lost it in it's records and it sat in the impound lot untill Jan. of this year when it was sold at auction. I went to see it, and bought it for $500.
Well I took the intake off today and was surprised to see the insides of this thing. It looks brand new in there. Oil pan will come off tomorrow to check things out, but I believe I can run this without a rebuild.

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What an awesome score.. I have long been a fan of those little Windsors,,specially the 351.. They don't need a lot to make them sing.. That does look,almost brand new in there.. Throw a stroker kit up it's ass,and take it to 427 inches...I dare ya.... hehe ;)

You have a great build project. A Ford engine is maybe a little more correct than a Chevy for an old IHC. Navistar is part of the old IHC company and they put their Diesels in Fords for a long time. Now its time to put a Ford in an IH :) If I ever get to do another build I would look for a panel. Love it.

Cool project! Kinda looks like the truck Krispy Kreme Donuts used for their advertisements for a while.