Getting off my behind...

[Cal_Gary]

Haven't done any work (except adding Utah Vintage plates) in the past month or so, so I laid the PB Blaster on all the brake shoe bottom adjusting nuts in preparation for the major brake adjustment. I intend to get at least one axle done tomorrow, and both if I'm lucky.
More to follow, and I'll add some pictures,
Gary

[k8icu]

Slacker.... I have spent the last 2 months working on one little thing...of course that's because I've only had two or three Sundays to work and only 2-3 hours on those days to do the work and though we are having a mild winter it's still cold outside! I guess I'm trying to say I understand what your saying.

[Cal_Gary]

Well Joe, maybe our Browns will do well in the draft this year.

Anyway, I did get outside and got a start on this task. Needless to say, the nuts were frozen in place-I'm sure they've never been touched and I struggled with the right front nuts, finally applying heat and turning them off. It sure is a pain holding a 7/16 wrench on the end of the adjusting bolt while using a 15/16 wrench on that big nut-totally out of proportion based on the effort needed to remove the nut. So, I got smart, heating the left front nuts until the lock washer glowed red, then gunned the nuts off with my impact-that sure did the trick! Much easier than wrenching a 6th of a turn at a time. Anyway, I'll use anti-seize on the threads when I lock them back down.
More to follow....
Gary
Oh, here's some pictures:

[1953M-37]

What a pain in the butt getting stuck nuts & bolts free to do a job.... I wish you luck on your brake job..... My problum in sitting on my butt too.... Low on cash.....Miles......

[Cal_Gary]

Painful all right-I'd still be cranking on them w/o that impact-it saved my bacon on the front bumperette/winch install too! I, too am lacking cash so I'm making do with the existing parts.
Gary

[snowdad]

Looks like several of us are doing restoration on the cheap. Just the fact that we are improving their condition is important in saving them.
Don't even want to think about how bad it would be without those impact guns and wrenches. Also saves a lot of time.
Phillip

[1953M-37]

Saving one Power wagon at a time...... Any one else saving a old rust bucket ??????

[Cal_Gary]

Well I got the front axle brakes done today. Guys and gals, be sure you lube up all the adjustment bolts (top and bottom) to make the task easier. Some of my hardware was just so dried out and crudded up that I used Blaster and my impact on the upper shoe adjusters (REMOVE THE DRUM FIRST!!). For the bottom, the 7/16 wrench and more Blaster loosened them up so the cam bolts rotate as they should. I also used anti-sieze on the bottom lock nuts so they'll free up next time (when I spring for new shoes and drums).

Anyway, I have a bit more brake pedal than before and hope to have more once I do the rear axle next week. I'm also aware of the master cylinder shaft adjustment, too, but hope I won't have to go to that extreme.
More to follow,
Gary

[HingsingM37]

Gary,
Good luck with your brake work. Keep soaking those fasteners with the Blaster before you work on them, makes a big difference. I use a penetrant called "Free-All" since the truck resto. The fasteners on the trailer virtually undid themselves. Good product, seems to wick into the nooks and crannies a little better than the blaster. Thanks for keeping us posted.

[Cal_Gary]

Thanks David-just about time to bust the shrink-wrap off of yours, isn't it?
Gary

[k8icu]

Winter decided to show up today so I don't think David will be busting the wrapping just yet....and I will not get into the garage this weekend....sigh....not because of the weather, but of work schedules.

[HingsingM37]

Gary &Joe,

Yep, a slight blast of winter here in Ohio this weekend. The M37 will most likely stay in hibernation at work until late April or early May. The M101 project is occupying my side of the garage.I am hoping to have the trailer assembled ready to paint by then so I can use pull it for Memorial Day. Thats the plan anyway. Then I will have to find a place to park the trailer. Keep your fingers crossed

[k8icu]

What? Wife wont let you park it on the side of the house? At one time when this disease had me I had a M151a2 in the garage a M151a1 on the back patio along with a M416 trailer and a M105 trailer. A M1009 in the driveway and a M35A2 in a U store-it lot along with a MKT. I miss all that OD stuff, but I'm happy to be spending time on my little M37 project. I never had enough time or money to keep all that stuff in tip-top shape.

[HingsingM37]

I can park it out back of the garage, just hate to keep it outside after all the work involved. I braved the weather yesterday in my unheated garage to pull the leafs off the axle. With the trailer now apart, I can park the daily driver in the garage for the remainder of winter. I'll start taking stuff to the blaster in March