[Grant Bowker]

Today was rather less frosty out than the last week or so. So what would a guy do except hide inside in the barn? And that is exactly what was done.
Before I arrived Bob had been cleaning his axle ends in preparation for re-assembly, a lovely set of eggcups etc.
Bob and I then spent time continuing the inventory of parts for my project, I'm sure I'll be making appeals for help in finding a series of bits and pieces, perhaps picking up the Hammond habit of buying another truck to get needed/wanted or tradeable parts.
Next we moved on to discussion of how to unstick pistons in the power tire pumps for our transmissions. The basic disassembly isn't too bad, but the closed top cylinder isn't letting go of the piston (or at least the rings) as easily as I would like.
More discussion of the precise nature of the challenge of fitting 261CID engines to Cab 11 and Cab 13s led to us discovering that betwen us we have an amazingly varied collection of fan pullies. By the way, does anyone know the difference in applications of 216 water pumps with one or two holes in the water pump backing plate?
Bob moved on to adjusting (blacksmith style) and assmbling the brace rod for the fairleads on the rear of his truck and then started a square search for the securing plates for the shafts for the front fairleads. In the end it came down to Bob saying "I can't find them among all the other treasures but as soon as I make a new set, the old ones will surface".
Meanwhile I was up to my wrists in cleaning solvent working on a fuel filter assembly, a brake booster and a pair of bumper "D" rings. The fuel filter is cleaning up nicely, will need a bit more work since the interior seems to have collected a bit of rust over the years, the brass filter element is in excellent shape and is now soaking in lacquer thinner to try to loosen the dried on fuel gunge. The lacquer thinner is turning a disgusting shade so I'm hopeful that the filter element will become clean. Bob had a new element sitting in store that instead of all brass construction seems to be a steel body with fabric discs, an interesting variation in construction.
The brake booster looks great externally but as a precaution will probably get a rebuild (assuming that parts can be found) and definitely needs a new bellows boot for the shaft.
Like so many other "D" rings, mine are at least part seized, more soaking followed by violence seems in order.
Rob graced us with his presence for a while, painting some of the metalwork that had been done in the last weeks and some other tasks.
Break time was taken at the usual location.