Please tell me about my truck

[ktm950se]

:helpsmilie:

Greetings,
I am looking for any information I can get regarding my truck. All I currently know (believe) is that its a 1952 International L-172.
Can you help?

:helpsmilie:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_00332.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_0034.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_0035.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_0036.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_0037.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_0039.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_0040.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_00432.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_0044.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/ktm950se/IMG_0045.jpg


ktm950se

[ktm950se]

Greetings again,
Is there another forum I should post my question on?

ktm950se

[Jim Grammer]

Greetings again,
Is there another forum I should post my question on?

No, TDT is perfect. IME 'tell me about my truck' isn't' going to get much response, it's just too general a question. If you ask specific questions you'll get a much better response. I'd suggest also poking around using the search function with search terms like "L series".

Nice looking rig. I think it's an L-172 :D

One tidbit, the '2' on the end of the model # denotes uprated rear springs.

[RobertC]

Great truck -- looks like a CA truck more than a ME truck. Has it been sitting in a barn for 30 years?

As Jim states, you need to look thru various posts. I do not know much of anything about this vintage,

but, it looks amazingly original -- wiring in engine compartment looks unmolested by previous owners.

Based on the shift pattern on the dash, it has a 5 sp (5th gear overdrive (0.82?) -- though with the rear axle ratio that is somewhat of an oxymoron). Looks like it also has a 2 speed rearend -- "switch" on the trans shift column.

There is a post (sticky) on how to identify the "diamond" engines. There might be a post on the rear axle. If you search, I think you can find posts on recommendations on starting an engine that has not been run in a while -- though it looks like yours runs.

Though, I understand that it is difficult to get a Line Setting Ticket for your vehicle -- not much before 1955? or ? -- you might try -- info is in a "sticky" on the OEM forum. My guess is that the dump bed was put on after purchase by someone other than IH -- probably a cab only / chassis vehicle.

[Rob Peterson]

Based on the plumbing coming off the air cleaner (a "deluxe" model) you probably have a hydrovac brake booster.

Nice truck, too! It really does look like it came from somewhere in the west - very solid floorboards and cab corners, etc. Looks like a good find.

[ktm950se]

Thanks for your replies!

I've had the truck for a few years, and have hardly used it. My understanding is that it was used inside of a large fish market for most all its life, hence its good condition. I'm looking to sell it, that's why I wanted a bit more info, so I could pass it along.
What would be a reasonable price?

[Jim Grammer]

Thanks for your replies!

I've had the truck for a few years, and have hardly used it. My understanding is that it was used inside of a large fish market for most all its life, hence its good condition. I'm looking to sell it, that's why I wanted a bit more info, so I could pass it along.
What would be a reasonable price?

Whatever someone will give for it. Really. When you talk about old medium duty trucks with unique configurations there aren't enough public transactions to make a real market evaluation. Ebay is one way to get a read on what the market might be, pay your $45 and see what the nationwide interest is. Just be sure to put a reserve on it.

Another venue is the Antique Truck Historical Society. It only takes one willing buyer and a willing seller at a single price to make a market in your rig.

[Robert VanNatta]

Thanks for your replies!

I've had the truck for a few years, and have hardly used it. My understanding is that it was used inside of a large fish market for most all its life, hence its good condition. I'm looking to sell it, that's why I wanted a bit more info, so I could pass it along.
What would be a reasonable price?

I can tell you that type of hoist is what we call a scissors hoist, an if the back hinges break loose while dumping
the bed tips forward over the hoist and comes down with a bang. If it has araound say 6 yards of rock on it when this happens, the frame will sag around 6 inches, and doesn't ask me how I know exactly how far one will sag.

the spoke wheels tell me the truck is probably not from the Pacific Northwest because Budd wheels have been favored here for a long time. We derisively call them 'California Wheels', but I suppose there they call them something else---Mexican wheels or something.

Overall the truck looks pretty typical for its age, with the 5 speed transmission indicating that it is built a little heavier than some as the low end models had 4 speed trannys.

This looks to be about a medium duty medium truck.

[Robert VanNatta]

Thanks for your replies!

I've had the truck for a few years, and have hardly used it. My understanding is that it was used inside of a large fish market for most all its life, hence its good condition. I'm looking to sell it, that's why I wanted a bit more info, so I could pass it along.
What would be a reasonable price?

Perhaps the silliest thing about the truck are the 2 amber lights on top the cab.

the whole story of the cab lights is goofy, but in the 1930's the ICC dreamed up the concept of ICC lights. The 3 lights in a row in the middle were to signify an ICC regulated truck and the addidtional outboard cab lights were to be lit to proclaim a truck pulling a trailer.

Now you can't pull an ICC trailer unless you have an ICC truck, so why does it have lights to signify that it has an ICC trailer and no lights to idendify it as an ICC truck.

Of course I have yet to own a truck that had the two 'trailer lights' switched separately so they could be turned off when no trailer was present.

[John Donnelly]

I can tell you that type of hoist is what we call a scissors hoist, an if the back hinges break loose while dumping
the bed tips forward over the hoist and comes down with a bang. If it has araound say 6 yards of rock on it when this happens, the frame will sag around 6 inches, and doesn't ask me how I know exactly how far one will sag.

the spoke wheels tell me the truck is probably not from the Pacific Northwest because Budd wheels have been favored here for a long time. We derisively call them 'California Wheels', but I suppose there they call them something else---Mexican wheels or something.

Overall the truck looks pretty typical for its age, with the 5 speed transmission indicating that it is built a little heavier than some as the low end models had 4 speed trannys.

This looks to be about a medium duty medium truck.

I have often heard of the spoke wheels being called "Daytons".

I understand the fire truck maintenance operations liked them over Budds.

Not sure why.

-John

[Doc Stewart]

The "California" or "Dayton" wheels were much easier to change on the road. The torque on the nuts holding the keepers holding the rims was only 50 lbs. A driver could jack up an axle with a mechanical screw jack, pull those nuts with a simple socket and slide the dead tire and rim off, install the spare and be back on the road in 15 minutes. No need for special tools to break those high torque wheel nuts loose.

The original wheels came from a foundry in Dayton, Ohio and had 'Dayton' cast into the hub.

[Robert VanNatta]

The "California" or "Dayton" wheels were much easier to change on the road. The torque on the nuts holding the keepers holding the rims was only 50 lbs. A driver could jack up an axle with a mechanical screw jack, pull those nuts with a simple socket and slide the dead tire and rim off, install the spare and be back on the road in 15 minutes. No need for special tools to break those high torque wheel nuts loose.

The original wheels came from a foundry in Dayton, Ohio and had 'Dayton' cast into the hub.

My tire shop guys say they are preferable from a durability standpoint on medium light trucks wwhich would otherwise have been equipped with 5 or 6 hole Budd wheels.---the latter simply not being strong enough to hold 20,000 lb axle loadings without breaking.

Don't ask me how I know 5 hole Budd's regularly break if you haul 20k on them.....

[Doc Stewart]

That motor is a "Blue Diamond" with the distributor above the valve cover.
The transmisssion shifting in that configuration would be a T34.

Unfortunately Medium trucks are not usually sold at a premium price although yours looks particularly good.

I bought :
A 53 R200 semi for $500 and drove it home
A 52 L160 cab over flatbed for $2000 and drove it home
A 50 L130 flatbed for $500 and drove it home.

All of them needed [and still need!] various items to make them regularly roadable.

Hope that helps.

[John Donnelly]

That motor is a "Blue Diamond" with the distributor above the valve cover.
The transmisssion shifting in that configuration would be a T34.

Unfortunately Medium trucks are not usually sold at a premium price although yours looks particularly good.

I bought :
A 53 R200 semi for $500 and drove it home
A 52 L160 cab over flatbed for $2000 and drove it home
A 50 L130 flatbed for $500 and drove it home.

All of them needed [and still need!] various items to make them regularly roadable.

Hope that helps.

Given the very nice condition of that truck, I think maybe you should consider donating it to a museum. You would probably be able to deduct more of this year's taxes than you would ever get if you tried to sell it.

Trucks like that are just not competitive for work anymore, and they aren't exactly candidates for custom cars, either.

But as a historic artifact of a better time in our history, it is very nice to have, and yours is an excellent example of the breed.

-John

[Andrew Harvey]

There should be a waranty plate on the driver's side kick panel (by the clutch pedal) that will list the model, serial #, GVW rating, wheelbase, etc. If it's still there, the build sheet will be glued to the inside corner of the cab, behind the seat on the passenger side. That will list all the equipment the truck originally came with.

The engine is definately a BD269 (Blue Diamond - allthough in '52 called a "Black Diamond" by IH, - don't know why it's red).

The Dayton rims are unusual on a 172, I believe, allthough standard on a 174.

The lights are unusual, too In addition to the odd cab light configuration, the little lights just above the bumber are add ons. Also the turn signals are not original - the originals, if ordered, had solid backs, no rear facing red lens like modern trucks.

The governor seems to heve been removed.

All that said, it looks like a very functional truck. You might check for some common upgades, like a conversion to 12 volt electrics, for example.

I agree old two ton trucks don't normally garner "classic" prices - even if they're in good shape like yours - which is great for those of us who rely on them (parts trucks are cheap).

Still, around here anyrhing that dumps (and moves) is worth $2500.

[67IH1100]

The "California" or "Dayton" wheels were much easier to change on the road. The torque on the nuts holding the keepers holding the rims was only 50 lbs. A driver could jack up an axle with a mechanical screw jack, pull those nuts with a simple socket and slide the dead tire and rim off, install the spare and be back on the road in 15 minutes. No need for special tools to break those high torque wheel nuts loose.

The original wheels came from a foundry in Dayton, Ohio and had 'Dayton' cast into the hub.

It is true the California wheels could be changed a lot easier but if you dont know how to get them exatly centerd on the hub it will look and feel like you have a bent wheel and besides where I live the tire shops really hate to see thest wheel because they are tube tipe and Buds are tubless wich is the reason most trucks were change to Bud wheels in the northwest

[Paul "Misterfixit" Schulz]

The wheels on this rig are often refferred to as 'spider' rims, because the hub looks like the legs of a spider, the reason they were popular in alot of places is because of load capacity v weight, in the old days if you made rims to carry a massive load you wouldn't be able to lift them,the heavier your spare wheel the less load you could carry, as we have seen many of the older rims crack due to the quality of steel, an example of this was seen in the 5 slot mustang steel rims from the late 60's also fitted to the ford XY GT HO Phase 3 sedan, they were made by kelsy hayes and would crack under certain conditions, ford had the XY's rims replaced with a 12 slot ROH rim using thinner different quality steel and the cracking problem went away, with the advent of alloy rims for trucks the 10 stud rims have become the norm.

If you rekon spider rims are bad, you should see the 3 peice rims that mercedes used on heavy trucks! Put the sections of the rim inside the tyre and interlock them:eek:

[Colin Rush]

and it has a Zenith carburetor. I believe it is a Model 27, but don't quote me on that. Parts and kits are available for it, if you need a rebuild. If you do, I know a place that works on them.

New hood ornament emblems are available if you want to make it look new.

So are windshields if you know where to look. Engine mounts are available from some sources, as are many of the rubber parts.

The distributor is a Delco unit. Ignition parts are readily available. You can put a Pertronix kit in the distributor if you want to go with a solid-state ignition.

If you do maintenance on it, follow the factory specs for setting valve lash. Lots of folks eyeball it or make it the same as another brand and end up damaging or ruining the head of an otherwise good engine. Good luck finding a replacement head when you need one.

Buy the books. That would be the parts manual and service manual. They are available new from Binder Books (http://www.binderbooks.com/).

[Dave H]

In Australia we call Dayton wheels Spiders. They came out on 180 series trucks or bigger. Not many L model trucks in that condition over here.