Colonel Mustard - 1975 IH Travelall 150

[MrKenmore]

I have been on the lookout for a Travelall for about a year. I decided to do something very impulsive (and maybe risky) and bid on eBay for one in Colorado! What could go wrong? Specs: 1975 IH Travelall, 2WD FA5, 392, TF727, factory AC, 86,000 miles. Here are the eBay pics:

I also got some undercarriage pics so I could get an idea of any rot/rust. The owner had it since 2002. It's been a Colorado vehicle for many years. Well, low and behold, I won the bid at $5,625! I thought it was a fair price given what I was looking for. I wanted an auto. 4WD was not a must. Wouldn't mind the smooth IFS ride.

 

[MrKenmore]

I arranged transport open carrier through Car-Go (shipping broker). $1,495 later, I would have it at my front door. Time to load it up in Colorado. Mind you, I have never seen the Travelall in person, heard it run, or anything that I would insist someone do if they asked me for advice.

Hey, what's all that other stuff?!?!?!

 

[mongocanfly]

Nice...congrats!

 

[MrKenmore]

Four days later, Colonel Mustard arrives!! It's terrific. Body is nice and straight. Just a few rust spots. Undercarriage looks good. Engine starts RIGHT up! Leaking a little transmission fluid but it appears to be the pan gasket. Wiring definitely a mess but that's one of my most favorite things to do. Seats will need recovering (paging Jeff Jamison). Probably do HFI as I was very happy with it on my Terra. I need to really get into it to check the brakes and steering and make it roadworthy. All the gaskets could use a replacement.

And what are these crazy reflectors!!!!???!?!

 

[MrKenmore]

LST - Looks to be well optioned! Custom with trailer tow package. LST says I have high back bucket seats. Not sure where they went!!!!

And it appears the engine was replaced at 21,750 miles on 4/20/1987. A new transmission was put in at 31,896 miles on 8/2/1988.

 

[jeff campbell]

Sup with Amber marker ? Nice job. Enjoy.I no You will.

 

[scout2000]

Congrat's on your new Binder. Great find.

 

[RinTX]

Damn. That thing looks awesome! Great find/buy!

 

[jeff campbell]

Four days later, Colonel Mustard arrives!! It's terrific. Body is nice and straight. Just a few rust spots. Undercarriage looks good. Engine starts RIGHT up! Leaking a little transmission fluid but it appears to be the pan gasket. Wiring definitely a mess but that's one of my most favorite things to do. Seats will need recovering (paging Jeff Jamison). Probably do HFI as I was very happy with it on my Terra. I need to really get into it to check the brakes and steering and make it roadworthy. All the gaskets could use a replacement.
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And what are these crazy reflectors!!!!???!?! View attachment 163415
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Never seen those before ! P.O. added. WELCOME. To the D world !

 

[MrKenmore]

Day 1 of really getting into things....some observations:
1. There was a bunch of unfused 12V wires going into the cab. They included a CB (not there anymore), electric fuel pump, tachometer (not there anymore) and unknown! Took all those out with the exception of the electric fuel pump. I added proper fuse protection.
2. There is a set up for a dual battery with isolator. There no second battery but the alternator wire is kinda messy.
3. I vacuumed a bunch of crap and pine needles from the passenger side vent well cowl drain.
4. Found $1.25 in quarters so far!!! Purchase price just went down.
5. It has an inline electric fuel pump before the mechanical fuel pump. Not sure why this was done.
6. Looks like I could use new inner fender sheet metal (probably like every other D series guy)
7. Haven't checked the brakes yet. Stops now but haven't done a visual on the components.
8. Has lots of Colorado dust and dirt here there and everywhere.
9. Not too much rust so far!

 

[oneof3k]

Hey Matt,

Just for S & G's, did you happen to purchase your new rig from Duane in Peyton CO? Kinda looks like it might be and I know he occasionally sells off whole vehicles. But now that I think about it, I doubt too many of his "hundreds" of IH trucks run!

 

[MrKenmore]

Hey Matt,

Just for S & G's, did you happen to purchase your new rig from Duane in Peyton CO? Kinda looks like it might be and I know he occasionally sells off whole vehicles. But now that I think about it, I doubt too many of his "hundreds" of IH trucks run!

Yes! It is from Duane Hayes in Peyton, Colorado. It was funny....I was on the phone with him while it was getting loaded, he said "looks like there's a cracked tail light lens, I'll grab you one off another truck in the yard". Good guy. Vehicle was as described. Nice that there are some honest people out there!

 

[java230]

Man that's clean!! Nice find. I'm a little gealous that yours runs

 

[oneof3k]

Yes! It is from Duane Hayes in Peyton, Colorado. It was funny....I was on the phone with him while it was getting loaded, he said "looks like there's a cracked tail light lens, I'll grab you one off another truck in the yard". Good guy. Vehicle was as described. Nice that there are some honest people out there!

Duane is indeed a good guy! I found him last winter and put his contact info here for everyone to use as needed. If my notes are good, he likely still has a couple dozen Travelalls in stock!

http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/index.php?threads/hundreds-of-ihc-vehicles-found-in-co.141289/

 

[MrKenmore]

I remember that thread! That's pretty funny. He's moving to New Mexico. I believe he's trying to thin the herd as best he can.

 

[sdhachey]

Day 1 of really getting into things....some observations:
1. There was a bunch of unfused 12V wires going into the cab. They included a CB (not there anymore), electric fuel pump, tachometer (not there anymore) and unknown! Took all those out with the exception of the electric fuel pump. I added proper fuse protection.
2. There is a set up for a dual battery with isolator. There no second battery but the alternator wire is kinda messy.
3. I vacuumed a bunch of crap and pine needles from the passenger side vent well cowl drain.
4. Found $1.25 in quarters so far!!! Purchase price just went down.
5. It has an inline electric fuel pump before the mechanical fuel pump. Not sure why this was done.
6. Looks like I could use new inner fender sheet metal (probably like every other D series guy)
7. Haven't checked the brakes yet. Stops now but haven't done a visual on the components.
8. Has lots of Colorado dust and dirt here there and everywhere.
9. Not too much rust so far!

Looks like a nice vehicle. May be able to help you with the inner fender(s), have some nice ones in stock. Also just repaired one in my truck using the patch panel from SSS, a good choice if there's still enough solid sheet metal to attach to. Good luck.

 

[MrKenmore]

Thanks. I see the patch panels from SSS. I didn't even know they were offered. I have some time before the front end comes apart.

 

[MrKenmore]

Last night MrsKenmore and I went through the lights and turn signals as best we could. Everything was quite erratic and inconsistent. We did get each side to turn on and blink but the blink speed and brightness varied quite a bit. Hazards blink which is a good sign. In the end, we couldn't get the directionals on at all. I have the balance of bulbs coming Friday. So I'll be replacing everything. The rear sockets were very corroded. They had this crazy bulb in them which had to wire leads coming out of the base of the bulb which had been cut right at the tail light lens. Maybe some kind of magnet mount light adapter for towing. I'm wonder if the wiring spaghetti near the hitch is causing some issues as that's the same circuits.

 

[RinTX]

Yeah. Probably bad grounds too

 

[stroker3]

"Sometimes'' you'll see people tap directly off the taillights when a trailer wiring/connector on a truck goes bad. I'd make sure the wiring mess near the hitch is cleaned up a bit then go from there. Since the sockets are corroded it's more than likely grounding could be 90% of the problem. The bulb sockets have to be clean and tight to work right.