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Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 9:07 am
R-176 Firetruck
The truck has a Black Diamond 308 engine. I am not sure if these were negative or positive ground does anyone know?
I work on basically anything with a motor but the main thing I like to dabble with is aircooled VWs and 80s japanese motorcycles. Both of which have parts and information plentiful and abundant. This IH is a whole new ballgame for me. It seems parts and info are more or less non-existent. I just ordered an original R-170 171 172 parts book off ebay that should be here next week so I can at least see some exploded views and maybe some of the brake parts cross reference with parts you can still get? (currently the pedal is on the floor but I have yet to look into it)
From what I gather from the limited information I have been able to find and the Wisconsin Historical website I think this is for the most part an R-172 with fire truck outfitting. Mine has the optional 5 speed gearbox although im not really sure if its under or overdrive? It is a one speed rear end.
I am missing the majority of what used to make it a fire truck other than the main part of the lower bed which is missing half the doors. I haven't fully settled on a plan yet but I will likely scrap what remains of the bed and make it a traditional style stake side flatbed. or possibly a dovetail bed with fold down ramps. I would like to be able to use it to haul my mini excavator (8500lbs) I will do a basic restoration likely cab off but this will be a working truck not a show winning truck so it will be mostly sheet metal patch work, and paint and going through the basic mechanical systems not looking to be museum quality just solid and reliable.
I have no idea what to expect from it as far as MPG or top speed?
Anyway that's enough of a rambling introduction for now, more specific questions will come as time goes on.
Here is a link that is still up from when the guy I bought it from had it listed. There are a few typos and misinformation in his ad its only got 8700 original miles not 87000 (assuming the odometer still works) and around 500 hours on the hour meter. Its also 19000lbs GVW not 16,000 like he listed. I also paid considerably less then his "bottom dollar" price... There is even one good picture of the truck in its heyday in a parade.
http://classiccarsmarks.com/internation ... r-170.html