1952 L-110 restoration


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Post Thu Jul 04, 2019 9:42 pm

1952 L-110 restoration

Hi my name is Matt.
I purchased this L-110 pretty much sight unseen. Paid way too much I’m quite sure but for some reason I had to have this little yellow truck. After driving 6 hours each way we had it home. I have had it for a little over a month. This forum has been helpful with finding parts ideas. It is quite surprising how difficult it is to find replacement parts for these internationals. I am not planning on doing a full restoration just a mechanical restoration to as original as possible. This is my first International or vehicle restoration for that matter.

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On the way home this may 2019
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Pile of Parts
Pile of Parts

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Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:12 pm

Post Thu Jul 04, 2019 9:50 pm

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

The engine was seized. I had hoped it would brake free from just cylinder rust. I dumped atf and acetone in the cylinders. With a Breaker bar on the crank I got it broken free. New battery, cleaned the carb, cleaned the starter, new plugs, wires, cap, rotor and had it cranking over. I got it to fire once but it just refused to start. I did a compression test and found the highest cylinder was 10psi.
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Pile of Parts
Pile of Parts

Posts: 42

Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:12 pm

Post Thu Jul 04, 2019 10:13 pm

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

I pulled the head to find the source of low compression. Pretty amazing pulling the head. It only took a few hours with the hardest part getting the exhaust coupler loose. The head looked to be in pretty good shape but all the valves were worn. One cylinder wall looked scored pretty bad so I decided to pull the motor. It doesn’t look good at all. One cylinder had a chunk busted out of the case. Same cylinder has a spun bearing on the connecting rod. Found one piston to be low compression and the others very worn. I think the crank can be saved as all the bearings are standard. The case looks like it can be sleeved and saved. I have the crank, block, and head at a local machine shop. I’m hoping to get it all back in a few weeks.

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Pulling the SD-220


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Spun run bearing.


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Junk pistons.


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Busted block.


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Bent rod

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Location: Nampa, Idaho

Post Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:22 pm

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

I forgot where you were located, but someone not to far away may have a running SD220, Parts, as you have found are hard to come by.

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

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Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:13 pm

Post Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:27 pm

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

Really nice truck. Good luck!
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Pile of Parts
Pile of Parts

Posts: 42

Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:12 pm

Post Fri Jul 05, 2019 10:01 pm

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

lbesq wrote:I forgot where you were located, but someone not to far away may have a running SD220, Parts, as you have found are hard to come by.


I am in Alaska and have yet to find a good source for parts here. There are a few trucks forsale but most appear very rough that it wouldn’t be worth parting out. Shipping is pretty crazy for anything coming up from the lower 48. I’m mostly committed to doing a full overhaul of my SD220 at this point. Other then pistons, rings, bearings, gaskets, crank grind, full valve job, sleeve the one cylinder bore and hone the otherfive, six new pistons... it shouldn’t be that expensive right? LOL

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Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 9:10 am

Location: Nampa, Idaho

Post Sat Jul 06, 2019 1:10 am

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

My guess, it would be cheaper to find a motor in Canada and ship it up essentially the same motor for the same years, keep watch on the "diamonds" area on the forum. Just a thought.
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Pile of Parts
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Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:12 pm

Post Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:36 am

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

I was able to remove the fuel tank and wasn’t too surprised to find it rusted out. Odly enough the fuel tank strap bolts were the first bolts I have had to cut so far. I’m not sure if it’s worth saving. I cut out the rust only to find allot of rust. Probably easier to weld one up out of aluminum rather then bother with this bucket. Has anyone found any tanks that work well? I would like to keep the filler in the same location.
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Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 343

Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:57 pm

Location: Plano, TX

Post Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:05 am

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

Awesome truck. Looking forward to the build

Wish you lived closer, id give you my perfectly good og fuel tank
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Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

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Location: New Salisbury, IN USA

Post Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:45 am

Re: 1952 L-110 restoration

Rough dimensions on the tank are 9-1/2" x 9-1/2" x 45".

That might help you figure how much material it'll take to build one.
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