Just read this post and it brought back memories. I had a 1968 International that I used for all my firewood hauling. Oh the stories I could tell! They definitely were a work horse! They don't make them like that anymore! Wish I still had the Old Corn Binder.
Yes siree!!! They were work horse trucks. Only problem was you could hear them rusting. LOL!!! I believe Dad's was a '69...and what I'd call Forrest Green in color. No power steering...no power brakes...you had to pump them. LOL! Many years later we ended up having to put another cab on ours from a red '72 and Dad finally took the bed off it and built a flatbed for it...the loads got even bigger then. I've always liked and preferred Chevy trucks for looks...always preferred Fords for being tough built...but if I could go back to that time...for firewood hauling give me the International. Wished we'd have had the 392 instead of the 302. For those who've never experienced what I'm talking about...a familiar sound even at idle...and I have seen the mud fly just like this, though not this deep, but with a load of wood on. They were actually as nice a looking truck in my mind as the '68-'72 Chevrolets were. Nice lines, good stance, nice and stocky looking. Just realized...we need 4x4 wood haulin' emoticon.
Here's one with dual tanks like I mentioned. Take note where the gas cap is located. Oh my Lord...look at this. The rotted out grills on the top of the dash...the fuse panel in the glove box. Man that brings back memories, for sure.
Wow! I can't believe he got outta there! Kept the hammer down the whole time for sure! I would have to think at night you would have been able to see the red glow of the exhaust manifold/headers after that run!
Yeah...that's pretty amazing for a virtually stock truck except for the tires. Plenty of power though to turn them...at least in that wet stuff anyway. What amazed me is the guy paid $800.00 for that truck if I read it correctly. Something most people don't pay much attention too during a run like that in a truck like that...no power steering...and he keeps the tires turning. Let me tell ya', that takes some work and a big steering wheel like those trucks had. In some of the links above you can see that classic 4x4 floor shifter too. It had a distinct shape to it that is most certainly recognizable if you were familiar with International trucks at all. I've straddled those shifters many a time between my Dad and my Uncle Dan and my Grandpa...sweat rolling out from under my toboggan, just about to burn up being squeezed between the two...the rumble and tinkle of the Alladin thermos bottle on the floor board, the smell of regular gas, bar oil, Osage and Oak chips, and fresh hot coffee...a blend of smells all-in-one that could only be replicated by going back in time. Back then Pap put sugar and creamer in the coffee for me...the only way I could drink it...the only way I could warm up. I was always nearly frozen to death and so stiff I could hardly move from being cold and tired. Warmed my hands many times in the woods over a small open fire, just about to cry my hands hurt so bad...even when I got much older my hands never could hardly take it. Good think there were three of us in the truck mostly...it's the only way it would warm up. I was the wood truck monkey back then...taking pieces handed to me, crawling around and placing them on top of the truck. I started...well I don't remember I was so young...probably around 4 years old until I was much older when Dad finally quit selling firewood. I've cut my fair share of wood since those days, often times on the job, for myself some since then too, but not often enough. That's changing...since moving out in the country...it's guard changing time. Time to pass some of this down to my son while I'm still able and while he's still young. His start will be much later in life than mine, but just as sweet to him when he's my age. Mmmnnnn…sometimes I'd like to go back. No...I would like to go back...
Got my third row started by the end of the day. I pile them right tight to the roof, same thing in the basement. By this time next year there will be three or four inches between the wood and the roof from shrinkage of the pile as it loses moisture. The new saw cuts great when I can get it going but it floods all the time when trying to start it. I tried leaning out the low speed jet but it won't turn. After taking the air cleaner cover off I see there's some anti tamper crap on both the jets. I'll have to remove that and see if I can solve this problem .
On my saws when I have one prone to flooding when starting hot...I'll pull the choke on (which engages the fast idle) then push the choke back off, which leaves the fast idle on, until you touch the throttle...worth a try...
Talking about the sounds and smells of riding in the truck as a kid brought back the memory of riding in dads early 70's F350 to go get sawdust from the amish sawmill for bedding the milk cows...the distinct smells the truck had, the sound of the sloshing fuel in the fuel tank behind the seat, the smell of all that Oak sawdust...
Talked to a guy online recently who had the same truck Pap had CS too. Looked brand new. No wonder! It only had 9,000 original miles on her.
She aint lazy, she's just smarter than us dealing with firewood in the middle of summer. $1200 plus tax from Westport here Chris.
Fourth row started. Leaned out my low speed jet on the new saw and it starts and runs better now. Went through the first tank of gas in it today.
Good stuff with the saw Chris. Did some stacking today in the carport as well. Warm but not that bad as the sun wasn't out much.
