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1966 Dodge
C600 Swing Nose
361-4V 5
Spd.
Restoration Page One |
My C600 sat for many years in the next town over from me,
In a church parking lot. This old Dodge was well known in
our town, if you attended shop class at Bristol Central then
you probably turned some wrenches on this old truck.
Stan Sepiol, the Shop Teacher at Central, was a huge Mopar Man. Stan bought this
C600 from the town of Thomaston and decided to restore the truck as a class
project. His students rebuilt the motor the brakes and even did paint and body
work to the truck. In 2007 or so, Bristol decided to close the shop class and
Stan and his old Dodge were out of a job and the truck was moved to the Church Lot
Stan had told me multiple times about the truck and that he was hoping to
get it finished. Stan bought many parts and what he couldn't buy he found
in junk yards and through leads. Stan told me the Cab came out of Springfield Mass
and has over a million miles on it.
The interior has every factory gauge available and even a gear drive tachometer.
Stan decided he would not be able to complete the restoration, and he contacted
me to see if I would be interested in it. Stan and I came to an agreement and the
C600 exchanged hands. I had the truck towed to my shop and the progress began.
Thinking this was a no-sweat project, I dug in and then came the realization that this aint
no car! Every thing is bigger and takes more to get it done. Old Trucks and Old Cars have
different mechanics to them. I voiced to my wife, Sharleen, that I may be in over my head. She said build
a bridge and get over it. You've been talking about getting a Big Rig for years,
Take your time and learn it before you give up on it. Well that is what I did. I started with the
fundamentals I knew and worked towards understanding the things I didn't know.
First order was to get the 361-4V running. you see the intake pan had rusted and
mice made them selves at home along with a oil pan filled with water and oil.
That stream of wet is the water that was in the crank case.
All cleaned and ready to go back together.
The oil pan was removed, bearings inspected and back together it went.
Started up like it had been running the day before, checked the timing and
around the shop lot my daughter Macy and I went for a ride.
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