Diamond Reo rehab - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

rino1494 · 03-21-2009, 03:06 PM

Our Reo needed a facelift and winter is the best time for that. The frame was pretty rusty and the 5th wheel plate was rotted. We went to the junkyard and found a 5th wheel and plate in great shape. We bought some angle iron and fabbed up new rails and welded to the plate and bolted her to the frame. Replaced a spring hanger, pin and bushing, all new brakes on the rear and new exhaust piping from the turbo back to the muffler. Adjusted the valves, set the injectors and jake and now she runs pretty. We sandblasted the hyd. tank and blew holes through the bottom. So, dad had to cut the bottom off and rebuild it. We sandblasted and painted the wheels and frame and sanded and painted the cab with acrylic enamel. We tried base coat clear coat before, but on a work truck, it just isn't worth it. It is a 1983 with a Cummins Big Cam 400 and she only has 212,000 orig miles. Our next project is our 3 axle trailer. We have new planks being made and we are thinking about sandblasting and painting that. We'll see how work goes, if we are busy or not.

rino1494 · 03-21-2009, 03:13 PM

more pics.....

**denick** · 03-21-2009, 03:28 PM

Nice Job Rino!

If it gets dirty have Gnella come over from NJ and clean it.

dayexco · 03-21-2009, 03:35 PM

what kind of decking you putting on? we did apitone on our last trailer, never use oak again.

Tinstaafl · 03-21-2009, 03:39 PM

I don't care what you say, that there's just purty!

Gnella · 03-21-2009, 05:05 PM

Nice job rhino.

rustyjames · 03-21-2009, 05:45 PM

Looks good Rino

. Reminds me of the "old" days of the Mack DM's, Brockway's and Autocar's.

tgeb · 03-22-2009, 07:24 PM

Nice job, looks good.

WarnerConstInc. · 03-22-2009, 08:06 PM

Man, I thought it was the Band Diamond Rio and they were in re-hab!!

Very nice old truck. There used to be a old iron show here in town but, I dont remember it happening last year.

The old Mack's, T's and 'Cars were sweet old rigs.

MACEXCAVATING · 03-22-2009, 08:11 PM

Sweet looking old truck you got there. Boy, that sure is a short wheel base. I bet it turns on a dime.

john1066 · 03-22-2009, 10:13 PM

Truck came out nice. The only thing im surprised about is going to a junk yard for the 5th wheel. If i was gonna skimp on anything that would be the last thing. you have no idea where the old one was or what happened to it before. other than that it looks good

Williams Ex Co · 03-23-2009, 10:47 AM

Oooooohhhhh Aaaaaaaawwwwww! Thats purty. Thanks for the pics.

rino1494 · 03-25-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dayexco

what kind of decking you putting on? we did apitone on our last trailer, never use oak again.

There is a local logger that has a sawmill. He is making us oak planks. When we do clearing jobs, we give him any saw logs. He gives us a good deal on planks and sideboards and he also makes grade stakes. We have never tried apitone. I heard that it lasts twice as long, but it is also twice the money. Six in one, 1/2 dozen in the other.

rino1494 · 03-25-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MACEXCAVATING

Sweet looking old truck you got there. Boy, that sure is a short wheel base. I bet it turns on a dime.

187". Next truck dad wants to get is a 3 axle. Man, we will have trouble getting around then.

rino1494 · 03-25-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john1066

Truck came out nice. The only thing im surprised about is going to a junk yard for the 5th wheel. If i was gonna skimp on anything that would be the last thing. you have no idea where the old one was or what happened to it before. other than that it looks good

Don't let the term "junk yard" fool you. There is a local yard that buys salvages and parts them out. We looked at about (30) 5th wheels and this was the nicest one.