1936 International Harvester

In 1996 while walking through my friend's underground parkade, I came across his unrestored C30 International that had been sitting there for 5 years. A few months later I was the proud new owner.After close inspection I found the truck to be 98% complete and in good shape. The body had a few dents here and there, some of the wood work needed to be replaced, and new paint was needed

In mid August 1996, I started work on 

restoring the truck. The chassis was completely stripped, every nut and bolt removed. All body parts and chassis were sand blasted, and dents were knocked out. The chassis was painted then the slow process of painting parts and fitting them started. New brake lines and bushings, wiring and wood work. (The cab frame and door frames are wood)

One of the amazing discoveries that was made during the restoration, was the excellent condition of the engine. 

We gave her a valve grind and she turned over almost right away. The C-30 used the 213 cubic inch model HD-3 engine. This was an all International engine and as this engine was improved it became the 214 cubic inch Green Diamond engine that was used by International in its trucks until 1949.

I ran the old engine for 18 months before I decided it was time to give the old girl a new set of bearings and pistons. With the knowledge that the International Green Diamond engine is related to the HD-3 engine, I didn't have any trouble finding engine parts. I found the secret to finding a good auto parts store is to find the one with the oldest person behind the counter. He's the guy that's been around for a while and know's the old stuff. In my case I found asking for HD engine parts was hopeless, but ask for Green Diamond parts and in most cases the parts were still listed.

The gearbox is a four speed crash box that requires a little getting use too. A quick oil change was all that was needed for the gearbox and diff.

1936 was the first year that International used hydraulic brakes. Some time was spent installing new brake lines and over hauling the wheel cylinders and master cylinder. I didn't want any brake failures.

The painting was completed in my garage using a friends compressor and spray gun. The results were good and as the parts were painted they were fitted to the truck.

Once most of the body was completed, I installed new wiring. This job was easy and simple taking about 8 hours to complete.

By May 1997 the truck was ready for its first test drive and this went well. I did however make a not so awe-inspiring discovery, it was very slow. Flat out this baby would do 35 mph. The diff ratio was 6.14:1 and I would have no trouble towing an ice burg. I drove the truck like this for a few months until I located another diff. This diff was two speed with a ratio of 5.14 and 7.25 to 1. I also located a small 3 speed Aux. gear box that I installed behind the main gear box. The installation of the two speed rear end and Aux. gear box required a lot of work, but the results were well worth it. 

I now had a vintage truck that was able to keep up with traffic and was still able to work. With the right gear this truck can have 2 ton on its back and has no trouble getting around. With the overdrive selected I'm able to cruise along at 50 mph with the engine turning at 2000 rpm.Driving this truck is all business. Take your mind off the job and you'll end up running off the road. The bias ply tires don't help at all, they follow any groove in the road and if you don't get the engine rpm right when changing gears you just hope nobody is around to hear you grinding the teeth off. I have traveled 300 miles in one day and at the end of the day you know you have done it tough.

This truck didn't come with turn signals when it was built in 1936 and I didn't really have any intention of installing them when I restored the truck, but it didn't take me long to realize that most drivers these days have no idea what a hand signal is, so it wasn't long before I installed them.

The rear box I made myself and I tried to make it look like something that could have been made in 1936. I wanted to have something that I was able to use in a number of different ways. The sides fold down and come off so that it can be used as a flat deck. In late 1999 I installed the hydraulic hoist and now the truck can be very useful. I have no trouble taking it to the local dump or land fill, that's what it was built for in the first place.