Project REO Speedwagon

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Last summer I bought a 1948 REO Speedwagon with flatbed, an old farm truck that had been parked in a barn for over 40 years. I really wasn't in the market but it was so complete I couldn't pass it up. I've got a soft spot for these old REOs, the first school buses I rode were on that chassis and I remember the "Gold Comet" emblem on the side of the hood. It was last registered in 1962 and located 3 hours from me. I went and picked it up this past weekend without incident. I plan to do a full restoration and make it a mascot vehicle for our site here. It will be a long project, the first thing I have to do is find a place to work on it. I may grab one of those car port type structures to get it under cover quickly.
 

Attachments

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
REO1A.jpg

Old SignalStat turn signal control

REO2A.jpg

Shift pattern is still on the dash!

REO3A.jpg



REO4A.jpg



REO5A.jpg

Based on the mileage on the oil stickers I think the odometer has gone around once.
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
REO10A.jpg

This wheel is froze, I've got a socket on order for the bearing nuts. Came apart real easy!


REO12A.jpg

Front wheel


REO13A.jpg

Brake master cylinder is under the driver's seat. Brake pedal linkage is almost 2 feet long!


REO14A.jpg

I believe this is a vacuum booster, it's remotely mounted about 2 feet behind the master cylinder


REO11A.jpg

What I originally thought was the gas tank appears to be a vacuum tank! About 15 gallons worth!
 

RonG

Well-known member
One of my older brothers had a Reo car back in the day and one of the things that stood out in my mind about it,(I had to be preteen at the time) was how well it could pull a hill without having to shift.My brother made sure that whoever was in the car at the time was aware of it.I don't remember much about it but the car had that Reo nose on it too so we knew what it was.Nice vehicle for a mascot Steve.Ron G
 

Truck Shop

Well-known member
Those were neat looking old trucks, I'm guessing it's a 245 or 288 cu-in Continental engine? There is metal in that body not like today's stuff.

Truck Shop
 

RonG

Well-known member
It seems from memory that the law required turn signals in 1954.We used to have a meat vendor that had a Dodge one ton truck who went door to door,seems like it was Wednesday that he came,his name was Dougie Goodwin and we missed him the week that he had the turn signals installed.Those were the days.lol.Ron G
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
I haven't looked at the engine closely yet, the literature I have says it's 85hp. It has a 4 speed transmission. Once I get the wheel freed I'll figure out the gear ratio. One thing I noticed is there's grease fittings everywhere!! Anything that moves has a fitting. I'm excited to get it started but I'm not sure where I'm going to work on it yet.
 

Truck Shop

Well-known member
If it's 85hp it should be a 245 cu in. A truck company called HUG also used that body style, they used REO parts. It was in the early 40's that Hug
built those. What is the wheel base? Model 19 would be around 145 to 165" with a 245. Model 20 would be around 130 to 165" with a 288 cu in.

Truck Shop
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
I did some tinkering today. The right rear wheel was froze up and dragging so I was able to pull the drum and that cleared things up. I separated the hub reassembled without the drum, now the truck can be pushed around by hand.

Brakes R.jpg

Drum R.jpg

Bearing2 R.jpg

Timken 3984 bearing


Seal 2 R.jpg

Seal is shot. No numbers on it, open to any ideas on how to locate two

Mudflap R.jpg

Farmer ingenuity! Conveyor belt secured with roofing nails!
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Took a few more pics, I'm learning more about the truck as I go. Engine has a Zenith carburetor and Delco ignition. I'm hoping parts for them aren't too hard to find.

Motor R.jpg


Motor2 R.jpg


Air Cleaner R.jpg


Block R.jpg


Head R.jpg
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Head2 R.jpg

I took pics of all the engine markings I could find. No brand stamped anywhere, didn't notice an engine ID plate yet


VIN2 R.jpg

Pretty pleased the VIN sheet is in such great shape! It appears to be just index card stock run through a typewriter!
 

RonG

Well-known member
I saw the firing order on the head,when I was young we were taught to remember it (153624) as too young,too old and just right.Ron G
 

Truck Shop

Well-known member
There are places to get parts for the carb and ignition. And you can still get parts for that Conti to, I noticed it's a model 19 on the plate. That
wheel seal I don't know maybe someone from the ATHS group can help on that.

Truck Shop
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
I posted a picture of it on their Facebook page asking about it. I used to be a member there, just had an interest in old trucks. I'm going to have to join again now that I own one LOL! I figured the carb and ignition shouldn't be too much trouble. I'm trying to figure out what brand brakes they are
 

JasonG

Well-known member
If the ignition is bad, look into a hall effect replacement.
You build a plastic disc with little magnets on it that replaces the points. That triggers a cdi box. Not true vintage but if you hide the box it's not too noticeable.
 

RonG

Well-known member
If the ignition is bad, look into a hall effect replacement.
You build a plastic disc with little magnets on it that replaces the points. That triggers a cdi box. Not true vintage but if you hide the box it's not too noticeable.
I was going to suggest that but thought it would not look to too good to us connoisseurs down the road.I don't think that new points etc would be too hard to find,there has to be a lot of inventory someplace in the world to compare the old ones to.That is part of the challenge in restoring the old jewel,with a guy like Truck Shop on board here it would be hard to fail.The condenser is just a capacitor so if we could find out the value of the original in capacitance/voltage we could duplicate it with aftermarket hardware,I probably have one in my inventory,I have been collecting them for a lot of years,in fact I have a capacitance bridge to test the old one with if it came to that.I am proud to be a witness to the restoration.Ron G
 

BoxCarKidd

Active member
Some of the guys I learned from would take those cylinders, bore them out to the next 1/16, then install new cups springs and pistons. They did it on a regular basis. That seal looks like a tough one, big offset? Measure the OD of the seal and the spindle. Look for a seal in the book by diamentions. If the offset is wrong look for NOS or more custom work. Yes that is the booster and it looks odd so you probably won't find one, does it have a tag on it? One for a truck made by the big three will work. Maybe look around and try to find one that looks like the closest match. Steel brake line can be bought in 25 ft rolls from companies like Red Neck Trailer parts. Some old timers taught me how to use a double flaring tool and make my own brake lines. I know we can not do that anymore either but replace all the brake lines. Just my two cents, sharp old truck, good luck.
 
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