1959 International - Page 3

Ronnie · 10-10-2018, 07:34 PM

Nice style. Might need a little buffing and maybe a tune up before driving though .....

Shannon · 10-10-2018, 08:12 PM

To say the least. It is going to be so much work yet so worth every bit of it. Luckily there is no major rust holes to fix. About the only upside to it besides the good body lines.

Ronnie · 10-10-2018, 08:33 PM

Yup plenty of work. But when done you will have something special.

It would be interesting to know what the rearend ratio is. If you are lucky it may have a tag on the center section, and if so it should have the ratio on it.

Shannon · 10-10-2018, 09:45 PM

All I know at this point is it has a two speed rear end.

Ronnie · 10-11-2018, 06:55 AM

That is good, a 2 speed lets you "split" gears so you have a gear between each gear. So if you are climbing a long grade and do not have quite enough power instead of slowing down enough to get into the next lower trans gear, you just slow down half that and shift the rear to it's low gear.

My old dump truck had it, all my Dad's old trucks had them, and my bus has it.

Shannon · 10-11-2018, 12:55 PM

Do you have any idea if it will handle the torque of a Cummins? That is a worry of mine.

Ronnie · 10-11-2018, 02:34 PM

It has a larger ring and pinion then the pickups with the Cummins, so that is one thing I would not worry about.

Getting replacement brake parts would be the biggest concern. Does it have a frame mounted vacuum booster? or is it on the firewall. If frame mounted is there more then one? Mine has two and that is not common. I do believe boosters can be had. I found them for mine pretty easy. The master cylinder hopefully is a single stage, and that has hope of parts to.

Tango · 10-11-2018, 07:42 PM

If you plan on actually driving it...upgrade the brakes! Big weak spot in older rigs. And single pot masters are truly scary.

Ronnie · 10-11-2018, 08:47 PM

he has a drag car maybe a parachute for added braking.....

Have to wonder if whole front axle of the 81 might just fit?

I have had modern tandem masters loose all brakes if a brake line fails. So I do not have any more confidence in then then the singles. I know they are supposed to be safer, but have not seen any differance yet. Not saying give up on dual masters and go back to singles though.

Look at both brake systems see what the 81 has that can be used to upgrade the 59. At least then you would know what to buy. I am assuming the 81 has hydraulic brakes?

Tango · 10-11-2018, 08:59 PM

At least a dual pot master gives you some back up. Lose a slave on the rear with a single pot and you have ZERO brakes. Do the same on a dual pot and at least you have front brakes.

Example: 1966 Ford 1/2 ton pickup. Had exactly that happen but got lucky and only "bumped" a telephone pole at 4 mph. Would have been a very different ending on the freeway. In '67 they went to dual. I converted the old gal and slept much better.

Can you still have total catastrophic brake failure...yes. But it is far less likely. And I'm an "odds player".

Ronnie · 10-11-2018, 09:18 PM

I have had total failure with dual pot. So guess I have not gained faith in them. I do hear what you are saying though.

I have not seen it in a truck but my bus has not just a dual pot, but goes to two separate boosters with dual brake lines to each wheel and each works one wheel cylinder of the two wheel cylinders. There is no proportioning valve either to let brake fluid mix front and back. It is the most separated system I have seen. Also a hydraulic retarder for added braking.

Tango · 10-11-2018, 11:06 PM

Sounds like a lot of redundancy. A good thing.

Shannon · 10-12-2018, 03:52 PM

As for the wheels off the 81 fitting they won’t. They are 5 lug. The 81 has a hydro assisted brake system. I’m really not sure if any of it will work on the 59. I am not familiar with these kind of brake set ups yet. I do however know what is on there has to go. I can’t trust them with the lives of my family.
And I love the parachutes idea!

Ronnie · 10-12-2018, 04:58 PM

number of lugs do not matter. There is no "hole" for the lug bolt on the rim, it is just a "dog" . Take one off you will see what I mean.

By hydro boost is this hydraulic operated? or vacuum boost?

Ronnie · 10-12-2018, 05:50 PM

Another thought...... I know the 81 does not have the same classic look as the 59 but...it has modern brakes, modern drivetrain, parts availability, modern rims and tires. It really may be the better platform to build on then doing the 59. Just saying from a practical view. Put the "coolness" into the dragcar.

Shannon · 10-12-2018, 06:02 PM

It is assisted by the power steering on the 81. I will try to get one off and see when I get a chance. You have my curiosity up. I looked at the firewall today and there is no booster on the firewall just the master cylinder. The engine bar is wrapped up tight at the moment. I will check the frame sone for a booster.

Shannon · 10-12-2018, 06:40 PM

I totally understand and agree on that view point., considering it runs and drives, also has a full service bathroom in it. My wife on the other hand is in love with the 59 and bought it for this purpose. I see no way out.

Ronnie · 10-12-2018, 06:48 PM

ok onward with the 59 it is. Understand.

Shannon · 10-14-2018, 10:16 AM

You know Ronnie, you have me thinking in terms of the upside of the 81. It is a very cool bus in its own right. My wife has driven it all over the country. It has many stories to tell.
Has anyone on here pulled an enclosed car trailer with a full size bus? I live on a mountain and the 81 will only climb it to the floor at 15mph on its own much less pulling 8,000lbs.

There would have to be an engine upgrade of some sort.
With the international 345 and Allison auto transmission I am not sure there would be many options other then a rebuild or a 392. I will have to look into this more as we hash this out.

Ronnie · 10-14-2018, 11:20 AM

For what it is worth I had an International 1600 with flatbed dump. 345 engine, 4 speed and two speed rear. Pulling a trailer was mostly trying to stay legal I would be running 26,000 gross weight truck and trailer. In the west Virginia mountains I would be down in the gears so to speak however could manage about 45 mph on a 6% grade.

I did rebuild the engine, and also changed from the 2 barrel carb to an aftermarket throttle body fuel injection. 670 cfm. This also changed fuel mileage from 6 to 8 mpg.

By the way my bus has an allison MT-40. This is 6 speed no overdrive, with lock up converter, and a two speed rear. I have not driven it enough to know how well it will do pulling a trailer, but do plan to pull my boat with it. That should put me at about 25,000lbs assuming the listed empty weight is correct.

Your easy options would be rebuild or rebuild a 392. next easy would be a diesel 444 (7.3) with one of the newer Allisons. I like the cummins 5.9 but not so sure it would fit without firewall mods. Just tossing out ideas.....

What state are you in?

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