The picture of the river fording was done down in the Owyhee Desert, I try to get back into a remote hot springs routinely. To get into the canyon where the hot springs are you have to do a 3 mile dozer track down a cliff face and then ford a river. This is really rough country, as the gravel road left off about 28 miles back. The last photo is of a mountain south of here appropriately called Three Fingers Rock. A buddy of mine and I did some 12 miles of off road to get to the base, then climbed to the top (the picture of my '55 from the top (which I have) isn't exactly impressive unless you've got memories of making the final 900 foot vertical ascent). Slow going but worth the effort.

     Jim's truck is packing a 235 6-cylinder with a wild high torque cam (floats out at about 2400 RPMs but lets that 6-popper climb serious rock outcroppings while idling) with a split exhaust manifold providing dual exhaust. An old friend used to race the 235 when it was a hot, new release from GM in the 1950's. He spec'ed the cam out and gave me one of his original 50's split manifolds. The hubs on my Napco are Dual-Matic's, power is provided by the original Spicer T-case, via the original rockcrusher 4-speed tranny. Other than this the truck is fairly stock, although I have added shoulder belts and bucket seats. As time goes by I replace with original-to-era equipment (NOS preferred, when affordable) rather than custom or modified items. I figure this truck took 45 years to degrade to it's current condition, given another 45 it might return to stock.

     I might mention this truck has taken me down into Baja California, out to Mid-West and way up into Northern Saskatchewan. The speedometer was originally non-functioning, so I have no idea of how many miles I have driven it in the past 14 years I have owned it. But I have to say given - long miles and rough miles it has never once left me beside the trail walking for help. And I can have bragging rights to running rescue on several newer rigs!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         

Thanks for sharing your memories Jim!

Here's Jim fording the Bruneau River!
Sure enjoy seeing these trucks doing what they were intended for!

Say, who's driving this truck anyway!

  Here is a quick shot I made last summer with a flock of Mountain Goats visible on the ridge above my '55. This shot was done on the fly, I didn't have time to set it up - goats move fast on rough ground when spooked. My dog was going wild as there were about 18 goats in the flock and the scattered everywhere when we rounded the bend.

                                    A view of Three Fingers Rock