01 - The Seagrave was delivered to the Duarte Garage in 1985. Fortunately the truck was pretty much complete with all major body panels and components intact.

02 - When Chuck McFann began restoration in 2008, the hood was removed for safe keeping. The hand crank was straightened so the engine could be turned over.

03 - We found that some of the exhaust valves were sticking, and we needed to remove the valve caps. The caps resisted all attempts to unscrew them.

04 - Finally an “ 8 foot big tool” was fabricated to unscrew the valve caps. Four people, two on each end, finally did the job.

05 - All the valve caps were removed and all the valves were lapped in place.

06 - Chuck McFann proudly shows one of the Seagrave valves. Later compression tests would show the compression on all cylinders to be about 60 psi.

07 - By January 2009 all the body parts were stripped off the chassis awaiting dent removal and painting.

08 - By February 2009 the chassis was loaded on a trailer to Kevin Nista’s Early Years and Exotics shop for first round of steam cleaning to remove most built-up oil and grease.

09 - Jim Bohemke is using the steam cleaner on the Seagrave engine.

10 - After the cleaned chassis was returned to the Duarte Garage, test fitments were made on the repaired fenders.

11 - After all the dents were removed, the body work was primed and ready for paint.

12 - By October 2009 the initial batch of body work was painted by Trivalley Auto Body and stored in an off-site location for safe keeping. Jim Boehmke proudly views his work.

13 - The hose bed was returned to the Duarte Garage for storage. Lynn Owens, retired Livermore Fire Chief (on right), help to move the bodywork into the garage.

14 - By December 2009 it was time to check out the engine in more detail. Will Bolton and Clive Bush check out the crankshaft and rod bearings.

15 - The good news was that all the bearings were in very good condition and should not be a problem. All the connector rod bearings were torqued and gapped to specifications.

16 - By March 2010, our efforts were directed to preparing the chassis for painting.

17 - Allen’s Towing of Livermore returned the chassis to Tri-Valley Auto Body for the chassis paint job. George Romero and JR of Tri-Valley proudly stand by the painted chassis.

18 - By May, the chassis was back and engine painted. The intake manifold and fan “dressed up” the chassis for a ride on Allen’s Towing truck in the 2010 Rodeo Parade.

19 - By August we re-installed the rebuilt steering box. Ben Schluchter and Clive Bush adjust the steering drag link. Randy Jennings applied initial primer for gold leaf decoration.

20 - The oil pan and oil pump were installed, the engine filled with 9 quarts of oil, and the oil pump was tested using a drill motor to drive the pump. Tests were successful.

21 - Irv Stowers gets ready to install the distributor as one of the many steps needed to run the engine for the first time in over 50 years.