1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

You should be okay, but keep an eye on it...drag it in the garage and run it in a barrel if necessary, to check it out.
JB, no quackers down there yet? Been shootin sandhills and geese up here...may try for pheasant next week, now that I've got the boat stowed in the garage. Spent six hours in front of it today, working on the old Dodge PU...went to change the hoses and flush the radiator, and broke a bolt getting the alternator off. Had to pull the throttle assembly and radiator out to get a drill bit on the broken bolt and drill it out. Four hours later, the back of my legs are stiff like I spent the day on my feet in a skiff...poling for redfish. Are they biting down there?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

There's a few quackers here but season is closed and I love to gripe......
That was the best front we've had in early December in many years. Few ducks, though. I hunt public waters and they're here one day and gone tomorrow.
I can't believe anyone who likes johnson and evinrude motors would drive anything but a chevrolet or gmc! As bad as I have to admit it, I bought my wife a F.O.R.D. explorer and the darn thing has done pretty well. Never bought a Dodge, though. I'm getting to where I get a little stiff working on trucks now, too. I'm hopefully getting a new '56 30 and '57 18 from up north pretty soon. Will send pics.
Later,
JBJ

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

Settled on a Dakota, cause I couldn't find an Apache...but it does have a V8 for boat hauling. Better take this to PM if necessary...don't want to hijack the thread.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

Hey, don't knock the Fords. I have a 39 year old rust bucket still running strong. As for Dodges, I had one of those recently that I partially restored. The old 318's are tough to beat.

 

[phineas]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

I have a pr of FD-12's they are '58s and 3 or four FD-15's '61's , the '58's have metal hoods, the '59's i believe have the first fiberglass hoods with a round emblem on the top, and had an optional fuel pump, maybe the '58s did too, but no thermostat on them, the pic of the thermostat is just like my FD-15 in my shop right now, my fd12's are both holiday bronze

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

Yep. Holiday Bronze: 1956 - 58

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

Yep, Holiday Bronze...nice color. I've done a couple of FD's and an RD restoration, but used a Duplicolor maple leaf red or cayenne red (GM code) and both are a real close match if you don't want to pay big bucks for original paint color. Gotta love the Fords, I've had four of those trucks and wish I still had my first...69 F100 shortbed. All the fancy electronics are great, but it's hard to beat something you can push-start in a pinch...equipped with both necessary options...heater and AM radio.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

Yea, back in '91, I had a '71 Sport Custom, 360/AT 1/2 ton and now I have a '70 Sport Costom 360/4 speed 1/2 ton. Both are/were good dependable trucks. My current is lower miles and runs nicer, eventhough it has a lot of rust. Last Spring, I replaced the heads and put headers with dual exhaust in it. What a huge difference it made. Hard to believe it's almost 40 years old I think I could still trust it enough to go across the country.

 

[asdasc]

Re: 1958 Johnson 18HP Popcicle

Just a quick follow up, I put it in the water this spring, and had no issues with it. It pumps water, just like before. I still need to do the rebuild to get the seals right, there is a propshaft seal leak i am pretty sure.