Well it took a few years but i finally got my 358 back to California. This was an old Pioneer Diary truck. I had it at the Brockway show back in 05'. I had to remove the box off it when I brought her out West since she wouldn't fit on my lowboy, it was too high. That was quite the nightmare. No-one would take that box since it was FRP. Anyway, I brought her out to Wyoming where we had a project going past few years. We'd only be up there a few months in the summer and I'd fool around with her a little when I could. Most of the time she just sat and we were too busy to play. Past few years haven't had much time for the toys. Finally decided to go get her before winter really sets in up there. Monday the low was 4. Checked the weather report and it looked good so I flew up on Wed, thankfully the temp was in the 40's.

Got some new batteries and she fired right up! Greased her, checked the fluids and tires and hit the road. 770 Miles to LA. She didn't even hiccup. Ran just great! Could only comfortably do 55 @ 2300 rmp.

Now the funs begins.

Do you have any pics to share? Great story!

Cortland to L.A. I love it! Long distance award, I bet that really turns some heads being one of the only Brockways in Ca. Paul

I have a few pics but can't get them to resize. Can I send them to your e-mail?

Most Huskies are North East dogs but maybe they could get used to "catchin some rays" in CA. Sounds like quite a trip!

You can send them to oldspwr@gmail.com

Good going Evan. Keep us posted on your progress, Clarence

I was just thinking the other day, the Brockway colonization of the south is well underway but west of the Mississippi is pretty sparse. Great story, hope to hear more about it.

Thanks for the comments! It's really quite a story. My grandfather had one when I was a kid. I grew up in Atlantic City and they hauled refrigerated transport to NY and Phila. I have a real clear memory of riding on the doghouse. I must have been 7 or 8 years old. Started looking around for one a few years back. Clarence told me about the Pioneer Dairy truck and said it was a good rig. He was right. I picked her up in Mass and was driving down to Nichols NY, where we were working on a project. That was during those heavy storms in 06' where the highway got washed out in upstate NY, rivers were overflowing, locusts, frogs, boils. Traffic was being detoured and people were scrambling in every direction. I wound up driving for something like 10 hours just trying to get back and couldn't get any further than Cortland! This was in a truck I had never seen before except in pics, in a torrential downpour, for 10+ hours. Ran flawlessly, everything worked great. Wound up having to stay in Cortland for a few days until they opened the road again. Had a really great visit with Hugh while I was there. More next time...

Thats Great Evan!!! I remember meeting you out at Cortland that year. I'm standing in front of that red 360, thats my father in front of CR's show truck I think I was 9 in that picture!!

so what plans do you have for the truck?
shelby

That's a nice looking truck!! Do you still have the body with the truck or was that left somewhere along the trail?? I know all about those road trips with a here-to-fore unseen Brockway. Fun!!

Emery

Jeff, I remember meeting you as well. Great to hear from you, Clarence, Stan and everyone else! I don't have the box anymore, they literally had to rip it apart to get it off the frame, and I had to pay them to do it! It's a shame but it wouldn't go on my trailer and I wasn't driving all the way back to WY empty. We wound down the project in WY and sold everything off. This was my last chance to get her or I would have had to leave her behind. I'd love to restore her but don't see any time in the near future. I'm traveling so much for work that I'm not home much. She runs great but has some bad rust in the floorboards, cab mounts and rear panel.

FYI, it's a 73' VIN 82025. Ex Pioneer Dairy. NH230 Cummins non turbo, 5 speed w/ 2speed rear. Power Steering, Drivers foot pressure operated cruise control, Luxury vinyl padded interior, no wax paint job, and much more!

Started working on shortening the frame. After reviewing the factory cut sheets and talking with the experts, decided on going with the factory spec 133" wheelbase. Thanks Tony for the cut sheet! Also thanks to Stan, Tom and Craig for the input. Here's a few pics of the trial fit. Going to be cutting the frame at 196" overall length. I think it looks great! very excited. Mike Colton is doing the work. If you're a member of ATHS, then you know Mike has done some really great restoration work and is a super nice guy and very knowledgable. Will post more pics as she progresses.

Huskynut you Colonized the Last Frontier for Brockway California. Is anyone familiar with Brockway's out there. It would be interesting to take it to a show there to hear the comments. Joe D.

Thanks Joe! Rumour has it that there were quite a few sold to Caltrans and used by the miltary out this way but I've only ever seen one other. It was a ratted out 359 that was used for roll off service in San Diego. Can't wait to take her to a show out this way and see the reaction.

A few more pics

I remember some truck museum in California offering a really old Brockway for sale a few years ago. Maybe a late teens early twenties truck.

Emery

Huskynut I am glad I could help. you have a beautiful interior and dashboard.
I sure wish mine was half that good. You will have good days and bad days on your project as you move along. Take plenty of pictures it's what you have to look back on your project. I should be a lot further than I am on mine lost five months this year due to medical issues. Back on the road trying to have this truck ready for Cortland next year
Thanks for the update Tony

As a former NYer who moved west to California, I can say I welcome that truck to our state!! And my wife asks me what I want when I turn 40, my simple response is "a Brockway!!" So maybe in a few years another one will join the state! Congrats on bringing some NY history out here. Hopefully I'll see it at one of the shows this summer.

Ryan