Kelly Tytlandsvik has earned a reputation in southeast Saskatchewan and a good part of northern North Dakota for his unfailing devotion to, and willingness to get involved in practically anything that has to do with machinery, especially machines on the antique or collectible side.
Tytlandsvik thrives on details surrounding restoration projects. The genial host of the annual Model Engineering Show in Estevan for nearly 30 years, Tytlandsvik has also carved out a niche of exploration into worlds of building tiny, and a few not-so-tiny models of these giant machines of the past. In other words, he loves to deal with the real thing, as well as their modelled counterparts.
There may not be a carburator in existence he doesn’t know something about and would be willing to repair, simply because the incentive is the curiosity factor.
So when he set out to restore an old Tytlandsvik family farm truck, they knew it would get done and would be done properly. But no one, not even he, knew just how long it would take thanks to the many distractions in his regular work-a-day world, family obligations and weekends spent helping others repair and restore old threshing machines, tractors, combines and cars.
“My dad (Ludven Tytlandsvik) bought this truck new in 1951, and it was the first new vehicle he ever owned,” he said.
The truck was put to work immediately on their farm near Oungre until it was retired in 1969.
The fact that there was this old retired truck just sitting in the grass, under some trees all these years, gnawed on Kelly’s restoration instincts up until 2000 when he took the action of hauling the old GMC home in the middle of winter.
He was going to restore it completely.
Drive train components were rebuilt using a combination of new and used parts. The engine was bored oversize, crankshaft ground and connecting rods replaced with newer bearing insert type rods. The cylinder head was rebuilt with new guides, seats and valves.
Tytlandsvik said the engine machine work was performed by E&G Auto, and he did the assembly.
“The transmission was disassembled and rebuilt as necessary and it only needed seals and gaskets,” he said. Differential crown and pinion was replaced with a used gear set that was in better condition than what was in the truck at the time of retirement. Brakes and steering components were replaced or rebuilt, according to their condition.
“I replaced all rusted body panels and repaired the cab structurally and replaced all four cab corners with ones I made myself. I did the body work and left the final sand and paint work for Ideal Autobody to finish. The interior parts were purchased from LMC truck, the instrument decals, headliner, seat cover, floor mats,” he said.
But, after many years of hits, misses and self and family imposed delays, on April of this year, he said, “The truck was complete enough to license and drive again, 16 years and two weeks after I had dragged it home.”
It’s called perseverance. It’s what all these detail-type people have in common when it comes to restoration projects.
As one admiring fan, noted, “it’s probably one of the most fascinating and wonderful hobbies to have.”
Hobby or obsession? Or perhaps both?
You decide.
