Draining air tanks, and seats

["daniel.r.felix.1" <dfelix2@domain.elided>]

On the air tanks thread: 
We have (of course) air brakes on all of our fire trucks (with the
exception of our grass rig).  I don't know about the rest of the trucks,
but the one I am in involved with for maintenance (once a month), has an
air tank under the front bumper.  It has a valve on one end on the bottom
for the draining of water.  I know under the bumper is not ideal for most
wheelin' rigs, but I am just telling you how it is on this truck.  Anyway,
I had to drain the water out on Wednesday night, and when the tank is
pressured, the water just shoots right out of there.  You let it blow out
until you can't see any more mist.  This valve has a small T-handle that
you turn, I had to use channel-locks.  Probably the best way to mount a
valve such as this, in my opinion, would be to put it on one end of the
tank, and make the tank sit a little lower on that end.  I would then make
some kind of skid plate for the valve, to protect it.  I don't know how
often I would drain it, but it would probably depend on how much I used
it.  
On the seats:
I asked before, and not seeing any reply, I will ask again.  I have a set
of fold-down seats in my '64 80.  They seem like they are in very good
shape, for the age they are.  The vinyl has some holes, but it looks to me
like they are original.  I have yet to find any sort of locking mechanism
for the fold-down.  I was wondering if these seats might be original?
Howard?  My '66 does not have any type of fold-down seats.  My other
question is how much would I/should I expect to pay to have these
reupolstered (sp?)?  I haven't tried the yellow pages yet, but I imagine
that should be where I start.  Has any one had this done to theirs?  TIA.


Dan Felix
'64,'65,'66
 80, 80, 800