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#1 |
high-Tech Red Neck
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Livingston, MT/On my boat WA/BC/AK
Posts: 2,294
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The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Well this has not been a good week, this is the story of why I no longer have a 1997 Crew Cab Dually, and why now I have a 70 C/10
I punched out of Montana Sunday afternoon about 4 PM (central) and kicked it in the butt headed back towards Houston. As usually I was going to drive to Kansas, then on to Montana. Made it all the way to Hershey Nebraska the first night before I hung it up I had put down 748 Miles. ![]() I slept in the truck that night, the next morning I got up at 7:30, got after it, made it 36 miles to about Mile 199 on I-80, I hit a big pot hole, and the front suspension on the truck separated. ![]() ![]() ![]() Normally a separated ball joint is not a big issue, but in this case, something happened and it took out the engine. No idea what but after the wreck the truck would not start again. With that and the body damage the Insurance company opted to total the truck. We had it towed from where I broke down to Gothenburg. ![]() Once in Gothenburg I had to figure out how to get myself, the dog, and my tools back to Texas. The first thing I looked at was calling Uhaul, the smallest truck they had was going to cost almost a grand to get to Houston. Seeing as this was the case, I got to thinking and talked to the guy who owned the towing company and he had a 70 Chevy 1/2 ton that he had been using as a shop truck. We fired it up, it ran good, had a 283 in it. I handed him 1200 bucks for it and loaded my crap up after he changed the oil and plugs for me, and I hit the road. ![]() ![]() ![]() This is where the Journey got real interesting. As I was pulling out of Gothenburg, the sky was getting dim, and I kicked on the head lights. Well as it turns out the alternator was not charging, I noticed fairly soon the truck was losing juice and I pulled into the Pilot at Elm Creek. I had to shut the truck off to go inside, fortunately the parking lot had a good grade to it, and I was able to get the truck rolling and pop the clutch to get it started again. I made it to the Oriley's in Kearney, got the alternator tested, and it tested bad, so I replaced it. We jumped my truck, got it going, everything seemed to be working well, I got back out on the road, and all of the sudden the low voltage warning on my inverter started buzzing again. I got on my computer, looked to see where the next store was, my only chance was to make it to the Oriley's in Grand Island which was still 30 miles away, well I went for it, by the time I got there I was holding a flash light out the window driving with my lights off, but I made it. There I replaced the voltage Regulator and the battery. As I was getting the truck back together and was ready to fire it up and test it, the light on the front of the store went out, and the guys went home for the night. Great! Wouldn't you know the Voltage regulator they sold me was bad. It was only charging between 11.48 and 12.2 volts. I had no choice but to put it in the wind and hope for the best. So I did, I punched out of grand Island, didn't run the inverter or lap top, just rolled with nothing but the markers and low beams, didn't even try to run the stereo. I made it all the way to Marysville, Ks 297 miles from Gothenburg, 40 miles from Allison's house at about 1 in the morning when the tire on the drivers rear came apart. As luck would have it, it happened right in front of a motel, I pulled in, got a room, got a guy to charge my battery with his truck for me so I could get it started and drive to Manhattan in the morning after I got a tire, went to bed. ![]() The next morning I put 2 new tires on the back of the truck, then tore off for Manhattan after buying a spare from the guy who worked at the tire shop. When I got into Manhattan, I went to Napa, bought a new voltage regulator, put it in, all of the sudden the truck was charging like it was supposed to, I could run the inverter and headlights, and still have 13.6 volts. That was a damn big sigh of relief. Got to spend that night hanging out with Allie. The next morning I loaded up and headed over to Napa in Junction City where I had called over the night before for a turn signal switch, I had been running with out them the whole time. Got there, yanked the column apart, installed the switch, still no blinkers. Started to investigate discovered that some one had recently installed a brand spankin new wiring harness to the truck. When they did they got a harness that was setup for a 4 pin key switch, but the truck had a 7 pin. When they tried plugging it in, it shorted out a bunch of things, melted the switch socket, and killed the power to the ACC side of the fuse block. Thus taking out the Blower, Radio, wipers and turn signals. I cut the melted pigtail off the end replaced the connectors with spade connectors, got it all hooked up, put the dash back in the truck, all of the sudden everything worked. It was nice having the truck up and running, although it did chew through a good deal of time, I didn't get on the road for Houston until 1:30 with 722 miles remaining it took me until just after 2 in the morning to make it. It was a long hard drive, especially considering the truck had no door seals, and no carpet so it is really really loud. It did come with new door seals, but they are the glue in kind, so it is not as though I could have just thrown them in. Upon further inspection I also discovered the truck has a new drivers door, and the windshield and gasket are new. What really surprised me is the truck didn't use any oil the whole 1200 miles I put on it coming down here. Even more surprising was that it got between 15.5 and 16.5 MPG the whole way running 65-70 mph. I had thought I was going to sell this truck when I got to Houston, but now I am seriously considering keeping it, we will see. This unfortunately though is the close of the Tale for my 97 Dually. It was a great truck the short time I had it. it will be missed.
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"He used to be a pretty nice feller, now he's a welder!" |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Knoxville, Tn
Posts: 408
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Very interesting story! Nice read
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#3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Crazy!! I must say bravo to you for ditching the Uhaul idea and buying the 70. What an adventure!
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Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. |
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#4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Valley Center KS
Posts: 3,525
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Awesome story, I'd keep the truck just so you can tell the story of how you got it!
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mayflower,AR
Posts: 802
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
epic story! keep that truck. obviously that old thing loves you more then your dually did. sounds like you had yourself a trip.
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-Mike- '94 GMT 400 ext z71 3" body, 3 in rough country, hd mirrors, 20" motometals on 35s |
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#6 |
GEARHEAD
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MN
Posts: 6,122
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
A trip you will never forget. I had a similar tale from back in 1987, except I was driving my truck and kept it going all the way home. Idaho to Minnesota in December. Blown oil line, slid off the road in a mountain pass (unrelated event), broke down in the middle of Wyoming on the highway next to the house of the only mechanic within 50 miles, etc. etc. Awesome trip that was.
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If no one knows what you're doing, they can't tell you you're doing it wrong HG's Dream Car Build - Shelby Cobra Kit Build your own adjustable track bar 71 ![]() 72 ![]() HG's Plow Truck '78 ![]() Bigass Farm Truck HG's thread of miscellaneous stuff |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Alden NY
Posts: 2,705
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Great story and glad you made it safe and sound. You showed a lot of skill and ingenuity.
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1961 C1 Corvette 1959 El Camino 350 TPI, 9" 4 w disc 69 Blazer K5 - sold July '20 2021 Durango RT 5.7 |
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#8 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Vernon, Texas
Posts: 331
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Wow that's a heck of a story!
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 884
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Interesting. It's like you and that '70 are meant to be.
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: New Madison, Ohio
Posts: 21,365
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
That's what I call bonding to your truck. Great read
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A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. ![]() 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. ![]() 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc ![]() ![]() JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder! |
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#11 |
C/10 junkie
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Stockton Ca
Posts: 9,093
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
That is the coolest story I have heard in a long time. The old girl got you home. That wouldn't have happened in a new vehicle. Those kind of repairs ain't so easy with the new stuff.
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Shawn 70 LWB C10 current driver/project http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=663051 68 SWB C10 Work in progress.....SOLD http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=559520 72 LWB C10 Sold 71 LWB C10 Sold 68 LWB C10 CST Sold http://youtu.be/kbB0QrBIs9k My mom always had the best advice. It was just a tad late. After a fall that involved blood, she'd say....."Careful!" ![]() |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lebanon, Mo.
Posts: 1,315
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
You have to keep this 70 just so you can tell people the story about how you got it. Sucks about your dually though.
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1968 chevy lwb, getting ready to join forces with the 70 gmc 1970 gmc swb, getting ready to be a 68 chevy swb 1971 gmc lwb 2500 2wd Sierra Grande 1988 chevy 1-ton crew cab 2wd waiting for a 12v cummins |
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#13 |
Catchy title goes here..
![]() Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Rockwell, NC
Posts: 39,745
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
I agree, it is definitely a keeper. Great read, wish you had a smoother trip.. but then we would have nothing to talk about
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#14 |
My Carbon Footprint
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Orygun
Posts: 5,527
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Oh my.......
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 3,697
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
That is a great story! NO WAY you should ever get rid of that truck. That thing saved you a long walk home.
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Donna, Texas
Posts: 286
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Cool story.
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#17 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Topeka, Ks
Posts: 604
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Nice story!
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Daily-94 K2500 350 5spd extended cab longbox Project Red Velvet-68 C20 396-th400-AC-PS-PB-all original except for the 8 track and the gun rack. Build thread>>>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=495881 My 01 TA and 88 Formula hide in the garage. :-) |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hollidaysburg, PA
Posts: 785
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
thats a great story i would keep the truck fix it up and save it....I have to say I was laughing alittle while i was reading.
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_________________________________ 62 Impala 70 C-10 LWB 71 K-10 SWB 85 C-10 LWB==SOLD 01 2500 HD Members Met......2003Silverado (Dave) |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Glencoe Alabama
Posts: 510
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Enjoyed reading your story. Thanks for sharing it.
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72 Cheyenne super 10 08 3500 HD 4dr dually 12 ford flex (wifes ride) 76 Monte Carlo 83 Chevy short wide Silverado 96 Mazda Miata, 2000 Allegro Bus |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cali Central Coast
Posts: 5,191
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Really cool story. These old trucks are always good for an adventure. I used to drive my '72 Blazer from California to Iowa almost non-stop when gas was a lot cheaper. They are suprisingly dependable when everything is working properly.
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'67 SWB Fleetside ZZ4/350/Tremec 5-speed/4link/Scott's IFS - and fun as heck! SOLD ![]() Click here to support the board Philippians 4: 6-7 |
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#21 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 1,701
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Thanks for sharing your story! That's adventure!
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"I was patina when patina wasn't cool." 1973 Cheyenne SWB Sunset Gold / Frost White / Saddle |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: los angeles,ca
Posts: 3,617
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
great story!! you shouldnt sell that truck. thats a keeper
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Eastvale, CA
Posts: 82
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Very Cool story! Great job writing it up and illustrating it.
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 281
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
Did the adjuster even look at your dually when determining it was a total loss?
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I own 3 classic vehicles. 1971 LWB C10 Deluxe. 1974 VW Super Beetle. 1971 VW Fastback. The C10 and the Super Beetle run, the Fastback is just not there yet! Please visit my Super Beetle and Fastback profile on TheSamba. |
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#25 |
Ridin' Dirty
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ardrossan Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,193
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Re: The trip from hell, how I wound up owning a 70 C/10
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1978 C3500 Crewcab (Project) 1979 C2500 Crewcab (Driver/project) 1988 R2500 Crewcab (Driver) 1988 V3500 Crewcab 1988 R2500 Crewcab (Mint, Ex Fire Dept) 1968 Chev Suburban (4x4 conversion) LINK 1970 Chev C20 Suburban (driver/cruiser)LINK 2005 Impala (Incognito vehicle) 2004 Yukon XL Denali (Kid hauler) 1947 Case tractor Facebook Page(1000's of pictures of GM cars and trucks organized into albums) YouTube Channel |
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