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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 6,332
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Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
I've had worse and so have you, and the problems are trivial compared to people with real problems, but I'm going to complain anyway.
Yesterday was the day to start adding fluids to my multi-year frame-off restoration. So I started adding the engine oil (it's already been on the dyno but it was a year ago, and empty, and I need to re-prime too). What did I forget? An oil filter. Duh. So of course - giant pool of oil. Drive an hour round trip because there's nothing local anymore, get a couple of filters, come back, install filter, add oil. All good. Start priming engine. Then I remember that I had pulled the instrument cluster out to fix the temp gauge. Which means the oil line for the oil gauge is now shooting oil into my interior, including my new carpet. That could have been way worse, I was able to clean it such that you'll never see it. Even I can't. At least it was brand new oil from a brand new engine, not black goo. Then on to coolant. A smarter man would add the water first and the antifreeze later, but I'm not that man, so I started with the glycol first. And of course it leaks at the bottom hose, which is almost inaccessible (in fact had I known it'd have been faster to pull the fan and shroud). So I'm lying under the car fighting with slippery glycol and this clamp that is apparently bottomed out (won't tighten further) which is why it's leaking. And that's when the antifreeze poured into my eye. Fortunately last year I "wasted" the money on an eye wash (just the kind you screw to the wall and has two eye-rinser bottles). With that all done I put the Stant pressure tester on the rad and it's clearly leaking from somewhere. This is a "new" rad from LMC, but I've had it two years so it's out of warranty by now. I find a pinhole leak at the neck. Tried JBWeld but other members encouraged me to fix it right, so on to solder. That goes reasonably well. A little ugly because I've never done it before and my flux is probably 10 years old, but I'm not making another hour round trip for some flex (I did that today :-) ). I've been a Plummer for 46 years and this is the first pipe I've soldered. I actually kinda with I had brass rod, maybe I could TIG it? But it still leaks somewhere, which I eventually find is at the heater-hose return fitting that my truck doesn't even need and shouldn't have in the first place, so the rad is a multi-year replacement I guess. It's capped with some rubber washer and plastic cap, which leaks on its own, and it also leaks where it's brazed/soldered to the tank. It would make a little cloud of soapy bubbles when I poured soapy water on it, so it was pretty clear. At this point I should have pulled the rad, but I've got dual batteries and a bolted in shroud and a bunch of reasons that I should not have accepted as excuses. But I did, so I tried to solder it in the truck. That's when I set fire to and melted the edge of my original big block fan shroud. So today I took it out; I took it and the old original factory rad down to the radiator shop (another hour round trip) to see if I should let them repair the 'new' one or rebuild my original. The tubes in the original look a little bigger, I'd rather have the original, but I don't know about pricing yet. I get there and there's a taped note saying they're taking a couple of weeks off. Sigh. I grew up in the family hardware store and we never closed for a day, let alone a week (other than Sunday and holidays). Today I soldered it up myself and so far it seems to be holding. I never could get their plastic plug to work so I soldered a brass plug into it. I'll never need that heater hose fitting. The moral of the story? Unless you need the vehicle to get to work or something important and urgent, when you start to make obvious mistakes, walk away. Find something else to do. In the end all will be fine, my rad will be a little uglier and I'll never fully trust it, but that's the way it goes. Ah well, this is the life we chose.
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
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#2 |
One foot in front of the other
![]() Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Parrottsville, TN
Posts: 5,440
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Wow is all I can say...
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#3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
You fall down, you can either get back up, or take a nap. Depends on how old you are...
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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: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin & Arizona
Posts: 4,844
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
This thread is a CLASSIC!
At least you seem to have kept your sense of humor through it all. Not sure I would have. Jim |
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#5 |
PROJECT 7DEUCE
![]() Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: GRANTS PASS OR
Posts: 21,608
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
We have all been in those shoes...
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GO BIG GREEN ![]() MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P.. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: New Orleans, La
Posts: 406
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
I feel for ya. We've all had those days. I usually know to walk away when I stop thinking of the truck as "Rosie" and start thinking of her with names that generally only have four letters. Problem is, it is almost always exclusively my fault, and I don't like thinking less of myself.
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It's not that I am apathetic, I just don't care. If your life is a joke, it appears death will be your punchline. |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Farmville, Va
Posts: 3,026
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
And a Goodtime was had by all
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Grand Terrace, Ca.
Posts: 1,607
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Does glycol sting when you get it in your eye?
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#9 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Winnipeg, Mb
Posts: 1,115
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Quote:
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 1,774
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Sounds like a typical day in my life. I'm notorious for making mistakes like that or weird stupid stuff happen. I have friends just waiting for the day I set my entire garage on fire (joking of course, especially if your in insurance).
Yeah I've learned to take my time and TRY to walk away when things don't go right. However I tend to walk away about 30-45 min. past that point. Cold beer and a tool or two to throw helps me come off the ledge. It'll get better and make driving that much more enjoyable.
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Ryan 1967 Red Stepside..."Laymond" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...40#post6441840 1972 Medium Olive SWB-Chester http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=759628 1967/71 Blue SWB C10..SOLD 1977 SWB K10..my grandpa's.....never should have sold |
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#11 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Houston,Tx
Posts: 784
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Had those days....walking away helps..but its usually the last thing I do....ive taken a nap before under my project...
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1966 C10 Mary 1972 C10 Cheyenne "Betty" https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=847364 1976 C35 Sierra Grande "Mr. Harvey" 1979 C10 Silverado "The BIG TEN" https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=841339 1982 C10 Silverado "Lucy" C10 Club Texas -HMIC |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Backwoods, OR
Posts: 888
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Yep.
Good read.
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'69 K20 350/4 speed/Rockwell/D44/HO52. "orange rhymes with door hinge" |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
That is a good story. Sorry for your trouble. The finished product should make it all worthwhile.
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'83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project |
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#14 |
blood type; Retumbo
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: next to my reloading bench
Posts: 10,269
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
at least you remembered to put oil in your engine. It could have been much worse.
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Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card |
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#15 |
motor exploder
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,346
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Well, I'm not even the least bit happy you're having troubles, but things have been going the same way for me lately anytime I try to make progress on my project! Walking away when things aren't going right is a VERY good advice. It will usually keep you from making an expensive mistake due to being frustrated, especially during a multi-year restoration/project.
Things will make a turn for you, I'm sure of it. Then you can really laugh at all the little dumb stuff that totally p!$$ed you off after you're cruising down the road in your finished truck!
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Adam 1969 Chevy CST/10 stepside, DART Big M/TREMEC Magnum Extreme/3.73's w/Detroit Truetrac 1965 Chevy Bel Air Wagon (daily driver), 327/TH350,10 bolt w/3.08's 1961 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe, ZZ454/M21/9" rear w/3.50's & Detroit Truetrac 2005 GMC 1500 ccsb 2wd, 6.0L/4L65e/3.73 G80 2006 GMC 2500HD ccsb 4x4, DMax LBZ/Allison 6spd/4.56's w/Detroit TrueTrac ![]() ![]() Use the SEARCH function on this forum - it is your friend!! |
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#16 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Podunk, Texas
Posts: 748
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Indeed...I changed the oil in a Volvo a couple of years back...or should I say I drained the old oil, replaced the filter and tightened the pan plug...then cranked it up. I always watch my oil light when I crank a car after an oil change...it stayed on this time long enough for me to realize that I hadn't put oil in the car. It didn't reach the point where I heard tappets clicking, but it was a bit scary....
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#17 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sandown, NH
Posts: 2,820
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Yup... We all have days like that once in a while, you just have to reallize it before you do too much damage, and then as you said "WALK AWAY"..... LOL
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Gary 72 SWB 4x4 My 72 SWB Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=259859 |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: South Westerlo, New York
Posts: 1,325
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Theres a bright side to this, today's GOT to be better.....
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Thanks, Joe.. 1969 C/10, 348 C.I., 3X2 bbl. V8, 2004r , LWB. |
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#19 |
Registered Cruiser
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 2,230
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Is you last name Murphy?
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I intend to live forever. So far, so good. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 6,332
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
On the forgetting oil thing (which I thankfully haven't done) the local mechanics at the classic shop I hang around at put anything like that on blue masking tape right on the windshield. So "No Oil" or "Do Not Start" or "Rag Joint Unbolted" or whatever.
I've used the same 'trick' for things that I assume I'd never forget but probably might.
__________________
1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
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#21 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tucson
Posts: 2,183
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Just another bad day...or is that just eaten up by the dumbaxx
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#22 | |
blood type; Retumbo
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: next to my reloading bench
Posts: 10,269
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Quote:
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Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card |
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#23 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Formerly MD and San Diego, now loving life in Arizona
Posts: 1,636
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Re: Bad day in the shop (with a moral!)
Quote:
As you said, this is the life we chose... Let us know how it goes and include a pic or two.
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Alan 2012 Ram 3500 Dually Crew Cab 6.7 Cummins 2014 Palomino Columbus 340RK 5th wheel '69 Chevy C10 396BB |
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