47-55.1 55 years ago I was given this USAF 54 3100

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Consider removing the ground cable from the battery and tucking it down the side so no possibility of contact, this will eliminate the corrosion buildup and the parasitic draw at the same time .

Always a good idea. Some time ago i installed 2 separate negative battery disconnect switches. One isolates the battery from everything but the alarm as an anti theft device and when working on the electrical system. The other isolates the alarm during storage. Both have worked well and very handy as almost down to having to need help for simple tasks. Also have a plug installed under the passenger side door between the body and running board so i can easily use the trickle charger. I put a sticky note on the steering wheel to remind me when its plugged in. Never underestimate age related stupidity!!!

[VWNate1]

I'm going to take a pass on the age related stupidity, instead I'll claim "C.R.S. Syndrome" .

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

I'm going to take a pass on the age related stupidity, instead I'll claim "C.R.S. Syndrome" .

My attempts have all been thwarted. I can only laugh at the silly stuff i do now,

Almost at point where i say "step away from the tools!!" Luckily life has been really good and i can easily afford "minions" and then annoy them with directions.

My only issue is finding competant minions.

[VWNate1]

And therein lies the rub : few have the understanding to properly repair our oldies and fewer still care .

I'm rapidly getting to the point where I may give up and sell off most of my vehicles and parts, the tools I think I'll keep, my son can scrap them after I die .

I have many special tools no one seems to even remember anymore .

[vintovka]

I get a kick out of folk who pay $5K+ for an AD wreck and suddenly find out a) it will cost $15K+ in parts and another $15-25K in labor. This only to find out there's only a tiny few that are competent and able to do the job. Seeing lots of AD wrecks for sale because of this. I also think scammers are raking it in from the uninformed.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

And therein lies the rub : few have the understanding to properly repair our oldies and fewer still care .

I'm rapidly getting to the point where I may give up and sell off most of my vehicles and parts, the tools I think I'll keep, my son can scrap them after I die .

I have many special tools no one seems to even remember anymore .

You are painfully correct. Technology in battery operated tools have about rendered air tools obsolete. All mine sit unused and compressors only use now is either sandblasting or blowing dust out of stuff. All my specialty tools are also lying unused in the chest. Half because am too old and half cause the cost of parts to go with makes repairs cost in-effective. One thing that made my head spin was a recent trip to local auto body shop. Overheard a quote to repair a headlight assembly on a new dodge truck was $1200!!! Also i tried to list my leftover parts from the 54 and the 84 GMC donor on the net. No one will buy as everyone thinks reasonable prices are a scam.

[VWNate1]

Sadly this very forum is forcing the scrappage of lots of good parts .

I tried posting for sale adverts and was told I'd have to pay first ?! .

That's simply stupid .

I've been letting the local weekly trash day scrap guys have everything, I don't ever want to hear " I can't find any good cylinder heads" etcetera .

[vintovka]

Sad to hear but true. I tried selling on some of the AD related FB sites and get zero response as i stated earlier. I would think an open trader would be good and even boost interest. Some sites that have traders require a currently dated pic of items along sellers net name to control scammers.

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Sadly this very forum is forcing the scrappage of lots of good parts .

I tried posting for sale adverts and was told I'd have to pay first ?! .

That's simply stupid .

I've been letting the local weekly trash day scrap guys have everything, I don't ever want to hear " I can't find any good cylinder heads" etcetera .

Really? It's $25 to be a member, to be able to post for sale ads. It's not free for the admin to run this website. So, they are NOT forcing you to scrap parts. That's your personal choice.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Sadly this very forum is forcing the scrappage of lots of good parts .

I tried posting for sale adverts and was told I'd have to pay first ?! .

That's simply stupid .

I've been letting the local weekly trash day scrap guys have everything, I don't ever want to hear " I can't find any good cylinder heads" etcetera .

Years ago members could sell parts without being a premium member. In comes the bad guys and start receiving the money and not sending the parts to the buyer, with no way to track them down. Requiring members who sell parts to be Premium members pretty much put a stop to that practice. That is the main reason that rule was implemented. You can give anything away for free on here without being required to "pay". Seems to me if you are genuinely concerned about parts being scrapped you would be giving them away to people that could use them instead of the "Scrap guys".....

Just my 2¢ worth.
.

[HO455]

X2

[VWNate1]

Ricky is disingenuous, this site makes money apart from the paid subscribers .

So, I'm supposed to work more and harder to give crap away that I'd sell for peanuts ? .

Sorry guys, I'm a starch Conservative so I expect to get something for my labors .

FWIW, I have given things away here including a nicely reupholstered bench seat , nary a word of thanx, not ever .

It's fine, in my old age I am beginning to realize that my always trying to be helpful isn't appreciated .

There was that nice Hot Rodded Chevy big block engine I wanted to avoid scrapping but no, I had to pay to get rid of it so you all missed .

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Ricky is disingenuous, this site makes money apart from the paid subscribers .

Being disingenuous, so I'm "pretending that I don't know as much as I know." I have no idea how much money, if any, the owners of this board make, and nor am I going to ask. That's none of my business. I'm a volunteer moderator here. If you'd like to ask, contact Liz and/Josh.

So, I'm supposed to work more and harder to give crap away that I'd sell for peanuts ? .

Who said you'd sell for peanuts? I don't see that any where. I'm sure you could have sold you parts you had let go for scrap, for a decent price. Then, your hard work would have been recouped by selling rather than scrapping. Of all places, here I would think, those in need of them would know the correct market price and would have been appreciated since original parts are harder and harder to find. But hey, they are your parts and if they go to the scrapyard, then that's your decision.

Sorry guys, I'm a starch Conservative so I expect to get something for my labors .

Being a conservative has nothing to go with anything here. So, by not paying $25 to sell your parts here, you've lost money. Example, your engine and seemingly parts you've throw out or given away to scrap people. Makes sense....

FWIW, I have given things away here including a nicely reupholstered bench seat , nary a word of thanx, not ever .

It's fine, in my old age I am beginning to realize that my always trying to be helpful isn't appreciated .

That's not fine, I don't care what the person's age is. The receiving person should be thankful. There are rude ungrateful people everywhere you go. I am not here to make excuses for anyone's behavior.

There was that nice Hot Rodded Chevy big block engine I wanted to avoid scrapping but no, I had to pay to get rid of it so you all missed .

My point earlier, and you are the one who missed out.

No further comments are needed on this particular topic. If you feel the need, take this up with Liz, Josh, or PM me. Now, we can return to the thread.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Sorry guys, I'm a starch Conservative so I expect to get something for my labors .

Funny, so do I.

[vintovka]

Been a quiet winter but finally settling in as a daily driver whenever weather permits. Still kinda sticks out in the crowd.

[vintovka]

After near 3 months of rain (some intense and constant like today) the weather report finally bodes well for cruising and shows:

[VWNate1]

I hear you ! time to go cruising .

We've been having weird damp/foggy/wet/cold/etc. weather in So. Cal. for a few weeks, of course it all began right after I took the timing chest apart on my new (old0 1971 BMW R75/5 Motocycle .

I think I'm finally getting arthritis, my mangled left hand hurts no matter what I do =8-( .

Looking forward to more pictures of you out and about .

[vintovka]

Been a very,VERY harsh rainy winter with rainfall in feet not inches. Hearing more than normal local reports of water in gas ( as if ethanol needs pure water). More reports will probable surface as everyone dusts off for the season. Guess time to invest in "heet"???
Will have a month an 3 days to cruise and maybe a couple events before they rebuild my ancient spine and then confined to quarters for remainder of year. Will be doing my winter storage routine a bit early this year.

[VWNate1]

"HEET" is good stuff, I didn't realize they still made it .

Consider some "STABIL" in the full gas tank before you go to the hospital .

I hope you have a lap top or tablet thing, being stuck in one place is now fun, been there a few times now .

[vintovka]

Heet is real common around here due to water issues and as a cheap fuel for camp stoves. I use stabil as well. All in all maybe parked for 6 months as winter may be back before i'm ready to go again. My investment in the 54's power steps and grab bars are really paying off. Absolutley could not get safely in and out of cab without them. My heavily padded bench seat helps cushion my back as well. Laptop is a essential now as a smart phone. Wonder how we survived without them. Another good thing is we finally aquired a replacement for the beach place we gave up when we moved north. At least can watch the waves while being grounded. Not a dream home but truck fits in garage!!!

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Will have a month an 3 days to cruse and maybe a couple events before they rebuild my ancient spine and then confined to quarters for remainder of year. Will be doing my winter storage routine a bit early this year.

Oh man. I hope all goes well for you and our surgery!! Heal quickly!

[VWNate1]

Thanx for the great picture .

I hope your surgery goes well, I have a plate in my neck with 8 screws, it changed my life for the better pain wise .

Gotta be careful as we age out, I stumble often and fear falling hard .

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Thanx for the great picture .

I hope your surgery goes well, I have a plate in my neck with 8 screws, it changed my life for the better pain wise .

Gotta be careful as we age out, I stumble often and fear falling hard .

Thanks. Should be ok and looking forward to not walking like "Grandpa McCoy" anymore. Neck thing sounds painful!!

FWIW: Pretty soon we will be like our trucks - held together with bolts and nuts!! A good friend and fellow engineer and i had sort of a race to see who would make it to the end with the most replacement parts. Currently have 29 bits of titanium ( from bench pressing a Kubota off me) He had slightly less when he passed at 84.

Gonna have the oil changed soon and was wondering if i will have to change the brake fluid as well. Stuff sucks in water no matter how well system is sealed.

[vintovka]

dup post

[VWNate1]

Yes ;

I'd at the very least suck all the brake fluid out of the reservoir and refill it .

Brake fluid is Hygroscopic and takes water right out of the air, I typically flush my hydraulic systems every two years and never have leaks nor failures .

Making sure the gas tank is full as it'll go will prevent condensation for diluting the fuel with water and so retard / prevent rusting .

I use a cane these days and am told I walk like Charlie Chaplin .

The neck thing was the most painful I've ever had, I came very close to checking out because KAISER said I'd have to wait six months and I wasn't able to sleep from the pain, I'd pass out from time to time and the endless pain would wake me back up again, not a fun time .

I'm still in a goodly bit of pain 25/7 but back in the 1970's when I had no money nor medical help I learned to meditate on pain and so learn to live with it .

This can be *very* dangerous, my late stepmother meditated over a bad toothache then forgot until the infection was in her jaw bone, this can be life threatening .

I hope you get a good Surgeon, I did purely by chance .

I expect I'll be needing new knees and hips before too long, I try to remain active to put that off as long as possible .