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

[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.

[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 .

[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!!!

[dsraven]

It is recommended to at least flush brake fluid with every brake job, which is obviously more often with a daily driver who travels to work everyday, or sooner. Shops will say yearly, which isn't a bad idea in your climate. Brake fluid is cheap but getting it done right is harder if you can't get under there yourself.

[vintovka]

Thanks for good advice. As little as its driven i doubt i'll need another brake job in my lifetime. That said the outside humdity here seems never to drop below 70%-90%. Last week i dropped a brand new driver bit on the pavement at the new place. Found it a day later near rusted solid. As shown in previous posts i used the corroseal stuff on every exposed unpainted surface followed by rustoleum. I like idea of just replacing the fluid in the master cyl and will have that done soon seeing its been there now for near a decade since this project started. Its also seems the area with the most exposure to air. If i can get some help will wash the 54 and post pics at upcoming shows and cruises. Will also need to upgrage thread title to 60 years and shift to the geriatric AD owners forum.

[VWNate1]

You're most welcome Sir .

I too am a certified Geezer and I want to be able to enjoy my oldies as long as possible, routine maintenance is important .

[vintovka]

Well just got a new "ride" for next couple months . Came "free" with 6 hours of labor and 9 new titanium fittings!!! Guess jumping out of perfectly good aircraft, auto rotoring one or two plus a life time of back injuries have finally caught up with me last week. Actully couldn't even walk!! Think my time as a hazmat "moonsuiter" with SCBA did the worst years ago. Anyhow, been mentally piling up all the last projects for this fall while i sit out this years carshows, cruises and other fun. Still need to add the wood bedsides engraved with all the names and emblems of my old Fighter Squadrons on them. They say i can actually have their pics laser engraved added as well. May also upgrade the ignition system as well as still has an intermitant acceleration stumble too. Good news is the power running boards and all the grab bars will really come in handy. Truck is currently stored in its gargage with battery maintenance drip charger and lots of stabil in a full tank.

[Rickysnickers]

Hope you heal up correctly and soon.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Hope you heal up correctly and soon.

Thanks! Am really trying and the reward of getting back into the saddle is a great motivator. Getting better everday!!! May try to wheelchair the upcoming local show at the 3 rivers casino. Treating all this as a final wake up call to complete this and all my other bucket list projects.

[VWNate1]

Keep moving but don't overdo things .

Follow the PT regimen to the letter and you'll get where you want to be sooner and less painfully .

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Hope you heal up correctly and soon.

Thanks. You don't know how much you really love working on and driving an AD till you can't. Its also a big motivator to get at it again!!

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Thanks. You don't know how much you really love working on and drivind an AD till you can't. Its also a big motivator to get at it again!!

Trust me when I say, I more than understand.

[VWNate1]

"If it drives like a truck, it's NOT a CHEVROLET ! "

[vintovka]

Yes, very true, Never thought i would have to worry about throwing a rod (internally). New to serious back issues and want to warn eveyone if you feel somethings not "right" go see the doc ASAP. Sometimes the logic that something that requires "extra effort" lifting or twisting, plus the thought " i can do this" can be very counterproductive. Was Scary surgery but survivable. Bet i am preaching to choir on this one. Now Missing engine roar and feel of acceleration badly. Sorry about this narcotic enhanced spell chek rant.

[vintovka]

Still on mend. but walking and hoping to resume driving the 54 soon. Will miss 4th parades but surely will make veterans day. Meantime Been spending way too much time on net but ran across site called "Wallys Workin". Its about extreme restomoding a 54 COE from ground up using a motorhome. The body work on the cab may be very helpful to some. I like how he salvages as many original parts and his rust repair is admirable. Jump in where you like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjtg30VJtXk

[VWNate1]

I hope you're walking again soon, follow the P.T. regimen to a "T" painful and stressful but worth it in the long run .

I'm not keen on restomods, I think if they keep an old from being crushed for scrap that's a good thing .

[vintovka]

Thanks, Ill be fine just frustrated. Theres so many things i need/want to do on the 54 like bending the drivers side door hinges to get it to seal properly. Would be first time in more than half century. Also getting the passenger side of the hood to fender fit right would also be nice.

I like the Wallys site for the way he repairs rust rot and upgrades the running gear including the hood latch. The episode on modifying the original 54 COE parking lever into a auto trans shifter was amazing.