What did you do to your truck today??

[Snarl95]

changed oil,greased the front end and driveshafts.

[44th Miss Inf]

Went yesterday and helped my wife’s young nephew get an 88 running he just inherited. It has been sitting at least 5 years. Dropped tank and cleaned, reinstalled. Got it to fire off.

Plan is a new tank, sending unit and fuel pump to start. Then go thru the brakes/wheel bearings. I’m having to show him everything, as no one has ever taken time (his family is not mechanically inclined) but that is what we are supposed to do.

Then I have to teach him to drive it, as its a 350/5 speed RCSB truck.

[Boog]

Ah yes, getting by the anti theft feature.

[44th Miss Inf]

Originally Posted by 44th Miss Inf

Went yesterday and helped my wife’s young nephew get an 88 running he just inherited. It has been sitting at least 5 years. Dropped tank and cleaned, reinstalled. Got it to fire off.

Plan is a new tank, sending unit and fuel pump to start. Then go thru the brakes/wheel bearings. I’m having to show him everything, as no one has ever taken time (his family is not mechanically inclined) but that is what we are supposed to do.

Then I have to teach him to drive it, as its a 350/5 speed RCSB truck.

We got the new tank and sending unit in. Still a few issues with running so I pulled the throttle body unit and brought home to clean and rebuild. Pulled the cap and found a good bit of corrosion. So a tune up is in order also.

Showed him how to check the pump and sending unit/gauge operation before installing in the tank, went over tbi removal, how it operates, etc., showed him the corrosion on the cap/rotor, and a few things while I had the chance. Said when his grandfather parked it (when he started his down turn) it needed brakes, so told him I’d go over/help him with that.

Was at one of the chain part stores Sunday evening when a younger guy I know came in and asked if I’d rebuild a motor for him. Told him, I’d show him how. At that, one of the parts counter guys and his buddy who was in there talking to him came over and asked if I would show them also. Told them we’d all get together and I’d go over it with them

[44th Miss Inf]

Originally Posted by 44th Miss Inf

Went yesterday and helped my wife’s young nephew get an 88 running he just inherited. It has been sitting at least 5 years. Dropped tank and cleaned, reinstalled. Got it to fire off.

Plan is a new tank, sending unit and fuel pump to start. Then go thru the brakes/wheel bearings. I’m having to show him everything, as no one has ever taken time (his family is not mechanically inclined) but that is what we are supposed to do.

Then I have to teach him to drive it, as its a 350/5 speed RCSB truck.

Got the Tbi back on and plugs changed yesterday. Need to reset iac, though. Showed him how to properly gap plugs, and change them.

He plans to pick up cap, rotor, wires, air filter, belt and tensioner, and oil and filter Friday, and maybe we can get together Friday afternoon to finish the tune up. He seems to be working as much as I am, so hard to get days off together.

Plan to take my pressure washer over and clean the underside well too.

We did yard drive the truck yesterday, but it has NO brakes, but he is excited.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by 44th Miss Inf

Got the Tbi back on and plugs changed yesterday. Need to reset iac, though. Showed him how to properly gap plugs, and change them.

He plans to pick up cap, rotor, wires, air filter, belt and tensioner, and oil and filter Friday, and maybe we can get together Friday afternoon to finish the tune up. He seems to be working as much as I am, so hard to get days off together.

Plan to take my pressure washer over and clean the underside well too.

We did yard drive the truck yesterday, but it has NO brakes, but he is excited.

That's good help from an uncle, he's lucky. Cool that you guys are making progress.

[special-K]

He'll have himself a cool shortbed. That's great you are helping him learn to help himself

[Just call me Sean]

On my way home I was behind a little Ford Ranger when it bounced up with a big puff of a dirt cloud and some big thing came out from under it. I'm not sure if I heard a bang when it hit it but I sure remember the bang when I hit it. I couldn't really do anything and I'm glad I didn't because it went under between the tires. It dented the front of the lower control arm where it attaches to the frame. It cut the frame a little where the rear of the control arm attaches. It put a small dent in the exhaust crossover pipe. It dented the transmission crossmember. It then hit the gas tank and ripped a chunk out of the plastic shield and dented the gas tank. It caught the rear wiring harness for the taillights and fuel pump and ripped them from the frame, and put more scrapes down the gas tank shield and bent the rear gas tank strap. Then it hit the rear axle tube before it got thrown up as it came out from under the truck and hit my trailer frame where it comes together to the hitch and because of the angle it ejected to the side keeping it from going under the trailer. This was on the toll road so not any good spots to stop with cars flying by, but I stopped briefly to make sure my tires weren't flat and I wasn't leaking fluid. I made it home and inspected the damage better there. The Ranger must have gotten messed up. I definitely saw one flat as he was pulling over and it's a lot closer to the ground than my truck.

[special-K]

I can understand how that happened to you. But how is it the guy in the Ranger didn't notice such a thing in the road? I learned a long time ago, no matter how small, if I see anything in the road I won't assume it's ok to run over. I had the hook off a bungie strap in the road cut my sidewall and ruin a tire right then and there. It was laying flat on the road, so couldn't see it till too late. But it managed to roll up and cut my tire. I must have hit it just right. I'm glad something worse didn't happen to your truck

And I have a story to tell about coming home from a bar with a friend in his Super Beetle who hit a transmission in the road (3spd). I was crashed out but I woke up to a BOOM! and the car jumping up. Killed a tire and wheel and bent the running board up. We were dead in the water. Had to hitchhike home. But not before I ran back, picked that thing up, and threw it off the bridge. I hated that thing!

[Just call me Sean]

I never assume it's okay to run anything over, but a hard swerve in my truck wouldn't be a great thing to do either. Yea I was pretty relieved I only had to put the wires back into the sheathing and clip it back to the frame.

[Boog]

I have had intermittent discharging from the alternator for a while. I found the single small gauge wire plug on the back of the alternator was clipped in place but apparently not making good contact. I unplugged it and cleaned it good and snapped it back in. Charging was good again, until this morning on a run into town. The gauge got down to about 10 volts or so. I didn't dare shut the truck off so I made it home. I jiggled the plug in and bumped it. The voltage came back up but went right back down. So I removed the alternator and opened er up. To my surprise the brushes and bearings look good. I could not find anything loose or broken. I believe this is the original unit with 83,000 miles on it. I slightly twisted the single blade terminal in that plug in hopes of making a stronger contact. If it happens again I guess I'll have to have it rebuilt or buy a new one.

[special-K]

Ugh. I hope you get it figured out.

I replaced the wiper module. I knew it would be easy, yet it has needed fixed longer than I care to admit. I guess if I had no wipers at all it would have been fixed pronto. I can't wait till it rains now, and it's a beautiful April day... perfect. Damn sunshine!

[Just call me Sean]

I did the wiper module on my van a while back. Same module, but the motor is inside behind the dashboard above the steering column. That was fun.

[special-K]

No THAT would still be getting put off! I have the heat module to swap out and that's wouldn't seem as bad as up and under/behind the dash (which is where I hate to do work). It's a short reach on there... to the 2" tall area it is shoehorned into where the hand you need to use blocks your vision for the tedious task of removing and even more tedious task of installing those tiny screws. I think I'll get my neighbor's 6 year old to do it . I bought a 1/4" drive with 9" handle to see if that makes it easier, but have been putting it off... in anticipation of an aggravating experience. Maybe I'll try that today

[Boog]

I think I showed earlier the 1/4" ratchet with extendable handle I bought just to reach up in those tight places. Great idea but the extra thickness of the handle, well it didn't work. I ended up pushing a length of fuel hose on the handle of my normal size ratchet and I could still see a little bit of where I was trying to use it.
Yeah, I'd like to meet the designers at GM and 'splain some things to them.

[Just call me Sean]

The serpentine belt broke on my way to work today, maybe 5 miles from home. My wife picked me up to run me to the parts store. AutoZone didn't have it, where I go to first. O'Reillys gave me the one that it called for, but it was too short. Had to go back and exchange it, they gave me a size that wasn't listed on the AutoZone app, but it fit. Two inches longer than the one that was supposed to fit, $10 more for the extra two inches.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by 44th Miss Inf

We got the new tank and sending unit in. Still a few issues with running so I pulled the throttle body unit and brought home to clean and rebuild. Pulled the cap and found a good bit of corrosion. So a tune up is in order also.

Showed him how to check the pump and sending unit/gauge operation before installing in the tank, went over tbi removal, how it operates, etc., showed him the corrosion on the cap/rotor, and a few things while I had the chance. Said when his grandfather parked it (when he started his down turn) it needed brakes, so told him I’d go over/help him with that.

Was at one of the chain part stores Sunday evening when a younger guy I know came in and asked if I’d rebuild a motor for him. Told him, I’d show him how. At that, one of the parts counter guys and his buddy who was in there talking to him came over and asked if I would show them also. Told them we’d all get together and I’d go over it with them

That's a really great thing right there. I like it when younger folks show interest in this. I enjoy sharing what I know.

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

The serpentine belt broke on my way to work today, maybe 5 miles from home. My wife picked me up to run me to the parts store. AutoZone didn't have it, where I go to first. O'Reillys gave me the one that it called for, but it was too short. Had to go back and exchange it, they gave me a size that wasn't listed on the AutoZone app, but it fit. Two inches longer than the one that was supposed to fit, $10 more for the extra two inches.

Aggravation on top of aggravation.

[Just call me Sean]

Got a flat today. Here's a rare picture of the truck without the spare on the front.

[special-K]

Ohhh... It's a GMC! . Flat tires always suck.

Last November I go to Lowe's. This store has no straight out front parking. They put the "pro" spaces along the side of the store, one row. I back in to go pay for cinder blocks, pull under the canopy to load. I'm about half loaded and a man with his son walks by, lets me know my left rear tire is low. I look and it is flat-ass-flat. Great! 1000# of block loaded up and I have to change a tire. Damn lazy sloppy contractor dropping screw out of their trucks. I hope they give themselves plenty of flats and not just everyone else.

Shoot! I didn't have anything to pop a hubcap off and I have no idea how much air is in my spare. Felt hard but with hauling the weight, tire is old, and no tool to remove hubcap... as well as I'd rather use a floor jack and star wrench than the factory gear, I called on my son to run those things up, including a tire inflator. That got me home.

I knew it was time for new tires, but had to buy some time. Well, that flat tire had a cut across the treads and not good enough to go back on the truck. That's how I came to be running the tires off my '72 that rubbed on the front, bad. I put the two best old tires on the front once it appeared new tires would have to wait longer. My level of appreciation for the new set I finally was able to buy was greatly increased by the deprivation, the length of time, the unknowing, then finally the wait for having the wheels sandblasted and painted. Rags to riches! Getting new tires and reconditioning the wheels has taken a low point in last year and turned it into a major event for this year for me! I really do need to get out and do more things

[Just call me Sean]

I carry that stuff in the trailer, except for an inflater. I have a tank full of air in the compressor. The factory jack is missing. I'm also now out of spares, both trucks and the van. So I took a wheel off the van for today just in case.

[Just call me Sean]

I went to pick up a couple tires. Apparently the Goodyear Wranglers I use on my trucks and van are discontinued. So I guess this will be my new tire brand. They only had one, but ordered me another that I'll pick up tomorrow. I guess the family truck, the 99, will get the new tires. They all need just one but now I have to switch around tires so two of them will still have matching tires.

[special-K]

Huh, no more standard Wranglers, ey? Too sensible I guess. I've bought those before in the same size you use, I think, 235/75-15. Good all around tire at a good price.

I had all the tools out of the truck because I was working for someone using their tools. Having a compressor in the truck has saved me many times. I carry a plug kit for real emergencies. I normally like to use a spare and have the tire repaired at a tire shop where they boot it. I remember the same guy fixed the last flat on that set of tires. Maybe the same tire. It was last summer and I remember we were agreeing I was due for new tires. I told him "Definitely before winter" I've had them about a month now

[Just call me Sean]

I was searching online trying to figure out if the tires really were discontinued or just they weren't going to carry them anymore. The guy told me in several different terms, discontinued, obsolete, phased out, whatever. I don't much feel like running all around trying to find a place that stocks them and will sell them loose. They want to mount them too, and when I tell them they can mount them for free because I don't want them to they say no. I never thought it would be so difficult to buy a damn tire. What's it going on? I'm making a tire swing sell me the damn tire.

I have plugs and patches, I do the patches myself. There's very little I don't do myself.

The tire is on the 99. About to store the spare under the bed.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

I was searching online trying to figure out if the tires really were discontinued or just they weren't going to carry them anymore. The guy told me in several different terms, discontinued, obsolete, phased out, whatever. I don't much feel like running all around trying to find a place that stocks them and will sell them loose. They want to mount them too, and when I tell them they can mount them for free because I don't want them to they say no. I never thought it would be so difficult to buy a damn tire. What's it going on? I'm making a tire swing sell me the damn tire.

I have plugs and patches, I do the patches myself. There's very little I don't do myself.

The tire is on the 99. About to store the spare under the bed.

Geez. They won't sell the tire loose? What's the rationale for that?

[Just call me Sean]

Originally Posted by Boog

I've been putting off tightening up the upper steering column in my 91. It has gotten annoying now. Whenever I shift to park or use the turn signal the whole column collar turns a bit. Well, I have mostly ran out of things to take care of on it so today I said today's the day. I dug into it and got down to removing two pivot pins so I can get the inside structure out of the way to get to those 4 bolts that have worked loose. It was time to buy some new sockets as well. Outside torx sockets just to fit those 4 bolts, and some Loctite. And wouldn't you know it, it takes a specialty tool to pull those pins out. Lisle makes it and it's reasonably priced but no one in town has it. And quicker than I can give my wife the part number she has one coming on Monday. Amazon is her go to source for most things now days. And today is Saturday, yard work is done, so I don't mind. I believe I'll have a cold snack

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...le+19940&pos=0

I guess the truck is down for the weekend? I've never had a column that far apart. Any pictures?

Originally Posted by hatzie

Geez. They won't sell the tire loose? What's the rationale for that?

Most just say "liability reasons". When the shop I always bought from said it to me first I had them explain more. People installing tires on vehicles they aren't rated for then suing when they fail. People injuring themselves installing them and suing. Mostly reasons that revolve around getting sued. I said I would sign a waiver but still no. You know I could sue you for not selling me tires too right? That's the reward I get for helping keep your store open instead of ordering online and saving money.