What did you do to (or with) your truck today.

[Grizz1963]

Did a quick job after work tonight.

Been a hard week tbh.

One year in the making…………

Tinted the trucks windows.


BEFORE



DURING



AFTER



TESTED WITH A LIGHT METER.

LEGAL.

DRIVERS SIDE



SCREAMING SIDE



PRETTY PLEASED TO BE HONEST.

[Just call me Sean]

Started prepping to remove the transmission. Have the bellhousing bolts and lines left to go, then I can drop it. It leaks a lot of transmission fluid, been leaking a while and it has affected the transmission but I'm going to change the front seal anyways. That's where it's coming from the most. Going to do the rear seal too, and I'll probably do the pump seal if I can get it from the parts store. Plus filter. Broke four bolts, but only one really matters. Exhaust downpipe. I guess I'll remove the manifold and drill it out. Also found out the rear u-joint is bad, and the pinion seal is leaking.

[Just call me Sean]

Transmission is out. Add the transmission mount to the list of broken parts.

[Just call me Sean]

Seals are changed and the transmission is in with the bellhousing bolts installed. I had to clean up the fluid I spilled so I wouldn't be rolling around in it, so taking a break while the concrete dries.

[Just call me Sean]

Removed the exhaust manifold, drill, tap, new stud and it's back on the truck.

[Just call me Sean]

I finished putting it together yesterday and took it for a spin. Just a tiny drip now that I'm hoping is the pan gasket, which I just tightened. The wife is happy to have it back. Now that there isn't a huge pool of transmission fluid under it I noticed the power steering is leaking from somewhere. I'll check it out later.

[Just call me Sean]

Fixed the handle finally, it's been broken for years. Then got the truck stuck in the mud trying to back out from under the carport.

[Just call me Sean]

All the gear oil I put in leaked out, so now it gets parked until I change the pinion and axle seals and probably the wheel bearings too.

[Just call me Sean]

Got it up on stands and the wheels and drums removed. It's pretty juicy all over. Looks like I caught it just in time, pinion bearing seems good. Hopefully the carrier bearings are fine too. Passenger side wheel bearing is sloppy and it's dryer on that side. Drivers side is fairly tight and very wet with gear oil. Since there's usually only the driver in it I think because the truck leans that way the oil dropped low enough to let the passenger side run dry but still enough to lubricate the rest of the bearings. I'll change the seals and bearings on both sides as well as the pinion seal.

[Just call me Sean]

I pulled the axles, drivers has minor pitting the passenger has a groove worn in. The bearings fell out on the passenger side. The axles I got from the junkyard are the wrong ones, so I'm not sure what I want to do now. I'll let it sit for the moment and check some junkyards this week. I think I can just get the whole used rear for what it will cost to fix this one, unless I use a repair bearing.

[Just call me Sean]

I picked up an inch pound torque wrench so I can measure the rotational resistance of the pinion before I take it apart. I still have to pick up a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter, I thought I had one but couldn't find it.

[Just call me Sean]

I returned the incorrect axle shafts to the junkyard and swapped them for a battery for my Dakota. They're shipping in a whole rear from another yard for me, $150.

[Just call me Sean]

Picked up the rear. The backing plates are bent up so I'll have to pull the axles and swap on mine. A brake line was also changed with one that is too long so I'll also use mine.

[Just call me Sean]

Backing plates and brake lines removed and the rear is out. I busted a u-bolt so I'm considering putting in some 2" lowering blocks.

[Just call me Sean]

Rear is bolted in, two new u-bolts. Changed the axle seals, bolted the backing plates on. The rear shocks are shot, maybe later. Stripped and painted the diff cover, with some maroon I had laying around.

[Just call me Sean]

I have a leaky wheel cylinder so I picked that up today.

[Just call me Sean]

I haven't been using it, and keep forgetting to start it regularly, so the battery has gone bad.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

I haven't been using it, and keep forgetting to start it regularly, so the battery has gone bad.

Join the club. One of mine is always dead. Or two or three. It never stops.

[Grizz1963]

Possibly the most inane thing done to/with my S10 truck to date.

On my USA road trip I bought a sticker that really resonated with me.

I like/love animals a whole lot, and I love my 🇺🇸 road trips.

ROAD TRIP REPORT HERE: https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...rip-grizz-2022

Sticker applied.





Nothing special, but a reminder and it makes me happy to fly the Stars n Stripes.


.

[Just call me Sean]

I finally put a new battery in it. Now I need to get my wife to take her stuff out of the bed so we can start using it again. She's been using it as a workbench.

[Grizz1963]

Not today…..

Saturday and Sunday…..

Drove it.

Every time I do, I know why I love this truck.

It is a great drive.

[Grizz1963]

Once @frankenhealey got to the Volcano Lair he brought out the donor and spares or repairs mower.





14 horse power V-Twin.

Missing it’s carburettor a battery and of course not running.

Measuring the cutting deck, it became instantly apparent that it was not going to fit between the wheel arches, 47 inchest do not fit into 37 inches.

So we had to remove it.





Once loaded up the ramps, I pulled it over to the one side, using the wheel arch as a chock for the rear wheel.

Along with 4 corners on the truck strapped to the tractor.



Followed by adding a roller, Suffolk Punch mower with proprietary Chinese 87cc engine,with centrifugal clutch.



Closed up the rear……

Soft, car like suspension shows the load.



Once the truck was packed, we headed to Frankenhealy’s home for coffee, a chat with Mrs F and of course I got to play fetch with the dog….. best part of my day.

Until @Frankenhealey disappeared out of the kitchen for a few minutes, returning with two packs of Mts F’s Amazing, home made Pork sausages.

Seriously humbled, as I always am by these very personal gifts.

A drive around with Frankenhealey followed by being dropped off back at the truck.

After which I headed out homeward in the rain, which had not stopped all,day, except very briefly exactly while we were loading.

First stop was at the service station to fill up the truck again.

The idea was to see what the truck used empty, bit with the bed covered, compared with the load and no aerodynamics.

Return trip report in a bit.


.

[Grizz1963]

Also saw this today while doing my 320 mile trip.

Not bad for a 21 year old.

[Grizz1963]

After saying our good byes, I headed to the first gas station, having done 160 miles or 260km exactly, at the national speed limit, tonneau cover in place, unloaded, I was interested in seeing what consumption the 4.3 liter V6 would return.

Filled up to the neck as before leaving home.





Expensive fuel.

The return trip was nonstop rain, some idiots on the road, you know, the usual suspects.

Pulled off at J10 of the M25 to make a detour to pick up Kyle at his girlfriends house, then joined the M25 at J9 and carried on home.





The biggest bummer on the trip was the passenger wiper rubber (they were replaced before Christmas last year) disintegrated partially in the rain on the motorway, leaving a nasty gouge on the screen.
I did bend the tip up at one point when I was able to stop safely, but it was too late already.
I am not sure if I can have it repaired or buffed back professionally.
Any advice appreciated.



By 15.10 we stopped outside my place.



Safe load, and made back in one piece.

The truck was an absolute pleasure to drive, except for the bloody wiper blade.



After we got Kyle sorted, he headed off to find fuel, and then headed back to Bath by midnight, by way of his,girlfriend.

Reporting back that the Micra performed faultlessly.

Good news indeed.

I pulled the truck back into my back yard for the night.

Today I went to fill it again, to,the brim.

Same distance and almost the same consumption.

So,themload and lack of aerodynamics seem to make little differnce to its performance.

It certainly carried the load with absolute ease.



Am I happy with the truck and its performance?

Well, yes and no.

No, mainly because I just do not use it enough. Done less than 2000 miles in two years.

That is wasteful.

[FleetsidePaul]

I finally ordered a new battery for my truck and some of those side post extensions for it. I'll finally get some juice in the old girl and see what's going on with it.

I can also see how many miles are on it. It has the digital odometer so I don't know. My guess is a lot. A whole lot. We'll see.