Busy Bee Makes No Honey

The morning started with a trip to the Busy Bee.  It was definitely a good morning to be there.  Just about the time I was going to leave, another 2 or 3 cars would pop in.  Good folks, coffee and cars.   I got there at 7:00 and decided this was cutting into my work day when I realized it was 10:00.

This was one of those days that gets to the point where you are afraid to pick up something else to try to install it.  Almost every part bought on Saturday outside of the 3/8 fuel line was returned.  Spent the entire day to get these things done:

Fuel Line
PCV Line
Brake Booster Line
Vaccum Advance Line
Both  Power Steering Lines
The Bottom Radiator Hose.

Any mechanic with a scratched knuckle and a chipped finger nail knows that all takes about 2 minutes to install all that, but inject 4 trips to O'Reilly's today and you won't be working a pit crew.

The biggest problems came from the power steering and radiator lines.  I still haven't found a top hose for the radiator and the transmission lines aren't working because the flare nuts are too short to seat the line.  The power steering is solved (until we start it and find out otherwise).   I used a part #71878 with some modifications and twisting the connection on the gear box end.

I didn't like the Lokar dip stick tube I got from Phoenix Transmissions.  It looks cool but not my type of gadget.  A stock 351w AOD stick and tube is in order so the hunt is on.

Renato's '53

Patricks '54

Wow! A lower radiator hose.

OMG! Power steering hoses.

AOD - Day

Today was all about getting the transmission crossmember in.  Straight and angle properly was all I was asking for and...  TaDa!  

Not much accomplished for installing 6 bolts.  I am happy with how it sits and the clearance available for exhaust.  The tranny actually wanted to sit towards the driver side so I had to pull it into position with a ratchet strap. 

With all the up and downs, measuring, drilling, maneuvering, pushing and shoving, it felt as though I had done a Crossfit workout.

Short Day for the Short Bed

Other things occupied my time so it was a short day to work on the bump side.  Got the bumper installed and the Radiator.  I had to pull down the fender on the passenger side to get the bumper to fit well.  It threw off the fender a little but compromise had to happen.

It was over cast out so I decided to get some good shots to give you a better look at the progress...

Medial Epicondylitis

Your thinking "what the heck is this medical term doing on a automotive blog?"  Medial Epicondylitis is known as Golfer's elbow.  I started having problems about a month ago and sure enough, played some golf for the first time in a year last Thursday.  I only made it 4 holes and had to quit.  If you end up with this, (I have it in both elbows) you will have the lifting capacity of a 3 year old and you will cry like one when you pick something up.

We started the day by moving 440 pounds of unneeded parts and scrap to Mansfield Metals.  This cleared a lot of stuff that I was tripping over on the drive way.  The old radiator brought me $36 and the 440 pounds of steel brought $39.  Mejor Que Nada!

The glass packs that Dad had installed in 1984 were part of the scrap.  I decided to cut one open and see what really was left behind.  Just a small amount of fiber glass at the entry point and the rest was empty!  Nothing but straight pipe.

The front end bodywork found its permanent location.  The pictures look the same as what you have seen before so not much to report here visually.

The pushing, pulling and lifting today pretty much made double dog sure that I was injured as well as pissed off.  The quality of work concern was non existent.

Still trying to figure out how to run my exhaust through this mess.

Couldn't get the front end straight with out the help of a tree.
Thus the term "Shade Tree Mechanic".  

Pickup Truck Song

Work on the truck has been slow for the last few weeks.  I completed a 25 mile over night kayak fishing trip on the Brazos last weekend and this weekend was crammed with activities.  We saw Jerry Jeff Walker front and center at Billy Bob's and we were one of 4 to get something signed from him.  Seems appropriate to mention the "Pickup Truck Song".  Hondo Crouch (the man he mentions at the beginning of the song) is seen below (will post soon) with my dad in a photo I found after my dad passed, that's JJW's signature on there! 

I finally made it to the "Busy Bee Bakery".  They have a mini car show there at 7:00 am every Sunday morning.  Saw some cool rides and got plenty of ideas for running the exhaust out the back.  Met some really good folks there too.  I shall return.

The whole weekend (truck wise) was spent tweaking the body work back and forth to get it as straight as the old bent iron would allow.  If I haven't mentioned before, the truck was wrecked prior to me receiving it.  Add in the countless times I ran into something or had it airborne (they do fly!), it is a wonder that it is even close to straight. 

There were all kinds of issue's with the front bumper fitting right.  The valance was removed and banged out and welded and the aluminum grill was replaced with the $40 steel one I found in a junk yard.  

Everything seems to be where it is going to live for a while, which means... its time to get a truck moving down the road.

Body Building Session

Today wasn't about trying to get a lot done.  After assessing the front end fitment the logical thing that needed to be done was lay the bed on the frame and make sure everything was going to line up.  Good thing to because this body work was a challenge to get straight.  Over all the stance of the truck looks great and I am jazzed about how well the rear wheels have plenty of clearance.

Jeep in the Bump Den

Today we pulled in the neighbors Jeep and gave it a lift.  Now there is nothing like working on iconic american steel and this was my first experience with a late model Jeep.  The 2005 version of the WWII classic has been infested with the influence of the east.  The combination of metric and standard bolt sizes was pure insanity.  It challenged my tool collection.  

We raised the front 1.5 inches and the back .75 inches, replaced the brakes and shocks.  I was surprised how well it changed the stance.

After the Jeep, Doug and I didn't stop there.  We got to work installing the apron gaskets on the Ford front end.  The staples aren't fun to install but it can be done effectively with a small drill bit.  We then set the front end on the frame and now it is starting to look like a truck.  

Though out the weekday mornings I have been working on the gas tank.  It is complete now and should work pretty good.