For some of you the title will make sense and for you guys that don't know the term "Road Hard and Put Away Wet" means keep reading. Well I am talking about Blackie I have been working the old girl hard and haven't spent any time wrenching on her for a little over 2 yrs now. The only thing I have done in 2 yrs is oil change and put fuel in it and she keeps going. Turn & Burn I tow & launch boats between 8k to 10k along with wrenching.
Old Blackie has had some issues and the list is getting longer. But I have to say the truck still getting the job done.
* Up pipe donuts leak **** Bad ball joints & tie rod ends
* Bald steer tires **** ABS light ON
* Windshield leaks ****GEM that freaks out once in awhile Go figure
*Bad Glow Plugs **** Running a cracked repaired rim on DRW
I know I am forgetting a few things but you get the idea. So within the past year I have been buying parts when I can spare the cash. Which is hard to do when family, house, wife's car, my hoopdee and of course my boat eat up alot of cash. So far I have:

*Used set of E99 IH up pipes ****New IH gaskets, turbo orings
*DieselSite E99 plenum inserts ****DB 9 blade Billet compressor wheel
*XRF ball joints ****Moog sleeves, inner & outer tie rod end
*Parts for external ATF filter ****Used Rim
*Motorcraft Glow plugs ****2 sets new speakers
*2 sets of tweeters ****Aux cig outlet
*800 watt inverter ****100 amp curcuit breaker
*Marine rated wire
I'm a $100 short of my new steer tires BF Goodrich Commerical T/A 2 so hopefully next week.

I feel bad admitting I let my truck go like this and that I haven't taken the time to fix things. I am just having a hard time getting motivated to clearing the self in my garage of the parts that belong on Blackie. Hopefully in the next week or so I'll post photos to prove I am actually getting it done. This weekend I have a boat that I built 2 SBC and installed 2 new transmissions that I am aligning & tuning and seatrial it to New Buffalo, MI. I also need to put a water pump on my hoopdee '02 Saturn. Because that is what I drive when I go to the marinas in Chicago. I can't even drive Blackie on LSD or half the streets in Chicago.
I hope you guys know what I mean by LSD??

 

While going to McCormick place, I drove a tractor trailer for a short distance on LSD once. It was a good thing no cops were around.

 

Lake Shore Drive, for those who haven't visited the windy city. You can use Street View with Google Earth to virtually "experience" it.

 

Thanks Tug, I was scratchin my head with that stupid Huh? look on my face


Ed, just think of how much more fun it'll be to drive when your done. That'll keep you motivated.

 

I know the feeling Ed. A year and a half ago when the artificial reef business dried up I basically retired my truck and started to commute on my motorcycle.
I knew my truck needed a few things done, but it wasn't a priority.

Now that I'm moving 3000 miles I had to blow the cob webs off and get my truck back on line. I spent the past few weekends changing every fluid and giving her a once over inspection. I could have done more. But more costs more & that is the limiting factor unfortunately.
I'm pretty confident that she'll make the trip with no issues. I was lucky & smart enough to replace a lot of items over the last couple years when the money was flowing in.

Am I really going to pull a 15,000 lb camper 3000 miles with a 15 year old truck with 306,000 miles on the odometer? Yes I am.
I can't say I would have the same level of trust with other brand trucks or engine combos, but I'm pretty confident that she'll get me to where I'm going.
I've been good to her, she'll be good to me.

 

I'm going to guess the LSD is sort of like the OBT (orange blossom trail)here in Orlando?
You can pretty much find "anything" that's not sold in stores...

 

A year and a half ago when the artificial reef business dried up

Franko something weird about that ! Franko where ya headed??

Smokie

 

Well, I got that all backwards. Looks like a very well to-do area. I didn't know that even existed in Chicago...

LOL, yah bad choice of words. The water didn't dry up, but the funding sure did.

I'm heading to Oregon Smokie. It's time for a change.

 

OREGON!!! And you thought Cal was nuts ! Good luck my friend !

Smokie

 

I was thinking -low sulpher diesel -

 

I just love driving on LSD....NOT. Your right Ed LSD is not a place for Blackie to be. Wish I was home, I'd give ya hand getting her back in shape.

 

Thanks guys for all your support ! Hopefully soon I take Blackie out of service and just tear into it. Rob thanks for the offer to help if you were here. But the next time you are up to see your parents hopefully we can do lunch.
Actually Frank LSD on the southside is worse than OBT but from downtown to northside we are talking Hi end. After I got out of the Navy in the early 80's I lived in Kissimee and I have back from time to time and OBT sure has changed.
This will give you an idea of what LDS is about.

 

You wouldn't recognize Kissimmee anymore. It's almost completely taken over... Back when I was a kid when we came down here to visit the grandparents & Disney world, & I remember driving down the OBT with the family & seeing strippers dancing in the parking lot of strip clubs as guys got out of their cars. Dad would yell at me to keep my eyes forward... LOL, now a days you can buy a car at one end of OBT and get shot on the other.
I am SO glad to be leaving this dump behind.

Make a list of what Blackie needs & Get him in the garage. You can't use the "it's too hot outside" excuse that I usually use...
I about killed myself from dehydration today "trying" to change my water pump. I gave up and ended up just changing the hoses, thermostat, & coolant. I didn't have the correct tool to get the fan nut off.
Plus I was starting to cramp up, Sweat was poring out of me faster than I could drink...
Water pump is the back seat & I'll change it In OR. (Hopefully not on the way to Or)

If something on my truck breaks on this trip I'm going to be furious. I think I've changed just about every wear item on my truck in the past two years...

 

Hey, Franko, you pick a route to the Socialist Republic of Oregon yet? While passing through Texas, we got you covered should you need anything :-) Oregon has some SERIOUSLY high taxes. Is that the change you were looking for?

Sorry for the hi-jack, Kuzz.

 

The next time I'm in town Ed I'll give ya a call.

Hey Frank when are you headed out?