It looks to be doing just fine around there right now. The crusher is a good place to put any chevy.

 

got the 'flat-bump' out on its first on the road job ..went to the car show with alan to help get the 'earthquake' to the show and tire's changed.. then get the transport tires back on ... i had to make 50 miles fast..the old truck will run over 80mph with no problem....


tried to put my air breather on .. it was too tall and could not close the hood




at the car show with 'earthquake'




having some fun with a (real)mini cooper..

 

i tried to use the 'flat-bump' to haul a f250 to the shop for a fellow FTE member.. did not get but about 40 miles when the steering started acting funny, so i figured i better turn around and head home...
started looking and found the problem.. the steering coupler from rock auto gave out in less than 1000 miles!!! one day i will learn to check all of my parts close before installing them in my truck

here is the steering coupler 'rag joint' they sold me..... pretty huh??




i did not want another cheap chinese part so i ordered a 'made in USA' part from dorman. check out the size difference in the riveted stud, the steel reinforcement bar and the steel bushings on the steering shaft bolts




you can see why the stud fell out. they do not do a very good job mushrooming the stud ends on the chinese made part.. the dorman is there to stay




hard to tell from my crappy pic's but the the disc on the chinese part is a sollid soft rubber.. the dorman uses a multi layered re-enforced rubber disc and much thicker steel parts

 

got a chance to try out the "flat-bump" on a long distance job.. i am helping a fellow FTE member move some of his trucks while he moves into a new house.. my truck did really well with no problems there or back to the shop.. it even did not do real bad on fuel, just hard to be exact because of the dull lens i can't see the odometer .. but it was around 200 miles and used 16 gallons of premium with a bottle of octane boost.. and coming home i pulled a loaded trailer, so i am happy with that...



with a half load on the bed and a full load on the trailer




used the diesel truck to pull it onto the trailer




100 miles later made it back to the shop




that rig sure takes up alot of room in my shop... i used the S10 to pull it off the trailer so i can get ready to go to work on it

 

Nice write up on the difference between the two rag joints! Thanks!

 

yea the dorman part was so much better than the no-name one from rock auto... that has about broke me from buy cheap parts.. better to pay a little more, than having to
do it again

 

That's really good to know about that rag joint. Thanks for the info! I better check mine tomorrow.

 

got a couple of 100 more miles on the ole flat-bump.. it is doing just fine with no problems since the rag-joint fiasco ... moved anther 78 ford f250 4x4 with a 7.3 diesel and i even gave the ole general lee a lift to his new home..

now if i could just come up with a working A/C unit..i would be a happy camper

 

and you moved "The General" too?

 

yea gary one of his cars is that 69 charger.. it is kinda cool has the signatures of a lot of the cast and crew on the deck lid.. he was thinking of selling it.. but when we got it outside he fell back in love with it again.. ha ha ha ha

 

well off on another adventure with the 'flat-bump' have to go a few hundred miles to drop off a 48 ford bed, then switch trailers and move a 4x4 for a friend..then reload a 80 f150 4x4 (parts truck for the next project) and head home.. next week i have another swap meet at petit jean mountain Arkansas to get loaded up for.. the old truck sure has been earning its keep..





a light load for the ole 'flat-bump'

 

That load will be a good restore project!

 

the old ford is still earning its keep.. i needed a bed for the 41 chebby i am trying to sell..so i drug out a 48 with a decent bed that i had out back.. not a perfect match but very few will know the difference..

a long hot day but got the parts i wanted drug out...