Gary, you can breathe now. I'm amazed at the depth of the projects people take on for fun. Good luck.

 

GB,
Looks like you took some time to hit the casino. Now back to work!

 

No, I don't gamble. Well not at casinos anyways. That's where the cheap fuel is, on the reservation. I think there is a federal tax they don't have to charge for or something. Just got back with the truck from Nate's shop. Got a lot done. I wish I had a week to work on it instead of a day. But that will come someday. I got the axle installed and almost got the parking brakes working, but it was time to clean up and load the truck back on my trailer. Steered nicely with 40 lbs of air in the front tires and another 40 in the rear. About noon, just before we went to the tavern for lunch there was a tremendous loud explosion! I had recently put 40 lbs in one of the ancient tire on the left front, then was on the right side airing up the red spare that I had put on at the rest area. The sidewall blew out on the left front..... Sounded like an actual explosion. Since my priority was to make the truck roll nicely, I took one of the tires that Stu shipped me, and the rim that was on the left rear that had been chainsawed off... I cut the rags off the rim with an angle grinder and cup brushed the wheel and then I mounted Stu's tire on the left front. That coupled with a shiny hubcap really made the day. Now it's home sitting on the trailer. No brakes, But since the engine is presumably stuck, I planned to keep it immobile by leaving it in gear, but when we loaded it on the trailer tonight, I placed it in first, but it rolled back before we could chock the wheels. Now we figure maybe it isn't stuck. I can easity check tomorrow if Danny lets me sneak out of the cabinet shop for a few minutes...... Dinner is on, Maybe I can do some pics from my phone after we walk the dogs...Great day all in all.

 

I'm trying to delete a double post. I guess I have to write something because it's too short??

 

Wow, Gary, glad you weren't in line of fire when the tire blew. Happened to me a year or so ago, but it was a rim that split from inner rust. Like a cannon going off. Stu

 

Yikes! That's not good.

 

Wow Stu, that looks like it could have been a lot worse! My sidewall blew out toward the inside and it happened when I was on the opposite side of the truck. Here are some grainy I phone pics of the truck from today. I think my phone is taking too big of pics and they are like 1.2 M or something whatever that is.....With PB blaster, a prybar and some intense kicking, I got the back doors open for the first time today, with how stiff the hinges were, I'm thinking the first time in many years. The wood floor is in remarkably good condition under the ratty carpet and pad. Maybe not so much the cab's floors. The pass door is still locked or jambed. Looks harder to jimmy open. Maybe I should subscribe to AAA and call for a lock-out .....

 

I little O/T but I had a brand new never been on the ground spare tire on my 5th wheel trailer blow when it was bolted on the spare tire rack on the rear bumper. Had 80 psi in it and when it let go I heard it in the house 100 feet away and it sounded like a sonic boom. Several days later I discovered the blown tire AND the broken rear window in the trailer. If someone had been standing by the tire when it blew it might have killed them. I now store the spare inside the shop out of the SoCal sun, not taking anymore chances with crappy Chinese trailer tires.

 

That's crazy! Was the tire rated for 80 lbs? Don't the Chinese have to meet our DOT standards to sell their tires here? I can understand my rag tire blowing, but that new one??? I will say mine was really LOUD!

 

Load range E maximum 80 psi which is what I run down the road with. Finding good quality trailer tires is difficult if not impossible.

 

Kind of like UL stickers on electronics. Remember those?

 

Or the tag on the pillows that said you'd go to jail if you tore it off. That was really scary!

 

Guess I better turn myself in. It was a good run, but it gets old always lookin' over my shoulder.. Always wondering.. Keeping my past a secret. Stay on the straight and narrow folks, or you'll end up like me!

 

Well Tedster, I have been trying to keep 'er between the ditches. Woke up early so unloaded the panel off the trailer into my shop. I cleaned out the back, pretty much dragging the filthy old carpet out along with everything on it and in it. Swept out the interior and found it to be in great shape. The front floor in front of the seat is about 50% missing, but I can weld new metal in there. The area where the seats bolt is in good shape. The wood deck starts behind the seats. After work I started cutting off the rotten running boards. This makes it easier to access the bolts mostly from above. I do have a couple of questions.
1) The engine seems quite stuck, but when I put it in gear it doesn't hold it on a hill. I know the rear axle is good. There is no free play in the clutch pedal at all. I haven't been able to remove the clevis in the clutch rod, but it acts like the clutch is partially depressed. Maybe the last driver drove it until it wouldn't go uphill and wore the facings off the clutch disc. I have never experienced this before. The 4 speed trans feels like it snicks in and of of gears just like they all do. Any theories on why it still rolls in any gear? Next question 2) I don't remember what it was.... Here's some pics from today's activities.

 

The panel is looking better already! That old rear axle made the truck look like it was ready to implode. That floor looks in great shape.