I am only about 8 hrs drive from where Morris lives, so I would be in. I am still tweaking the steering box adjustment on my '50 and hope to get it to where I feel it would be highway safe. I used to cruise quite comfortably at 65 mph when I was running the rack and pinion steering with the MII conversion. Round trips of 400 miles were common. Now my truck rides like, ...well like an old truck.

Tom

 

Happy B-Day Coastie!

 

Thanks. Every birthday is a blessing but also a reminder that time is fleeting. It's sobering to realize I've reached the ages of my grandparents when I thought they were very old and likely to die. Every day needs to be carefully spent, because there's a limited supply.

Jim

 

I couldn't agree with this more! I'm keeping mine as original as possible, flathead 6 and crashbox together, and I love the character of the truck. And it's fun for a bit to get her out, run her through the gears, haul something from Home Depot, get some waves and thumbs up, and suck in all the fumes. But I relegate this old girl to short trips for this very reason. To recreate what it was like when it first rolled off the line and started work on the farm in Wyoming it originally came from. It was a work truck, not a comfortable highway cruiser, and it shows. I'm a young 52 y.o. myself, but this thing even takes it's toll on me after an hour of plodding around and I start thinking about my Jaaaaaag, lol. I enjoy the short trips and time spent with her, and like to think she's happy to be out and about town for an afternoon or so. I do wish some of these events were closer to me and I could drive to them, but no way I'd take this thing on a cross-country trip. My hats off to you fellas that do!

Not to state the obvious, but traffic in big cities, ESPECIALLY California, utterly suck. It's an absolute no-no for me in this truck where I live. I avoid Boston like the plague, even in my daily driver. People suck, traffic sucks, roads suck...it all sucks. Small local routes or 2-lane backroads are more my speed in this thing.

Btw, @52 USCG Panel happy belated, Jim!

 

I have a friend that lives in Dedham. And he has told me about Boston drivers. They're mean, rude and don't care about their or your vehicle.

 

Sign-up for a Truckstock out on the Canadian prairie is going slow. Maybe Morris doesn't have to worry about cleaning up his yard to accommodate an unruly crowd of virtual friends from the States. LOL. For me, Saskatoon is about the same distance as Lock Haven--minus the hassle of Chicago and Cleveland. It would be an easier trip for me. I just wised up and got towing insurance on the truck. The policy provides free towing to the nearest service provider up to 200 miles. The premium is only $20 annually. I'm all set now for the lightly traveled roads of Canada 50 miles out from the nearest town.

Jim

 

I have not read a more accurate description of Boston drivers in recent years. They truly suck and are constantly riding on the bumpers of classic cars, cutting you off, blowing stop signs, etc. It's heinous. Which is why I thank my lucky stars when I get home from short trips in my F-1 or Galaxie.

Is he a classic car guy? I wonder if I know of him from local shows.

 

No, he is not into cars. His name is John Rice. He is a union lawyer. His now deceased wife was a special Ed teacher for the local district. He is the son in law of a family friend. She sold her house, so he doesn't come to Lock Haven much.
​​​​​

 

Gotcha. Don't know him but I wonder if he dreams of leaving this joyless place like I do, lol

 

Jim
Where does one sign up and date of said gathering?

Tom

 

...that's a great question, Tom. I'm surprised our friend Morris hasn't jumped in here to promote his event. LOL. I'm anxious to get my reservation in, as I'm sure many others are as well.

Does just you and me meet minimum standards for an official event? I do need a bonafide excuse for my wife in these matters. I can't just abandon my domestic responsibilities for a week on a crazy whim.

Jim

 

Start slow with the wife, these things take time. Last nigjt she let me bring the fender inside. Good chance I'm going to get a weekend off this summer. I'm pulling for ya.

 

I am feeling old. I turned 60 last December but with my neck at times I feel 80. I am hoping to make it out to PA this fall but so far with the short break in trips I'm taking with truck with rebuilt engine I don't know how far I can drive in a day. When we took the F-2 out to SE KY and Central PA I drove for about eight hours a day. I don't know if I can do that now.

Jim, I've had towing insurance on the F-2 for years. I've had to use it one when the wires under the hood let the smoke out about two years ago. I called my insurance company up and told them I needed the truck towed to my house, about twenty miles from where the truck broke down. The phone rep told me they would pay to have it towed to a service center closer. I told her I doubted there was any place closer than my house who would work on a 70 year old truck, they told it to my house. I figure when I take it on my long distance road trip and it broke down and I couldn't fix it I'd have it towed to the nearest storage unit, rent a car and come back later with my trailer to pick it up. Even if I had to drive 900 miles to pick it up it would be all part of the journey.

 

Yes Jim , it would qualify in my eyes.

 

Yes Jim , it would qualify in my eyes.