After a day of rest and reflection after our 1300 mile round trip to the KY Truckstock in our stock '49 F-2 I got to thinking about what we went through and how somehow we ended up safe and really can't figure out how it all happened.

Our first night on the road we stopped for night at an OK chain hotel. To get there the GPS system on the phone took us from a safe area and directed us through a very questionable area which we didn't know we were going to go through, it was getting late and we needed a place to stay. We got through the questionable area and ended up in a safe area. We unloaded our stuff at the hotel and went to find something to eat. The F-2 decided it didn't want to start. I was able to repair it early the next morning and we were on our way. I got a sick feeling thinking about the night before if the truck had broke down at an intersection in the questionable area. We could have been real trouble but the truck got us to a safe place.

Later in our trip, about 20 miles from our destination we needed to make a stop and when we came out I smelled gas. I popped the hood and the carb was puking out gas out onto the manifolds. I took the carb off and somehow fixed the problem but as we got back on the road the truck cut out and I had to coast it to the side of the road. We were in a precarious place on a hidden curve on a busy highway. I was able to start it again but it again died about 50 feet down the road. I again got it running and although it wasn't running 100% I was able to climb a couple of slight hills and make it to our destination. Once we were safe at our final destination the truck decided it was time it didn't need to run. Eventually, I had to install an electric fuel pump and that seemed to solve the problem. After a week of great times with friends and old trucks, going up and down major mountain roads with no problems we left for our 650 drive home, We had a problem with my new electric wipers getting blown out by rain and wind. Pulled over and pulled the messed up wipers off and continued on with RainX on the windshield. The next day we continued through Indiana and into Illinois. The winds on the road was wicked, made keeping the F-2 on the road. We made it to central Illinois and stopped for gas. After filling up the truck wouldn't start. Finally got it started by push starting it and finished driving through Illinois until we came into a rather major city and drove up and down hills on a major street going through this city. As we were reaching the northern border of this city I checked my fuel gauge, it was reading just under 1/2 a tank so I started looking around for a gas stationand then I noticed the gauge plummet to E. The truck started to die but I was able to pull off the very busy multilane street into the safety of a major retailer. I thought maybe I had a leak in the fuel system but after putting 2 gallons of gas in the tank and turning on the electric fuel pump I couldn't find any leaks. We were able to push start the truck to get it running again and tried to get to the nearest gas station but the closest one, the one we walked about half a mile to earlier, was only accessible via the busy multilane road the truck started to stall on earlier. I tried to use parking lots on the frontage road bussinesses so I wouldn't have to take the truck on the busy street again but, again the truck stalled out but fortunately, we were in a hotel parking lot. I gave up and called our son who insisting on driving 130 miles to pick us up with his truck and trailer.



The reason for this long post is I have a question for the group, do you think your truck has a sole or some kind of life force? I have always just considered the truck a conglomeration of steel, rubber and glass. We've taken the F-2 on numerous long distant trips and although we've experienced mechanical problems on almost every trip the truck has always ended up in a safe place when it dies. It has always gotten up sefely home, well, except for this last time but even then it got us within pick up distance from our home. On this trip it got us through a very rough area before breaking down. It got us through a really busy section of the city. It was acting up at the end of the way down but got us safely to our destination before completely stopping. On this last trip somehow we drove over 85 miles with a bad charging system. The battery didn't seem to take a charge and the generator didn't seem to be throwing out a charge. How were we able to drive 85 with a faulty charging system? The truck seemed to try it's best to get us home but just couldn't.

A few years back we attended a meet in Pennsylvania. On that trip Abe took us to a auto repair business that the owner had car collection. While visiting the owner's mother came out with a box of crocheted angles she made. She said she wanted one in every state and gave each of us one. I hung that little angle on the **** of my ash tray and it's been there ever since. My wife and I feel she's watching over us on our truck travels.

 

How were we able to drive 85 with a faulty charging system?

Bob, the ignition system itself draws very little power. With no other electrical draw, these old vehicles could be run a long time with the charging system inop.

 

My first Truckstock in 2017 I was able to drive all day without a working charging system. I came with two batteries and charged them up at night.. I didn’t use lights, not even turn signals.

As to an inanimate object having a soul or life force—that is a hard no. The soul and life force is in the helpful strangers you meet along the way. Of course I do believe in God’s presence in our lives. We pray all the time for His help and protection as we face trials and frustrations. The book of Hebrews in the Bible does say that sometimes we may entertain angles unaware. So there is that.

 

Bob,
Sounds like a good trip overall. Yea, sure there were some inconveniences and times to worry and fret but overall your memories are priceless and the stories will get larger and larger.
I've made several long trips in my ol' 49 and for the most part I don't think twice about jumping in it and hitting the highway. The only time I had 2nd thoughts was when I looked down at the tires and they were so dry rotted and cracked that I could almost see into the insides. I made the trip anyway and 500 miles away from home while in line and staging for the parade I could hear the tire leaking. I pulled out my portable compressor and got enough air into it to finish the parade. Once back at the venue I swapped the spare on and was good to go (I bought new tires when I got home....LOL).
As for the old truck having a soul? I can't say. It sure does seem to have some personality though.

Life is good when there is an old truck involved
Bobby

 

Makes me think of the movie "Days Of Thunder", when Robert DuVall was building the car. He was talking to it like it was another person in the room. I've been working on cars my entire life. I've always felt that if you showed it compassion, cared for it, and respected it, you'd get the same in return. I'm sure it's in my head, but I've had vehicles in my life, for lack of better terms, they were an A-hole. No matter how well I cared for them, kept clean, kept maintenanced, showed them off, loved them, they would always find a way to **** me off, let me down, or give up on me at the worst times.

Then on the other side of the coin. I've had the pleasure of owning the ones that never let me down. They always showed well for me and pretty much, just did everything right for me, and with me and the family.

Do they have a sole? Naw. but they sure have some kind of personality. A connection with you, good or bad.

I've always found myself talking to them, just like DuVall, while working on them or just simply cleaning them up. I always felt that there was some kind of connection there. When I knew something wasn't right and I'd begin tracking it down, "ok sweet thing, tell me what's wrong. Where are you hurtin? Tell me what you want?" Sounds funny, I know! But it always felt like the job went so well when that intimacy was there with the car. I didn't feel that way with every vehicle. And those vehicles, it didn't matter how you talked to them, they were the kind to take everything we built together, take all your money and leave you stranded. Sound familiar? Yea! The A-holes!

I'd like to think that this is why we give them a name. I've given all my vehicles a name. You have to have them for a little while before you name them though. You have to learn their personalities, temperaments, funny little corks, things like that. Then out of the blue, a fitting name will come into mind.

With the new 53, I've yet to name it. My boys keep bothering me with name suggestions all the time. But as we're working on her, were learning her personality. She's a lady no doubt. She's classy, looking for someone to show a little love and patience too her. Someone that's willing to invest time into her and always be there for her. Someone that understands her needs and can hear her thoughts. Then she'll give the same in return. I tell the boy's to be patient; she's almost at the point to tell us her name.

This was fun guys. Hope you all have a great weekend!

 

I didn't post this to start a big theological discussinion, it's just a fun question to see if anyone else has feelings that their vehicle seems to be able to show emotion. I know they are just objects but almost every seems to share emotions with their vehicles.

I myself do a lot of talking with my truck, much of it in not so kind ways. Many times I've threatened to call the scrap dealer to come and get it but in the end it all works out. With this vehicle I seem to have more emotional interaction with running the range of bitter hatred to love.

 

I’m border line. I have been told and believe that every vehicle should have a girls name. Do I think they have a soul, no. But I’m gonna treat them like and talk to them like they do…..just in case. lol.

Just like most women, they can be temperamental and moody. But treat them right and take care of them, and they will usually do the same for you.

Then there are those special ones that you just fall in love with like a long lost soul mate.

 

I don't name vehicles or projects, but I have had vehicles with names. Not sure exactly where the names came from, they just kind of showed up.

As a teenager I had a 67 Dodge Charger. all my buddys referred to it as "The Sled"
I had a 1969 F250 that every called "Ralph Porter" or just "Ralph" That one was easy enough. The truck had its dealer badges from Ralph Porter Ford somewhere in Kansas.
My 59 Ranchero was called "The Batmobile"
I typically just refer to my 49 F1 as the 49, or The Ol' Green Truck. My 75 Dodge D200 as the Ol' Dodge, My Studebaker as the Studey...
The 26 Model T roadster pick up project that I'm working got dubbed Tetanus Annie by a friend of mine and it looks like it will stick.

 

Look what I found. I went up to the attic to close a skylight window for the winter. My wife had the angel clipped to a lamp shade.



She glows in the dark.

 

I texted Scott Richner, Morry's son that has the muffler shop, to tell him my Truckstock buddies have his mother's angels in their trucks. He said she is doing quite well.

 

Good to hear, hope she has more angels in more states.

 

I don't know about being alive but for the longest I swore my truck hated me. Every time I would take a step in the right direction of this resto something would happen to set me back. The old one step forward, two steps back.... I'm sure this is pretty common though. It was bad enough I almost wanted to just say forget it, not worth the misery, however I am happy to report were on better terms these days.

 

The F-2 has been in my family for over 40 years. My dad gave it to me in the early '80s after he left it set to rot away. I've tore it apart twice, the last time about 30 years ago. We've had a love hate relationship for the entire time. Many times it was one phone call from going to the scrap yard, many times in recent years. I've had long heated discussions with it but in the end it always seems to give in and work out. It's given us many safe miles. Even this last week when it decided it didn't want to go any further it took us within trailering range of our home. We unloaded it from the trailer into the garage day before yesterday and that's where it is sitting now. Once I get a few things I'll hook up the forklift and take it out of the garage and put it in the shop and see what it's problem is. Let's see if it will cooperate and give up what is wrong with it.