Truck Progress

[SS317]

Isn't it amazing how with these old trucks that getting ready to do the breaks can lead to a new radiator install?

Brakes pulling to the right pretty bad so I buy all new shoes and springs.
Open up brakes, brakes good, just bad slack adjuster (stuck). Bearings good too, fresh grease.

Find a broken spring on the front drivers side. Call parts yards and finally find one. 25 bucks.

We mess with the carb a little and thermostat housing is leaking. Great, good time to change thermostat since I have not done that to this truck.

Go to drain radiator a little to help with the mess of the thermostat change and the petcock was plugged and sodered into the radiator. End up pulling the radiator and it's so bad that I'm stupid not to change it out.

Finally find the one radiator in town and get it back, get it installed, and now were on to some more wiring issues.

Started out thinking I was going to spend under 50 bucks,,,,

Now I'm over 300 spent on this project....

Amazing how one thing can lead to another, and then another, and then another.

[SFTorange]

Your thread brings back memories! For about two years I went through the process of fixing the weakest link in my truck. First I got it running, then lost a radiator hose, fixed that, the radiator blew, finally got the engine running good, then it went bad. Keep at it, and eventually you'll have a reliable truck!

[gimmy 64]

had my truck for 2 years and still chasing demons.get one thing fixed and something else shows up but it is on the down hill side of all that and now doing stuff i want to to it---disk brakes. overdrive tranny ,lowering. it gets better when you can jump in it and drive it !!!!!!!

[SS317]

I still love my truck. I can't wait to do more to it.

[SFTorange]

That's the good thing about these trucks, they take a lot (time, money, effort, etc.), but they give a lot more back in pride of ownership.

[Rich 5150 69]

I finished ( or so called finished ) mine in `93 after final paint, and it was supposed to be a weekend driver, but that went into occasional trips to work to everyday driver, and have never regreted it, now it needs a lot again, all I have done is maintain it, it needs paint, brake upgrade, new engine/trans and interior again, but best of all its paid for,,,,

[k1rodeoboater]

Sometimes they tell you what it wants to have done instead of you telling it what you're going to do.

Gotta be flexible with these old trucks...they sure can be crotchety though....

[SS317]

I do love how each time to do something to make the truck better it makes you feel almost like driving a new truck. Each little fix or upgrade seems to make the truck run better, at least in my head.

[kieth]

Keep this in mind, at least you can work on these trucks, the new stuff is almost impossible with all the electronics, special tools, etc.....Kieth

[Indian113]

2 steps forward-1 step back,thats my way of doing things