On a roll

This week I have made several trips down the street. Not feeling too brave, though. I have not ventured off of our street, or gone out when the Mrs. isn't around to bail me out.

But we are incident free, since installing the new fuel filter. Which is good, because walking home sucks.

Sold the wheels

A guy off of the 67-72Chevytrucks.com forum wants to buy the slot wheels. Assuming the money order actually comes this week, I'll get them shipped ASAP, so that I can pile some other crap in that spot on the garage shelf.

Fuel filter, take 2

I ran to the parts store this morning and grabbed a couple of $2.80 fuel filters. The clear ones come with an extra filter insert for $10. Think I'll stick to the biggies for now.

And the filter was definitely needed. The old one was clogged with crud and liquified rust. But the small filter in the carb is still pretty clean, so the primary filter is doing it's job. Lesson learned. Truck has gas, won't stay running, check the fuel filter.

The rust does not surprise me. But it's source might. I assume there is some rust in the tank. It is not leaking, but it did sit with gas in it for 12 years. Also I bought some rubber fuel hose, to replace the hose from under the cab floor to the steel line on the frame. While I was swapping the lines, some gas spilled out of the tank. It was clear and not rusty.

Could that mean there isn't rust in the tank? Dunno. And if the tank is not rusty, then I guess it is coming from the steel line between the new rubber hose and the new fuel filter.

Either way, I spilled some gas on my chest and arms while I was tightening up the new hose. The gas burned like crud, so after a quick shower and a test drive to the end of the block and back, I called it a successful day of truck repair.

Truck, what truck?

I have spent no time on the truck this week. I walked by it a few times yesterday, just to make sure it was still in the driveway.

The city is hauling off old cars that are sitting on the street. If a car has expired registration or inspection stickers, then it is subject to being towed off, 10 days after it gets tagged by the police. That way the owner has a little time to take care of the car, first. Of course, the truck is in my driveway, so it should not be a big problem.

Our crazy neighbor had a 90's model Isuzu Trooper literally drug off, because it had been parked on the street for two years and the tires rotted off of it. A dead give away that a car is not being used - when ivy vines start growing around and into the car. I just thought he was making an SUV shaped topiary out front.

I have heard of a couple of cars getting tagged sitting in a driveway. I can only assume they were blocking the sidewalk, so the police could tag the car even in a driveway. Otherwise, there should not be a problem. But our driveway is long enough to get 4 full sized cars completely off of the street and there are no sidewalks on our side of the street.

Add to all of that, the truck is parked at the front of the driveway, 20 feet from the street. But if an orange tag shows up on my truck this week, you'll hear about it. And so will our local police. 'Cause I plan on doing a whole lot of whining if I have to clean out my garage to fit a truck in there.

Not the gas

Last week I thought I was out of gas. The truck stalled out and once I gassed her up, we drove home. I was a little surprised, since I have put gas in several times, a gallon or two here or there, and I have only driven 60 miles in the five months since I have had it home. The truck has also idles for a few hours in the drive way during that time.

Still, if I have added 15 gallons of gas, and only driven 60 miles, then I am getting exactly CRAPPY miles to the gallon.

After a little family drive the other night that ended with pulling the truck home, I am now convinced that I was never out of gas in the first place. There is some other fuel problem. Possibly rust in the tank.

I installed a fuel filter a while back. This weekend I'll remove it to see if it is clogged up. Hopefully that is all it is.

Hey you, wanna buy some wheels?

I am selling the slot wheels that I bought a while back. I decided that I really want the original hubcaps that I bought last spring, so I'll be keeping my stock wheels.

The whole city wants to help

I blogged elsewhere about some suggested improvements for my truck. And I don't feel like typing it all again, over here...

Also, The Odometer has been updated.

Cruising

Took the 68 out for a quick drive this evening. After walking home the other night, I did not venture far. Just a couple of trips to the far end of the street.

But I drove the whole way there and back. No Walk of Shame for me tonight.

NOW I am convinced

that the gas gauge does not work. I had to take my second Walk of Shame Wednesday evening. Luckily, I only had to walk 4 houses when I ran out of gas. Actually, I ran out up the hill, but I was able coast most of the way home. Plus, it was a gorgeous night for a walk.

So I borrowed a gas can, emptied that one and one of my own into the truck and made it the rest of the way home without problems. Except the problem of explaining why 10 gallons of gas in the truck ended up costing us almost $100.

It really is simple, I had to go to the gas station since both cans were bone dry. So while there, I filled up the wife's car. $35 gone. Then I decided to gas up the minivan and refill the gas cans. Another $60 gone. But that got both cars filled and 10 gallons into the truck.

Kind of sad, $100. And the gas gauge still does not work.

Truck ride!

I pulled out of the driveway last night and cruised the neighborhood for a little while. And again this morning. On the way home today the truck stalled. It restarted easily and I got home without any other problems.

I don't know what happened. Probably driver error. I was pulling up a small hill and it acted like it was not getting gas. Could be almost out of gas. The gauge does not seem to work. Hopefully that is all it is.

I am seriously considering tearing into the rear brake lines. I want to remove the busted one and see if I could make a replacement for it myself. I can buy one for about $30. A cheap flaring tool costs about that much. But I need to replace fuel lines, too. If the same flaring tool will work, it would be cheaper in the long run to do it myself.

No time for truckin

I have been too busy to work on the truck in the past few days. But I have started it several times since installing the battery. Mainly because it will start on the first turn of the key.

And I want it to keep doing it.

Yep, just as I suspected...

Somehow I managed to kill the old battery from the wife's car. No problem, though. It had a pro-rated 7 year warranty and I had a $20 Autozone gift card.

So this evening I took the wife's battery out of her car for one last time. When the truck started perfectly the first time, I cruised the hood for a few miles. Then I swapped cars and headed out to Autozone for a new battery.

Not a bad deal, I guess. The old battery was three years old and the gave me $20 back on the warranty adjustment. We originally paid $36 for it. Kind of like battery rental for $12 a year.

Since I already bought a new battery for the wife's car, I grabbed one that is actually intended for the truck. Bigger battery, more amps and it has a pretty red top. Guess they want people to think that I am rolling with a $150 Optima under the hood.

What now?

The new voltage regulator is in. The alternator checked out, OK. The battery was good two weeks ago, and I have kept it on a charger for a while, but the truck wont' start.

It will, one time, right after I pull the battery off of the charger. But then, If I try to restart, it won't without a jumpstart.

I still made a couple of short trips in the neighborhood this weekend. And for the first time, I got stranded. Luckily, only two blocks from home.

Say Huh?

Number 8 seems to be OK. Number 5 is a little gunky, though

Another week gone

The truck has sat, untouched for a week. I bought some rubber washers the other night, so that I can mount a new voltage regulator. I have not bought the part yet, maybe Saturday. Then we should be back on the road.

As far as I can tell, the voltage regulator is original to the truck. I guess it was time for it to die, after 37 years.

One for the psych text books

Ever say something that ends up being much more revealing than you intended?

This, from a comment I made on the last post, was one of those times for me...

I am great at taking things that work fine and breaking them and repairing them so that they work much worse than they originally did!

There is a lot of truth in there.