Column Swap, part 1

On Christmas eve I spent several hours out in the garage. I was hoping to get the entire steering column removed, so that I could have a head start when I bring the new column home tomorrow. I probably won't get the new one put in right away, but at least I am ready when I get to it.

This is the turn signal switch that started all of my troubles.
I wanted to swap it out with a $25 part from Auto Zone. So much for this budget repair...

The bunged up threads at the tip of this steering rod are the source of all of my column problems. I can't mount the steering wheel with them like that. So the swap was in order.

Is that what your dash looks like after you rip the column out of your truck? There is a method to my madness, but it would take too long to explain...


Some where in that picture is my nice pretty steering wheel that I spent hours cleaning and now I won't be using. Can you say garage wall art?

There should be a steering shaft and transmission linkages in that picture,
but they are attached to the now missing column.


Where do you keep your column? I keep mine beside the driver's side front wheel.
Thanks for asking.

Parts ordered

I found a complete steering column from a 1968 truck for sale online. I don't really need the whole thing, but it is complete and looks to be in great shape. Plus it is costing me $7 more to have this nice looking part shipped to my door than the only other one I found. That column was pretty junky looking and I would need to make a 4 hour round trip drive to pick it up.

$7 well spent, I think.

Turn signal success - Ultimate failure

I wanted to pull the steering wheel off this morning, to get ready for a swap of the turn signal/hazard signal switch. I assumed that I would have to order the switch, but my local Auto Zone had one in stock.

I picked up the switch and got everything disassembled and cleaned up fairly quickly. It took a while to get the switch positioned properly and to get the wiring run properly through the steering column, but those were the biggest hassles. Up to that point.

When I was ready to reinstall the steering wheel, I noticed that the threads on the column were totally wrecked. I don't know if I trashed them with the wheel puller, or as I was removing the retaining nut. Either way, there is no repairing them, now.

So in the end, I replaced the turn signal switch. but now I can't install the steering wheel until I swap out the steering shaft.

Have I ever told you how much I love working on 40 year old metal?

The Rebirth of Marge, Post 1

Since parking the truck and suspending the insurance coverage, I have not spent any real time out in the garage until tonight. Even that was more planning for the coming work than anything.

I am trying to decide if I should put Marge up on jack stands to get the tires off of the ground. I don't want the tires to get flat-spotted while she is just sitting in the garage, but I want to make things as safe as possible out there, too. As of tonight she still sits on her tires.

I started pulling the steering wheel off tonight. Then I remembered that I do not own a wheel pulling tool. Racecar Man has one and I have borrowed it several times. Guess once more won't hurt. The wheel has to come off so I can install a new turn signal/ hazard signal set-up. While I am in there I want to get everything cleaned up really well, too.

The first stoppage is the hardest

I suspended Marge's insurance a few days back. Which means she can no longer venture out onto the streets. I know it is going to take me a few months to get everything fixed properly, (front and rear brakes, emergency brake system, front steering, windshield wiper motor, turn signals and hazard flashers, door windows - all need attention). Most of this stuff is original equipment and simply worn out. After all of this, she will still look like hell, but should be safer to drive around town.

Now we are not spending the money to keep her insured. But of course, the insurance company has figured out a way to keep a little of the $ for themselves. Instead of a couple of hundred bucks a year to keep liability insurance on the truck in case I hit someone, the company is making me keep a theft and fire policy on Marge, since she will be stored in our attached garage. $18 a year for worthless coverage with a 1K deductible. Of course, if the house burns down, Marge will be the last thing I am worrying about.

I could have canceled the insurance outright. But when I signed up the truck originally the company had a hard time getting all of the paperwork correct. Because I am sure you want to know, modern cars and trucks have a standardized format for ID numbers. Cars and trucks this old were not standardized, each manufacturer set up their own format. Our insurance company's computer REALLY wanted the truck's ID number to match up to the current standard.

Now that the truck is listed properly, I really don't want to hassle with that again. I guess it is worth $18 a year to skip that fun. Anyways, I am hoping that Marge is back up to speed by Spring Break, but $$$ may keep it from happening until summer. My rough estimate shows that I need about $1000 in parts to get all of this done.

The first stoppage is the hardest

I suspended Marge's insurance a few days back. Which means she can no longer venture out onto the streets. I put it off for a few days, but I know it is going to take me a few months to get everything fixed properly, (front and rear brakes, emergency brake system, front steering, windshield wiper motor, turn signals and hazard flashers, door windows - all need attention). Most of this equipment is original equipment. So after all of this, she will still look like hell, but should be safer to drive around town.

Now we are not spending the money to keep her insured. But of course, the insurance company has figured out a way to keep a little of the $ for themselves. Instead of a couple of hundred bucks a year to keep liability insurance on the truck in case I hit someone, the company is making me keep a theft and fire policy on Marge, since she will be stored in the garage. $18 a year for worthless coverage with a 1K deductible.

Of course, if the house burns down, Marge will sadly be the last thing I am worrying about.

I could have canceled the insurance outright. But when I signed up the truck originally the company had a hard time getting all of the paperwork correct. Because I am sure you want to know, modern cars and trucks have a standardized format for ID numbers. Cars and trucks this old did not have a standard format or number of digits in the ID number, each manufacturer set up their own format. And our company's computer REALLY wanted the truck's ID number to match up to the current standard.

Now that the truck is listed properly, I really don't want to hassle with that again. I guess it is worth $18 a year to skip that fun. Anyways, I am hoping that Marge is back up to speed by Spring Break, but $$$ may keep it from happening until summer. My rough estimate shows that I need about $1000 in parts to get all of this done.

Her time has come

Thursday I used Marge to haul a bunch of tools and my tiller to The Talker's school for a Gardening Committee re-do of the front flower beds. On the way over I realized that I can no longer put off the brake system.

Some jerk cut in front of me to pull into the post office. He almost ended up with Marge's 40 year old grill in his rear bumper. I did not stop in time, it just really lucky that he was carrying enough speed to get the heck outta the way before impact. Instead, Marge slid on through the impact zone.

So with 46011 miles on her, Marge is going off the road for a while. New brakes all around and front steering/suspension are all on the list for this round of repairs. No body work this time. Can't afford to make a pretty lady out of her yet.

The Princess rides again

The Princess and I drove Marge out to the north side of town this morning to pick up some barrels to build our rainwater collection system. While we were on the road Marge hit 46,000 miles. Good job, old lady.

39 years and 1 month / 46005 miles = 98.1 miles a month or 1177.2 miles a year on average. But she manages to do a lot less than that now a days.

Cruisin'

Yesterday I excavated my garage and found a 1968 Chevrolet truck underneath a pile of toys and camping gear.

It seems like I had almost forgotten about Marge. So she and I have been bonding for the past 2 days. After giving the once over and checking fluids, we cruised the neighborhood for a while on Saturday morning. Another few miles Saturday evening and a run to church this morning have topped off the weekend.

I am sure there are things I NEED to be doing, but none of them make me smile like riding around the 'hood in my beat up old Chevy.

The Origin of Marge

This is the dealership where my grandfather bought Marge back on September 30, 1968. I stopped right across the street to gas up The VW last week.

I can just imagine her sitting right there out front, where that $16K white work truck sits now.

I should not have blogged that

I guess the VW did not like being mentioned in the truck blog. She overheated yesterday. Right after we spent $180 to get the windows tinted. This morning I was able to drive the VW to the shop. I'll let them figure out if it is a thermostat problem, a water pump issue or something else.

The shop service writer ran us home after dropping off the VW. Then The Princess and I pulled out the truck to go for the all important Krispy Kreme run. Boo for broken cars, but Yeah! for a day off and a chance to cruise in the truck.

No truckin', but lots of repair time

Lately I have been spending my tool-time on the wife's VW Beetle. Last week I installed rear shocks. Turned out to take me almost a week to get it done, since I had to wait for parts. But that just gave me more time to try to plan out the repair.

Thanks to the old truck, I was not intimidated by the repair at all. After all, I have replaced all of the shocks on it, and it still rolls down the street smooth enough.

Thanks to lots of info from the 'net and Racecar Man's tools, which I still have in my garage, the repair went easy enough. Tonight the VW started overheating. Once I read up on the internet, it looks to be a bad water pump. But I think I am leaving this repair to the pros.

That maybe the most useful part of working on the 68 Chevy. I have started learning when it is OK to be intimidated by a repair and to let someone else handle it.

Next up for the truck, new front steering/suspension components and brakes. I want to replace all of the ball joints and such ASAP to try to quiet the creaking and groaning coming from the front end with every left turn.

Just because

Took the truck out for a ride tonight.

No place to go. No route planned. Nothing but a 3/4 tank of gas and me cruising my old truck.

We hit the hills around the neighborhood and had a nice cruise. Not too long, though. Marge does only get 10-12 mpg. Anyways, good times!

Putting the truck to use

I have not posted here all month. I have not needed to do any work to the truck in that time, so nothing interesting hap been going on with Marge.

Except that she was worked harder in July than in any month during her last 15 years. I ran to Lowes a few times to pick up a clothes dryer. first trip it wasn't in stock, so I had to return later.

We also made a few trips to the vet. I love having a truck to haul the dog. He has really long hair that is impossible to get out of my car's carpet. So I set up his crate, strapped everything down tight and hauled him back and forth in the bed of the truck. No hair in my new car!

Somewhere around here is a picture of me hauling our treadmill off to the Salvation Army. The treadmill hadn't bee used in at least a year. Once again, nice to have a truck. I could never have hauled that thing in my car.

The truck made a couple of passes around the neighborhood for junkin' season, but I never picked anything up while I was out in it. With all the rain we have gotten lately, most of my junkin' was done in the Saturn.

Her first night out

I have been wanting to drive the truck up to Car Night, an informal gathering of cars, but it just never seems to work out. This afternoon I cleaned her up a little and Marge finally made a trip to Car Night.

I had the only 67-72 Chevy or GMC Truck there, but I did not have the oldest truck in attendance, a couple had brought their 1920s Ford truck. Lots of cool rides tonight.

Marge sat at the end of Chevy row. A 1970 z28, a 70s 'Vette and a 69 Camaro were lucky enough to hang out with us.



This 1939 Chevy was the coolest car out tonight. The guy's son did all of the paint and most of the bodywork at home in his garage. Pretty good for his first car project. There is some hope for me, still.

Sitting next to the 39 was an '06 Viper. Somehow he snuck onto Chevy Row. Just jealous, I guess. And here are is a 32 Ford that was driven in from California last winter.

Now that the dry hot days of summer are here, hopefully Marge and I will be out there again next weekend.

Taking one for the team

I hoped to get the yard mowed and edged tonight, so I had to hide the new Saturn from flying debris. Marge had to make a quick trip out of the garage and onto the street, so that the brand new ride could rest in the garage.

I was hoping to get the Saturn washed after I finished in the yard, but thanks to a pain in the butt weed-eater, I ran out of day light. Since it will likely rain tonight, I swapped the Saturn and the truck out once again before I finished up. No sense in getting dings in the new car, but since the windows still don't close on the truck, she gets to spend the rainy night in the garage.

Gimme a brake

Back when I swapped out the brake drums, everything seemed to go fairly straight forward. But I kept hearing a nasty grind once in a while when I was braking and turning left at the same time. So I put the truck away for a while.

I opened up the front drums this afternoon and everything looks fine. I put the original drums back on, just in case one of the replacements is warped or something. I'll take them to get them turned eventually.

Now I have no squeal, at least not yet, and the truck seems to be driving and stopping fine. Next I need to tackle the emergency brake. I never have gotten it to work at all.

Truckin' the hood

The kids and I had the truck out several days last week. We drove to the park during the week and to soccer and Sunday night church last weekend.

And the biggest trip of all, one that I cannot believe I had never made in the truck, Marge and ran over to Harbor Freight tool store. 10 mpg to go get rechargeable batteries and patio umbrellas!

Thus, we never left the garage

The problem with having a truck in the garage that does not have to move on a daily basis, is that you can stack a bunch of crap in the bed of the truck between rides. This weekend I just did not want to hassle with all of the crap in the bed of the truck, so she and I stayed put.

Maybe next weekend.

For the record, there is an ice chest, a bunk bed foundation, several scooters, a wagon, a blow up trampoline, a load of fishing gear and a mess of other stuff in the truck bed right now.

Truckin' Afternoon

The truck has not been out of the garage since I installed the new seat belt and glove box. The weather has just been too crappy to cruise without windows.

Anyways, this afternoon I am going for a little cruise. The weather is great and the truck is running well. No plans for a destination, we shall see where we end up.