Bollweevil

Shucks, everyone knows that a driver is dumber than a box of rocks. The fact that you have put every mile that it has on it, watching the guages, and listening to it run, make you a lot more qualified to say something is wrong. Now that they are having to actually repair the problem, I personally could not stand not rubbing their nose in it. Keep those cards and letters coming, I have missed hearing from you. James

Instead of sleeping in the truck all of the time, have you thought of leaving the lawn mower running and just parking it under your bed at home. Or you might just have Jo shake the bed and say buddin buddin buddin buddin till you get your nap out.

Sad part was a seen about a 2003 Ford Focus one of the 2 door sporty model that had been rearended at the scrap yard. I seen 2 nova ss's, even a 40's chevrolet car. I hate to see ths happen to decent iron, but we can't save them all. Daddyslilgurl your like me I wished I would have grown up in the 60's and 70's. It was just cool..

I was there when it happened. 25 June 1965, 22 years old just married I had just started my first job in a dealership, at a Chevrolet dealer in Roswell GA. At $65.00 a week a new 327 Chevell SS or a 409 Impala were just not attainable. On the other hand, you could buy a decent 55, 56, or 57 210 for $250 to $500. Just the right price line for a young gear head. The old saying that good things happen to those that wait, might have some meaning, for I once owned a 66 325hp. 396 SS chevell

$600, A 64 389 GTO $325, and a rash of 55, 57, 58 Ford Custom 300's. One of my friends here has a 57 Custom 300 show car with an all aluminum 427 stroker engine. It's about a $55,000 car and he is always giving me a hard time about being too cheap to spend the money to have one. I tell him, I had one just like it. I gave $75.00 for, it replaced the drivers door glass $15 and drove it for two years.

I always like to see pictures of someone else's ride. Or just someone having a good time doing the things I like to do. Such as, trucking, eating, building race engines, talking on the CB, or telling an outrageous story. I've got a lot of pictures, if I just knew how to post them.

Welcome to the site, you could probably get more response to your question by posting it on the engine forum. As these engines are becoming more rare, the are becoming more expensive to repair and maintain. My question for you is this. Is the engine doing what it is supposed to? Is it performing at close to it's rated HP? If not you need to look at why, and if there is a problem, correct it first. If you know the recent engine history, you might have a better idea of what you can get away with, as for as the pump. Otherwise, I would absolutely not touch the pump, until I had looked at the crankshaft bearings. You might contact fjh, one of the members, he could probably answer questions you have about this engine. James

Welcome to the site. Now get busy.

The forecast for Monday here, is 30 degrees and rain mixed with snow. Trees are blooming, the grass is getting green, song birds are making a fuss, and from one day to the next I still don't know how to get dressed.

Glad to see that you made your round alright. For the uninformed or uninitiated, the greatest difference in a Shetland pony and a horse, is the time it takes to do the same amount of work. When applied to a class 8 truck, it is the difference in having time to rest, and not having time. You still have to do the same amount of work, but having a horse sure makes it a lot easier.

MULLYGRUBS AIN'T CONTAGIOUS IS IT?

I don't think you could catch it from a toilet seat, but like CABIN FEVER, a continued exposure to someone who has it, is bound to rub off on you.

Too old, too much excitement? Nonsense, dirt is old, rocks are old, trees get old sometimes. Someday I might get old, but I refuse to grow up. I WILL NOT GROW UP. I like 16 just fine thank you. James

Good to see you back on line. I called this week, just got voice mail. Hang in there, James

Glad to see that you made your round OK. I don't know about that u-tube business, although I wouldn't mind learning how. I've got a lot going on this am. Have a good week end, whats left of it. James

I haven't thought of Geritol in years, but since you mentioned it, it brought to mind a story that one of my old friends told me long ago. It seems that Geritol was quite popular in the hill country of Tennessee. A lot of folks would use the empty bottles for a window prop. Now the way the story goes, a fellow had walked out onto the front porch of his hillside farm house with a bottle of Geritol in his hand. After taking a large swallow he was trying to set the bottle on the porch rail, and missed the rail. Wouldn't you know it , the bottle hit the ground and burst. Ever alert, one of the man's big red roosters ran over and began pecking at the liquid. My friend swore that before the fellow could walk down off the porch and stop him, that rooster topped every hen in the yard, and four rows of cabbage.

I am always impressed with how much you get done each week. This week was a short week too.

Did your wife really let you take him off by yourself? Are you sure she wasn't following in the car? It wont be long, and he will be putting in his request to go with you in the big truck. Have you ever noticed an automobile pulling along side of your cab, with one of those little child seats strapped in place? Well there is that little fellow riding along facing the rear. He's looking straight up, without a care. Until he notices the truck, then his forehead wrinkles up, his eyes get big, and his mouth falls open. Then with a look of astonishment, he will look you right in the eyes, as if to say, damn thats big, and pretty too, can I drive? I need one of those. Have a good week, James

Don't ever get the idea that no one cares, or that no one is interested. While you are out going somewhere, I'm setting at home waiting for you to get back. I enjoy reading about your weekly adventures. The problem with these Blogs is that you don't always have feedback of any kind. Sometimes it will make you feel like you are just talking to yourself. It would probably make you feel better if you could see me sitting here nodding my head and agreeing with you. When you talk about difficult job sites, I can see them in my mind, because I've been there. I love trucks, one of the main things I've liked about trucking is being able to climb into one and make it do what it is supposed to do. When it is easy or when it is hard. Not just anyone can do that. Most wouldn't want to. There is a lot to be said about living right, and doing right, trucking included. When you run up on someone else who who has the same attitude, there's a bond or a kind of fellowship. Be careful this week, I'll be here when you get back. James

I'm glad you finally checked in. I was thinking about calling the police, and having them put out an APB. I miss you and Joe when you are gone all week. Sounds like you've had another busy week. The thing I remember most about folding a wet lumber tarp, is that they are slicker than snot on a door knob, when you have to roll them back out. Not much fun with a 13 ft load, with the wind blowing. Be careful, James

Paul, I don't' see how you could owe anyone an apology. A lot of people would like to have a clean late model truck with a big engine. They just don't want to start with nothing but a dream, and work their way up to it. Sounds like your biggest challenge now is getting started. So, jump on it. Take a lot of pictures so we can look at it through your eyes. Something that is that much fun, should be shared. James

One of my early excursions in a truck involved rt 250. I had taken a load of ice-packed chickens to Moorfield W. VA, and upon calling in, I found that my next pickup was at Farmdale Ohio. Hey, I said, you know we don't have permits for Pa. Just look on your map and find yourself a way across the Allegheny front. Ha, at the time I wasn't sure that the folks in Littleton had ever seen a tractor trailer before. Maybe they had just never seen anyone driving on the sidewalk. My first little truck was a 4070B IH, with a 144 in, wheelbase, coupled with a 42.6 reefer trailer. I had to use three sidewalks and barely missed a light pole. I have to say that the road did not get reeeal steep until after Littleton. Everyone should try it once.

Joe, seeing a child of your own in such a situation, gives you a feeling of complete helplessness. You don't have to say that you would gladly have taken his place. Realizing that children are a gift from God, the only way to have enough peace in your heart to get in a truck and drive off each week, is to give them back. God can take care of them a lot better than you can, and when you give them to him to take care of, you can leave them without worrying about them. Before you know it, they will be wanting to go with you. James

As I continue my theme, I had just learned that Haygood Truck Parts had a reconditioned RTO15615 in stock. My next question was, can you get it shipped today? Tomorrow morning, was the reply. Back at the garage we drove the truck into a bay, and started to dismantle it. I say dismantle because I had to pull the whole lower fairing, front to back off the right side. Otherwise once you get the transmission down to floor level, you cant get it out from under the truck. Back at home I could have used the front end loader to raise the truck off the transmission. Lot's easier. With the transmission out all I could do was wait. West Texas in the summer is hot. Without a Motel in sight, at least I had a bed of my own to sleep in. I have never been able to understand why a truck manufacturer would build a conventional truck without a sleeper door. Evan with a shop fan, when the outside temp is close to 100, You can't sleep well. For the next two days, I spent my time back and forth from the garage to the restaurant. About 9:00 O'clock on the third morning, I called Haygood. Where is my transmission? I don't know, was the reply, I'll find out and call you back. In a few minutes I had the bad news, the transmission was sitting on a loading dock in Odessa, 90 miles east, waiting for a freight forwarder. No one had an Idea when it might be picked up. As I left the bank of telephones, and walked through the restaurant, I saw Uncle Bill sitting at his table. Uncle Bill, I have a problem that I don't know how to deal with. What Kind of problem? Well the transmission I have ordered is sitting in Odessa, and the have no idea when the can get it here. I know how to deal with it, he said, take my pickup and go get it. No, I'll have my brother in law take you, he knows his way around Odessa. In short order we were on our way. In Odessa, we picked up the transmission, stopped by an oil distributor for 5 gallons of 50w and left. When we got back to the garage and unloaded, I asked Bill, what do I owe you. Just put some gas back in my truck, was his reply. Thats how I remember Bill Kiker, Generous, and kind to everyone. Back at the garage, I, along with the grandson put the truck back together. When I went in to settle up with the owner I asked about the bill. Oh I guess about $150.00 for the bay and $165.00 for my grandson. Wow

Paul, while you were flying ass over tea kettle, did your entire life pass before your eyes? Did you remember your army training about how to fall down? My back still hurts every day from 25 years ago. I wasn't even going to get out of the house. We had such an ice storm the night before, and I had already called work to tell them not to expect me. I still had teenagers at home then, and between them and my wife, they had it so rev'ed up by about 9:30 I couldn't stand it. I am going to work I said. That was when my wife informed me that before I went anywhere, I had to go to the store for a gallon of milk a loaf of bread and several other items. Back at home, with a grocery sack in each arm I started across the drive. Whoooop, I didn't have time to think of anything, except why am I hurting so bad. I had two young hounds that had the run of the place, and to top it all off, thinking I was playing both of them piled on top of me. I couldn't beat them off, I couldn't move for 5 min. Needless to say I didn't make it to work that day or a full week either. I have no idea how people are brought up where you live. But here in the south it seems that women are conditioned from birth, to wait until the snow is on the ground to realize they are about out of Milk and bread. If they don't need anything at all, the guy they married can drive anything with wheels, and to prove it he has to go for something. Shucks, get well quick, James

Well, you've been a Dad for several weeks now, it's time for an update. James

GLORY, If I were not so dignified, I would jump up and yell. Shoot, I think I will anyway. YAH HOOOOO

What a special time. I remember the time very well, one night in August 41 years ago, my wife woke me up and informed me that her water had broken and it would soon be time to leave for the hospital. We had about a 30 mile ride, at a very leisurely pace. My oldest daughter was born at about 10 am the next morning I remember thinking as I saw her and held her for the first time, that if my wife Shirley wanted a baby she could just have another one because this one was mine. She has her own family now. Treasure this time, take a lot of pictures. As your life gets more and more complicated, my prayer for you is that you will have Godly Wisdom, and that being a dad will just get better and better. James