I'm dumping a cool story here. It will make you smile, laugh, cry, and be angry. It's about my maiden voyage in my square body and it's a good one. Here's a TLDR blurb:
TLDR: I took my truck out beyond the neighborhood for the first time and had a great time. I decided to 'test the grip of the back tires' and ended up stalling and dying a block from the house. Turned out my fuel pump broke. The lever broke off inside the pump and there was no fuel getting to carb. Got that fixed and parked it to do a few more things.
Now the long story.
I have been slowly working on my '86 C20 in apple red with a 350/350 combo that I pulled from my father in laws field a couple of years ago.
It's been a slow process as I've been going through each system one by one and getting it up to par. Plus, some of these things are brand new to me and I've been too careful or slow to tackel some of the projects (electrical mainly)
I started with getting a battery, a fuel pump and starter put on as the first parts when it first got to my house. Then new fuel tanks and lines. Then belts. Then a new alternator. I spent time on brakes and greasing bearings and grease points. I learned how to weld a nut on a bolt head that rounded and broke when I was doing rear diff service. I scraped and brushed dirt and grease and a small amount of rust and slapped on rust treatment and sprayed frame and plastic under the truck and in the enging compartment. I pulled the bed off to do some of the stuff and it sat on some sawhorses until we had a storm come through and I looked out to see the bed blown off and laying in the yard. Luckily, it was just a little muddy and didn't hurt the steel. I got all the lights working and replaced bulbs. I got the blower motor changed out and all the electrical with that squared away. I chased the vacuum hoses on there and got all the blend doors and controls working. I even got lucky on the AC compressor and it spins. I will charge it and see if it leaks at a later time. And finally I replaced the busted plastic windshield wiper tank under the hood.
All the while, I would occasionally take the truck out around the block. I'd roll around the neighborhood making sure anything I may have fixed in the past was still working like it should. And I'd blow the cobwebs out without abusing the poor thing, or it's 30 year old tires that is still haven't replaced.
As summer got here and the days were longer and temps higher, I decided to tackle the power locks and windows so I could not die while driving.
I took the door panels off, and while one day I'll probably paint them to sharpen the burgundy up, I just cleaned everything really good and conditioned with some good stuff I use for car interiors and boots. lol. I got the passenger side window and the power locks working in part of day and tested the driver side window motor. Poor thing was done for, so I ordered a new one. I put that sucker in and now had 2 working windows. I was quite proud of myself.
About this time, we went on a family vaction to Orange Beach, Alabama. The ride down and back gave me plenty of time to think about how close I was to getting this thing as runner. I had to test the reliability and get the gremlins chased before I broke down on the way to work or something where I might be in a hurry or time crunch.
When we got back, I carved out an afternoon to take this thing out. My plan was to take it down to the gas station and fill up the driver side gas tank out of an actual pump instead of a 5gal jug.
I made sure my wife had her phone on loud, I double checked the gas and blinkers and stuff. I aired up the front tire that loses air, and checked the others. Then I climbed in and said a prayer that I don't break down too far from home, or on the highway, or catch fire.
I pulled out of the yard and onto the quiet neighborhood road. I felt the wind hit my face and sped up to around 20 mph. I cruised the normal pattern I had done in the past and decided everything was looking good, so I went further. I cruised by the little lake near us and waved at some of the folks waving at me. I turned up the long road into the next neighborhood and got a little faster up to maybe 30.
Then, I made the decision to go get some gas. I pulled up to the stop sign to turn on to the highway. I waited until there was not a car in a 1/2 mile gap and pulled out onto the highway. Her first time since at least 1994!! The gas station I was headed to was just a block down from where I pulled out, but it made some hwy time!.
I pulled into the gas station and a fella in a early 2000's chevy gave me a wave and smile. His truck was used for working and you could tell. I smiled back and gave a wave. I pulled up to the pump and hopped out. I left the truck running, because I wasn't gonna chance turning it off. The pump didn't take my card (it was a janky station) and my card wouldn't even go into the slot. I cursed under my breathe and got back into the cab. Well, do I go back home or try the next station? hmm. I got out and made a walk around the truck. Tires were ok. Nothing leaking. Popped the hood, everything looked fine. Felt hot but not too hot. Guages all checked out ok.
I decided to go to the next station. Just another couple blocks down. So, I pull back out onto the highway and dont pull into the next station. The dang thing was shut down!! like forever. Nothing in the store. No refrigerators, no shelves, nothing. I pass that thing daily and haven't paid attention, because I didn't know that for sure.
So now, another big decision. to turn back? Or to try yet another station. This one across the small town I live in.
I pulled back onto the hwy and headed to the next gas station. I'm smiling so hard as I'm driving this truck that came from the forrest and was full of dirt and trash that is working!!
I pull into the next gas station and fill up with gas. I walk around the truck again, and hop in to head home.
I take a less traveled road through some neighborhoods and have a smile a mile wide on my face. I'm waving at people like I'm in a dang parade.
When I get close to home, I have wonderful idea. 'I should pull into this large school parking lot and see if it will squeal some tires!'
I pull in to the lot and roll down to the far side where sand and gravel gather near some dumpsters. I drop the truck into first gear and give it some gas. I throw some gravel and get a little squel and chuckle with my big dumb grin. I was scared about the 30 year old tires so I didn't get too dumb with it.
As I put the truck back into D and start to head back to the road tragedy happens.
A clanky mechanical sound happens and the truck lurches. It starts to sputter, and I shut it down out of the way and before I get in the road.
I get out and start prodding and cussing and cranking.
I am a block from the house so I decide to walk and get some stuff.
I get another battery, I get a tool bag, I get actual shoes on vs the crocs I was wearing. ( I also had a bathingsuit and tshirt on as I had planned on jumping in the pool when I got back) I jump in my daily driving truck and head back to the parking lot.
I start looking around and prodding some more.
The thing acts like it isn't getting fuel. What the heck!!? I put gas in it!! Was it bad gas?? Did it mess up the fuel sender? Did i get junk in there?? No, everythings new.
About that time, my neighbor passed by and stopped to see if I needed help. He asked if I had a chain or tow strap. I did not. He said he'd be right back while he went to get one.
He came back and we hooked his new, single cab, 1 ton, dodge dually up to the front of my c20. We go toward the house and I he puts me under the large shade tree out in front of the house.
That evening, when it cooled off a bit, I went tot prodding and tried to figure out what the deal was. I check spark and see that it has good spark. So I decide to look at gas. I unhook the hard gas line from the front of the carb. I see that the filter is still practically brand new (changed when I did the fuel pump the first weekend of getting the truck) and I get the pancake compressor wrestled to the front yard. I blow air back and eventually let off to hear gurgling. I never hear gurgling, but I do get PLENTY of gas coming back at me. Also, I blew out a line at the tank selector valve. (I still haven't looked at it, but it's on the list.)
I get the great idea to take off the fuel pump. once I do, I immediatly see that the lever is flopping around. It had sheered off inside the housing, and I'm hopefull that nothing went in the block.
I call up the O'reilly in town and they find that mine had a lifetime warranty, and they have one in stock.
I go grab it, and put stuff away for the next day.
The next day I get out there early to enjoy the shade and breeze. I wrestle the rod back into the hole and get the bolt to hold it back. I stick the gasket in place and bolt the new thing on. I hook up rubber and hard lines and prime the carb. I start cranking and life comes back to the old 350!
I let it run and make sure its puming fine. I kill it to clean up my mess and that's actually when I see the gas pouring out under the passenger side of the cab. I'm actually just assuming it's a blown line from the air compressor. It could be the actual housing or mechanism. I hope not.
I get tools loaded and put stuff away and start the truck. I hop in and quickly but, gently drive to the back of the house. I get the gate open and back into the place it sits today. I shut it down and get the windows rolled up and battery unhooked.
I haven't touched the truck. I went from so happy to very frustrated and really just am letting myself cool off before I get back into the thing.
It's close and I will one day be able to trust it to take me into town or the next town over to get supplies. Or take me to work on a nice spring or fall day. Or heck, even out in the woods to teh deer stand or something. I'll get it done soon.
Next on the list is fixing this stuff that I broke, and new tires. Then I'll throw a seat cover on it and put new rubber around windows and door seals.
Thanks for reading and I welcome any advice y'all may have.
Cheers!
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