What to do ?

[frogman68]

I havent been around much. My shoulder gave out since like February it went out in March again this time I passed out from the pain and some of our friends called my wife (camping with the Boy Scouts) I had to go to the Dr on the wifes orders lol. I had surgery on it last Friday doc told me this week it will be 6 months to a year before I will be back to "normal".
All projects are on the back burner for that (I am hoping less but not optimistic). I am thinking of putting the donor pickup I got to finish the 76 up with on the road. So far I have dropped the tank have most of the bed bolts , the rear wiring harness out and it needs a clutch and some brake work. How much of this is doable one arm with my 16 year old son (thinking the clutch is out)? I do all the towing when we go camping (went this weekend and had to drive the trailer one arm what fun that was lol) and my wifes v6 Escape struggles with it plus a good wind it seems to want to flip not from weight I dont think but from being such a short wheel base. Do I bite the bullet and wait to finish the projects or find another junker to do the towing with ? Btw its my dominant shoulder

[eventhorizon66]

With a cooperative 16 yo son, a heck of a lot is possible.  I wish I had the opportunity to work on some father-son projects, before my pop passed away.  Tell the son to grab some wrenches and help the old man out.

[fitz]

It could be a good Father and son project. Is the truck a 4x4? (just trying to figure out if you have to wrestle with a 465/205 combo with 1 arm)

[choptop]

It really all depends on your son and your teaching abilities. And only you can answer that. I know a young man that was replacing quarter panels ona 71 Camaro at 15, complete air suspension drop at 16, was z-ing frames at 17, and now is the one that all the local go too for customizing help. He's working on a 62 Bel-Air that he has replaced the entire floorboard. He just turned 19. One the same token, I have a friend that I grew up with that at age 35, it amazes me he can even change a tire. Only you can judge on whether or not you two can do it together.

[frogman68]

thanks guys yes its a 4X4 I was hoping it wouldnt be the sm465 since its a K10
as the old saying goes if i didnt have bad luck i wouldnt have any

[ccz145a]

Too bad your truck wouldn't qualify as someone's Eagle project. Let your shoulder heal and get one of the other Dad's to volunteer thier rig.

[Lt.Del]

That 16 yr old should be doing the stuff anyway.  When I was 16, i was putting clutches in, rebuilding motors, upholstery, body work, paint, etc...started all that when i was 15.  I loved it and did all my friends work on their vehicles for extra $$. 
Kids nowadays wanna spend all their time in front of nintendo or playstation.  My dad never worked on vehicles and about all he ever did was change oil and spark plugs.  When he saw me doing all those things mentioned above, he went out and got a 49 Dodge pickup to work on.  Borrowing a phrase from the old man, it "builds character".

I don't know how big/long/weight of your camper, but, i don't think i'd pull a lawnmower with an escape. 

[frogman68]

It could be a good Father and son project. Is the truck a 4x4? (just trying to figure out if you have to wrestle with a 465/205 combo with 1 arm)

Its not a SM465 thats a relief it was bothering me that the gear pattern was not right its a A833/NP440 ?? not sure if its a good thing I know the Sm465 is 185 lbs not sure of this trans btw it is a 4X4 I think the transfer case is about 80 lbs

Too bad your truck wouldn't qualify as someone's Eagle project. Let your shoulder heal and get one of the other Dad's to volunteer thier rig.

No one else will drive the trailer . My son is changing his Eagle Project every day I dont know what todays is lol

That 16 yr old should be doing the stuff anyway.  When I was 16, i was putting clutches in, rebuilding motors, upholstery, body work, paint, etc...started all that when i was 15.  I loved it and did all my friends work on their vehicles for extra $$. 
Kids nowadays wanna spend all their time in front of nintendo or playstation.  My dad never worked on vehicles and about all he ever did was change oil and spark plugs.  When he saw me doing all those things mentioned above, he went out and got a 49 Dodge pickup to work on.  Borrowing a phrase from the old man, it "builds character".

I don't know how big/long/weight of your camper, but, i don't think i'd pull a lawnmower with an escape. 

I didnt even think about this I was tearing vehicles apart at his age too. Its either the drugs or Dad being protective but I didnt think he could handle it (I can play my dad , drink beer and yell at him that he is doing it wrong).

Yes the Escape is no fun pulling the trailer (6X12 enclosed) weighted down it pulls that thing all over the place.


Thanks again guys I was going to have him start this weekend but I have to work Saturday and Sunday is Mothers Day

 

[Lt.Del]

(I can play my dad , drink beer and yell at him that he is doing it wrong).

You know my dad?   There is only one way to do things, the ex-marine sergeant's way.  No ifs, ands, or buts.

[hotrod24]

go for it man do the father and son thing you will get better

[VileZambonie]

Good opportunity to make your son deicde if he wants to be a man or a mouse. Let him choose.

[DnStClr]

Do you normally camp at the same place? If not, it might be something to think about so you can see if the campground will let you keep the camper there until you're well enough to drive and set it up with both arms. 
 JMO-As for junior- you know, he might not be inclined to follow in his dad's footsteps and work on old iron. Doesn't mean he's a bad kid tho. It's just not a good idea to push a kid into it if his interests lie elsewhere. He knows the opportunity is there to learn. Let him choose to take it or not.   

[choptop]

Get your belt out and let that be the deciding factor on whether he wants to work on it or not......
Im just kidding, it is very important that he decides he want to do it or not. If he doent, and is made to, then neither one of you are going to enjoy the experience, and he will not learn anything about it, and will probably despise it in the future. My stepdad ruined something that I enjoyed and was good at because he turned it into a chore. To this day, I get ticked when I think about it. Good thing he doesnt live around here anymore, he'd probably get a whoopin once a week from me as payback.

[frogman68]

Do you normally camp at the same place? If not, it might be something to think about so you can see if the campground will let you keep the camper there until you're well enough to drive and set it up with both arms. 
 JMO-As for junior- you know, he might not be inclined to follow in his dad's footsteps and work on old iron. Doesn't mean he's a bad kid tho. It's just not a good idea to push a kid into it if his interests lie elsewhere. He knows the opportunity is there to learn. Let him choose to take it or not.   

Nope always different.
We have his Blazer as a Father Son project but he has no interest in welding but likes the mechanical part

[Lt.Del]

He's a minor, under your roof, with you paying the bills,  IT IS NOT HIS DECISION whether to work on your truck while you aren't able.

Sorry, I had to say that.  Good thing he likes working on the mechanical end, but, when I was growing up, my decision counted the same as our dog's decision==zero.

My dad liked gardens and home-grown vegetables, but, guess who had to pick the weeds and harvest, etc...hint: not him.   He paid the bills, i did what he said.   To this day, I can't stand a garden when I have three supermarkets within 2 miles of me.