because of this I watches shows on TV about cars
I watch stupid shows on TV about cars just to be able to see what cool cars "might" show up
At least once a week, I see a show about a barn find where people roll some car out of a barn its been in for 40 years, air up the tires, put in a new battery, fill it with gas and it starts right up.
No way, I always think to myself, what a bunch of crap. Thats all for TV.
why no, I dont have any insider information from the TV world, why do you ask?
:)
Well, I got to do my own version of this, you see, I needed to move my truck out to the hanger. It hasnt been started in at least a year, if not more.
I was looking at buying a trailer, because we will end up using it for other things, and even went and looked at quite a few of them listed on Craigslist. Never found the right one for the right price.
Then I looked at renting a trailer. Well renting a trailer that is big enough to pull a full size pickup is tougher than you might think.
Then i thought, I wonder if I could get it running and drive it out there?
NAH, no way it will run, been sitting too long
so I kept looking, finally found a place that would rent me a car hauler that would work. Problem is, it has electric brakes. My tahoe does not have a e-brake controller in it. So I e-mailed my FIL to see if we could "swap" trucks sometime and get this done. He of course was willing to help in whatever way he could
Then i thought, I wonder if I could get it running and drive it out there?
hmm, I guess I could try it, cant hurt anything right?
so one morning I let it roll down the driveway and with the help from the LOML we got it steered onto a flat spot next to the curb on the street. This way all the fluids will go where they are needed as opposed to at the back of the pan with the truck sitting on the incline.
That evening I came home and got to work. First thing I had to do was take the battery out of my Tahoe so I would have a battery to put in my truck. (because when I had the issues with my tahoe one of the things I did was take the Optima out of the pickup and put it in the tahoe)
Once that was in I put about 5 gallons worth of gas in the tank, removed the line from the carb, and used the electric fuel pump to pump about half of the gas through the line and the fuel filter and back into my gas can. As soon as I turned the key to start the fuel pump gas started pouring everywhere because the fuel filter was loose. Stopped, tightened it up, went back to pumping. This will get all the junk in the bottom of the tank settled down, filtered once, and mixed up with what I poured in.
I removed the wire tie I had on the choke (since the choke cable is broken) and closed the choke, then turned the key quick to make sure it turned over without any crazy sounds. It turned, and it sounded normal.
so I turned the key again, and it lit up like it had just been started. Ran smooth, stayed running. I was sitting in the cab with my jaw on the floor.
Now that I knew it ran, I bolted the battery in, put the air filter back on, and got it ready to do a test drive.
Got back in to start it, it spun, would not lite.
HMMM, took the air filter back off, started right up. Well, I guess my airfilter is clogged up isnt it. and I guess we will leave that off wont we. Drove it around the neighborhood and it sounded good, no strange sounds. brought it back to the house and let it sit. Checked for leaks later and nothing there, all was good.
now that the pickup was running, I had to get my tahoe running again. Took a battery I had in the garage that was side mount only and put it in, got it charged and started the truck with it.
SUCCESS!
It was now late and dark and the LOML suggested we drive it out there now, while it was cool. My answer, hmmm, let me see if the lights work.
headlights - check
Tail lights....
Taillights...
Taillights...
No check. No tail lights at all. No brake, no turn, no nothing. Lights werent working in the dash either, no indicators there at all. Did some digging around to see what I could find, Nothing.
OK, well we arent going to move it in the dark then.
OK, I need a break, this one is a lot of writing and a lot of reading I am sure. Do you need to take a bathroom break? Its ok, I'll understand. Go ahead and go, I'll wait.
Really, its ok, go ahead
Now, dont you feel better?
Did you wash your hands?
So on with the story, we decide we will get up and leave at sunrise to head out there. I packed a few things in the tahoe for emergencies on the road (tools, flashlight, jump start pack, chain, gloves, gas can)
Next morning we get up early, D driving the tahoe, I was driving the pickup. She followed me out there, apparently getting a light show on the way as my tail lights / brake lights were flashing on and off. Working sometimes, not working other times. (guess that tells me I have a loose ground wire somewhere doesnt it)
Didnt take us that long to get there, and overall it was a great drive. The truck rode smooth, the engine ran good (as long as I didnt stop, if I stopped, it died, so I ended up popping it up in neutral when coming to stop signs or lights) I could not believe how well this thing was doing after sitting in the hot sun rusting away for the last year.
Let me tell you what, they dont make them like this anymore. Try to do that with a new car..
if I may sidetrack for a moment, I ran across this ad the other day for the 69 check truck
Not that I am washing it right now, but I am still driving it when others are washed up.
I am just so impressed with this truck.
so we got it all the way to the hanger without incident.
No, a police officer did not stop me and give me a ticket for non functional tail lights
No, a police officer did not stop me and give me a ticket for a inspection sticker that was 2 years out of date
It was a nice, quiet, early morning drive.
We got it parked in the hanger where it can be safe and sound.
DD
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