Messages

^^^
Looks like it ought to, John. Someone tell me when we quit doing dumb things, short of dying.

O&S replaced the remaining front hub on the Dakota and removed the trans pan. I cleaned it and used gray silicone to install it. I used a gasket 5 years ago and it had failed. As a precaution after the 48's oil pan debacle, I measured the depth of the pan bolt holes to make sure there was adequate depth. I had put 15,000 miles on it and the pan was real clean. The 46re has a history of being good or not so much. I wonder if I got a good one? LOL.

Time to bring it back up.
Thank you to all who served.

C.K., maybe the check valve has debris in it.
Did anybody else see pics of this car at the Pistons and Paint show?

I replaced the front hub on the Dakota that I replaced a few years ago. It was spewing grease pretty good. I bought a Moog for replacement. End of box: China. We'll see. It got up to 67 degrees so I took the bike out for a ride. Lots don't ride in the cooler months but I try to ride year around. The DR650 is the only carb I have left outside of yard equipment. I try to keep it exercised properly. LOL.

I paid $2.79 a couple of days ago. 50 miles away it was $2.66.

Matt, you said a mouth full." Because if a customer is unwilling to shovel dung out of a trunk first, that should cost extra. I presume the mentality there is well hey I have the money, I shouldn't have to lift a finger to save any." That doesn't apply to me but it does in life in a huge manner. This forum has do it yourselfers. Are we a dying breed???

Congrats, Phil.

O&S did something today that should have been done a long time ago. Back in about 2000, I built a bead breaker for changing bike tires. Since then I have lengthened it and use it on 17" and smaller car tires. It is actuated by some acme thread with a 1.25" nut that has many inches of stem sticking through it depending on what size of tire is being busted. I have been turning this nut by a wrench for all of these years. (slow learner) Today I picked up a impact deep socket and started machining. The socket was cut into 2 pieces and machined for an insert pilot in the tubing. The tubing is left over steering column from the 48 chevy. The 2 parts were pressed into the tubing and welded. After it cooled, I put it into the lathe and made sure there were no sharp points that might grab some skin while running it with an impact wrench. I had some left over gray wheel paint which became the color of choice. I just finished changing tires so who knows when It might get used but unless I forget where I stored it, the tire changing should be a little easier.

It will be 2 years this month since I sold the gray 51 that Matt's project inspired the grille on. The custom grille on those trucks tends to be my favorite part. O&S decided he needed a little exercise. I ordered tires for the Dakota. They had 23 date codes but had been stored in a stack in the warehouse. I pulled one tire yesterday and gave up trying to seat a bead on a new tire after an hour. I put pieces of wood in the inside to spread and left it for 18 hours. That widened the gap some but not enough to be easy. I had to have 110lbs. or better in the bead blaster to get them to expand. After 2.5 hours of exercise, I have tires again. The last set went 5 years so I expect theses to do the same. Or the truck be replaced at some point or the driver be replaced. LOL.

Looks good, Matt. I agree with your answer. I've been watching for years and the shop has a steady stream of customers. That speaks to me.

I replaced the shocks on my Dakota. 103,000 miles. The fronts were junk, the rears might have been working. It took O&S 1.5 hours. Someone that knew what they were doing would have been less than 45 minutes. Typical of replacement parts, the fronts had different bushings than the originals. I would expect a person working in a repair shop to have many sad stories.

That has to be a "wow" moment. However, if all there is are rusty bodies where you are, what do you do?

Correct. With the wheel at full lock, I have 3/4" of clearance to the lower side panel. I didn't intend to have fenders but I didn't expect the tires to through debris on the windshield.

Looks good, Matt. Another cowl vent has bit the dust.