Workin' on Vehicles

[Griff]

Old vehicles to be clear. So, for the past year or so, my fuel gauge in the Rose has been acting up. reading empty when not, never reading full... So off to Kenworth I go and buy a new sending unit. All good, they have it in stock. So... since the summer of '24 it's been sitting on the living room floor in it's nice box. Since I bought it, I've been trying to time my time home to have near empty tanks since I have to rotate the one to remove & replace the sending unit. So... 2 weeks ago tomorrow, I thought I'd accomplished that. Got fuel in KY and drove back to TX and up into OK to deliver on Friday morning, gauge said ¼ tank. That should be about 60 gallons split between the pair... NOPE. Closer to ½ tank, if not a little more. I'd ordered a transfer pump to move what's in the left tank to the right. No problem, right? Nope, again, I'm wrong, the power cord for the pump is too short to reach the batteries, 12 V pump. Ok... not a problem... pull the p/u close enough and use its dual battery setup to power the pump. Pump the left tank till the p/u hose started gurgling... loosen the straps on the left tank... stick a 2x4 in the fill hole and pull... Nope... no go. Loosen the straps some more... still nada. Ok, Check the amount of fuel. Still got 8 or 9 inches of fuel. Probably still has 20 gallons in it. Not a problem, Slap self I"ll just put some in the p/u. Takes about 10-15 gallons until the p/u is full. Okay, get the floor jack, take a little weight off the tank cradle... Nope... still no joy! I did this once before just after the truck had the first million miles, what's so different now? So, the kid gets home and aks, "...what's the problem Pops?" So I 'spain it to him. He gets violent... jacks up the tank a little and starts kickin' the tank, and lo' & behold... It starts moving. Now it's dark, so I figure I'll wait till Sunday last... (Going shootin' on Saturday, we KNOW what takes priority around this house)! So, Sunday morning, I get the box off the living room floor and go outside. Gather tools and set up to change out the sending units. !@#$#%$#!@, Kenworth has seen fit to change out the connectors from a pair of simple eyelets on the sending unit to a new fancy weather proof plug. Call, KW, nope, that's all that's available. We'll get you a "jumper", be here by 9am tomorrow. So, after 2 VA appointments in the morning & afternoon, I drop by KW and pick up the new jumper. $49 & change... for all 2 feet of it & 2 male connectors, one marked 'sender', the other 'harness'. I ask... is that all I'll need. Yep, plug one end in the new sending unit and other in the connection at the frame. Get home around dinner time, and gotta eat while food's warm. Too lazy afterward so I'll wait till Tuesday. See dermatologist in the am, get, 3 legions remove, cheek, arm & shoulder... rains during the afternoon. No working in outside in the rain. Wednesday, bright & early, get the creeper out and crawl under the truck... Boy howdy is it greasy and dirty under there. But... no connection is to be found. Call KW again... "...oh, okay, we found the harness you need. Another $119 and we'll have it tomorrow, should be here by 9am."

So... another 70 mile roundtrip to KW in Dallas and look at new harness... Yep, just like the one in my truck. So... tired of foolin' with the parts guys, I go out to the service shop. Ask the foreman, how do y'all do this? He sez, we either cut & splice the jumper into the old harness or replace the whole kit & kadoodle. See if
parts has a female plug to make it easier... still have to splice new plug into old harness. Yep, parts has one... another $39. But, hey! I don't need that $119 harness!

Get back home and do the cuttin' & start the splicin'... oh stuff, which wire is which? Original harness has two nearly identical brownish wires... can't match white to white. Slap self again... Turn on the key and check which wire has power. So a soft connection and check gauge... no workee! Change wires... and presto! Like magic, it works! A few zip ties around all the extra wire I now have and it's looking all professional! NOT! Now all I have to do is replace a couple of bolts that broke during disassembly and get violent with tank to rotate it back into place. Then it's back to pumpin' the some fuel out of right tank over to the left. Engine sucks from both tanks simultaneously and returns to both tanks... it'll eventually even itself out. Or has in the past!

But... on a positive note, the new gauge arm has a sealed unit at the bottom where it pivots, so it won't be sitting the fuel. Maybe it'll last longer than the previous one!

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[piller]

Sounds like you had a rough time of it.

[Griff]

Aye, but I can see the end of it, take my time and not rush. And think of the exorbitant labor rate I saved doin' it myself!

[Griff]

With the help of a ratchet strap, some judicious kicks and a floor jack, the tank is back in place... now to figure how to make the transfer of fuel back!

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[GunnyMack]

Griff, look for a D cell transfer pump. It looks like a flashlight with hoses attached. I used one for years when on fishing trips in Quebec to get diesel from my Jerry cans into my pickup.
Just pump from tank into a can then reverse to pump from can to tank.
Or I suppose you could run a long enough hose from one side to the other.

[Griff]

The pickup and discharge hoses are long enough... it's the connections for the batter power that're a bit shot! I think I can get my golf cart (has a 12 V starter battery), between the two trucks and run it. Sounds like a "in the morning chore"!

[Griff]

Well... had to take the battery out of the golf cart, but it worked a treat. Well... started the truck and the gauge reads about 3/8ths of a tank. Plenty to get me to the truck stop after I pick up my trailer, and head off to my 8 delivery stops, finaling out in Selma, TX. Just shy of 900 pay miles, & just shy of $5K... not bad for 3 days of work(?). Now to fix the position of my exhaust stack... it points directly at my trailer, instead of off to the side, and replace an A/C mounting bolt... the one in there is a bit short. Maybe I'll get around pulling the refrigerator out of the bunk and replace it's coolant fan. I prefer to keep my snacks and sodas on the cold side! Okay... I admit it, I'm already tired, and it's already 76ºF and headed to 83 today!

[marlinman93]

Now I don't feel so alone in this Griff!
About a year ago I dropped my granddaughter's 2002 Saturn off at the local garage to have the hard lines to her AC changed. One was leaking and the mechanic said it required unbolting the motor mounts and raising the engine to install new lines. I figured not something I wanted to do, and I can't drain or charge the system anyway. When I picked it up he mentioned there was signs of a small leak starting in the radiator, but it wasn't losing pressure, so no hurry. I told him I could fix it and thanked him.
I bought a radiator the next week and put it away to do later. Well Wednesday last week was later, and she brought her car over for me to do. I removed all the wiring clips, and unbolted the fans, and the radiator bracket, plus hoses, etc., etc. and then tried to break loose the trans cooler lines; no such luck. Stuck bigtime and nearly rounded the fittings off with my tubing wrench and still no go. Had to use a hammer and chisel to bust up the plastic end tanks and get the radiator out of the way. Then went after the fittings with my small die grinder and a 1" cutoff disc to split the fitting and then they finally came off.
Thought I was good to go, but not so fast. The new radiator had the same mounts, which are two round pins that fit into rubber bushings top and bottom, but the new one wasn't quite perfect, so took some gentle massaging with a rubber hammer to get it to pop in place. Then more work to get all the bolts to align, and hoses back on. Six hours later it was together, and I began filling coolant until I heard it running out on the ground! Stopped to check, and the new radiator had two extra outlets the old one lacked. So back to the parts store to buy a 5/8" and 3/8" hose plugs and the Autozone didn't have any small hose clamps! How can you call yourself an auto parts store and not carry hose clamps for heat hose or fuel line sizes? Off to Home Depot for hose clamps.
Finally after 7 frigging hours it was done and ready to head home. Good thing it stays light out longer now as it was nearly 7:00p.m. when I started picking up tools! I figured maybe a 3 hr. job before it started.

[GunnyMack]

Vall that reminds me of when I did upper and lower ball joints on one of my trucks, took heat, cut off wheels and a hydraulic press and almost 12 hours per side!

[Griff]

Vall, I feel your pain. I put a deeper pan, and larger engine & trans oil coolers on my K3500 a few years back. I came inside with a few scraps on my forearms and knuckles from sharp edges... While washing up in the sink, my son came in and said... "I see you've donated blood to the car gods... must've done a good job!"

[jeepnik]

Ever notice that when you are really, and I mean really, fighting to get something mechanical done. Then you bust open your knuckle and it all goes smoothly the rest of the way?

Or as my dad used to say, "Blood is the lubricant for success".

[marlinman93]

I almost dread car projects I think will be easy to do. Seems like those are the ones that often go sideways! And the tough jobs I start early thinking they'll be bad just seem to fall together.

[Griff]

... "Blood is the lubricant for success".

Eggsakerly!

I almost dread car projects I think will be easy to do. Seems like those are the ones that often go sideways! And the tough jobs I start early thinking they'll be bad just seem to fall together.

Yep, just what I was thinking when I started this one, as I'd done it once before on this truck... although then I did it indoors in the company shop I had the truck leased to with actual mechanics to seek advice from. I hope I don't have to do this job again. I am looking forward to getting my '69 Ford 3000 tractor back together so I can start on my Camaro engine swap. The tractor needs some sheet metal work, which I'm not looking forward to... It's so thick, I think heat will be needed to get it bent back into its original shape!

[jeepnik]

First job out of the military was working in a radiator repair shop. Boss was one of those types that always wanted you to work faster. Even though at the end of the day we had all of the vehicles done unless we were waiting for parts. I got the job because I had been working on cars since I was about ten (hey handing dad the right tool counts). I took it because I enjoyed working on cars. I quit because I got a much better job as a firefighter.

I learned a very valuable lesson. Working on cars for yourself is an enjoyable (let's face busted knuckles and all it feels good to do it right). Working for someone else as a "job" isn't. Now I admit that these days there are things I won't do (not can't, just won't). Things like axels, trannys, and transfer cases. Too big, too heavy and my body hates me afterwards. It's not rebuilding them, its getting them removed and replaced.

[Griff]

First job out of the military was working in a radiator repair shop. Boss was one of those types that always wanted you to work faster. Even though at the end of the day we had all of the vehicles done unless we were waiting for parts. I got the job because I had been working on cars since I was about ten (hey handing dad the right tool counts). I took it because I enjoyed working on cars. I quit because I got a much better job as a firefighter.

I learned a very valuable lesson. Working on cars for yourself is an enjoyable (let's face busted knuckles and all it feels good to do it right). Working for someone else as a "job" isn't. Now I admit that these days there are things I won't do (not can't, just won't). Things like axels, trannys, and transfer cases. Too big, too heavy and my body hates me afterwards. It's not rebuilding them, its getting them removed and replaced.

The worst thing I ever found is having to work on my daily driver. Ever since I was 19, I've never had less than 2 personal vehicles, (not including my wife's)... I've got 5 at present... but in true redneck fashion, 2 don't run.

[jeepnik]

First job out of the military was working in a radiator repair shop. Boss was one of those types that always wanted you to work faster. Even though at the end of the day we had all of the vehicles done unless we were waiting for parts. I got the job because I had been working on cars since I was about ten (hey handing dad the right tool counts). I took it because I enjoyed working on cars. I quit because I got a much better job as a firefighter.

I learned a very valuable lesson. Working on cars for yourself is an enjoyable (let's face busted knuckles and all it feels good to do it right). Working for someone else as a "job" isn't. Now I admit that these days there are things I won't do (not can't, just won't). Things like axels, trannys, and transfer cases. Too big, too heavy and my body hates me afterwards. It's not rebuilding them, its getting them removed and replaced.

The worst thing I ever found is having to work on my daily driver. Ever since I was 19, I've never had less than 2 personal vehicles, (not including my wife's)... I've got 5 at present... but in true redneck fashion, 2 don't run.

Like with firearms, two is one and one is none when it comes to vehicles. I currently only have three. The 78 LTD II is not a daily driver (although my wife used it as such for 40 years) it's a cruising car, but certainly could be used as a daily driver. My Scrambler is not a daily driver (actually it's not a driver right now I'm redoing the front suspension), but I have in the past used it as such. My daily driver is a Tacoma. I always have at least two of the three operational.

[piller]

Trannys are way beyond my skill level.

[jeepnik]

Trannys are way beyond my skill level.

Tranny rebuilders make you think so. But unless there has been some really nasty physical damage it's mostly replacing seals and o-rings. There are some tools that make it easier to do, but once you've bought those...

Heck, anymore you can probably find a video on youtube showing the entire process step by step. I use it from time to time to find out the best way to do things. For instance when I installed the kill switch on my Tacoma I was trying to figure out the best way to route the wiring. I watched three or four vehicle/kit specific videos and then decided on what route I wanted to take. Basically it eliminated the trial and error part of the job.

[piller]

I have used You Tube for a few things.

[marlinman93]

Trannys are way beyond my skill level.

I can do almost anything on cars, but I don't even bother with automatic transmissions.

[jeepnik]

They look complicated. And there are lots of parts. But they are just stacked on a few shafts. It's time consuming but there isn't any magic to them. If you can use hand tools and have patience, the hard part is getting in in & out of the vehicle.

[marlinman93]

They look complicated. And there are lots of parts. But they are just stacked on a few shafts. It's time consuming but there isn't any magic to them. If you can use hand tools and have patience, the hard part is getting in in & out of the vehicle.

I just don't do enough tranny work to justify buying the specialty tools, or learning. I'd be lucky to maybe do one or two my whole life, so no reason to invest in tools or time at my age. I can save more money and time on other areas I have the tools and knowledge to do.

[Griff]

I rebuilt a B-W T-10 4 spd I had behind a 427 Chevy in high school. I thought it was complicated and fiddley (sp?). Timing had worked out because I'd broken the case on a Powerglide in my '55 Sedan, as my brother snagged a takeout engine from a '68 Vette. And that went in my '55. The auto simply mystified me. Until the mid-'80s when I blew up the TH 350 in my Blazer. My hunting partner help me pull it out and rebuild it, better than it was before. He was a bus mechanic that specialized in Allison auto trans. A shift kit and better fitting friction plates and that trans was great. I tackled my TH200 behind the 350 diesel in my Cutlass wagon... twice. It really couldn't handle the torque of that diesel. I learned to baby that car after the 2nd rebuild. I think working on autos is simpler than rebuilding a standard. Diagnosing them isn't, tho'! Although the 5 speed in my Camaro wasn't all that difficult to replace synchro's.

[jeepnik]

The thing with automatics over manuals is that when you rebuild them you have to be a lot more attentive about keeping even the smallest debris out of an auto. Various ports and valves can either plug off or get stuck open by some really small stuff.