It's been pi$$ing down rain here in La La Land (home to Fruits , Nuts & Flakes) since 01:00 and the freeways are all clogged with unecessary speed caused wrecks , as I don't sleep much I decided I need my morning coffee & since yesterday I washed the glass and applied Rain-X (amazing stuff if you've not yet tried it) on my old Mercedes , I naturally grabbed the key to my '69 Chevrolet C/10 shortie and pumped the throttle twice , released the pedal , turned the key and the clapped out 250 C.I.D. InLine 6 Banger roared into life , I let it idle on the fast cam whilst setting the defroster and seat belt , turned on the lights , dropped it into gear and rattled off down to the Coffee Shop , wipers flapping and tailgate chains tinkling their song , no radio necessary . Life is good when one drives a Generous Motors Corporation Truck . ' Short Motor ' and all . I wish SWMBO wasn't waiting for me as I'da headed right on down to The L.A. Harbor , it's nice in the early morning , rain an everything , you can park way atop a hill and see everything .
Well written, sir! I've been to many of those wrecks caused by too much speed. Hopefully today will be a quiet shift. I'm reading the instructions for the KSB Coatings paint that I bought yesterday in preparation for painting the frame after it's sandblasted. I'd like to see the view you speak of someday. I've been to Sacramento and San Diego, but both trips were eons ago. A buddy of mine is a retired LAFD fireman... he's been bugging me to get out that way and check out the antique fire truck stuff. Maybe someday I'll be able to fire up my "Short Motor" and do exactly that. Damon
Sounds like a great day!!! I don't drive mine much in the rain due to the old vacuum wipers and the fact that my windshield rubber leaks. Getting new glass and rubber soon. Great story Nate! I like the pics of your "new" truck from the other thread.
Wolf, if you put Rain-X on your windshield, that old vacuum wiper will be fine. When you get ready to put new rubber on, do yourself a favor and buy it from Steele. It is a little more expensive than other vendors, but it is well worth the extra money. Mid 70's here today. I just got back from taking the '34 f*^% for a spin. Definitely a fair weather truck, as it doesn't have defroster/heater. It does have a good vacuum wiper (driver's side only!)
Sunday 1/21 Oops ; I slept late this morning (06:30) but as usualy , my trusty CHEVROLET light duty pickup truck was waiting & ready to ease me on down the road to The Coffee House (Bean Town in Sierra Madre , Ca.) in style and comfort . Rain-X is <MAGICAL STUFF> and should be tried by everyone . Anyone who comes to Visit L.A. , it will by my pleasure to drive you to view The Harbor and get a nice cuppa too . If you bring work togs , I'll even schlepp you to my favorite junkyards , might be treasure there , might be Asian junk , I always enoy the hunt . Steele Ruber Co. gets the nod , everytime . Vacuum wipers wok fine *if* you maintain them and keep the vanves adjusted . Plus , you can easily add a vacuum rsivoir and check valve under the dashboard .
I will have to do this. I have used Rain X on my daily drivers before. Never thought about doing it on the GMC... I will look into the Steele rubber. I remember seeing this around the forums! Thanks
Uh , Oh ~ So ; I got bored and walked outside to drive home , went to fire up the C/10 & the starter remained engauged and cranking even after the engine started.... . I hopped out and yanked off the ground cable , tried hand turning the engine backwards to un jamb the bendix but no joy . As I carry coveralls and a tool kit in the rig , I suited up and removed the hi torque starter , turns out the special snap ring that holds the Bendix from over extnding , failed , the brushes are worn out too so now I'm back in the Coffee House awaiting a ride to Pasadena where I'll take the hi torque starter off the 292 I just bought and drag it over here & install it . What a way to spend a cloudy Sunday afternoon ! . At least I'm doing what I do best and loving it .
Whoops Didja know ? Chevy made more than four different starters to use on the 250 CID L6 engines ? and guess what ? they're NOT all interchangable . I got lucky , my big brother came by and drove me to nearly every partshaus in town , not one had the starter I needed so off we went to the closest Pick-A-Part where I found a '72 Nova Coupe (badly rusted out body ) sitting in a HUGE mud bog as it rained last night , I yanked the starter off it , along with the bolts & etc. as I know there's different ones , of course it couldn't be used on my 250 either so in the end I took both starters apart on the curb (' Kerb ' for Neal) and assembled one good one from the various old parts , it seems to start fine now but by the time I was done & went to dinner it was way past dark and I'm still in serious sciatica pain...... Sheesh ~ I coulda just bought that cherry '92 C1500 with V-6 and AC , auto overdrive and blah blah blah but NOoooooooooooo dipwad farmboy Nate hadda go buy a rusty POC in TEXAS and begin rebuilding it from end to end just like every other junker I buy..... At least I'm happy and know (more or less) what it is I'm doing .
wrenchin & sciatica Hi Nate, Cant say ive done a starter that new on the curb at a coffeeshop, but ive attempted to do some simple wrench turning with a case of sciatica digging into my lower back and down my leg. Hurts like a mutha! Along with Gout. Ive tried to explain the caliber of pain to people and they just dont get it. All i can tell em is - take care of your back while its still good-. Good luck with your starter situation, and your sciatica.
Thanx ! The funny thing is : the terrible shooting siezing up sharp pains , get less when I'm active.... I still have the broken back , busted skull and so on , tingly fingers & hands now too . Still and all , I'll soldier on this way until I can't , I don't want to drive a modern rig and if this is how I must do , Ce'st La Vie , knowhutImean ? .
