Nate, hope this doesn't embarrass you too much but what the hey! Sir, I feel the need to thank you for your posts on this site, you are truely a fountain of knowledge on these old workhorses and I have to admit that I read your replies with the satisfaction of knowing that behind them lies years of experience. Thank you for spending your free time reading posts, then writing up replies that often answer in full, and then some, the questions asked, I feel that nowadays many of our (as delicately put as possible) older generations opinions and experince are ignored or berated, this is unfortunate as I found some of my greatest lessons in working life were learned from my grandfather rather than my father. I have found you to be a great help whilst re-building my truck, easing my concerns when venturing into the unknown mechanically. You are EXACTLY the sort of guy these sites are all about, willing to spend time helping others for free with the type expertise that is disappearing with time, A truely sincere thank you from me, and im sure many others, for your witty banter and detailed replies, there is a word bantered around these days and over used by many who do not understand its meaning, but I will use it as it should be, Nate, you have my greatest RESPECT, Thank you, and if you ever think of writing a book, do it!, I'll have the first copy. Neil ________ Vapor Genie Vaporizer
Nate, Coming from a young street rodder I have much to learn. Hopefullly one day I will be able to learn and understand these vintage trucks the way that you do. Your advice and knowledge is deeply appreciated by us all. Kevin
I found this site after I bought my truck. My first question was answered by Nate the same day. Over the last 3 or 4 years I have read every post Nate has written with interest. One could argue he is the backbone of this Forum. Thanks Nate. Steve
Wow , gosh ~ accolades for an old mechanic . What can I say ? . Thanx guys . After years of being told ' STOP playing with the old junk ! ' it's nice to know I am not alone in my love of older machines . I was lucky in growing up listening to those elders who took the time to teach _me_ , anytime I can help out , I will . Realaize I have some glaring gaps in my knowledge too . Yahoo groups have a couple good groups , old-chevy-trucks being one and oldgmctrucks (SP ?) is another one I'm on , lots of good experts over there . A guy named " Deve " has a great site over on speedprint , I have no idea how you find these things tho' . I've written a couple articles for him , posted there for all to use . Keep on truckin' !
Well there you go Nate, Im not the only one who thinks your great, Its nice to be appreciated once in a while, not such a thankless task now. Will be checking out those other sites as you can never have too much information! Thanx again Neil ________ Vapir Oxygen
I am new to this site and my truck and I have to honestly say that I have read everything that Nate has written that I can find (everyone elses, too). I tend to stay up late at night and have been taking notes off Nate's posts since I found this site just a few short weeks ago. Nate, you are one of a kind and have given me more information through all your posts than I could have hoped for. I am sure that more will follow. As to the rest of the guys on this forum, you are no slouches either!!! This forum is GREAT!!!!!!!!!! Who would have thought there would be anything like this? A fantastic give and take from people from all over just trying to get their trucks running and restored and everyone helping each other out with great knowledge, tips and experience. How cool is this??? Just one thing out of curiosity, Nate. You are constantly referring to yourself as "old". Just how old are you, anyway, if you don't mind me asking? Respectfully, Andy
The Eternal Question Well Andy ; There's the chronological age , not much but then there's the years and ' adventures ' , miles traveled ~ that's why I feel old . I am but 51 years , not very old in the grand scheme of things but I have been on my own since age 8 when I left home . Seen far too much and way too many people die . Anyway , sorry if I was maudlin for a mo' there . I find that climbing into my old truck and grasping that big fat ivory steering wheel , takes me back to the 1960's when things were _very_ different . It is my own personal time machine and meditation device . Plus I listen to The Blues in the stereo It's hot to-day , my pinched nerves are killing me and the $200.00 Mercedes wasn't what I thought it would be so I passed on it Thanx guys ! .
Well now you've gone and busted my bubble, Nate! 51 ain't crap. Try being as old as me. Why I've got a year on you son. Do you remember back in 1972 when you could go to your local chevy dealer and order parts for any vehicle they made from 1947 to 1972? Those were the days my friend. I've always said that if I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself. Just for grins, guys, post your ages so Nate and I can decide who to call sir or son!
Yo Nate, You are only 4 years older than me for crying out loud. Maybe you SHOULD take up knitting or something (just kidding). Seriously, I understand about the life experience thing, but you should be thankful and grateful for all it has brought to, like your meditation truck for example. Dude (yes, you are young enough to be referred to as "Dude"), get yourself to a good CHIROpractor for your pinched nerves and maybe you won't think twice about pulling engines anymore. I know a few REALLY good ones around the country. I'll dig one up in your area that I trust if you want me to. Sounds like you have had an interesting life up to now. I often find that a good spinal adjustment doesn't merely lighten my step, but often my spirits as well. It certainly makes climbing under old trucks a lot easier, THAT'S for sure. Keep the posts coming. We all think the world of you. Andy
Oh dear, Nate, I must apologise, here I am thinking your the wise old man of the forum and in reality your only a stovebolt older than me!!!!!! My opinion of your age has changed, but my respect for your expertise and knowledge remains the same. You have certainly packed a lot into those few years. Neil ________ Homemade Vaporizers
I guess I could all make you guys feel really old. I'm not but 26 and you guys are old enough to be my dad. Actually my dad turns 54 at the end of the month. I'm not one of those young pups that think they know everything. The smartest thing about me is that I acknowledge that I don't know everything and am on here trying to soak up as much information from you guys that I can. I know most of you guys put your trucks back to original and I am a street rodder but I still think I can learn a lot from you guys. I am lucky because my dad is a miracle worker with sheet metal so that helps me in my body work and the mechanical side I've got that pretty much covered. I am a BMW tech by trade so if I can figure those cars out then surely I can drop a chevy V-8 in a vintage truck. But if I ever have any questions I know I can rely on you guys for good acurate advice. Keep up the good post and a sincere thanks from a young pup street rodder. Kevin
Thanx guys . Yup , way too many miles on this man . my choice tho' as I am a hard headed Yankee I've been told I could/should write a book but I really don't think I have the aptitude for it . Kevin ; I've been swinging wrenches since the 60's and I keep meeting sharp young kids who teach me good things so remember to have patience with us old guys , 'K ? . Stock is good for me , you should build your truck how it makes you happy ~ just remember this : it's always easier to maintain and will last longer too when it's stock . I see so many hot rods in junkyard, there to stay , folks buy dead stockers to put back on the road . I am seeing a Dr. for these pinched nerves , maybe I'll suggest a Chiropractor next vist in a month or so , (Kaiser) as I've had fairly good rsults from ' Bone Crackers' before Andy ~ yes I am _extremely_ thankfull for my tender mercies , I wasn't supposed to live this long , they say : God protects drunks & fools and you know I don't drink much so...... Life is a gift , each day ~ that's why they call it the present
Ok, enough of the praises Nate, you've filled your boots on that subject i think, A serious question for you as you are now the godfather of the forum Now i've been bustin knuckles for a good many yonks now, and i have probed the minds of every grease monkey i've met, even chanted the odd mantra with the wise men of Tibet, but no! not one could answer my quest. I have tried to simulate the event but had no real results, nothing can be confirmed. If Albert were alive today i would set him to task. Mr Hawkings has e-mailed me to say he has given up after 4 years looking for the answer, quantum physics, it seems does not hold my deepest desire. Theologians, scientists, engineers, you name them, they all drew a blank, many a good man has been driven to dispair in the search, "That way insanity lies my son" i have been warned, but still i demand to know the truth! Why, oh dear god, WHY! is it, whenever you drop a tool (be it spanner, socket, driver, you name it) anywhere near your truck, does it end up under the gearbox!!!!!!!!!! Always, every time! even if this tool would not slide/bounce or roll even if you throw it with incredible force, it ends up in the most back twistingly awkward place to reach, just out of fingertip grasp! Please put me out of my misery............. ________ BONGS
My dear man, after consulting with my local english to ENGLISH translater, i now know what a yonk is and am ready to give you my theory as to the purely engineering aspect of your question. As everyone knows, gears in a gear box spin around. This spinning motion in turn creates a electomagnetic field around the gears which transfers to the gear box containing said gears. if excessive speeds were involved, the electromagnetic field can build to enormous proportion, thus acting like a giant magnet, thus attracting your metal based tools. One possible solution would be the use of plastic tools, but if you insist on using metal ones, simply drill a hole in the end of the tool and attach a rubber band to it and your wrist. when the tool drops, you should then say, oh my (If children are around) or *&^%$#!@#$%^ if by yourself, then with one flick of the wrist you have retrieved your tool. this was part of my thesis when studying for my phd degree and i'm surprised that you have not read my findings. and i'll leave you with this thought: never trust a mechanic who does not have scars on his knuckles.
In my opinion I thinks its a evil little midget that lives inside of all cars that make your tools go into the most hard to find and unreachable places. In my line of work (technician) time is money. If I look for a tool for over five minutes and can't find it. I might as well buy a new one. If I ever catch that little midget, I'm gonna kill him.
Murphy's Law It's the dropped tool variant of the above named natural law . Please to remember , Murphy was an optomist I find that dropping a tool usually results in it rolling/bouncing to directly the farthest place to reach under the vehicle to retrive it , regardless of where you try to reach in from The chances of dropping said tool increase with inverse proportion to the difficulty of reaching the fastener you are trying to turn Kevin , I think you're talking about " MOWOGS " evil little critters that live in British cars , especially BMC products . I hate those little Buggers . Ken , having read your dissertaions , I tried using aluminum gearboxes with styrofoam gears to no avail , even when lubricated with synthetic oils If scarred hands are a true indicator , I must be super wrench , here I thought all these years I was just clumsy .
