It was nice day on Thursday so we rolled it out of the garage and did a little work on the truck. A little safety lesson on proper use of the grinder and the rivets holding the rotted rear running board supports are off. As long as there are sparks flying the kids are happy. Check out my daughter wire brushing the frame. We were using the torch also. She kept asking when she was going to work on the truck too, but the tools we were using were too dangerous for her, so I gave her the wire brush and she really went at it. I was surprised at how well she did with it. Frame won't take much more prep before a nice coat of chassis saver paint. Andy
Cool deal Andy! The smile on your daughter's face says it all! You know that truck would be purring big time if it was a cat. Why are you taking off the running board supports? Is it just to get all the metal down to bare and then paint and replace? Did you take the front ones off too? I like the way the frame is looking up front- Keep up the good work!
Andy, That engine looks good sitting in your truck. I'm really glad it went to such a a good home. I hope it gives that old truck many years life for you and your children. Good luck with the rest of the built. Les
Thanks Les, Once again we all can't thank you enough for the wonderful gift of that engine and all the brake parts. We are a little behind schedule to get it running though. I wanted to have it running by Memorial Day, but the kids haven't been with me much over the last several weeks due to a lot of BS from the ex and with the trial prep. We work on it when we can and with baseball season and two boys in little league it has been tough to find time for the truck. There is so much to do that I could be doing at night on my own, but I really want to save most of the work for when the kids are with me so they can learn. Last Thursday was a good example. We had a little time, so we did a little work. That's the way it will be or a while. I still have this dream of driving it down to the beach this season with my surfboard in the bed. I don't think that is too unrealistic. Andy
Time... It goes so fast for us, and so slow for them. Don't compare how you feel about the time to work on the truck with how they feel about it. We live in two different worlds when it comes to time. What will matter, and be remembered, is how dad was able to be so patient. "I remember how happy he was when we worked with him on that old truck of his... Remember how much fun we had with that?" Just one line of many that will be forever tied to that old truck. Thank God for old trucks and wonderful children.
That team of mechanics you got there, would you loan them out? could do with a little help over here from guys that keen, lucky man ________ Blonde Vids
Ya know something Neil? These kids have actually come up with some pretty good ideas on their own on how to overcome some of the problems we have encountered putting this thing together. It suprises me and pleases me to no end. Great to actually see their little minds REASONING. They actually THINK about the problem and devise a solution. What a great lesson that is. My crew is available for the price of five plane tickets Make sure there is plenty of bangers and mash for them. They are growing after all. Andy
What Zig Said.... This is -so- true ! my son tells me how patient I am and here I think I'm super impatient . I certainly have some great memories of working on old bikes ,cars & trucks with him ~ he called me up last week to give him a hand changing the water pump on his Toyletta pickup ~ of course I dropped all and rushed over to help (stand and watch really) . Remember too : when the Court thing is making you simply crazy , that's a good time for mindless frame sanding typ work , it'll give you an outlet and you'll be surprised at how much you get done without really thinking on it.... that's the meditation thing working for you . Hang tough Andy ~ it's obvious your kids are with you in this , so are all of us. Sadly , my dad never once took the time to do anything with me . that's life tho' . Make the best with the hand you're dealt . -Nate
