Well, this is my first post of the new year and new decade! Hard to believe we’re in the ’10s now. What will be really weird, though, is when we get into the 20s, 30s, and 40s. That’s because I’ll (hopefully) be of the age where I’m still talking about the 1920s/30s/etc. It’s kind of cool, really. I always thought it was neat to live at the turn of a century, and by having been born in the early 70s, I’ll get a good dose of each. When I was born, the 50s and 60s were still in the rearview mirror.
And speaking of rearview mirrors and things of the past (like that segue?), I’m getting ready to start the new year off by diving into the truck a little further. Back in December, I had an issue with the charging system that REALLY gave me fits. The battery was not charging, so with the cold weather my trips were kept to only as far as the battery would let me go. The battery was good, so no issue there. My alternator tested “bad” (according to NAPA), so I replaced it. No dice. I was advised you should just replace the voltage regulator at the same time, so I did. No dice. Hmm…. maybe it’s the starter solenoid, I thought, since my old one was pretty cruddy. So I replaced it and the starter cable, which was partially stripped. STILL no luck. I was about at my wit’s end when some of the fine fellas at fordification.com FINALLY picked up on the fact that I had recently installed an electronic ignition. As it turned out, I had bypassed a resistor wire which in previous discussions was considered to be a one-purpose wire in order to feed 12v of electric to the starter coil. Well, that little ‘ol wire also told the voltage regulator when to let the alternator charge the battery. Oops! A little splicing, and that’s good now. But what an adventure!
Well, not long after that I found that the old truck just wasn’t stopping very well anymore. And it was loud, and losing power. I like to rely on my brakes, so I’m not digging into that work yet. But a local shop was more than happy to put new shoes all the way around, a new drum on one wheel, a new adjuster kit, and to fix an exhaust leak that had developed. All that done, it IS quieter (for a truck with dual glasspacks) and stops MUCH better now! I was told I was basically stopping with one wheel before that!
But now I’m STILL losing power. The cold weather hurts. It takes a long time to warm up, and seems to drink gas while stumbling along. Discussion has resulted in the diagnosis of carburetor icing and a lack of warm air. So I’m back-tracking and replacing the big 14×4 air cleaner I installed when I first got the truck with an original style “dry air” cleaner with a snorkel and air riser from the manifold. I’ll also be installing new valve covers and gaskets, a heated carburetor spacer, new heater hose, new lower radiator hoses, and a new thermostat. In the end, it should look like this (but not that clean). And of course, the big deal (for me) is that I’m going to attempt all of this myself. Wish me good luck and good fortune!!
Finally, I’ll end this (somewhat lengthy) post with this… some folks wonder why I mess with this old truck. Why would I want to drive something thats 43 years old and lacking many of the modern “luxuries”? Well, it’s not that I wouldn’t want something new(er). I do. But I also ENJOY driving this truck when it’s running well. And working on it has been a great learning experience for me thus far. I’ve mentioned before how it reminds me of when I was a kid, and my summers on the farm. Well, it still does, and this song by Alan Jackson really describes the feeling well:
(from “Drive”)
Just an old half ton shortbed ford
My uncle bought new in ‘64
Daddy got it right ’cause the engine was smoking
A couple of burnt valves and he had it going
He let me drive her when we’d haul off a load
Down a dirt strip where we’d dump trash off of Thigpen Road
I’d sit up in the seat and stretch my feet out to the pedals
Smiling like a hero that just received his medal
It was just an old hand-me-down Ford
With a three-speed on the column and a dent in the door
A young boy two hands on the wheel
I can’t replace the way it mode me feel
And I would press that clutch
And I would keep it right
And he’d say, “a little slower son you’re doing just fine”
Just a dirt road with trash on each side
But I was Mario Andretti
When daddy let me drive
I’m grown up now three daughters of my own
I let them drive my old Jeep across the pasture at our home
Maybe one day they’ll reach back in their file
And pull out that old memory
And think of me and smile and say
It was just an old worn out Jeep
Rusty old floorboard, hot on my feet
A young girl two hands on the wheel
I can’t replace the way it made me feel
And he’d say, “turn it left and steer it right,
Straighten up girl, you’re doing just fine”
Just a little valley by the river where we’d ride
But I was high on a mountain
When daddy let me drive
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQe3DKDQRRs
