Popular Post RowdyRebel Posted October 22, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2012 So I went out this afternoon to grease the truck & get it ready for another week of work...topped off all of the fluids to save me having to do that in the morning....and went to close the hood. Something broke, and the hood fell...sitting about a foot forward of where it would be if it had closed properly....So, I had to come up with a plan. I thought about calling the weekend "emergency" number for dispatch and get taken off my run tomorrow...but then I got to looking at it, and the metal bar that crosses at the base of the grille that the hinges bolt to...it had broken off on both ends. Looked easy enough to weld...just had to get the dadgum hood off. So I grabbed a few 1" ratchet straps and used them to create a means to grab the hood with my 2-ton engine hoist....except the hoist wouldn't raise quite high enough and I had to fight it to get it to roll (damn rocks in the driveway). Anyway, I got the stupid thing off and set it off in the grass, flipped it around so I could work on it, and removed the grille. When I got everything cleaned up and ready to weld the cross bar back in place, it was getting dark and I'd have to unplug the work light in order to plug in the welder...so I pulled around my little beater pickup and turned on the high beams...'cept one of the bulbs was burned out, so I had to use the low beams instead. With the welding gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other, I got 'er welded up real good...now for the FUN part of getting the hood back on the truck.Unfortunately, the engine hoist took a crap. When I lowered the hood into the grass, it wouldn't lift back up...so I had to come up with plan B. I grabbed a pair of ramps...2x6's with the ramp ends bolted on...and placed them on the outside of the hinges resting on the bumper...figured I could use that to hold the hood while I got the bolts started. I grabbed a hand truck to move the hood over to the ramps, and I got it to within a foot of where it needed to be....and then just slid it up the ramps. I braced the hood and climbed inside to try to get the bolts started, but quickly realized the hood was tilted too far away from the truck for the bolts to go in....so I had to prop the hood up on something. I ended up running ratchet straps from the eye bolt that holds the hood springs to the top of the radiator up to the hood latches on the hood...just something to keep the hood from falling and rolling off the ramps as I'm trying to prop it up on the ramps to get the bolts in the hinge. I stacked some cardboard boxes to support the hood and used the ratchet straps to keep some of the weight off the boxes since they were crushing. It worked & I got the hinge bolted together...now to get the cables that keep the hood from opening too far reattached. I had to find something taller than the boxes to prop under the hood to hold it a little less open...tried a 36" sledge hammer, but that was still too short. Found a 4' piece of square tube, and that worked....got it all reattached and put the grille back in.Definitely not a job I want to do again by myself... 3 Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkobes43 Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Sounds like fun to me! lolTom Quote "Nothing Breaks Wind Like A Bulldog" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTFormula Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 That's determination! Sounds like a real PITA to do by yourself but you got it done. Quote ~ JT Burkard ~ AKA Sweaty Mackwww.jtresto.com www.wickedreputation.netwww.jonathanthomasmotorcars.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack mhe9 Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 i like that, get the job done know matter what it takes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmer52 Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Just think how easy it would have been if you had the right equipment and lighting. Determination and Improvision! Quote Ken PRR Country and Charter member of the "Mack Pack" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Rowdy.......you'll one day look back at the things you done and wonder how in this world did I do that all by myself. It is good to be young and don't get up in the morning hurting in the back or neck and shoulders.Congrats!mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Welcome to my world. I hit that many roadblocks just trying to change a friggin' light bulb.Reminds me of a song from elementary school:"There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza"..... Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 i like that, get the job done know matter what it takesThat attitude is something we are rapidly loosing in this country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 i like that, get the job done know matter what it takesUse whatcha got to get done what needs gettin done.... Just think how easy it would have been if you had the right equipment and lighting. Determination and Improvision! If I had the right equipment and lighting, I wouldda been wondering who's shop I was at and who's truck I was trying to fix... Rowdy.......you'll one day look back at the things you done and wonder how in this world did I do that all by myself. It is good to be young and don't get up in the morning hurting in the back or neck and shoulders.Congrats!mike That day is already long past....I was sore for 2 days...felt better today, but I was in bed last night before 6 PM... Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Most of the time I take a quick shower each morning. But if i'm working on the truck then i'll get the g/f to run me a HOT BATH with lots of SUDS. It sure does help those muscles. Ok, yes that one also.LOL.......I knew someone was thinking that.mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb502 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I need you in tn, I have had about as many issues getting my truck together for this last show as I could possibly have and the house I just bought is a whole nother story and no Im not done with the house not by a long shot I have broken a backhoe 4 times trying to get the area behind the basement dug out for a slab at basement level I finally just paid a friend to come do it with his Bigger backhoe (590 super L) and we were done in a day. Quote "Any Society that would give up a little LIBERTY to gain a little SECURITY will Deserve Neither and LOSE BOTH" -Benjamin Franklin"If your gonna be STUPID, you gotta be TOUGH" "You cant always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you get what you need" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Great deal of labor.Very good that you have it done.Especially good on my mind is that the issure came at the shop and at the moment you had a time to fix it.Just imagine how it could looks on a road.The moment to think to yourself about you came into disaster or hapiness. Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 ...some pics: Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 Then, just a couple days later, I was getting on the highway when Dozer let out a yelp. I REALLY wish I spoke dog, because if I had stopped right then & there, a roadside repair would have been quick & easy....but no, I went ahead & got on the highway and didn't make it 3 miles before I saw the temp gauge start climbing. Pull off on the shoulder and lift the hood....everything is wet. Look for the busted hose & found it. Tiny little 1/4" ID hose 6" long coming off the top of the water pump...but it was enough to shut me down for 2 hours while I tried tracking down phone numbers to auto parts stores to find one that would bring me out a hose and some water. Auto Zone came through for me...felt mighty important, too. District Manager was at the store and PERSONALLY delivered what I needed to me on the side of the road. Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatcity Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 ...and a fine snot job it is Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumperAndSon Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Awesome Afro engineering! My binders hood cables broke and tried to iron me out before we painted it, those things are heavy, I couldn't imagine moving it by myself!Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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