Popular Post RowdyRebel Posted September 13, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted September 13, 2015 So while in town in the F250, smelled a little antifreeze. Popped the hood and sure enough, the left side tank had what looked to be dry rot and was cracked. So, picked up a new radiator and upper & lower hoses, a couple gallons of antifreeze, and went home. After dinner, had the old parts off and new parts on in under 30 minutes...but couldn't fill it up for another hour and a half. The "universal fit" radiator came with 3 different pairs of fittings to hook up the heater hoses, but NO plugs for vehicles that route the hot water from elsewhere. Dug through 3 buckets of "miscellaneous fittings" I have out in the garage and even the bucket of fittings I carry in the truck...but no 1/4" pipe plugs to be found. I had air quick-connect fittings, adapters to go to 1/4" hard plastic air line, and even some 3/8" plugs...but couldn't find anything that would work. That's when I found them...a pair of 1/4" to 1/8" reducers. I had found a 1/8" drain cock and I knew I had a tire valve that threads into 1/8" pipe as well...so that's what I ended up using. Got 'em put together and installed, and 30 minutes later she was filled up & burped. Now I can check the pressure in the system with a tire gauge if I wanted to. Funny thing is, when I mention that if it weren't for my "junk", I wouldn't have been able to finish the job 'til stores opened up and I ran to town for what I needed...which would've meant canceling what we were going to do tomorrow...she says "no comment". Not the first time, and won't be the last, that my "junk" has proven useful. Oh well...at least the truck's fixed. 10 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...
Kansas farmer Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Always good when you can justify the "junk" sitting in the shed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 good parts men are getting to be a rare breed anymore. Good thing you had your own inventory in stock. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Horse Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 And add to your parts inventory, the ability to be creative. Now this is timely as I'm getting all kinds of grief about my "inventory"- be it surplus wood, azek, or steel. The "you never know when you are going to need it" argument is under attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Her attitude will change when your junk inventory fixes her car. 1 Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Red Horse Posted September 13, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted September 13, 2015 No Jim- all prior conversations are forgotten at that point. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Ha! Last time I got it in writing. That will show her.Now, where did I leave the piece of paper....? 1 Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 interesting matter lol....reminds me of alotta shit i do around here....creative what else you gonna do,,,and it seems everytime i buy a universal anything,,,,i get every assortment,,cept the one i need and have to make another 5 mile trip for a 38 cent piece.lol.bob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 That story should be framed and hanging in everyone's garage. Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Maikshilo Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Glad you got it sorted and back up and running. Thinking about how you could make it work and finishing it. Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlotpilot Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 interesting matter lol....reminds me of alotta shit i do around here....creative what else you gonna do,,,and it seems everytime i buy a universal anything,,,,i get every assortment,,cept the one i need and have to make another 5 mile trip for a 38 cent piece.lol.bobbob did`nt truckers marry all the 38 cent pieces there in nevada? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I wanna throw all the crap I have laying around on the bench, under the bench, on the floor, etc. BUT.....it always comes in handy, just like at this kinda moment. When all the stores are closed and you need to get something together. Ugh. And yes, part store "counter people" are not like they used to be. Few good ones left(that I know personally). Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 I stopped by Advance Auto (where I bought the radiator) and had a little chat with the guy who sold me the part. He knows me well, as that's where I picked up most of the parts & pieces for the 1990 GMC Suburban 3/4 ton 4x4 I bought for the wife that had been sitting for 9+ years. Anyway, I told him what had happened and during the course of the conversation I mentioned he ought to call the supplier and tell them he had an "irate customer chew him a new ass hole because the 'universal' radiator they said would fit didn't have the proper fittings for his vehicle". He even stepped outside to view my work, saying it was a damn good idea because people pay $200 for those cooling system pressurization pumps to check for leaks...and now I can use any bicycle pump. Anyway, it was good for a laugh. 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...
Red Horse Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 RR- Wild thought- do you have to worry about antifreeze doing a number on that tire valve seal? Just make sure cap is on tight??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 I guess time will tell on that. If it leaks, I'll replace it with a plug. It does have a metal valve cap with a rubber seal, so that should prevent any leaks even if the valve wants to. Hell, the valve was previously used to check line pressure on my air tank when I was using a regulator...so it's used to being operated anywhere from 15 psi to 155 psi. The cooling system is only going to make 15-17 psi, and the valve is at the top of the tank...about 2-3" below the overflow relief, so even if it DOES leak, we're not looking at catastrophic failure of the truck that'll leave me on the side of the road. Won't be as bad as the OLD radiator was, anyway... 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...
Popular Post RowdyRebel Posted September 17, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2015 ...and on another note, regarding her proper respect for my "junk"...it didn't last long. The day after I did the radiator, I pointed to the 3 milk jugs with their snap-on caps and told her I had looked for one of the 2.5 gallon oil jugs I knew I had set aside to put the old antifreeze in but couldn't find them, so be careful handling these because the caps won't stay on if they go rolling around in the truck. She walks over to the trash trailer and plucks one of my jugs out and says "you mean this?". Yeah, that. I like to keep a couple on hand for such an occurrence (because you just never know). She knows that...but in her mind, if it's empty, it's trash. So yesterday I figure I'll take a gallon of oil with me since I probably wasn't going to make it home last night. Yup...the old Delvac jug (with the pour spout that you can't find anymore) wasn't there. I keep it because it eliminates the need to take a funnel with me if I'm not going to be home and might need oil. (This 1,000,000 mile Mack has been in need of an overhaul for the last 600,000 miles...but she just keeps plugging along, but I digress.). You can't buy those jugs anymore, so I keep one and just refill it from the 2.5 or 5 gallon jugs I buy when I head out OTR for a night or two. Spent 1/2 hour digging through the damn trash trailer looking for the friggin' thing and rescued my other jugs in the process. I put them up out of the way where they weren't in the way and I'd know where they are when I need them. Got home tonight and they're gone again. Even though she KNEW I was pissed off about it yesterday morning and wasted time getting them out, putting me behind schedule rolling out. Then she wonders why when I get home and see they are gone again (this time for good...the inlaws did a trash run while I was gone) when I'm putting my pour-spout-equipped Delvac jug back on the shelf there was a loud crash out in the garage when my boot connected with the cooler and sent it flying across the garage. Doesn't matter how often your "junk" saves the day, or how often you explain to her why you have it...even if you give her an exact reason for having something...to her it's still just "junk". One day, she's going to come home and find a new doorknob equipped with a lock installed on the door out into the garage...requiring a key to get INTO the garage (which she won't have) and the garage door openers reset so that only the one in the Mack works. Either respect my stuff (especially when it is put up and stored neatly) or lose access to the garage where my stuff is kept. 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...
Brian Blaylock Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I feel your pain Rowdy but you need to be careful or she will put a (lock) on her panties that you don't have a key to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtymilkman Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I feel your pain Rowdy but you need to be careful or she will put a (lock) on her panties that you don't have a key toIt sounds like Rowdy is wearing the panties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 I think I'll start working on the old 8N this weekend. Hasn't run in probably 15 years. Change the oil & put fresh gas in it, new points, etc...try to get 'er running. Going to be getting a brush hog & finishing mower for it in a week or two from the place she's got her horses boarded...old equipment he's needing to part with to clear out a stall for a new boarder coming next month. Can't justify the expense of the new rims, inner tubes, and getting them liquid filled (it has a front end loader) until it is running. And since I don't have any containers to put what I drain out into anymore, it can sit in the drain pans in the garage until I make some new empties. Perhaps her tripping over them and making a mess will drive home my point about the jugs more than any words that could come out of my mouth. She's just a clean-freak...clutter-phobic and such. 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...
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