It's A Truck!!!


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The Truck Had A Flat!!


4 Wheeling !!
I had gone 4 wheeling a took a nice walk on Peavine Mountain. Then when I got home my tire was soft. I apparently had poked a large bolt into the tire between the treads some time ago and riding on the mountain a rock bent the bolt and shoved it thru to the inside causing the flat tire.

So, it all started out when my truck had a flat... I thought I could fix it quick but it was destroyed. The spare was the original tire from 1979 and different size that other three tires. Not good for 4x4. Well the others were bad anyway so I decided to get new tires. Easy enough... but (Are you as asleep yet??) I didn't want to put new tires on the old rims. I wanted new rims and tires. But hardly worth investing in new rims and tires, if I do not finish fixing the truck up. I have already done some of the bondo work but not all. Of course, if I am going to fix the truck up, one of the things I really wanted was after market seats and new carpet too. I figure that if I just piddle along it will never get done and I have other things I need to do. Like work on web sites, fix shelter, finish sprinkler system, enjoy and little summer relaxation... (Still Awake??) So I order the seats and wheels/tires on the internet. They will be here in two weeks. That means the truck has to get painted. TJ, Janelle, Resi and I rip out the whole intereior one Sunday night. Put only the one front seat backt o move truck around. Then my friend Tom & I finish bondo work. Then I start getting ready to paint. Paint store salesman says he has some paint real cheap, it was mixed wrong for someone else. But the I need a gravity flow paint sprayer. Mine is a suction type... (Hope you are going to make it to the end.) So I buy a new spray gun and he practically gives me the paint and tons of extra supplies. well, $340 later, I am trying to put it all in the saddle bags of Goldwing. Stopped by Lowes on way home and a found Spray gun for only $99.00 So a couple days later I return the other and keep all the freebees he gave me. Now I need some primer and other supplies, $150 more. Now I am ready to paint. Opps the truck is not... Had a truck sand and prep party that you missed but Pepe made it, last Friday night (Aug 2nd). Took me until 2pm on Saturday to finish preping and taping off the glass and chrome that was left on the truck. Did I mention that I had removed all lights, bumpers, trailer hitch and anything else on the outside of truck that was not welded to the truck?? I hung plastic drop cloths all over the garage to make a paint booth. Spraying the primer was not big deal. Spraying the grey on bottom half of truck went smooth. Then Tom game out and we had to put the tape on to make the stripes. Tom worked 3-4 hours on side strips and I worked the same on the hood, roof and tailgate strips. Then he was gone and it was almost 4pm on Sunday before I was ready to spray the blue paint on the top and hood. Darn it, the blue had a chemical reation to the primer/other paints and crackled. Monday I sanded the worst spots, primered again and tried the blue a second time. Not as many spots bad but still one bad.

 

Now What??
Well, I put the spare on but that tire was the spare when the truck was new in 1979. It had never been on the ground. It was badly cracked on the sidewalls though and it was not the same size as the 31.50 tires on the truck. Well as everyone knows it is not good to have miss matched tires on a 4 wheel drive truck. The tires I had on the truck we new about 12 years ago according to the previous owner!! So finding a matching tire was not likely. I guess I just have to break down and buy new tires for the truck.
Well I was tired of painting. I sprayed the clear coat over it anyway. The lighting was terrible. It's a garage. When that dried there were spots it was not heavy enough. I sprayed the clear coat again the next night. That's it, is was done, its a truck!! Then we waited two days and started pulling tape off and a couple of spots pulled paint off too..... OPPS!! Then I got busy and was trying to get new carpet in only to find out it was the wrong one. Back to Summit Racing for an exchange but I had to get a different brand and full set, another $150...... OPPS!! Finally got new wheels mounted and maybe tonight I will get the second carpet in and seats finished. Maybe...

So the story continues.....