Ready, Set,,,,Here I go.....

Okay, truck status update....
I have now run two loads with Big Red and he is doing fine except for some minor issues. My son and I worked on him Saturday and found that the electric horn does work, just not from pushing the center of the steering wheel. So, I wired up a push-button switch and now have a horn. I put on the reflective tape, on the back of the cab, mudflaps and center of frame. To tell you the truth, I don't even think legally I have to have reflective tape but, this old truck does not have much for lights and safe is always good. Today I found the power steering is still leaking so when I got back home I worked on that. Found that the pump fitting was so old and weathered that it got a pin hole in it. The pump and this fitting are so old, they looked like one piece so, what started out as a bleak process, turned out to be not so bleak. I was able to get the old fitting off and drive just a few miles to get a new one, all is well. I bought a new AM/FM Cassette Radio and attempted to install that but, didn't work out. I need to buy a new light tester and if I don't have any more problems tomorrow, than I will work on that. OH! My high/low splitter got locked into the high side again and so I worked on that today. I found that the little tiny air line had been pushed up in there too far when my son and I worked on that before. About a half inch of the line was being pinched with the slide mechanism and causing it to stick. Once I removed that line, booya, all is well now.... First trip on my dedicated run tonight and looking forward to it.

 

Had to take my first day off work, to fix my truck. Tuesday, on my way home, about the time I hit Grand Rapids, I start blowing out black smoke and loose 25% of my power, or more. Was able to get the fuel filter changed before the day was out but, problem still existed after that so, now the air filter. Well, the air filter was the problem, it was full of suet and the turbo tried to suck in through the duct. $150.00 later and we are back in business. I found my little coolant leak while fixing this problem and also got to know my truck a little more.

 

Got to the truck stop, where I park my rig and it rolled over long enough to almost start. I grabbed my Explorer and hooked up the jumper cable's. I got it started and was willing to take the chance last night on the Alternator holding on till I got a new one. I noticed the night before that it was starting to go out but was hoping it would wait. I got 25 miles down the road last night and I felt the truck all of a sudden loose power and I knew what it meant. The problem I had Monday (not Tuesday like I typed above) was back again and my air filter was clogged again with suet. The main problem is the exhaust pipe from the turbo is cracked at the turbo. Right there is where it leaks out exhaust, and my truck likes to smoke each time I get on the pedal. Anyway, right next to where the leak is, is where my inlet to my air filter is via canister, a homemade EGR if you will. The black smoke from the leak is going right into the canister and clogging my air filter. I was able to make it back to the truck stop but I NEED to fix the problem and my funds are drained! I haven't even got my first settlement yet, that comes Thursday or Friday next week.

This is NOT the way one is suppose to do it brother's and sister's of the highway.... I did what one is not suppose to do and prayed it would work out, well it hasn't!. I need to fix the truck more, which I knew about but, was just hoping I could run it and make money at the same time. I need to replace the cab mounts in the front, 2 cross-members, the Front Fuel Tank brackets, Alternator, Fuel Injector Pump, Exhaust and fix some things; Dash lights, Cargo Lights, oil leak, passenger-side windshield wiper motor & washer hose fitting. Shocks up front need replaced and a few odds & ends as well. The truck is old and just needs some TLC but it is going to cost me some money that is for sure. The guy that had it before me, just let everything go and build up before he parked it. I don't have a problem with this at all, as I trust the truck 100% and know it is a good truck. The drive-line is tip top and I have no worries regarding that. A couple gauges need replaced and the sending unit in the fuel tank needs replaced too. These are all really minor things but, they add up and leave a truck sitting due to the cost. I do all my own repairs so there is no labor bill but, the parts aren't cheap because of supply and demand. I bypass the MI east bound I-94 scale just because I fear they may shut me down, if the DOT do an inspection. This is not who I am and it needs to stop.

Once I replace the cab mounts, cross members and get the passenger side windshield wiper problem fixed, I think I will be ok to get inspected. The fuel leak on the Fuel Injector Pump is a cold leak, that will cost me up to $2500 to get fixed, either replace (doubtful) or rebuild (most likely).

Here in a little while I am going to go get the truck and bring it home, and than tear out the broken exhaust pipe. Than do what I can to get the rig back on the road asap. Prayers

 

Ahhh, I knew what I was doing all along. I get impatient pretty quick and just wanted to drive the dang thing. I knew these things would need fixed but was just hoping and praying. I knew stuff would pop up, as it had been sitting for a while. I have put 10,000 miles on it now and over all, it is doing fine. I knew and know that the right thing to do is park it, and work on it over time until it is ready, I bypassed that step. Now, I have had to call company and tell them twice that I can not move their freight. They're not going to put up with that too much longer. I have only been under their contract for 3 weeks! I don't have the money to fix anything at this point so, seriously thinking of going back to what I was doing before and at least than I will be able to pay bill's, and fix truck over time until it is 100% Not what I want to do, that is for sure.. oh well

 

No time like the present my friend.. We need to start sometime because I feel this is the way to go, in order to be more profitable. Lets talk numbers; how many trucks does it take to get Ins. cheaper?

 

Truck broke down Friday night and I tried all day to find parts Saturday. Nothing Sunday obviously but today I have secured 2 of the 3 parts I need; Alt and Air Filter. The turbo pipe is going to take me two days to get but, at least I will get it. Also found a place (Diesel Injection Service of Grand Rapids, MI) that can rebuild my Fuel Injection Pump for around $600 I just need to pull it off and give them 5 days to do the job.