Short since the daylight is so shortened, long because I was a bizzy little concrete eating beaver today. or would that be a Concrete-pecker? dunno,,, Drilling all those holes for the posts that I welded plates to last week. New drill RAWKS,,, Essentially a Bosch Bulldog concrete drill, but in the Hercules (harbor frieght) name. That company has turned a corner the last few years and the higher bid items are still cheaper than the name brands, but very comparable to them as well. Most all of my Dewalts have been swapped out for the Hercules line now, and I even picked up some that Dewalt never did. Quite the happy camper with them, especially with their warranty policy (5 years on all brushless models). I had a band saw that was rather beat up, and a couple weeks back, took it in, and the manager said “leave it over there on the counter and get what you need”, No questions, just get the new one and do the check out thing, and pay NOTHING,,, Dewalt started playing mind games with their warranty deal a few years back, and they rotate models so frequently, by the time you need to get a new one, they tell you, “you can maybe get the new one at 20% off in trade, NO warranty for out of production models.” (that was also dependent on your retailer. Some wouldn’t even give you the 20% reach around.)

No, I’m quite happy with this brand,,, and when the current Dewalts I am using go south, they will get replaced with a bluer model. (its easier to keep one brand of battery as well. And thats another thing Hercules has going for them that none of the other brands do, to the best of my knowledge that is. The batteries have a 3 year warranty. Haven’t needed it, but its there.)

But tonight, it feels like Christmas in my house. I have the batteries I used today going on the chargers, blinking red and green lights, fire in the stove warming the house, and sleepy dawg snoring in the corner,,,, Almost makes me want to get some hot chocolate and peppermint stick going in a big mug. LOL

Dunno what tomorrow brings. Weather liars are saying we are expecting a monsoon for the morrow, and if so, I doubt Son of Bossman is going to want us out in it. I have nothing lined up in the shop at this point, that I am aware of,,, We’ll see.

I did install the toy in BLooTwuck today on my return home,,, still need to run the cable for the back up camera, but its ran through the dash and dropped on the floor for now. I could do that if I am off tomorrow. I really hope we are working though. Its going to be one short week with the holidays, and no, we don’t get holiday pay,,, sigh,,,,

anywhoos,,, gonna call it a night with cheery thoughts in my head with the flashy lights and snoring pupper,,,

y’all take care.

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Please note, I am not endorsed by, nor do I recieve any compensation for the above missive. I am only stating my experiance with a certain group of tools and my satisfaction of such as a tool user/skilled craftsman.

What can I say, I’m a techno-nerd: I like technology (to a point)

And Bloo-Twuck got/is getting an upgrade or three. I have the LED tail lights enroute (the brake lights DO work, but near impossible to see during daylight) along with a license plate light. Those get installed as soon as in hand. We’ll see how the Zon deals with holidays, eh?

BUT, I was bored, had the stuff in hand and wanted to make sure my wiring was correct.

Its not fully installed: I am fabbing the mounting bracket at the J.O.B. (using the old radio frame: the radio that the face plate fell off of, as soon as I pulled it out.) That way, I can use the existing mounting tabs, and as you can see, its ‘almost’ a good fit.

Yes, its an android/apple compatible device, it has built in navigation (that I likely will never use as the phone maps are more reliable) and a backup camera. THAT was the key point I wanted. The bed blocks a lot of real estate, and while I do use my mirrors, theres still quite a bit of blindspot back there. (and I noted, there are some dings from previous backing incidents. I’d like to avoid those,,,)

NOW, I need to find that back up lamp powerwire,,, Pokin’ in probin’: here I come! (good thing I have that solar panel to keep the battery up.)

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And no, not done yet: piddlin’ stuff like oil change and coolant flush and, and, and, Stuff that I can take care of here at the house in the eves now that she is under her own power.

Nearly EVERY single peice of hard line is now replaced. One section only was actually any good. Brakes bled, brakes tested in a way that there wasn’t a single sleeper in the Hollar,,,,, Cripes she was LOUD.

Then return to the Da’s and start that exhaust pipe. Got under there and that down turn I mentioned didn’t look so hateful so I started making things up as I went along.

HUGE DIFFERENCE in tone. Still has that 350 rumble, but its that ‘sexy’ rumble, not an IN YOUR FACE ROAR,,,,

And oh my Dawg does this thing have a granny gear. I see now why this thing had factory original brakes on the arse end. After I had the exhaust welded in place, I brought her up the hill to the burn pile to unload all the trash that had been in her bed. She crawled up this hill in 2nd gear no issues. Coming back down, I left her in 1st and she just crept down the hill, no brakes really needed. This is a 4 speed with a granny, not a five speed. I likely won’t even start off in 1st unless on a big hill.

But I’m whooped, still need to make the store run for fresh dedkow for mamakat: should probably pick up a bite for me as well since I have been going all day on nothing but coffee,,,,

And its back to the mines tomorrow,,, MUST as this is a shortened week with the holidays.

more laters,,,

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Everything in place (except that truant brake cable, more on that in a minute.) and I got boned,,,

The three hard lines running from the ABS pump to the rest of the system, CHEESED!. right above the frame. ALL THREE!!! I had replaced the KNOWN bad line, and that wasn’t too hateful (Warning Will Robinson, Warning!!) and went to the rear to bleed the lines (pass rear, ds rear, pass front, Ds front: that order was what I was taught) Vacuum bleeder is suckin atmo,,, some fluid came through, really dark stuff (which was good to see actually, not that milky crap I was getting in the Clutch system.) but I could not build any vacuum,

Ok, fall back and punt, look underneath while I get Da to pump the brake good and slow. That shit was SPRAYING all over the exhaust manifold. I went to disable one line at a time to see which it was, and the whole ‘tree’ broke off in my hand. Better now than later down the road when stopping would be critical and not doable. (THOUGH>>>>>)

Brake cable,,,, Yup, I wanna replace that one that is showing its guts, but surprisingly, it WORKS. I was able to engage the P-brake after I got all the wheels on the ground and BOTH rear tires are in “STAY” mode. (thanks to brudda B for that cute illustration. Right to left peddles. “Go!” “Stop” “Clutch” and “Stay”) New shoes and springs, and everything moves the way it should, and I did the adjustment of the shoes so they ‘just’ dragged as I turned the drum. Good tight P-brake without having to cram it to the firewall.

Since I was grubby and damp (my prediction was TRUE) and had been laying in a puddle of brake fluid at one point (GROSS!!!) I came home, took the clothes I was wearing and dumped them in a 5 gallon bucket of scalding hot water and lye soap. Then ME into the shower. Those clothes get washed tomorrow during domestics, but I couldn’t stomach driving Buffalo around looking and feeling like I did. Soon as I hit publish on this, I’ma headed to go get those solid lines and I’ll do my thing TOMORROW,,, (and gonna get some danged hand cleaner this time,,,,)

I haven’t even looked at the exhaust pipe yet. Thats gonna need some fabrication done (sure do wish I had access to a TIG, but I can make do with MIG.) as there is one that needs a bend in it to make it work. Not much, but enough that a straight shot is not doable.

Assuming things go well tomorrow with the solid lines (Fingers crossed, toes crossed, and Anal retentive mode engaged) I’ll cut the exhaust pipe and make the fit-up/make notes I need to do the welding-fab. I have a pipe expander, but not a pipe shrinker, so if I need to ‘reduce’ its gonna be even more cutting/welding involved. (I seem to recall the factory pipe is NOT exactly 3″ OD. but that can be to my benefit as well. Use the expander on it to make it a slip fit to the new pipe.)

See? How can I worry about the Poly-Tick-ians when I am shoulder deep in a ‘Hicle Rebuild? I’m too bizzy!!!

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thats how I feel like things are right now

At least when it comes to how I am getting through the days,,, No real direction defined, just a general movement towards something a wee-bit more in my control.

Control,,, T’ain’t no such thing, say the monks,,, Illusions all. LOL Yeah,,, whutchoosaid,,, (and I do understand both sides of that,,, this isn’t really control, more an “Options to be had” Trucks and tools are bad investments as they maintain the liability aspect in ownership. BUT, without them, the options narrow tightly.)

Little fill in here since I am up at 5 and nothin’ to be done till daylight comes on. I am still following my ‘new routine’ diet,,, if you want to call it that. Its not a diet in the traditional sense, but real actual method/dietary means. I am holding right at 180#, still shedding from the middle and other ‘reserve’ areas (love handles, manboobs) Lookin’ a little saggy and loose in places, as the skin doesn’t recover like it usedta in the past. I’m pushin’ the 60 mark, so such is expected I guess. I started seeing signs that I am putting some of the leaner muscle back on. Things feeling real tight under the loose sheath of skin. Seeing definition in areas that have always been on the lean side, like my calves and forearms.

SO, yah, I may ‘focus’ intently in my posts about one subject matter, but the older matters are still there. Yes, the kayaks are still here, just sitting this season out currently (I fully intend to do a newyears/solstice float, which I skipped last year for some reason) and they ain’t goin’ anywhere. Da asked if I was gonna put them up for sale when I took Lyssa off Buffalo. LOL, NO! I’m just too wrapped up in the current thing, and she doesn’t need to be exposed to highway winds if she isn’t to be used.

I even have a little winter camping session scheduled with Brudda B and Brudda J in a few weeks. Yuppers, the usual crew grew one this year. Take a couple days to listen to the REAL world and find some ground and center time.

gonna start getting light out here soon. My day is guaranteed grimey, and maybe a little damp. Not raining, but has been and I will be on the ground doing the brakes. Especially that brake line on the frame. At least BlooTwuck has good ground clearance: might be tight, but wont’ be too bad.

more laters

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Silly update: Parts and the illogical being of the USPS logistics system. I just checked on the status of my brake cable, and my jaw dropped. It started out in NewYack, went to Atlanta (major transportation hub) then onward too Knoxville TN,,, Ok,, seems sensible.

This morning, it updated again and is now in MADISON WISCONSIN,,, WTF!!!! It certainly is NOT going to make the promised date of November 20th, nor the updated promise of the November 22nd(today) And here I am getting ready to dive into these parts to get Twuck up and running. I HATE doing shit twice HATEZ IT I SAY,,,, But in this case, I am going to bite the bullet Do the one side half assed as I want this truck rolling and stopping on her own. I can go back in and pull the one side back apart to do the cable later and it wont’ take that long; it just eats at me that ONE PART can totally fubar a well executed plan, and for a serious gap in logistics logic (does the USPS even know that word?)

OK, Rant off,,,, I’m just gonna do what I gotta and ‘grin and bear it’. Rolling/stopping is far better than where she was before Hallowseve.(IE sitting/rusting)

And anyone one with a modicum of REAL world experience knows it.

Almost all of my parts are in place. Still waiting on a couple small peices, one which should be here tomorrow. Kinda critical to getting the brakes done: the P-brake cable for the passenger side. Gotta have it to finish that side up.

Lower hose is enroute, should be monday, but that won’t slow me down for the weekend plans.

BUT, back to that TANSTAAFL point. I was going over the next month or so, looking at how due dates fall, where the holidays fit in, and PRAYING that things pick up just a wee-bit. Those bills are gonna start coming in from all the expenditures I have done the last 2 weeks and There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. I’m gonna be scrapin’ bottom more than a couple of times if hours continue their current trend. I’ll make it, but there may be a ‘minimum payment’ in there somewhere, and I hatez making bare minimum payments: Its akin to not paying at all in my book: the only thing it does is keep the creditors off your ass for a time.

BUTZ,,, I have all four tires on the Gurl now, a 10′ stick of 3″ exhaust pipe to work with, fluids to do oil change and coolant flush, oil filter, air filter, brake fluid for the repairs and bleeding the system as planned for Satyrday,,,All the brake parts save one (on its way as mentioned), Seriously, she should be road ready by next week at the lastest. Not DONE, mind you, but road ready. There are things that I need to do that will take some time and more money, but they are not things that will keep her off the ABLE STATUS for the mission. Little things like weather stripping for the lock boxes, upgrades in lighting for better visibility, front and rear. I need to figure out where her back up light wire runs as she doesn’t have one currently (and I have a pair of cool ass yellow/white strobes for that. Salvage from a company truck: I liked them and kept them. get those things going while backing up and no one can say they didn’t see your backup lights,,,LOL)

And Buffalo so needs a rest,,, Love the poor little 333000+ mile truck, but she is showing signs that she needs some TLC too. Typical Chevy stuff too, like the front end being all loosey goosey, and those #$%^& *&!!!^&*&*&& **&^%@!$#@ #$%Rffffffrickin door hinges that wear out and tear the hell out of the truck. Always the drivers door too, (of course it is, thats the one that gets the most wear and tear.)

And I haven’t had a moments rest to look at the interwebz and check the worlds status,,, I’m probably not missing much though,,,

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Go check out this round of memes

more laters as I need to do the J.O.B. thingy