Pictures!
As promised. Here are a few of the pictures from today's adventure.
The GP auction stated that the truck needed a jump to run and wouldn't restart after shutting down. So I went in to this assuming the batteries were dead as a doornail. Sure enough, we get there and do a quick inspection and tried to start the truck and we didn't get a click. No problem. 2 big 8D 1165 CCA batteries and we'll get this puppy rolling.
You can see in one of the pictures that it looks like the batteries probably froze over sitting out on the lot for so long. The corrosion on the tops of the batteries was a mess. After we pulled the batteries we put the new ones in and rigged up the battery cables of a quick conversion to a 2 battery setup. I think my buddy called it "presidential engineering". First flip of the battery switch and it fired off first time.
We let the truck idle for about 15 minutes, added some diesel fuel conditioner to the fuel tank and drove it around the GP lot a few times to get the differential loosened up before hitting the highway. About 4 miles outside the base, the truck died on me while at highway speed so I slipped it in neutral and pulled over. I wasn't sure what caused it but if fired right back up.
After that initial issue...we decided to drive as far as Wamego, KS for our next safety stop and a quick lunch at the Kreem Kup. We then drove from Wamego, KS to Granville, KS and stopped to add some fresh fuel and some more diesel fuel conditioner. We had about an hour to go at this point and made it all the way home with no other issues.
The truck is sitting in the empty lot next to my house for the night. It's become quite the conversation piece for the neighborhood. I hope the president of the HOA stops by so I can give him a ride. Maybe he'll buy one too and we can get this stupid restriction about trucks over 1-ton parked in the driveway removed!
Thanks again to:
MWMules for his help and advice. I've been to one club meeting and he offered a ton of help. What a class act!
I'd also like to thank my father Bryan and my church buddy Brian for tagging along for the trip and putting in a little elbow grease. Those 8D batteries sure don't lift themselves into that battery box!
I'm hooked. I may have to buy a tan one with green wheels to complement my CARC one with tan wheels!
Eric
