"Free Time"

[christcrusader13]

So I figured I would put a thread together, to try and tie the rest of the story together.

So we have a new addition to the family, as of last December.. I know I know... sorry for the late update. He's a full-size teenager and we are hoping to move towards adoption. I can't post too much info due to privacy concerns, but I hope that he shows up in some photos on here soon. It is amazing how a child can change your life.

So with that said and the new house last November things have been a little busy.

So I am going to post some other stuff I have been doing with me 'Free Time' Maybe something a little different, hopefully put a smile on someones face or lift someones spirits... I wasn't sure where else to put this so hopefully I won't get scolded by the admin

 

[christcrusader13]

The Snowman

I had picked up a 97 Chevy Work truck a few years back and the name was 'The Snowman'

Later that year he was been parked as he was not my daily driver, but I decided to get him out and the temperature dropped 20 degrees that day and is started snowing, so the name stuck. After the new addition to the family it became apparent that I was going to need to find a truck with a bigger cab.

Typically it would not be an issue, but I am cheap, so I hunted around to find something that would be a 2500, 4x4 have 4 doors and and 8 foot bed, because I use my truck for a truck... oh and cheap... runs and drives of course.

So I present to you the old snowman... and the new snowman.

 

[christcrusader13]

Snowman 2.0

Oh.. yeah I forgot it had to be white.... just had to be... or else it wouldn't be the snowman...

 

[christcrusader13]

Wheels

Some wheels that I picked up with the truck....

And of course I put him right to work....

So picked him up and in one month he has hauled...

1 Oldsmobile Alero - auction purchase
1 Mazda B2200 - Offer up find
1 Toyota - on the side of the road
12,000 pounds of rock
8,000 pounds of lumber
Several sets of wheels and tires
3 cubic yards of mulch
1 - 20 x 22 car-port

 

[christcrusader13]

Leveled, 35's, Window Tint, and More...

So... that is where all my time has gone...

I decided to trade my wheels for a larger set, as I felt eh wheel gap was a bit too wide... I also decided to level the truck to a bit more clearance... I have a decent wheel, but really liked the wheels I got, they look more appropriate for the truck. I also got some cheap ebay tow mirrors, painted those white....

Also fixed a shorted tail light socket, replaced the 3rd brake/cargo light, it was completely busted, also replaced all the interior door handles, they were completely broken, cleaned up the door panels and floors (previous construction truck)

 

[christcrusader13]

Hide Away Chrome Bumber

There a a couple other things on the truck I needed to deal with one is the rocker panels... which will happen in the near future.....

The other is the rough chrome bumper and grille....

I had not use Plasti-dip so I figured instead of my usual paint I would give it a shot, I will say, that stuff goes on pretty good.... we will have to see how is last.

 

[christcrusader13]

Just a little rust bubble....

I know you guys will laugh at this one, I have a little rust bubbling under the paint on the cab at the top, so I figured I will grab my sander, knock it off and throw a little rustoleum on there to hold me over... There were 4 other spots that I won't show photos of, as they were SOP ( standard operating procedure) and posed no major threat... however the last spot... sheeze...

I ended up cutting out a sections and patching it in and yest it had to start raining...

So at the end of the day.

Rust bubble sanded off ..... check
Makes a bigger hole ..... check
Cut out old metal .... check
Make a patch piece .... check
Weld in new piece..... check
crack windshield from too much heat...... check



We are having all sorts of fun....

Fortunately a new windshield was on the list because is was scratched up from the PO... but I didn't plan on cracking it lol

 

[maverickmk]

That looks awesome!! Love the new wheels & tires.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Nice!! But my brain is wondering how often you need 4x4 in Tn., never been there.

 

[christcrusader13]

Thank you guy!

That looks awesome!! Love the new wheels & tires.

Thank you! I am very happy with it.

Nice!! But my brain is wondering how often you need 4x4 in Tn., never been there.

Well, the 4x4 is needed more for mud than anything else, eastern TN is nothing close to flat and the grassy slopes, like the one I live on make it tough to move things around on. The 2 wheeler I had literally was immobilized every time it rained unless it was in the driveway, which needless to say got really old really quick. Plus if we do get some fluffly white stuff it will be useful as well.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Thank you! I am very happy with it.




Well, the 4x4 is needed more for mud than anything else, eastern TN is nothing close to flat and the grassy slopes, like the one I live on make it tough to move things around on. The 2 wheeler I had literally was immobilized every time it rained unless it was in the driveway, which needless to say got really old really quick. Plus if we do get some fluffly white stuff it will be useful as well.

Wallowing around in the mud with a 2wd isn't fun. Snow, not so bad. I drove a 2wd (with limited slip) for the 16 years I lived in Alaska, only got stuck twice and 4wd wouldn't have helped either time. I like to own both so I dont have the extra stuff to wear out and extra fuel to run down the pavement in a 4x4. 2wd are getting hard to find around here, probably couldn't find a late model on a lot.

 

[Bamamav]

After about 8 years of doing without a 4WD, the last truck I bought I went back to one. Like CC said, mud and wet grass make 2WD useless around here, too. Plus, I like the low range transmission, nothing better to pull a trailer or a vehicle out of a soft yard without tearing it up. From now on, my driver pickup will be 4WD.

 

[Dr Crankenstein]

Nice truck cc13. [cl Is it gas powered, or diesel???


For the same reasons you've given, I found the need for more space, more doors and 4WD.

My '96 "White Elephant" pictured below. My kids have grown and I don't really need the four doors anymore, but I love this "old" truck and won't part with it anytime soon...

With respect to WB3, I won't live without 4WD again. I've had several and completely understand, 4WD can "get you into trouble, but it can't get you out." Same as a good 2WD, you should know your limits. (No further comment. )

.

 

[christcrusader13]

After about 8 years of doing without a 4WD, the last truck I bought I went back to one. Like CC said, mud and wet grass make 2WD useless around here, too. Plus, I like the low range transmission, nothing better to pull a trailer or a vehicle out of a soft yard without tearing it up. From now on, my driver pickup will be 4WD.

Yes Sir, that is a added bonus... I was at the local landfill in the mud, unintentionally, they cut in a new pad and hadn't gravel filled the drive, which is didn't know until I was up to my axles in mud. I was very happy to have 4 wheel drive and low range, or that would have turned into a very long muddy painful process. My dump trailer was fully loaded at the time.

Nice truck cc13. [cl Is it gas powered, or diesel???


For the same reasons you've given, I found the need for more space, more doors and 4WD.

My '96 "White Elephant" pictured below. My kids have grown and I don't really need the four doors anymore, but I love this "old" truck and won't part with it anytime soon...

With respect to WB3, I won't live without 4WD again. I've had several and completely understand, 4WD can "get you into trouble, but it can't get you out." Same as a good 2WD, you should know your limits. (No further comment. )

.

I love your truck! That is what I was looking for, I just could not find one of those close by, I was about to drive 3 hours to get one but it was sold before I could hit the road to get it. I was blessed to find the truck I did for a cheap price, it needed a bit of work, but it's all good.

I say you can't beat a good truck, just too handy to have, even if you don't use it everyday.

 

[christcrusader13]

More Free time????

SO... My family of two became a family of 3 back in December 2016.... and about 2 weeks ago we have become a family of 5!

All boys.... from the foster system, we are looking to adopt all of them next year, provided everything goes according as planned.

With that said... I will drop some updates on here with where my wrench time has been disappearing. Names will be revealed at a later time when I can legally do so.

So starting off with the youngest (9 yrs)...

He found my childhood Tonka Truck in the garage as we were 'cleaning'... He says.... 'Can I have this?' I was like sure.... his response... well it needs a paint job, it's all rusty... So we go over to my cabinet of spray paint and he picks out blue.... so my vintage Tonka truck went from yellow and black to blue and black....

Kids are way too much fun.

 

[christcrusader13]

JDM Love?

My oldest (16) was gifted a truck (mazda b2000) from a buddy of mine a while back...

I picked up a part truck for his truck because he was missing a bed, the whole truck was cheaper than a bed at a parts yard.... So he has been working trying to get it ready to drive. He has swapped the bed over and mainly just cleaned it up. Still on his to do list is swapping seats, mirrors, grill and some interior parts.

His current project is sticker bombing the hood... a popular things in the JDM crowd... well back in the day crowd... anyway here is some footage...

I went over, washing (purple power), drying, prepping (acentone) then putting the stickers on....


The hood he is working on is going on the white truck in the back ground, you can see the bed is already moved over there.