Upgraded service truck

[George]

I have shown pictures of the 1984 Chevy service truck which has helped hold this place together for several years.

Like a big dummy I loaned it to a neighbor so he could do some "in field" welding - - - in running it up and down the creek to get to the bridge he knocked holes in both the engine and transmission pans and ran it till both were junk.

I found a 2001 Chevy 3500HD cab and chassis for sale and measured and it is a perfect fit.

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This is the old truck

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The same ( repainted ) body set on the newer cab and chassis [/img]

We took wire cones on body grinders to the old paint then a dual action sander, Zink primer and 2 top coats. We cut any rusted areas we could find out first and welded in new steel.

Hope to have it all bolted down and all the lights back in then about 2 tons of tools and we should be good to go.

The old truck had a 350 V8 with a turbo 400 transmission - - - the 2001 has an 8.1 ( about 504 cu in ) V8 with a 6 speed Allison transmission and disc brakes on all 4 corners.

The interior of the new truck looks like it has never left the showroom. I feel like at my age this will be the last service truck I will need.

The old truck used to work hard to pull a backhoe or dozer but with the 19.5 tires and bigger engine, transmission, and brakes this should be much easier. I now have to break out the old tag trailer ( 1972 Eager Beaver )that I parked about 4 years ago when I bought one with air brakes - - - I put all new brakes on it about 2 years before it was reduced to hay hauling only, get them checked out but I'm sure they are in good shape.

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Looks bare with all the lights taken out for paint.

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Wires still hanging down - - - job for tomorrow

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All of the same tools will go back in.

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I bought this welder in 1971 upon returning from USMC

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The rust is gone and with the Zink primer should stay away!

 

[Hayguy]

the new truck look's like it will be quite an asset to your operation :mrgreen:

 

[George]

It has been missed - - - I have a newer ford service truck but the generator in it is not as big ( 6 KW air cooled ) and the body is fiberglass so we cannot walk on the top when changing gravel screens. I will post pictures tomorrow of the generator ( 10 KW water cooled )and air compressor ( 5 hp )

This newer truck has a 27 gal fuel tank in the front and a 23 gal in the rear. I am hooking the rear to the generator and the front to the truck.

The old truck came from Cincinnati Bell Telephone and it only had a 16 gal fuel tank and the generator was set up so it would run out of fuel at 1/4 tank so you could still drive the truck so the combined 50 gal will give longer between fill ups. It is not uncommon for us to go 3 to 10 days without power and the 10 KW generator sure is handy then.

 

[Triangle Bar]

Sorry to hear your neighbor ruined your old truck, but your new truck should be a great upgrade for you. I have an '02 GMC with the Allison tranny and you will like it. It's the first pickup I've ever had with an automatic and I wasn't sure I'd like it but it pulls great and I like how it downshifts to give you engine braking when you are slowing down.

 

[Red Barn Angus]

Looks like a really sharp outfit, George. I'll bet you will really enjoy having this nicer truck. Looks like a full shop on wheels. Hard to think someone would borrow a truck and then tear it up. Bet he won't borrow this one!

 

[George]

The worst part was his arrogance - - - when I confronted him he said " What are you going to do about it, All of my property is held in an educational trust so you can't sue me."

This is the same man ( same event ) that caused over $5,000.00 in damage to my skid steer. I later found out the local New Holland dealer had loaned him a skid steer and 2 tractors for use as displays and demos in the hope they would get business and he destroyed everything and they got a judgment against him but no money.

He stated he would put my company name on a plack of donors to the facility. I told him not to - - - I do not want my name associated with him in any way.

He still is operating but has changed from educational ( lost his clients ) to hosting elaborate weddings and graduations, etc.

 

[George]

I needed a location for the fuel fill for the Generator tank - - - I have never used the "chock" holder and it looks like a good spot for the fill.

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Not quite a factory look but with a little paint it will do nicely and will be safe!

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The decals will be available on Monday - - - have already used the truck as one of the employees ( yes I have enough business to hire 2 part timers - - - not the 4 to5 full timers pre Obama ) had a chimney problem and the ladder racks sure make easy work of moving ladders.

I was going to put in all LED tail lights but the blinkers went crazy as they do not take enough amperage so I could replace the flasher unit, put in a resister or in this case I left the bottom light on each side a 4 1/4" sealed beam and LEDs in the upper 2 spaces on each side. I like the look so I will leave it that way ( I have a bunch of the old sealed beams anyway )

 

[George]

Back in Service - - - a couple of decals got lost in transit but they were just to show which tank is for the truck and which is for the 10 KW generator - - - they are going to reship and I should get them Monday.

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Drivers Side - - - Front tank is a 50 gal for diesel fuel transfer - - - second tank is a 27 gal gas for the truck - - - the third tank is a 23 gal for the generator


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Passenger side where most of the work happens.

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Front compartment is for the torch.

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Next is the welder that I bought in 1973 I think - - - still going strong!

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Third compartment has 3/8" , 1/2" and 3/4" impact guns with sockets.

Most of the hand tools are in the main work area with a well stocked craftsman tool box and many hand tools.

Duke energy says it will be about 3 to 4 weeks to put service to the home site where I am building a new modular home so the generator will sure come in handy if they don't have me power on the 17th of Dec when the house will be delivered - - - I have the set crew and crane coming on the 18th then I have to get the furnace ( propane with heat pump ), air conditioner, plumbing and electrical hooked up. I'm going to do my best to get this family in by Christmas as they are living in a pole barn. When they put their home on the market it sold the 3rd day but the purchasers required immediate possession.

I got the building permit and deposit on the modular home on the 14th of November at 4:00 PM and had the basement dug and footer inspection 24 hours later and had the walls poured on the 18th and forms stripped on the 20th - - - we got the septic installed ready for inspection yesterday - - - After it gets inspected on Monday we will cover it and finish the backfill on the basement - - - about all I can do till the house shows up.

I normally sell 2 to 3 houses a year but this is the first this year - - - the economy sure is in a slump here!

You can see several of the homes I have sold and installed at www.rochesterhomesinc.com I am very proud of the quality ( I live in a 1993 Rochester Cape Cod ) and I can often get people in in 30 days from start to finish. I pour my basement walls 10" thick with 6 courses of rebar, home is 2X6 walls 16" on centered and all screwed ( it takes 8 times the force to pull a screw as a nail )

These people are taking longer as they ordered over $28,000 in high end options and it took a while for some of them to come in. The model they ordered is the "Roosevelt" and you can see it at http://www.rochesterhomesinc.com/floorplans/ranch-floor-plans/jr-4-roosevelt/ I probably will not get the front porch roof on till the first of the year but my priority is to get them in!

They are getting a "Flipped" version as their garage will be on the right instead of the way it is shown.