That could have been a VERY rude surprise.......

 

Finished my semi-annual road trip from Seattle to MN. 3,2xx miles to add so now I'm over 231k. Truck ran great even in -10 deg. Always fired up fine using 10w40.

Mileage was between 13-15 depending on conditions. Steering is still tight but the pump seems to not work in cold weather. Always have to return it forcefully to center. Only had to use 4wd on one little hill across 212 in MT. The BFGs worked amazing! Great traction and control. Very happy with them.

All in all, another successful trip. These trucks were just meant for the highway. Wish I could drive it for a living.

Oh, and I saw a lot of Rams of course, but many new super dootys as well. Can't believe how many rich people are out there buying those things. Only saw 10 broken down vehicles: 1 Chevy, 1 Honda, and 8 Fords. Ha!

 

I helped a buddy. I had an 86 Ram body was shot 318 4spd with creeper. Took it out and put it in his 99 or 2000 can't remember his year. Out local transmission shop does this sort of thing all the time

 

The Ram got new shoes...

 

Started rear shoes, found the cylinders blown apart, so started on front shocks, ended up having to hacksaw through the top bolt on one, only partway through the second before I gave up for the day....rubbed the frame down with oil, searched for more holes than I already knew about, found some at the sway bar mount, found my cab mount is rotted out, and replaced some lugnuts that the jerkface that had it before me had put on close faced with caps, which had fused to the lug nuts, which, in turn, fused to the studs.....Fun day.

 

Yep. That's not a fun day at all.

After 3 trips back to the tire dealer because the tires weren't balanced, they finally fessed up that their balancer wasn't playing nice with duals lately but they'd keep trying until they got it right. I just took it to another shop and got the deed done.

 

 

Finishing wiring up my 'aftermarket' power seats. If time only allows.

 

I finally had to get the batteries replaced in my truck. It is a 2006 with 114,000 miles on it and if I let it sit more than 2 days this winter I would have to jump it. So I started putting my Battery Tender on it but I knew it was time for new batteries. I went to my local Les Schwab shop and got their branded AGM type batteries. $450 later I now have new batteries. The ones that came out had no labels on them so they figured they were the stock batteries. Not bad if I got 12 years out of them. I've owned the truck for 6 years now so I think I got my money out of them.

 

450 bucks for batteries????? Holy smokes..... I cringe at paying just under a hundred for the one in my truck.