The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Southern Bolters "15 Minutes a Day..." (Alvin's suggestion)

Alvin (Achipmunk) is always telling me to just spend 15 Minutes a day on my project. Currently I'm recovering from some minor surgery and am limited to what I can get done.

All this time on my hands gets my head thinking (a bad thing sometimes), what is everyone else doing on their Trucks?
So I thought I would start a Thread on the Subject..

So what did you get done today...

Played musical Trucks in the yard, moved Thor and my '59 Ernest around. Need to replace the dimmer switch on Thor.

Drove the 53 into town today to restock the shop fridge. About 12 miles one way and
it ran great. Steering could use some help though.

Don

Changed the spark plugs in the c10 from Autolites to NGK’s. Installed a rebuilt p/s pump along with a shim kit to lower pump pressure to match the ‘72 C10 p/s box. Hopefully that’ll cure persistent p/s leaks I’ve been fighting. Got to get truck cleaned up today or tomorrow for Father’s Day cruise in’s here local on Sat AM & Sun PM.

My 15 minutes we're spent on my new acquisition, my '89 Silverado.
Over the last couple of days, I wired in a relay to make all 4 headlights turn on when using the bright lights. I also wired in a brake controller to be able to activate the electric trailer brakes on the trailer I use to haul my '38.
I additionally removed and reinstalled the window vent shades that were flapping in the wind from the tape letting go.

Don, a Beer Run is a necessity, My Linda would probably disagree...

I drove mine to the Legion for our annual Butt Rub. That is 10 pound pork butt rub which we will serve about 175 butts this year...you can smell our butts for miles.

My Unit used to do that the week of July 4th, we smoked 3000 lbs of pork. Sold them at $20.00 a piece.

My dimmer switch from Jim Carter came in.

I spent a little time working on Thor's Dimmer switch. The original switch tests just fine, I swapped in the new switch and still had no high beams. I found that some of the connections I made when I rewired the Truck are corroded, I suspect the solder may have been way to old.. Either way I have more wiring to do...

Well I got the Highbeams working, I'm not going to tell you it took 15 minutes. I spent most of today sorting out my problem, it turns out that my issue is with the solder flux I was using. I picked up some at Harbor Freight, mistake.. The flux is causing the terminals to corrode. It was supposed to be for electrical solder connections. Regardless it's in the trash now, Dang I miss Radio Shack...

The lights are functioning again.

I am a supporter of not soldering any connections. I prefer using non insulated butt/ring/plug connectors with marine grade heat shrink, the type that has the glue that oozes out sealing the connection, making it waterproof, and much more difficult to separate the joint.

My logic is that solder connections under vibrations and temperature changes over time will harden and eventually crack especially if the solder creeps back into the individual wire.

Properly crimped connections bond the wires with no noticeable loss of electricity. Having a good crimper is essential. With marine grade heat shrink, it strengthens that connection and won’t allow water/air/debris into the joint to corrode it.

Modern airplanes/jets use crimp connectors just for those reasons.

I haven’t put 15 minutes into my Suburban project in the last 5 weeks. We have been to Texas and California both but are home now so I should get back on it after the 4th. Family time!!

Phil, I guess old habits do die hard. Working on Military Power Generators, everything was soldered. I see that crimping is definitely the easiest route, I always use Marine Grade shink tubing..

When installing the American Autowire kit on the 66 C10, I bought a hydraulic crimp tool from HF. Came with a large assortment of bits for different wire sizes. Worked really well imo. Also had a nice manual crimping tool for use in area where the hydraulic tool was too bulky. Just an fyi.

Waxing the old Texaco truck today, getting ready for the 4th of July parade where we have been asked to transport the Grand Marshall of the Parade. We will be totally decked out in Red, White, and Blue

Archie, you know we need pictures... Is Ed driving????

Doing some shop clean up today. I posted some parts that I know I won't be needing. Lugnutz started this "Spring Cleaning " thing, so I guess I'll follow along...

Back at it again. Thor has developed a leak on the Hydrobooster, one of the hydraulic lines seems to be the culprit. I'm only losing a small bit of fluid but it leaks directly on to the exhaust.

Cleaning it up is definitely the first step.