The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Is it just me?

OK, I'll admit it, I'm a fair weather bolter. Being from the Northern climes, my '50 sits in the garage all winter and it's usually early to mid May before I start driving it regularly.

Even though I've been driving these things for over 20 years, it still takes me a month or so before I start feeling comfortable again driving in traffic. Not that I forget how, it's just that after driving my '03 Silverado for months with power and automatic everything, it takes me awhile to get back in the groove of the 216, 3 speed, no power anything driving. Especially with the crazy urban sprawl we're dealing with around here.

Just an observation I guess. Maybe I'm getting old.

no, yer not old enuff!! I ONLY feel comfortable in the old bolt - those 03 anythings are the scary rigs, and I can never get 'comfortable' in those things in traffic too much like when ya sit in the ol easy chair in front of the TV and suddenly realize you have no idea what's been on for the last 15 minutes - in an old truck you have to give your full attention to the road and what's goin on around ya!

Bill

I feel comfortable in mine , I just dont feel comfortable around the four abreast 80 mph traffic and the nuts drivin.....Fred

just drive em............

I drive my 54 6100 every day to town to the stand pipe for a 1000 gallons of water. It used to be that if I saw ten cars in the 6 miles to town I thought it was heavy traffic. Now they are building trach homes all around us and the traffic is terrible. Driving at comfortable 35 mph when every one else wants to drive at 60 is scary. I'm glad I'm driving the 6100. All the locals wave as I drive by and smile, cause I'm smilin too. Jim

You know, my '46 is a little "rustic" in the overall feel and handling, but that could be largely due to the fact that you're sitting on the gas tank when you drive it (still looking for a seat!)

When I first got my '50 3100 running, I anxiously hopped in, tossed her in gear, and took off.. expecting a very "'46 like" ride.. and was quite suprised at how comfortable it was to drive.. leaps and bounds better than the 2 ton with no seat.

Is it more comfortable to drive than my '91 Jimmy or the wifes late 90's exploder?

Actually, I was more comfortable driving the '50!

Maybe it was the butterflies in my stomach that enhanced the experience.. i'll let ya know once I get the clutch put back in.

Yeah Fred, that's what I'm talkin about. 10 years ago it was still pretty rural around here but now we have one of the fastest growing areas of the country with big box stores and housing developments going up everywhere. Our county has losts 1000's of acres of farmland in the last couple of years and to top it off there has been little improvement in infrastructure.

It's not that I wouldn't like to drive mine more, I just haven't figured out how to get 4 teens and myself into the cab yet, especially when we have to be to that football or basketball game 50 miles away in an hour.

Bob

Bill, You got it right feller.

My idee for anybody who might be follerin' me, well, consider where you are and respect the fact that I am the leader.

Anybody who wants to pass? Do it legally and don't gawk, just wave.

Anybody ahead of me, don't give me a thought, 'cause I ain't givin' you a thought.

Now, I gotta way, i don't drive on freeways in the '46.

I'm driving mine everyday it's not raining. Here in the bay area as I'm sure we see in all major metropolis's, it's a real challenge dealing with those crazy ones who have a cel phones glued to their ear, putting on their eye liner with one hand and waving at you (or giving you the one finger salute) with the other hand.

I always try to give plenty of room between me and the BMW in front only to have a civic squeeze right into the safety gap I created.

argh

I'm driving along the other day next to a woman on the cell phone driving an excurson when the road takes a little curve and she goes straight. Cuts me right off. She still didn't realize the road meandered. Gives me the finger after she cuts me off. Unbelievable! Oh, I have had men do the same thing. Not pickin' on the ladies. Cell phones drive me nuts! As soon as one rings, the driver usually slows down about 10mph. No clue whos around them. They need to make a safety device on those phones. Using the GPS system, give the driver a little shock if he's on the phone traveling faster than he can run. Sorry about the rant, but it seems like I have at least one close call a week around here.

Shipwright,
Maybe there *is* a place for those genuine locomotive horn assemblies that the import kids have been putting on their cars . . .

what a change the 54 stopped on me the other day and i had to drive my pt cruiser to work for the first time in weeks. radio air auto was quite a pleasure. the only time i get worried in the 54 is when i have to stop suddenly, i have power brakes but the pedal is so different than the newer cars height wise. amen to the comments about cell phone and all the other things people do while driving. i have 2 red cars and you would think they can be seen, nooooooooo, maybe paint them fire engine yellow they say it shows up much better.

I drive my 64 every day, no power anything. No radio, no cell phone,,, love it. Seems not a day goes by I don't see someone running a red light, had a gal in a SUV nearly remove the front cap of my truck. It's getting hot but I still don't miss the S10. Brian

There are several of us planning to take our AD trucks to the Cruise Night in Amarillo over Independance Day weekend. We are going to find out how they do things in the big City, Woo Hoo. Hopefully, there is strength in numbers. They cant run over all of us, can they? I drive my stock 48 daily here at home, and get along pretty well. I did find out that you can put an AD truck with stock brakes in a full 4 wheel skid if you have to.
Ralph

I live in a fairly small town. However, the road to work is the one that leads to Whirlpools World headquarters. So I keep thinking to myself, Do I really need to redo the cyclinder head just cause theres a little smoke coming out when I accelerate......Naaaaa. Maybe next year! LOL I never have to worry about any one tailgating me, if they do I just down shift! Old TRUCKS RULE!!!!!!