well, the last couple days has seen a turn for the worse... weather wise anyway! average temps have fallen about 30 degrees, and the wind has been absolutely crazy! Gusts of up to 75 mph, with continuous winds of 30-40. Had about 3 inches of rain through Monday, and now it has started snowing. brrrr. I barely got over last winter's pile-up.
So, I guess with harvest at a standstill, and it's too windy to have any cattle hauled home, (cattle 'pots' are like huge kites) I decided to spend time in the shop.
As you may remember, I got the '00 a rebuilt trans (6spd) installed a couple weeks ago. It is working well. Nice and smooth shifting, and quiet. This morning, I installed a new track bar and stabilizer in it. I took it for a test run, and intentionally ran over a certain bad spot in the road at 65. It held!! No more 'emergency' runs back home to change underware!
The '97 got a new outer door handle this afternoon, I used a Dorman part. It looked identical to an OEM piece, for about $26. No more crawling across from the passenger side, or leaving the window down on the drivers side.
My '95 is next!! I spent some time on it later this afternoon, and got the transfer case almost out. The top nut attaching it to the trans is a bugger to get at. I will remove the crossmember tomorrow and 'lower' the whole shebang a couple inches to gain access. I have a couple of twisted off studs in the replacement motor I need to snag out, but it is pretty much ready to drop back in. I need to take the trans up to the shop, reverse got smoked just before the engine croaked. (rocking back and forth to free from deep mud) (which btw is now dried concrete on EVERYTHING under there!) I need desert storm goggles to work under there!
So, the tally for the 'herd' is
2000 ram 3500 cummins 4x4 = 99% operational
1997 ram 1500 5.9 gas 4X4= 95% operational
1995 ram 2500 5.9 gas 4X4= 0% operational (but gaining!)
Now that I have an extra set of hands (my Son) at home, we are making progress! Hopefully, before the snow gets bunghole deep, everything will be @ 95% or better!
Later friends!
Bob
So, I guess with harvest at a standstill, and it's too windy to have any cattle hauled home, (cattle 'pots' are like huge kites) I decided to spend time in the shop.
As you may remember, I got the '00 a rebuilt trans (6spd) installed a couple weeks ago. It is working well. Nice and smooth shifting, and quiet. This morning, I installed a new track bar and stabilizer in it. I took it for a test run, and intentionally ran over a certain bad spot in the road at 65. It held!! No more 'emergency' runs back home to change underware!
The '97 got a new outer door handle this afternoon, I used a Dorman part. It looked identical to an OEM piece, for about $26. No more crawling across from the passenger side, or leaving the window down on the drivers side.
My '95 is next!! I spent some time on it later this afternoon, and got the transfer case almost out. The top nut attaching it to the trans is a bugger to get at. I will remove the crossmember tomorrow and 'lower' the whole shebang a couple inches to gain access. I have a couple of twisted off studs in the replacement motor I need to snag out, but it is pretty much ready to drop back in. I need to take the trans up to the shop, reverse got smoked just before the engine croaked. (rocking back and forth to free from deep mud) (which btw is now dried concrete on EVERYTHING under there!) I need desert storm goggles to work under there!
So, the tally for the 'herd' is
2000 ram 3500 cummins 4x4 = 99% operational
1997 ram 1500 5.9 gas 4X4= 95% operational
1995 ram 2500 5.9 gas 4X4= 0% operational (but gaining!)
Now that I have an extra set of hands (my Son) at home, we are making progress! Hopefully, before the snow gets bunghole deep, everything will be @ 95% or better!
Later friends!
Bob