Almost made it home with new rig...

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The PIG Smith
Posts: 506
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:54 pm
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Almost made it home with new rig...

Post by The PIG Smith »

...almost...not quite...we did not get very far at all.

A Fool and his Money are soon parted.
Specifically, a Full Size Jeep Enthusiast and his money are soon parted.


Sunday, Nov 15, my son Nathan and I went to take delivery of my new to me 1987 J20 pickup truck.
This was Rick Bielec (aka Ricbee) old Michigan-rust covered plow truck.
This truck has brought the definition of 'rust' to a new low.
We tried and tried to get it started, but it would not roll over.
We removed the starter and came home.

A few days later, I took the starter to O'Reilly's where it was tested and determined it was froze solid. (more rust?)
This Saturday, we went back, installed a new starter, a new starter relay and with a fresh battery, it fired up.
It ran okay, major exhaust leak and the choke would not not completely kick off and ran at a fast idle.
...but it did run!
We raised the plow and took off.
After a full tank of gas, we headed south, back home to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Cruising along, the temp gauge began to rise to nuclear meltdown levels.
At the Pilot Truck stop at north Monroe, MI, about 17 miles from where we started it overheated.
We inspected the thermostat, hoping it was just froze shut, but of course, it was open, just like it was suppose to be.
Cooled off and with some fresh coolant, we begin to limp it home.

After another 8 miles or about three more exits, we got as far as south Monroe when it overheated for the second time.
However, this time the top tank on the radiator separated from the core.
Our trip was over.
Here we are loaded on my trailer and going home defeated.

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Bryan Smith
Fort Wayne, Indiana
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
- 75th Anniversary Edition - 1941 Trim Package - Recon Green --Daily Driver
1986 Jeep J20
- Super clean rig from the AZ/CA state line -- Current Project
1982 Jeep J10
- Has become a Long Term Project.
1981 Jeep J20
- Commercial flat bed - Lost in a Divorce --gone
1987 Jeep J20 Pioneer
- Former Rick Bielec aka Ricbee plow rig. Major rust!! --gone

IFSJA Member #1933 Joined November 30, 2001

will e
Posts: 5096
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:21 am

Re: Almost made it home with new rig...

Post by will e »

It won the battle but you will win the war!
81 Waggy 'WILL E' Retired
82 Cherokee WT - SOA/SF/high steer/Alcan springs/agr box/Borgeson steering shaft/AMC 401/performer/holley TA/HEI/BeCool/727/ALTAS (2.0/2.72/5.44)/D60 Snofighter(Yukon Zip,hubs,stubs,4.56)/14 Bolt (FF,BF shave, Discs, ARB,Artec Truss)/MTR 37X12.5/Corbeau XRS Baja & 5 point retractable harness/Hella Aux lights/tuffy console/killer32 sliders/Evil Twin bumpers, rack and roll cage/WARN 8000/TT Fabworks steering brace/dual batts/custom TC skid plate/ARB fridge

Dr.Bob
Posts: 108
Joined: Thu Dec 26, 2019 8:57 pm

Re: Almost made it home with new rig...

Post by Dr.Bob »

Nice! Good luck with your project.

You aren't kidding about the rust!
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Stuka
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 5:53 pm
Location: CA
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Re: Almost made it home with new rig...

Post by Stuka »

Sounds like an episode of RoadKill. Where they break down five times in the first ten miles :P
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ
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Srdayflyer
Posts: 398
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:08 pm

Re: Almost made it home with new rig...

Post by Srdayflyer »

michigan steel eating termites, nothing some arizona sheet metal cant fix but a good catch
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