Now my old truck has been acting up a bit lately. Miss firing and backfiring through the carb. My local wrench-jockey had told me that I had a burnt valve or maybe a lobe worn down on the cam shaft. Well, with over 100k miles on this engine (my truck's third) it was time for an overhaul or maybe just a replacement from the local autoparts megamart. I was even contemplating this very fact on the drive home.
As the miles rolled by the truck was being even more cranky than usual. When I took the exit for my house the engine quit altogether. "Oh bother," sez I.
I grab the key and give it a turn to restart the cranky old heap when black smoke starts to roll out from under the hood.
"Bugger!!"
Luckily, I was being followed home by my dear friends Lawdog and Phlegmmy. Lawdog runs across the intersection to a gas station and returns with a fire extinguisher while I unload my truck into Phlegmmy's little ride just in case the fire gets out of control.
Luckily it didn't. The carb was just full of gas and needed to burn a little of it off. The local fire dept showed up and made damned sure it was out and then gave me a push the rest of the way home. (I was literally 3 blocks from my house when everything went pear-shaped.)
Now I have a decision to make. Do I clean up and revive my old friend of over 20 years or do I take my wife's advice and give him the rest he has earned a 100 times over?
I am, suffice it to say, torn.
Tole
4 comments:
When the original engine on my 1980 CJ-7 blew, I decided to replace it. I LOVED that Jeep beyond reason. It wasn't the most comfortable or the fanciest car I ever owned, but I'd had so much fun in it, I just couldn't let it die.
Do what your heart tells you about your truck. You'll be happier in the end.
WV? hyped
holly told me how she'd crank "werewolves in london" &howl along at the top of her lungs in that jeep. sometimes, a car is like a dog - the old ones are the best ones. I feel for you, having to wrestle with that decision right now. follow your heart, and you know a good pipeline for wholesale parts, fwiw. just say what and when.
Hey just stick another engine in the old ford and keep driving it
That's the plan, as soon as some sucker...umm...err...lovely individual sees clear to get me gainfully employed again. Woohoo layoff ftw!!
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