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Posted by frostysnoman [174.51.154.192] on Saturday, January 02, 2010 at 18:40:13 :
I purchased my first FFPW (48) here in Denver back in September of ’08. It is an interesting truck, as the gauges are in KM and C not Mi and F. So I assume it was meant for Mexico or Canada. I spent a majority of its life here in CO, the guy I bought it from (John Smith) pulled it down from Rangely CO. I am not sure of all of its past, but I know about its future. It got towed to my house, and I started on the 251. It seems to be a bit of a Frankenstein part 41, part 45, part 65. But I got it running. I made a few trips to the beer store, Home Depot, and even out to dinner with the wife (she is a good sport). I made the mistake of trying to drive it to the newly acquired ranch, about two hours uphill from my house. To make matters worse, I decide that loading it up with all the crap from my garage that needed to go up was a good idea. I estimate the weight of cargo to about 3500lbs. I included a stack of plywood, three file cabinets full of tools, a generator, a grill, spare parts, and other odds and ends. I set out thinking the trip would take me about 6 hrs, with the route and top end of these things. I made it part way and realized I had no oil pressure. Apparently climbing a steep hill with all that stuff burned a little oil, so I waited on the side of a dirt road, (I had lunch and dinner in the cooler), for several hours getting any and all oil I could from passing dirt bike caravans. I made it to the top of the hill with my new ~2 quarts, and some oil pressure. Turned the tuck off and coasted downhill about 10 miles to the closest town. I bought oil and continued on my merry way. I made it another 1000 feet in elevation before the truck gave out again. I suspect from vapor lock. I bit the bullet and called for a tow truck. Apparently the nice lady on the phone didn’t exactly tell the driver what the truck was, or how full it was, because he showed up in a flatbed that wasn’t ready for it. I have now been in an over loaded truck my first and last time, feeling the front wheels pick up while driving down the highway is no a good thing. I got to the land, and unloaded the truck. I built a shed, and then messed with the truck the following day. I got it running again, (with a strange fluttering noise), and ran to the neighbors house. On the way back the engine seized. Lucky for me, I had someone coming to pick me up anyways, I got the neighbor to help pull it to its final resting place and left.
Stage two. I showed up with my buddy’s van, and a trailer that we suspected would hold the beast. Drove from the property to another forum participants’ house, where I bought a 360 to replace the old 251. We made it home with the caravan of a van with a large truck on a trailer, with an engine exhaust and other goodies on the back.
I have spent about 6 months of random nights and quite a few puzzling moments, but today I finished all the major issues, and drove it down to the beer store. There are still plenty of things wrong with the truck, but it seems to be ready for a few trips to home depot and then back up to the ranch for the rest of its life.
Thanks to everyone who helped with either parts or knowledge. I appreciate the knowledge. I have learned more with the purchase of this truck than I think I have learned during my MBA studies. 2010 should be a good year, with plenty of work up at the ranch, and plenty of hours at the normal job, until I can either retire or get another truck.
Thanks again to all.
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