Meet Moby

[TheWarBeast]

After coming to the realization that with my wrecked back, it might take quite a while to get one of my myriad of other Suburbans running again. I began in earnest a search for a new tow pig.

I was in the market for a k2500 350 with barn doors. I drove many miles looking at trucks that were either no better than what I had, or not what they said they were at all.

I did find one beautiful 94 that the guy said was a small block. I test drove it, fell in love with it. Then I got back and opened the hood to check for leaks. At that point I realized what I had missed the first time I opened the hood. It was a big block. Nope not gonna pay that fuel tax.

I found a truck in Wilmington that was exactly what I was looking for. The pictures were great online. So we took the 5+ hour drive down. In person it looked like it had been in a demolition derby. The 4wd would not engage, the radiator was full of stop leak. And then there was the interior. If you took a truck, hosed the interior in bacon grease, then turned a pack of feral dogs loose in it - it would look better. Not only that the headliner was covered in black mold. So we went to see the USS North Carolina and came home.

After more searching I came to the realization that, I either had to go out to the went coast to find what I wanted, or I was going to have to buy a 1500. Since I used a 1500 for years with a set of airbags under it, I know I can do it again.

I looked at a few more and finally found an ad in Hickory, NC. So we drove up to take a look.

We beat the guy there so I had about 15 minutes of unsupervised time to crawl all over the outside.

Right off the bat all four tires were bald. SO I began to think of a price that included me buying new tires.

He finally got home and I checked out the interior and engine. Then we took it for a drive.

Back at his house I told him I had to buy new tires for it. He said I didn't. I started to argue, but then it unlocked his basement and told me to follow him.

A friend of his had bought a new truck. He didn't like the tires or wheels, so he drove it 7 miles to his house and took them off and put the set from his old truck on it. We swapped them out. I handed him some cash and he handed me the keys.

I already have the airbag setup out of the old truck that have been langushing in the shop for a few years. I also have a bumper/brush guard for the front. And I ordered some led lights for it. ( which were just delivered a few minutes ago).


Now I can wait till my spinal column cooperates to work on the other trucks, and I can still go to work and haul stuff around.

And yes I named it Moby. One because it is huge and white (not unlike me). And I went on an obsessive search to find it - that nearly killed me.

 

[adventurenali92]

Nice looking rig man! Always love the GMT400 burbs!

 

[Tonyrodz]

Looks really good. Hopes it lasts a really long time. Good luck with it.

 

[2011SSVHOE]

Nice looking rig Willie, I think that was the best looking body style and built like a truck not pussified like the new ones.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Good score, buddy!

 

[Miami-Dade]

Nice find!!

 

[TheWarBeast]

And it begins....Well not really.


We had to do the first repair to Moby. The back brakes started to scream. They were paper thin, but had not worn the drum. We also found a leak in a wheel cylinder so we replaced both of them. When you tow as much as I do there is no excuse for taking a chance on brakes.

I didn't take pictures, I figured you all knew what drum brakes looked like.


I know that some people hate them, but I like vent visors. In the south, where it gets to be 400000 degrees with 8700000000000000000000000000000% humidity in the summer time, it is nice to be able to leave the windows cracked when you park, and not have every one know about it. Otherwise it is like sitting in the oven with the chicken.

I ordered one set on Amazon and they turned out to be crap and didn't fit at all. They went back. I didn't realize they were some Chinese brand. I got a real set of visors and put them on today.



Then we drove down and got a Nissan for scrap.


We got home and I decided I had had enough of not being able to adjust the mirrors. So I stole a switch out of a parts truck and put it on.

I didn't realize that when I put the switch on I hit the door lock button. I came in and realized I had left my flashlight in the front seat. I walked back out and found the doors locked and the keys in the ignition. I called AAA and they came out and let me back in.

I have taken a bunch of measurements and I will soon be building a tool box for the truck. We got a van for scrap and it had a tool box in the back that will be the basis for the rest of the box.

 

[Tonyrodz]

And it begins....Well not really.


We had to do the first repair to Moby. The back brakes started to scream. They were paper thin, but had not worn the drum. We also found a leak in a wheel cylinder so we replaced both of them. When you tow as much as I do there is no excuse for taking a chance on brakes.

I didn't take pictures, I figured you all knew what drum brakes looked like.


I know that some people hate them, but I like vent visors. In the south, where it gets to be 400000 degrees with 8700000000000000000000000000000% humidity in the summer time, it is nice to be able to leave the windows cracked when you park, and not have every one know about it. Otherwise it is like sitting in the oven with the chicken.

I ordered one set on Amazon and they turned out to be crap and didn't fit at all. They went back. I didn't realize they were some Chinese brand. I got a real set of visors and put them on today.

View attachment 195004

Then we drove down and got a Nissan for scrap.
View attachment 195006

We got home and I decided I had had enough of not being able to adjust the mirrors. So I stole a switch out of a parts truck and put it on.
View attachment 195005
I didn't realize that when I put the switch on I hit the door lock button. I came in and realized I had left my flashlight in the front seat. I walked back out and found the doors locked and the keys in the ignition. I called AAA and they came out and let me back in.

I have taken a bunch of measurements and I will soon be building a tool box for the truck. We got a van for scrap and it had a tool box in the back that will be the basis for the rest of the box.


View attachment 195007

That'll make a great tool box. Maybe get some drawer organizers for it to keep things tidy.

 

[TheWarBeast]

Not a whole lot has happened. But it has been a while since I updated anything. And Since I am recovering from a near fatal concussion that required emergency surgery...


Since I spend so much time on the side of the road picking up cars, I needed some lighting. For about $25 at Ollie's I found some. A bit of wiring and it was done.

IT worked great until it didn't. A wire rubbed on something and shorted out while I was towing a friends Furd. I snatched the panel off and jerked out the wires.

It was a better outcome than burning the truck down. I thought the guy was going to have a stroke though. I didn't even get the truck completely stopped before I had it snatched apart.

And since I tow 95% of the time, I needed better mirrors.

They are off of a 2000 model. I had them on another truck and I like them. This set has the spot mirror built in the passengers side as well, much better than a stick on. The fit isn't perfect, but this is a work truck, not a show pony.

For some odd reason the transmission pan has loosened up every 3000 miles or so. The first time I thought the PO had just not tightened it up. About 3000 later it did it again. We tightened it up on the side of the highway and went on. Then 3000 later it did it again. So we pulled the pan, changed the filter, and used silicone to put it back on. Hopefully it will stay. It hasn't gotten much road time because I went in the hospital about 4 days later.

As for my head. I hit it pretty hard 3 times in one week. The first one was bad enough to cause a concussion and make me unsteady. The second and third nearly did me in. On August 10 ( My birthday of all days) I was so dizzy I could barely stand, I was puking all over the place. I came in and took a shower because I was nasty (good thing too, it was 4 days later before I was allowed to shower again). When I got out I could not figure out how to put on my underwear. When I got to the ER they didn't even check me in, I was put in a wheel chair and taken straight back to a room and 20 minutes later I was in the cat scan. From there I was stuffed in an ambulance and taken to Charlotte. They stabilized me over night and then I had surgery early the next morning. I am down for 3 more weeks minimum. I do get my staples out Monday.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Not a whole lot has happened. But it has been a while since I updated anything. And Since I am recovering from a near fatal concussion that required emergency surgery...


Since I spend so much time on the side of the road picking up cars, I needed some lighting. For about $25 at Ollie's I found some. A bit of wiring and it was done.

IT worked great until it didn't. A wire rubbed on something and shorted out while I was towing a friends Furd. I snatched the panel off and jerked out the wires.
View attachment 206033
It was a better outcome than burning the truck down. I thought the guy was going to have a stroke though. I didn't even get the truck completely stopped before I had it snatched apart.

And since I tow 95% of the time, I needed better mirrors.

They are off of a 2000 model. I had them on another truck and I like them. This set has the spot mirror built in the passengers side as well, much better than a stick on. The fit isn't perfect, but this is a work truck, not a show pony.

For some odd reason the transmission pan has loosened up every 3000 miles or so. The first time I thought the PO had just not tightened it up. About 3000 later it did it again. We tightened it up on the side of the highway and went on. Then 3000 later it did it again. So we pulled the pan, changed the filter, and used silicone to put it back on. Hopefully it will stay. It hasn't gotten much road time because I went in the hospital about 4 days later.

As for my head. I hit it pretty hard 3 times in one week. The first one was bad enough to cause a concussion and make me unsteady. The second and third nearly did me in. On August 10 ( My birthday of all days) I was so dizzy I could barely stand, I was puking all over the place. I came in and took a shower because I was nasty (good thing too, it was 4 days later before I was allowed to shower again). When I got out I could not figure out how to put on my underwear. When I got to the ER they didn't even check me in, I was put in a wheel chair and taken straight back to a room and 20 minutes later I was in the cat scan. From there I was stuffed in an ambulance and taken to Charlotte. They stabilized me over night and then I had surgery early the next morning. I am down for 3 more weeks minimum. I do get my staples out Monday.

Damn, you have the worst luck. I hope you're feeling a little better. Gotta watch that dome of yours! I'm always banging my head, doesn't help that I don't have any hair either. Stay safe brother.