LC4CARL
01-19-2008, 03:12 PM
The holiday decorations are packed in the attic. Yard work has been called on account of the weather. The Mrs. is off with her girlfriends. Yes, today is the day. I clear my schedule, send out for a large pizza with sausage for sustenance and head to the garage. “Hard to believe it’s already been a year.” I think to myself.
First order of business is to clear space in the two stall garage so I can back in my “vintage” dually. Vehicles are moved. Long-lost sockets and wrenches found. And the broom and dust pan put into service. “It’s actually a pretty big space.” I realize. Just a few more EDR posters and it would be perfect.
Hub caps are removed. Not having a big enough air compressor, I must rely on leverage to break the lugs loose. An impact socket, ½ breaker bar and a four-foot pipe gets her done. Smoke curling off the lug nuts as the heat and ancient rust rise up. Taking an occasional break to keep up with the big game playing on my Dad’s first Zenith black & white TV in the corner, I ponder the deeper meaning of life; such as the televisions transition from tubes to LCD’s…
http://lc4carl.smugmug.com/photos/245054350-M.jpg
Back at it; I slide the Sears 2 ½ ton floor jack under the 14 bolt rear axle and start to lean on the handle. Dang this thing is heavy. Jack stands are placed. Gear lube topped (synthetic racing “Super Goo” 100wt), ball joints greased, brake linings inspected. All in a days work on a high performance pure-bred like the C3500. The hours roll by as the snow falls in the driveway. Its times like these, when a man is alone in his garage staring at 32 lug nuts that need to be torqued to 140ft lbs, that he has the deepest thoughts of the day: “I need a beer!” I say to myself.
Taking the appropriate care to pop the pebbles from the treads and clean the brake dust from the inside of the front wheels (now on an outside rear position) I place the wheels in a precise rotation pattern which includes the spare tire and the right front from my neighbors Isuzu. Even tire wear is the goal here.
http://lc4carl.smugmug.com/photos/245054360-M.jpg
Rear valve extenders installed, everybody is aired up to and even 50 psi as the last of the pizza vanishes and the beer fridge is looking bare.
Back from the mall, Mrs. LC4 inquires about my day and bandaged knuckles. And “Would I like to go out for pizza?” “You bet,” I reply “I’m starved…”
First order of business is to clear space in the two stall garage so I can back in my “vintage” dually. Vehicles are moved. Long-lost sockets and wrenches found. And the broom and dust pan put into service. “It’s actually a pretty big space.” I realize. Just a few more EDR posters and it would be perfect.
Hub caps are removed. Not having a big enough air compressor, I must rely on leverage to break the lugs loose. An impact socket, ½ breaker bar and a four-foot pipe gets her done. Smoke curling off the lug nuts as the heat and ancient rust rise up. Taking an occasional break to keep up with the big game playing on my Dad’s first Zenith black & white TV in the corner, I ponder the deeper meaning of life; such as the televisions transition from tubes to LCD’s…
http://lc4carl.smugmug.com/photos/245054350-M.jpg
Back at it; I slide the Sears 2 ½ ton floor jack under the 14 bolt rear axle and start to lean on the handle. Dang this thing is heavy. Jack stands are placed. Gear lube topped (synthetic racing “Super Goo” 100wt), ball joints greased, brake linings inspected. All in a days work on a high performance pure-bred like the C3500. The hours roll by as the snow falls in the driveway. Its times like these, when a man is alone in his garage staring at 32 lug nuts that need to be torqued to 140ft lbs, that he has the deepest thoughts of the day: “I need a beer!” I say to myself.
Taking the appropriate care to pop the pebbles from the treads and clean the brake dust from the inside of the front wheels (now on an outside rear position) I place the wheels in a precise rotation pattern which includes the spare tire and the right front from my neighbors Isuzu. Even tire wear is the goal here.
http://lc4carl.smugmug.com/photos/245054360-M.jpg
Rear valve extenders installed, everybody is aired up to and even 50 psi as the last of the pizza vanishes and the beer fridge is looking bare.
Back from the mall, Mrs. LC4 inquires about my day and bandaged knuckles. And “Would I like to go out for pizza?” “You bet,” I reply “I’m starved…”