The Blog Pages of Kellan Meig'h

Too Much Stress!

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:29:17 -0700

Arrrgh!

What's so hard about selling a 1973 International 1/2 ton pickup? Between low-ballers, crack-heads, tweakers and no-shows, I'm ready to scream! Is $2,000 too much for a daily driver? Hmm? Opinions, please

Kellan, the aggravated old warhorse.

New Chapter!

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:42:54 -0700

Hey All!

Chapter 12 of "End Game" has been posted. This particular chapter should tie "Defiance" and "End Game" together firmly.

Enjoy!

Kellan, the old warhorse

Trip Number Two to the DMV for "The Buffalo"

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:38:59 -0700

Today I made trip number two to the DMV to finish the registration for the vehicle known as "The Great White Buffalo". Previously I had paid $195 USD for various fees and today, I spent another $305 USD to finish up.

An even $500 USD was a lot of cash to trade for one year's registration but I guess there's no fighting the Gov't. The bad part is our Explorer "The Exploder" and "The Buffalo" are both due in the same month next year so registration will cost maybe a cool grand. Grrr . . .

Take care,

Kel

Rest In Peace

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:44:59 -0700

Rest In Peace

Baby The Cat

1999 - 2010

Baby lost her battle with cancer, taking a turn for the worse yesterday. We all knew it was time and I think she knew too.

You will always be remembered.

Not Good . . .

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:12:17 -0700

Something had a foreboding feeling all day today. I couldn't put a finger on it but it was there.

This afternoon, my tigress told me she had been laid off from her job. Yeah. No warning, too.

So this leaves us needing to pull in the old belt a few notches and look at where we can cut corners. I'm glad I hadn't been able to secure lodging for Further Confusion in January. That would have been something we wouldn't have been able to swing right now.

It's also a good thing I didn't buy a brand new truck because we would have been hurting for sure. Gah, we have such bad luck . . .

Kellan

New Chapter Is Up

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:18:02 -0700

As a note, I have posted Chapter 11 of "End Game" for your reading pleasure.

Enjoy!

Kellan, the old warhorse

The Buffalo's New Accessories

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:32:12 -0700

As promised, the new (to me) rack on the new (to me) truck.

It's too hot here to type a lot so I'll bid adieu,

Kellan, the old warhorse

Saturday, why art thou so short?

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 21:52:42 -0700

Today was a decent but short day.

My brother scored me a ladder rack for my truck, a practically new one from Drake Welding, located in Campbell, CA. Estimated value, $1,200 USD. My cost, zilch. Yeah, instead of letting it go to the local Pick And Pull, the yard boss offered it to me through my brother. He knew it would fit, since it was coming off of a similar 2WD drive Ford.

The donor truck wasn't worth what the rack was worth, by the way. They will get $200 USD for that truck, so why let them have a $1,200 rack with it?

Anyway, still have to drill a few more holes and bolt it down but all in all, that was a grand score. A Drake Welding rack is the Rolls-Royce of racks here in the SF Bay Area. It might outlast the truck, too. I'll post pictures when I have a few minutes.

Take care!

Kellan, the old warhorse

Father's Day Blog

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 11:17:52 -0700

Yesterday, my brother and I turned back the clock and became auto repair mechanics again.

As you my well know, my new (to me) pickup needed to have the transmission solenoid pack replaced. That's the part that the computer uses to shift the gears in the transmission. I finally received the pack that I ordered from Makco Transmission Parts and got it installed. As I had surmised, that was the problem. The transmission shifts smoothly and operates as advertised.

A word for you Ford owners. I discovered that my particular transmission, an E4OD, uses and prefers regular Mercon fluid. I was warned that if I wanted to kill it, just use Mercon V fluid. The E4OD/4R100/5R100 transmissions will fail using Mercon V, since it 'too slick' for the friction plates. I used Dexron III/Mercon from Valvoline and it works. If someone says they don't make plain Mercon ATF, they're full of $hit. Use Dexron III/Mercon. Good stuff.

Anyway, I'm planning on watching the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR race this afternoon from the comfort of my recliner. I would have loved to had been there in person but 1, the tickets were too high and 2, no refrigerator nearby. :D

Y'all take care and Happy Father's Day to all of you,

Kellan, the old warhorse

Tuesday's Musings

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:07:58 -0700

I went to the gas station yesterday to fuel up "The Buffalo" and after a few calculations, I have determined that she gets a little over 9 miles to the gallon. Not bad for a 3/4 ton, 4WD, 7.5L V8-powered beast that probably weighs two tons or more. Also consider it has the frontal area of a house to push through the air.

Okay, so that doesn't sound like much but it's substantially better than "The Rumblemobile", my 1973 IHC pickup. With a tuneup that number should improve, too.

I should have the parts to fix the transmission on Saturday so after that and a tuneup, it's off to the Smog Inspection Station! Whee!

Take care,

Kellan, the old warhorse