OT - Where I've been the past week or so.... LOTS of Pics:

[Griff]

Well... the works been done for several weeks, but... problems with paperwork, getting the money together to pay the BILL has all delayed the taking possession of my old truck.

For the past three years I've been driving this Peterbilt:




And while it's a great truck, has a SUPER sleeper that doubles as my office on the road, its fuel economy leaves a lot money out the stack over the course of a year... wasn't bad when fuel was $1.50/gal, but @ $4.00... well, suffice it to say the little lady of the house didn't see as much money to visit her other love in life... WalMart!

And, when I had all three trucks on the road it wasn't too bad either... then last summer, some of you may remember that my son, 4Aces, hit a buffalo with my oldest and most profitable truck! It didn't look good:




The insurance company wanted to total it... why? Well, it seems the repairs were going to cost about what the dern thing was worth. But, I felt the old girl had a few miles left in her. Why heck, she only had 1.408 million on the odometer, still was capable of over 6MPG and with a new hood, radiator, and some other miscellaneous parts, would be like... well, a 10 year old truck with over a million miles on it.

So, with a little bailing wire, duct tape, a hose for the radiator, I drove her from Amarillo, TX to Joplin, MO to get the work done. (The accident was in NM and I'd had her towed to the KW dealer in Amarillo). Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the this patchwork to get the girl from TX to MO... you "Rube Goldberg" fans would've been proud of me... but, given the damage you can see above, you can probably imagine the schenanigans I went thru to attach the hood, lights, etc. so they didn't fall off! Luckily, johnny law was turning a blind eye!

So, without further ado, let me present my "NEW" ride:


Yep! That's the "Jolly Roger" up there on the roof!

We lowered the front end 2", which lowered the front profile and gives her that "hot rod" look.


Actually gave her a "name", which some of my friends think is "too feminine"??? I don't think so, since she's my little pirate ship of the highways, and are not ships refered to as "she"?


And have my own little image to make sure everyone understands just who's in charge:


Kept my favorite little label:

(Can't believe the number of guys who ask, "what's that?")

And to let everyone know that she's capable:


And since the old girl is fitted with full skirts and now full rear fenders, just to see which "creeper cops" have a sense of humor:


Hooked up and ready to roll:


And for comparison, here's what she looked like several years ago when I had this photo taken for a magazine article on truck drivers that also competed in sports, (for me it's cowboy mounted shooting and CAS):


Well, between the paying of bills, getting the stuff moved from the roomy and spacious Pete' to the little KW, fixin' this and that, getting a short trip for a road test of the new motor and the number of other things together I think I'm ready to go back to work. While I don't have an "office" in the truck anymore, still have to get a new satellite dish and TV, and a couple of other things, the CFO tells me I HAVE to go to work if I wanna keep her!

[TedH]

Looks great Griff. I like all your personal additions.

[Old Savage]

GREAT POST, Captain Jack Sparrow - you might consider the BLACK PEARL.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Cool post Griff, GOOD LUCK !!

[Griff]

GREAT POST, Captain Jack Sparrow - you might consider the BLACK PEARL.

There's already a custom "show" truck using that theme. So, while "30-30" doesn't fit as a "handle" anymore, I'm still contemplating what I wanna call myself. Have an idea for the passenger door tho': "Comely serving wench wanted - apply within". Tho' it might not go over very well with the wife!

Thanks for the compliments.

[Nath]

Very smart, cool too. I'm impressed

Nath.

[Hobie]

It beats white even if you did have .30-30 on the door. I'll be looking for you.

[Duff L Bagg]

Thats a good looking ride ya there Griff. I didn't realize that you were leased to CFI/Conway. I have been driving for them for about 7 months now. Right now I am home with a bum shoulder. Hopefully I will be back on the road by the middle of Oct. If you see a truck with the handle "Buckshot" on the door give me shout and the coffee is on me.

[rjohns94]

Griff,

I love the "new" rig. my favorite color!!! looks sweet. be safe out there

[marlinman93]

Looks like you've really done her proud! A nice home away from home! Congrats!-Vall

[J Miller]

Griff,

That's a real sweet change over. I like it. I think insurance companies are greedy arseholes of the lowest order. I despise dealing with them.

I think you'll be happier with this truck now that you got it fixed the way YOU want it, than you would have with whatever the ins co would have got to replace it.

Take care, and say hi next time you roll through.

Joe

[GANJIRO]

WOW, What an improvement, she's a beauty! Congratulations on a great restoration job!

[Andrew]

Driving is a good way to discharge my battery very quickly. I think you either can do it, or you can't: I can't.

Nice looking truck, I like the stance and the skirts in the back.

[Borregos]

Great post Griff.
That looks real nice!! If you ever cross the border near me i'd love to see it in the flesh!!

[crs]

Great looking truck! May she haul another 1,000,000 miles for you!

[woods-walker]

That is a nice rig! Did you modify the engine and drive train ? Good Luck to you.

[Griff]

DuffLBag, get well. Will look for ya now that I know what I'm lookin' for... you drive a "red" truck?

woods-walker, no... the engine is stock, but I replaced the transmission about almost 500K ago with a 13-speed. (Original was a 9.)

crs, I sure hope so!

Borregos, in fact... I pick up in Des Moines tomorrow and head off to Taylor, MI for the 23rd. I probably won't be crossing the border anytime real soon, something about contraband.... shhhh!

Thanks again for all the compliments. The color is a little deceiving, it's called "Black-Red Pearl", which is a black pearlescent over a red metal flake for a very vibrant Black in the dark or from certain angles, yet looks very deep purplish in other views. Doesn't come out very well in the photos.

It is, as are most projects, a work in progress... the next item on the list is a wood steering wheel to replace the worn out leather one that's been in it for 9 years; then a wood floor that's coated with a urethane for wear, but will still get a carpet for daily use. Sometime shortly I still have to strip the frame and paint it, as it's sorta showing its age.

OK, back to our leverguns!

[Ysabel Kid]

Very nice Griff!!!

[Duff L Bagg]

Griff, I had been running teams in a T-2000 up till I injured my shoulder. My co-driver decided he did not want to run in the snow this winter so he hung it up this last week and took a job with Budweiser. I suppose that I will be back in a T-600 when I come out of the house.

[Rusty]

Looks great Griff. Does lowering it 2" do anything for the fuel millage?


Next time your about the Tampa/Lakeland/Orlando area give me a heads up.

I went to JAX today from our warehouse in Plant City. All our stuff is considered local. Out and back in the same day. Most of our stuff is Freightshaker day cabs cut back to run 63 MPH. Our goal MPG is 6.5 but I usually break that by .5 or so on average.

[Old Savage]

Well Griff, that's a show truck. It's not at "sea" so to speak. And, they stole the name. You are a pirate - use what you want. Stop short of putting on the back - This is the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow. Maybe a pirate with crossed single actions or 1860 Armys.

[winchester1886]

Looks real good Griff kinda slippery, whats under the hood a ***** cat I'll bet, what have you done with the Pete that sure is one nice rig, on another note I see the ole Snowman passed away a few weeks back sad, you keep safe on the big road good buddy. winchester1886

[Tycer]

Sweet. Amazin what a little caulk and a little paint will do!



"A little caulk, a little paint......makes a carpenter a saint!"

Unless yer a painter. Then it's:
"A little caulk, a little paint......makes a carpenter what he aint"

[2ndovc]

Sharp!

Hard to believe that's the same truck.

Very cool,


jb

[hfcable]

Dang, that is just darn beautiful!!

[KirkD]

Very nice restoration and customization job! I'll keep my eye out when traveling in the USA for that rig.