Toolbox/Truck Upgrades & A Catastrophe

[ClassicTractorProfessor 5,314]

As mentioned earlier in a previous thread, I have been looking at upgrading my US General tool cart to something bigger, it has served me well but I have outgrown it. I was looking at the larger US Generals (maybe even the big 72) as well as a few others, but just never could make up my mind. 
 

I also have been looking at upgrading from the 98 Chevy 2500 to something else. In the past year and a half I’ve purchased three GM trucks, and constantly wrenching on all of them, two of which have been major issues. So I have decided it’s time to switch back to my trusty Fords. 
 

All that being said, a regular customer of ours (who is also a good friend and used to work for me back in my house remodeling days) came in a few days ago and asked me what I’d take for the old blue pickup. He is fully aware of what’s wrong with it, but wants to fix it and use it to pull his skid steer with. So I shot him a price on it as is and he took it. He also has this 1994 F350 that I sold him back in our construction days, and he was wanting to get rid of it. So we did a little trading, he ended up with the blue Chevy, and I ended up with the Ford and $1800. I thereby killed two birds with one stone, upgraded to a Ford F-350, and also made a huge upgrade to my tool storage. Having all my tools on the truck will work out better, at my normal job I can just park the truck outside the door of the bay I’m working in and work off the truck, but I will also have everything I need for tractor/equipment repairs around the farm, as well as any side jobs I pick up, without having to make several trips to the shop to gather tools. 
 

Now for the catastrophe, when I got the truck yesterday it was leaking from the water pump. Ok no big deal couple hours after work and I’ll be back up on the road. Easy fix...WRONG. As they say every 5 minute job is one broken bolt away from disaster. Pulled it in the shop after work, started tearing into it, and snapped off two of the water pump bolts that go through the timing cover. After twenty minutes of swearing at it, I came to the conclusion there was nothing more I could do for it until tomorrow when I can get a timing cover gasket set, so will get that coming from NAPA in the morning, and start removing the timing cover and removing the broken bolts. Was hoping to replace the timing chain while I was in there, but no one local has one in stock and I gotta have it up and going, my little Silverado has major front end issues, to the point it’s almost scary to drive, so I need the Ford running ASAP so I can put the little truck into the shop

 

 

 

[Pullstart 62,801]

It’s so cool to see things that are so clean of rust and rot on a normal basis!  Nice score, I love the tool chest Tom the back!

[Tractorhead 9,064]

The Truck Toolbox is pretty cool, i like it.

 

Congrats to your Deal with the Ford.

Brands have allway‘s their lover‘s and their haters.

 

And if you be lucky with the Ford, it was the best decision you could do.

[ebinmaine 67,309]

Looks like a good trade. 

That utility box is very solid and will be super handy!