Barney and L’il Bit

[Heather’s94]

“Finished” up the tag along. I might upgrade from the factory 8.00-12 wheel/tire combo to a set of 14” deer hoof wheels and 205/70s, since I have them.

With a 2.3/5spd and 3.45s I know Barney is not a tow pig, but… 5x8 mower trailer, cut down Co-op stock racks, old display table top that DG threw away… I might colorize it, might leave it flat black. Only rated for 2000#, but…

 

[Heather’s94]

Clean a spot? Paint a spot. Repeat ad nauseaum…

 

[Heather’s94]

Should be basically cloisonne by the time the frame is done. Letting the sun flow/bake the paint in stages. Until it turns smooth…
Waste of time? Waste of old paint?
Naw…

 

[Heather’s94]

Going to try and flip the passenger shackle this weekend. Once the back half of the frame is smooth blue, on to the bright red rear springs and cream rear axle.

Heard back from DST Suspension. Prothane had a bad run of bushings a few years back. Explains the heat induced failures. No big deal, bushings are A: consumables and B: inexpensive. I just wanted bright red or yellow because I can see them more easily. Yellow is no longer available so, red it will be.

 

[Heather’s94]

Why the odd almost Grabber, almost Safety blue? Heather wanted to change the truck from dark cranberry to “Smurf” blue, with a gray interior. Found 4 quarts of Gloss Royal Blue on clearance for $2.50/ea at Lowes or Home Despot. Four quarts of New Holland blue at the then low price of $16/ea was beyond her budget.

Today? The Rustoleum is no longer discontinued and is $16/qt. New Holland blue is $30/qt. I can see cracked metal, loose fasteners and worn bushings better against brighter colors. A case of 36 chip brushes is $10 at “Hazard Fraught”. I can let Mother Nature handle the flow out/cure by working on hot/humid summer days that are not conducive to catalyzed polyurethane coating application.

Blue. Red. Off white. Not for any flag. I’m cash poor and have left over paint that needs to get used up. I make really decent money for TN, but household expenses have tripled, or more, with the current economic issues. Improvise, adapt, overcome. Reduce, reuse, repurpose. Good enough for what it’s for. Barney will be a parts runner, grocery getter, daily driver grade mild custom. “She who thinks she must be obeyed” said “reliable, comfortable, fancy on the cheap”.

 

[Heather’s94]

Add in Shelby’s pair of red trucklettes, it adds up fast. Her 07 is about as reliable as an early 90s Hyundai S’coupe…

 

[SenorNoob]

I know what ya mean about money. When I went back tot he current job at $16 per hour 4 years ago, I was doing MUCH better after payday than I am now at $24.75 per hours with 3 hours of overtime every week. Needing a set of plug wires for the truck. Hoping I can get them next weekend.

 

[Heather’s94]

My base is $30 and change per hour before taxes come out. True cost of living here is around $24/hr. After all taxes I pull around $22/hr…

I could make more yearly off the pecan trees, but would not have health insurance. Getting ready to “lumber” out a big triple trunk Black Locust that a microburst literally yanked out of the ground. Should net $6-8k “lagniappe” money out of that to go towards necessary repairs to the house, like hvac. 186yo farmhouse and 110*F heat index is no fun.