Junior

Ok, my son's 69 chevy truck is finally done and on the road. We used a 92 350 out of a wrecked police car; TBI injection, wiring harness, fuel tank, steering column, gauge cluster, and 700r4 from an 88 GMC van I used to drive, and about 90% of the Chevy spare parts I've collected over the years. I'm proud of him, he wasn't afraid to get dirty and worked pretty hard on it the last two years. Total cost was about $3800. Now just finish a few jobs for the wife and I can start on my own project. Here's some pics..

Nice truck. My wife is really starting to push for me to build one like that, you guys have a nice ride there, good job.

nice truck, every father son should have a project together.

I like it! ;)

Pat

Nice truck, you and your boy have done a fantastic job together. Isn't it a blast!!

Nice I like it . Do you have a alarm in it? Those steering columns are easy to get in to and start the truck up. It will take some one less than 2 minutes to get the truck going.

Thanks for all the kudo's, everyone. Making everything work and not spending a fortune was a good challenge. An alarm's not a bad idea, though.

News Update: first full week on the road as a daily driver and no breakdowns! TBI is working great, looks like about 18 MPG with a 16 year old driving. So far so good.

Coming up on 60 days as a daily driver with nothing worse than a leaky header gasket, and he's definately racking up the miles!

Nice job.

Not being a Chevy guy, what is up with such a long radiator hose? Is that standard? Nutting wrong with it, just never seen one so long, and I was curious.

Jack

Hey Jack,
I had a box of misc new hoses in the shop and that was the one that fit! I hate to be cheap but you have to use all that leftover stuff on something or it never goes away.:LOL:

I know excatly what you mean.:LOL:

Jack

Trans is back in and almost ready for the road again.

Thought I'd post a few updated pics; my son's still driving this everyday. He did a number on the paint trying to teach himself to use a buffer (didn't want my help so I let him learn his own lesson) Then he decided to two tone it by painting the top black but I actually thought he did a decent job. Also, he just smoked another transmission (3rd) doing burnouts. The good part is that he keeps it really clean and is always working at ways to improve it. Plus he's got a decent job and paying for it all himself. :3dSMILE: It's great to see him enjoying the hobby so much.

He should be doing those burn outs in second gear? Burnouts should not really be that hard on a tranny. Maybe you should swap in a 727TF**) !
You have to admire your son for at least trying, that's the only way he will learn.
Jack

He's a great son, It's awesome that we have so much in common.

I like to keep personal matters private but I'd like to ask for prayer for my son, Patrick. Building this truck together was a lot of fun for us both so i thought I'd stick it on here. A few years ago Patrick admitted to me that he was doing heroin and wanted some help. Over the past three years he's been to four rehab centers trying to get clean but would start right back up again. Finally after he sold everything he owned to get high (including this truck) he started stealing from everyone. He was arrested last October for felony burglary and I've been visiting him weekly since. I wouldnt get him out for his own safety and my sanity. His court date is coming up on june 14th and he's looking at a possible 15 years in prison. I love my boy so much and now that he's been clean 6 months he's starting to act like the son I've always known again. We've been doing a weekly Bible study when I go see him and he understands he has to pay for his crimes. In a way I'm proud of him for accepting responsibility for his actions instead of begging me to get him out of it. If you all would keep him in prayer that whatever happens, the Father shows him the path to be free of his addiction and that he learns to obediently follow. There's a great guy inside him that could help a lot of people if he can learn to stay clean. This year is 16 years clean for me so I understand. Thanks, all. I could probably use some prayer, too, while your at it.

you got them from me and mine falcon. have and had some family members struggle with addictions. it puts the family through hell and back. with alot of love your family will come through this.

You got them my friend. http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/a..._thumbs_up.gif

You've got our prayers too, Falcon. Sorry to hear of your Son's addiction but very happy to hear he is on the road to changing that. Being a parent is very tough sometimes and it is hard to know what is the right thing to do. With the fact you had the same issues that might give you and he some common ground to help each other one day at a time.

Wish you both the best of luck. :)

Don

I'll be praying for your family.1985 I was heading down the wrong road with alcohol. I quit cold turkey quit smoking same day.. IT is a ONE DAY at a time thing. I hope your boy takes advantage of your lead. Follow the Lord He knows the way.

Prayers up for you, your son, and family.

Jack

Prayers to you and your son, Falcon. I also am aware of the dangers of addiction. My nephew committed suicide while under the influence of drugs several years ago at the age of 23. Helping your son to stay clean may well save his life. As bad as it is, jail time is preferable to the finality of death.

Thank you, everyone. I told him that same thing, Restorod. I'd much rather visit him in jail than have to identify his body. Sometimes the Lord has to break us to make us listen and realize how much we need him.

Prayers for you and your son.

Jack.

Prayers coming his way, Falcon!!!!

I never did the heroin thing (well, ok I tried it) but I did use, abuse, sell, and otherwise disseminate drugs to the point of a 7 count felony conviction, a years time then 2 years of weekend lockup,---and finally 60 days of rehab. This was my first felony conviction for drugs, but my 5th try at rehab. Seems to be working fairly well this time, just got out of rehab in Oct. 1978... For me, something I heard or saw finally clicked. Hope and pray your son has the same awakening!!!!! Remind him there's only 3 ways it turns out, straightened up, locked up, or tits up.........

I'm not much for praying,sorry, but you can bet I'll be thinking about you guys lots! You seem to have a great bond with your son........that will go a long way in his recovery. I wish you and him all the best,your a good dad.

Hi, I'm Robin's wife and I hope you all don't mind me posting here. I'm a Police employee - work on the front desk, and I see young people with addictions every day, and I see broken people who break their parent's hearts, and I see parents who don't give a toss. Thank the Lord you do care about your son.
When Robin asked me to read your post, Falconvan, I found 2 bible verses that I hope you don't mind me writing here.
First one is in 1 Cor 16:13 which says, "Be on your guard; stand firm in your faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."
The second verse is in Hebrews 12: 1-3. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
As we say in NZ "Kia kaha" - be strong.

Falcon your story & picture breaks my heart. Tough love is one of the most difficult concepts to embrace, but also can be the only path and you're on it. Your family is in our prayers, wishing for the best possible outcome for you. Hang in, hang on and keep the faith.

Thank you all so much, I'll keep this thread updated to let everyone know how it's going with Patrick. Your prayers and thoughts mean a great deal to me and to him.

I too also struggled with the problem. Traded my 49 plymouth for an ounce of coke about 30 years ago. I will pray for Patrick and your family. It took me to get interested in something else to do. In time all will be good. He does sound like he has a strong side. I think the worse thing or maybe the BEST thing that happened to me was the lost of my leg for me to see the light. God works in misterious ways. Life is good.

After a couple of years in jail, Patrick will be getting out in mid-June. He's spent the last year in a extensive treatment program and he really seems like a different guy. He's been involved in prison ministry and has a better attitude that I've ever seen in him before. Im hoping and praying that all this carries over to the outside and he's able to keep himself clean and build a decent life. Anyway, I bought this truck so he'll have a way to get around for work. I got it really cheap because of engine issues and it had been sitting for a few years. I got it running but its got a pretty good miss and after doing a compression test I've got 6 good cylinders but #4 and #6 will only pump up to 30 psi. I'm thinking the head gasket blew between the cylinders; though I'd ask for some opinions and prayers for my son before I tear it down.

I'd say your idea on the head gasket is a pretty good bet. You're doing a really good thing with the truck, to help Patrick get a leg up on pulling things together for a new start. Hope things work out good for him, and that it's a blessing to have him home again. Having a strong support group holding him accountable for his actions is an important piece of the puzzle.

Thank so much for sharing with us – I reread this entire thread and halfway through the first tissue appeared (the post from Robin’s wife Linda in September of 2011 – people all around the world praying for Patrick!) Most here have kids and I remember hurting for you and praying with you when this was originally posted. It’s obvious that this group of folks at CHR is a loving and caring bunch.

Please keep us posted on the truck (I concur with Roger – head gaskets are a good starting place) and know too that we’re still praying for you and Patrick!

Regards,
Glenn

WOW... Im new here but not to life. The twists and turns through life often times are harder than we could ever imagine. I too was dripping tears on my keyboard till I realized that you know who to go to for the answers, and you were already going to him for the strength to get you through this. For through him all things are possible! Im confident that the worst is behind you all. God Bless and hang tough.

While you have the head off be sure to give it a real good eye ball for hair line cracks... But Im sure you already knew that! Cheer

I too have just completely read this post through and I too am impressed with the family here on Club Hot Rod when one of the family asks for pray it is freely given. I thankyou Falcon for highlighting the fact that we all face demons in one way or another and you plus others have had the courage to share your demons with us. I will include Patrick and you and your family in my prays today to help keep you all under Gods protection and strength. Please keep us in the loop as to how Patrick copes with life in the near future on his path of life.
God Bless you all,
Mark.

Thank you so much, guys. I firmly believe prayer is the greatest weapon against Satans influence. When I was buried in my alcohol and drug addiction, it was only my turning to The Lord that saved me. Your caring and support means a lot, guys.

More prayers from here too.:3dSMILE::3dSMILE:

Jack.

Patrick came home last week and I did get his truck fixed. He's going next week to start the process of getting his license back so he can start looking for some kind of job. He seems to be doing pretty good, he said things like standing in a grocery store being able to pick your own food seem like being on another planet. His mom and step dad bought a small mobile home and put it on their property for him to live in so he's got his own space but is close enough if he needs help. It's good to have him back.

Falcon,,I had to go back over this thread,and re read it,,not that I had forgotten,,but more like,overlooked it..I am so pleased to see Patrick out and having a new start at life..Our prayers will continue for him,,and you,too..:cool::cool:
Kia kaha..