A Pickup, Pups, and Profanity: restoring a truck with the mechanically challenged

Nik’s newest project is essentially rebuilding a 1999 GMC Sierra pickup that has over 350,000 miles on it. Since it’s a project “for fun” and not out of necessity, theoretically he should be enjoying the task. Apparently, even when he’s having “fun” he is still creating new four-letter word combinations. At any rate, I wanted to provide moral support and any “help” I could. This mostly consisted of handing him various tools he left somewhere else on the floor, inconveniently out of reach from whatever position he was in, usually somewhere underneath the truck. He is not a small guy, so watching him maneuver underneath a truck in a confined garage might be humorous if he wasn’t constantly hitting his head or otherwise injuring his various limbs. He calls this “car yoga.”

I have a knowledge of some very basic tools (hammer, wrench, doo-hickey, thingamajig, and whatchamacallit), but when he mentioned a tool or part that I didn’t know, he either had to tell me where he left it or give me a description of it. Color was particularly helpful. When I had the right tool or part, I felt like a diligent nurse standing at the ready when the surgeon calls “scalpel.” Despite my lack of car jargon, I’m not a bad gopher and usually brought him the right tool (at least eventually).

Since this vehicle had been only minimally maintained over the past few decades, it came with about 50 extra pounds of dirt and grime. Even after an encounter with a pressure washer, many parts still needed a good scraping. This is where I was most useful, which is odd in itself as anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a good housekeeper. I’m more of a “straightener” than a “cleaner.”

I did enlist the help of our daughter, who, like myself, found it oddly satisfying to scrape grime off of various metal pieces to make them shiny. So there we were, hunkered down with our respective pieces of…whatever parts they were, scraping away with actual scrapers, screwdrivers, and putty knives. Then I brought out the baking soda and green dish sponges for a few choice parts, which came out quite sparkly if I do say so myself. Our hands, however, did not and it took a few days to get all the grease out from under my fingernails and cuticles.

That’s not to say that I was only good at scrubbing and handing tools. I was even able to help replace some parts (some with much more direction than others) using power tools. For those of you more mechanically inclined or just plain curious, I actively helped him:

• Clean off transfer case housings
• Clean out the engine bay
• Remove the front drive axel & differential
• Replace both seals for the front drive axel, reinstate, and torque them
• Hang the lower control arms (both sides)
• Reinstall the tie rod ends and sway bar bushing
• Hang the steering knuckle and torque them to specs
• Replace the front brake pads
• Oh, and I brought him fresh water when it seemed like he needed a break

Of course, I received step-by-step instructions, usually in the most basic form (such as “remove this bolt here with this tool”) and I don’t remember which parts are which or what I did to them if I hadn’t written it down – except the brake pads – I know what those are. But hey, I still helped. Sometimes I was even under the truck and inside the engine bay. Our rottweilers thought we were doing something fun without them, so when they came into the garage, they were delighted to join me in the engine bay. Unfortunately, their help was more of a hinderance, so they had to go back in the house.

I also helped Nik reinstall the engine and transmission…as in, maneuver the hoist supporting the several-hundred-pound engine connected to the transmission into the engine bay, which evidently did not want to go in the same way it came out. But after much cussing, adjusting, jacking up and lowering the hoist, and removing both the engine hood and the front bumper, we were finally able to fit the $^%!$*% engine it in properly with his dad’s help, who just happened to visit at a very convenient time.

Another added benefit of spending a few days in the garage was that I got some great ideas for Christmas presents for him as there are several tools and doo-dads that could definitely make his life easier, but he won’t buy for himself.

The truck is far from finished, but so far it has a rebuilt transmission, a plethora of new parts (with more being added daily), and the automotive equivalent of 50 pounds of liposuction. Surprisingly, I had fun helping, especially when I actually had a task to do. It makes me wish I had taken auto shop in high school just so I could be a bit more knowledgeable about the workings of my own car, although I am perfectly happy to allow him to fix any issues with my car.

Even more good news is that Zoe mentioned she wants to help Nik fix whichever vehicle she may end up driving when she turns 16. She doesn’t need to rebuild an engine, but I’d like her to know how to change a flat tire. I’m sure she will also learn more four-letter words, but you take the bad with the good.