Engine Hoist

I received a Classic Trucks magazine in the mail a couple of weeks ago. I'm glad to see Rizzo back at the helm.
He had done an article on extending his engine hoist, to accomodate lifting his cab off his truck. I want you to know this idea has my mind going. It's a problem anyone, who has a garage in the backyard deals with.
I have followed him from his first stint with Classic Trucks and he and I have a lot in common. I was ready to go out and get some steel, and make one for myself. But after reading his article (several times) and looking at the pics., I've decided to wait another month. He said he will have an improved version with more info on it.
This is how things get created and refined. I know when I see his next article I will get more excited about it. It eliminates the awkward way of getting the cab on and off. And you can do it yourself.
Excellent job Riz.

Garage scene

My garage is like most. It gets used for many different things. In the first part of December my sons recent purchase had to have some work on it (immediate attention). His dodge cummins (99) lost 5th gear. We spent most of the Saturday replacing the retainer nut on the 5th. gear shaft on the transmission. Had to remove the transfer case for the four wheel drive unit. Something these 5 speed transmissions are notorious for. You don't know about these things, until after they break down. This is not something I wanted to do. I visited one of my friends in the diesel repair business to ask him about the process. He was nice enough to lend me his $300.00 tool for replacing the nut.(split nut)
January 6&7
Also my dodge (90) 582,000 miles was needing attention to the back brakes. something I had been procrastinating on for the last couple of years. If you have a 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive you know what I mean. Floating axle, nothing like a 1/2 ton. All the years of abuse had taken its toll. But here is the neat thing. I had my grandson, who came over for the evening help me bleed the brakes. (new brake cylinders) He had gotten a model for christmas. Putting it together gave him a little bit of interest in my garage. I was glad to see him showing an interest, from the questions he was asking. Maybe there's hope here. He wants know more about engines and wants to help me in a tear down and rebuild. (Who knows?)