BillyBob Pre-Restoration Log

TRUCK LINKS including vendor sites for old parts, custom parts, and tools as well as sites for classic car and truck organizations

STORE Operating in association with Amazon.com, books, recordings and tools can be purchased.

PLANNING for the restoration including project schedule and cost estimates.

TRAVELS WITH BILLYBOB With apologies to Steinbeck, this area of BillyBob's Garage will be used to log the trips BillyBob and I make together.

WORK-IN-PROGRESS was the restoration of parts of BillyBob that I could accomplish without a garage up until the summer of 2010 when I finally got enough warehouse space to work in. Now, it also includes the continuing work on BillyBob in the shop.

PRE-RESTORATION includes log entries of minor repairs and and adventures between time of purchase and the time when I started restoration, a piece at a time.

JR'S KORNER JR's Korner is the history of BillyBob before I got him authored by my brother, Wm. C. Kephart.

BILLYBOB MAINTENANCE Ever changing detailing, oil change, lube, etc. maintenance routines specifically developed for BillyBob, including required tools, materials and procedures.

STEALTH SHOP Urban residence design with large integrated shop and separate living quarters for a relative or renter.

6. WHOA! Baby

November 21, 1997. I had just pulled into a parking space at a local Discount Auto Parts store to buy lead additive for BillyBob. The parking space was on an incline. I had my feet on the clutch and brake pedals and had just turned the engine off. The brake pedal suddenly lost all resistance and went straight to the floor! BillyBob began to drift backwards as I scrambled for the parking brake pedal. I got the truck stopped, then started to examine the brake system. I could find no leaks and the master cylinder had fluid. I called AAA for a tow to the Chevron station.

It was a sunny day and I contemplated my good fortune as I sat on BillyBob's tailgate waiting for the tow truck. If I'd been barreling down the road when the brake system cut loose, it might have been the end of BillyBob and me and maybe some other poor innocent. The guy I work for is fond of saying "I'd rather be lucky than smart, any day." Back when pub-crawling was my full-time hobby, I was convinced I had a guardian angel riding shotgun with me. Eventually, the angel got fed up with me and left. I don't drink anymore and maybe the angel was back.

The Discount Auto Store I was waiting in front of has several employees from Latin America and so a lot of Latins shop there. I got quite an audience while I was waiting for my tow as many of these fellows were familiar with the old chevies . . . it's a favorite the world over. We were having a great time talking about BillyBob when my tow arrived.

Gary, at Chevron, told me the next day that one of the rear brake lines had ruptured . . . rusted from the inside out most likely. We talked about replacing all the lines, and I ordered the three required flex hoses from Golden State Pickup Parts.

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Issued Wednesday February 11, 1998

Updated Wednesday April 18, 2018

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