Second Jedediah Smith Trail 1824 — 1826

Day 6: August 27th, 2010 Pittsburgh (Radiator Installation)

Around six in the morning I wake up, get up just before seven and get myself ready. Then I write my diary from yesterday and the beginning of today and check my emails.

Helen has a breakfast appointment with Norma around half past eight. She can either take me to David before or I can join them for breakfast. Because they only plan to have breakfast for an hour, I can happily join them. All in all, I am still good in time.

Around a quarter past eight we leave. We drive to the Kings Family Restaurant in Cranberry. There we meet Norma again, who is already waiting for us with a cigarette in her hand. She has made a table reservation for us yet. They all know here in this restaurant. Norma is visiting them since 25 years. Finally, I have again my classic breakfast with bacon and hashbrowns.

Around half past nine we leave — and I am even able to take care of the check. Then we drive home and I quickly put on my working clothes. Then we drive on to David.

Now, the big story of installing the radiator starts. First, I exchange all radiator hoses, which I am able to see. Anyways, there are still many hoses left. It seems that these are hoses for all possible S10 variations! Then the big moment is there and I try to get the new radiator in. It is a bit tight to get it past all the hoses, but finally it fits.

Then it is time to connect the hoses. Everything fits very well, except the thinner hose which seems to run to the heater element. There, the hose is way too thick! I would have one, which goes from a bigger diameter to the correct diameter. But this one is very short. And I have no connector, where I can connect two hoses and build an adapter this way. Therefore I try to tighten the hose with a hose clamp as much that it will work out anyway. Let’s see, if this will be getting sealed!

Then I start working on my electric fan. There, all the electronic is already attached, also the installation kit which I had ordered extra! The installation is pretty easy. The fan will be directly hinged at the radiator edge and then screwed on with some mounting plates. Also the electronic is not really complicated. There is still a free slot at my fuse box. This is where the fan will now be connected to. However, my highest fuse is only 20A instead of 25A. I still hope that this is enough.

Then I need two extra wires to the inside. One giving me the ignition plus, which I can turn off manually to deactivate the fan and another one for the input to manually turn the fan on. One of the wires runs through the firewall fairly easy. But the other one is causing some trouble. But finally, I am also able to get this one through.

Then it is time to work on the upper fan shroud. There must be done some rework to get it over the new radiator. Also the screws to the front are no more long enough. It seems that the new radiator is way thicker! So I will also need new screws here. As spacer I am forced to take washers, where plenty of them fall between the radiators. Finally, also this part is installed.

Now I need a mount, that I can bend the upper radiator hose. Unfortunately, the new radiator has no angled outlet like the old one, but a straight one. Now, the hose is bend extremely which ends up in a huge diminution. And it also bends it upwards toward the alternator. This is nothing I can keep this way. Therefore, I bend it with cable ties and a cut hose (to protect the radiator hose from the cable tie) down and to the front. This should work.

Now, everything would be connected for the first firing up. In the meantime it is half past eight and I could make it for dinner this time. So, let’s fire up the engine and see, if something is leaking. Well, this is not leaking. The transmission looks like really dumping out. But at a point, where I have no clue why. So it is time to start searching. But I only see where the oil is dripping, but not where it is coming from. All connections are on the other side. There is nothing where things could leak over here.

Therefore, I start the engine again and take a look beneath my car. And there I see that a fine stream comes directly from behind. Immediately, I fear the worst and turn off the engine. It seems like the old and rusted transmission lines gave in and became unsealed because of bending!

Okay, this means that I must call Helen once again. She is playing Poker tonight with friends and will pick me up afterwards. In the meantime I can start thinking about on how to solve this problem. Best is, to separate the lines where they are already connected together. Most of the adapters are already there. But to do it reasonably, I will need again Home Depot and Pep Boys.

Just when I have finished thinking, Helen arrives. We drive back home and I quickly take a shower. Then I have no other choice than to eat a sandwich again. Somehow, I start to slowly starve. Then I check my emails and at half past twelve, I am eventually laying in bed…

The next day is in preparation…