Second Jedediah Smith Trail 1824 — 1826

Day 7: August 28th, 2010 Pittsburgh (Radiator Connections)

Even that I went yesterday so late to bed, I wake up around half past six — totally wrecked, hungry and thirsty. I quickly get myself ready and start writing my diary of yesterday. But then, Helen forces me to move to get all my stuff before breakfast. All in all, we should meet Norma again at Kings at half past eight.

We first drive to Home Depot. There I am able to get the first set of things I need. But I would need additionally a 45 degree 1/8" NPT, which they don’t have. So we quickly drive over to Pep Boys. They have these parts. And I also buy the Four–Switch–Combo as I am already there. Then I should have everything.

Around a quarter past eight we arrive at Kings and I order the same breakfast as yesterday. Then we drive back home and I put my working clothes on. We drive on to David and I can continue working.

First, I remove the old transmission lines. This is not really going easy. Therefore, I simply cut them with a saw. Then I think about on how to run my new hoses for the transmission line and my sending units. I decide to mount the pressure sensor in the return line and the temperature sensor directly down at the outlet and then run the hose from there to the front. However, the hose would directly run along the engine to the front, where the surface looks pretty rough. Also the distance to my suspension is not really big. Therefore I decide to run the hoses in pipes.

David has a lot of garbage laying in front of his garage and I am indeed able to find a pipe, which has exactly the correct diameter for my transmission hose! I cut this to the right size and install it. The old transmission line mounts will be bent down and I fix the pipes there with cable ties. Hopefully, everything will hold up the way I plan it!

Then I run the hoses up again. But the lower hose is a bit too short. But that is not a problem. I still have plenty of transmission hose left from last year. When I have everything nicely set up, I must realize that I am not able to get the hose over the hose adapter. Sure, I have a 3/8" hose and a 1/2" adapter. I have no clue, why the old ones were 1/2", but the new ones are definitely thinner. So I have no other choice. I must once again remove the lower radiator connection and change the hose adapter. Also the new adapter must be torn apart again and connect the new one. Then I am able to assemble everything back together. Slowly things are progressing.

The only risk is that the compression fittings on the lines are not getting sealed again. Then I assemble everything back in: Install the fan, fix the upper radiator hose with cable ties, connect the electrical parts and hope, that everything is assembled correctly again.

Now the big moment is there to fire the engine up for the first time — and everything is sealed! Awesome, then I am able to drive back, it is now half past eight. This should be in time to get something reasonably for dinner. I take a shower and drive over to Lone Star. There, I order an 11oz steak. All in all, I am really hungry. But I am also extremely tired. Therefore it takes some time, until I have finished my steak.

Then I am driving back home. It is not even eleven in the evening. But I definitely need my bed now…

The next day is in preparation…