Second Jedediah Smith Trail 1824 — 1826

Day 8: August 29th, 2010 Pittsburgh (Radiator Connections, Fog Lights)

Again I am awake around seven in the morning. Today it is Sunday and there is breakfast with Helen’s friends. Eventually I have the chance to see Virginia again. Around half past nine, we drive back home and I get ready for the next working round on my truck.

First, I think about on how I can protect the hoses best. My first search starts at the trash and I find a cover which is from a fuse box for the outside. This one is really solid and also fits from the size very well. I must only shorten it a little bit. So it’s time to start working and bend everything in the correct position.

Then I build a mount from perforated rails and brackets. Finally, I drill holes with my new drills. But what is this? Either the metal is extremely hard or something is wrong with my drills. It takes me an eternity to get the first hole done. When working on the second one, David shows up. He briefly takes a look at my problem and tells me, that I run the drilling machine in reverse! Oh great, what kind of idiot I am. This is something I have never thought of. But this happens, if your thoughts are permanently at your project. Now it’s way easier to get through the metal.

Next is working on the installation of these parts. This whole action consumed a lot of time. In the meantime, it is already past three and I don’t want to start working on my transmission this late. But I still have my fog lights and the switches. So I start working on the fog lights.

The old ones also must be removed. First I check, where the new ones would fit best. Beside the headlights and bull bar would be the best place. When working at this spot I also check, where the front bumper is screwed on. This one is also a bit loose. It’s pretty hard to reach the screws. But it is just manageable with a small wrench and extension. At the side, I am able to reach the nuts. This is where I measure the correct size for my wrench.

After I have finished this task, I start working on the holes in the bumper for the fog lights. They will be placed directly above the bumper mount, which is perfect regarding vibrations. Due to have the drilling machine now running in the correct direction, the holes are drilled pretty fast. Only screwing the mounts on is going to be dramatic. I have no chance to somehow reach them with my wrench in a way that I can still turn it. But suddenly I have the idea to turn the mount instead! That really works perfectly. I only need a washer beneath my mount and it works. Then I do the same on the other side before I start the electrical work.

Ground will be taken directly from the mount. The positive terminals are already there. I only need to crimp on the new connectors. Then I can mount the fog lights. Everything fits perfectly and I bend the lights in the correct position by visual judgment. In the meantime it is already nine in the evening and I start my drive back home.

After taking a shower, it is already too late to go out for dinner. But Helen had prepared stuffed pepper. This is what I can have for dinner. Around eleven I go to bed after I have quickly sent out my emails…

The next day is in preparation…