The Surprise Visitor

He's older than me, alway has been. In fact, if time stood still for him, but not for me and I caught up to his years, he'd still be older and wiser and smarter than me. I guess there's just some people who you never outgrow.

He called me shortly after the suspension was finished. He wanted to help. He was willing to fly from Fairbanks to Denver to help me. It had been 3yrs since I had last seen him. He and his family were traveling through Colorado to pick up a truck. He bought the truck on my word that it was a good purchase. I, reluctantly, handled the logistics while he took care of the costs. They stayed long enough to have a meal and rest before they headed out, 16hrs perhaps. Three years ago.

We often speak of cars and building them and driving them and wanting to own more of them. He's far surpassed me in the purchasing department. I don't think I've owned a fraction of the cars that he's owned. I've often wondered what is it about cars that links us together and why do we always want something we don't have in our driveway, another time perhaps.

We've talked about my build and the various directions I've considered. Too many choices I say, but really I'm just so indecisive. My wife's been so good about my changing moods and directions the last thing I want to do is make this build too expensive. Expense is relative and so is my budget, so talking with him has been good for me because it's kept me grounded. I think the evolution of the suspension was too much for him.

I tried to set up the project so that when he arrived we could just roll. Where the rubber met the road - I had the front suspension done and that was about it. I got 2 wheels painted up in gray in preparation of the new tires that I was surely going to install on the second day of our work. I could get the other 2 wheels painted when we finished putting the body on the frame, which would surely take us about 3hrs of solid, beer-in-hand work. If everything went according to plan we could have the truck ready for the shipper before I took him to catch his plane.

One thing leads to another one thing and we barely spent 3hrs on the truck the first day. Run here. Run there. Run back. Then do it all over again. I had the best intentions to have everything - tools, parts, and whatnot ready to go, but it was inevitable that I was missing one or two items.

The body was on the frame the first day thanks to John. I was so excited to get the body off the frame I failed to realize that there were 2 types of body mounts, but 12 locations, uh that was for John to figure out.

I learned from pulling the body off - take...off...the...wheels. Body mounts in place - thanks John

We ended up having to lower the rear to about 3in off the ground. 

The body went on with no drama - none. I had to get my 34wk pregnant wife out to operate the engine hoist while John and I lifted and pushed/pulled the body to get the body mounts to line up right. I don't know how John is so clean?

I kept John working while I stood there - I think I was looking at the clock, it was about dinner time.

 The body was resting securely on the frame and that was the first day. I had an appointment in the morning that I thought for sure I'd be home by 9:30. My 'quick' meeting ended up taking all morning. I didn't get home until it was time to get some food for lunch. I do not pass up an opportunity to eat. I love to eat.

The doors were on by noon on the second day. John lubricated my door and window hardware. The inner fender would be painted before the install, oh yea. 

I think it would've been a good idea for me to have parts undercoated and painted before John got to the house, but yea, that didn't happen. Why do something alone when I could do it with my brother. I waited and it was wonderful.

Brake lines installed! Brakes bled!

Once we got the driver side doors installed - ok, John let me help install the driver side doors. I was worried I'd have to hang the doors by myself and meanwhile it was John who had to essentially hang the doors alone. It really wasn't too difficult, but I'm glad that I had him to lead the way.

Inner fender - painted. Radiator support - painted. 

Installing the inner fender. Note me doing the work - yea I did some work. 

Hood - installed, but I almost amputated John's fore, middle, and ring fingers... oops. 

I like the undercoating/painted look. 

Look at that! 

My brother John - another one for the wall. 

When the weekend was over 'we' had installed the body, doors, fenders, hood, radiator support, tires, and front seats. If it were up to John we would've installed the carpet, dash, lights, grill, and installed the motor and transmission. We didn't get as much done as he wanted, but as much as I wanted, so I was satisfied. I was satisfied with the progress on the project, but most of all I was so blessed to get so much time with my older brother. It'd been 3yrs since I'd seen him, but about 19yrs since I'd known him. I love the guy, my brother John.