It seems like lately things just can't go right for J...This kid has had a tough time when it comes to vehicles!! When he first started driving 2 years ago with his farm permit we had a 1980 GMC pickup for him but before he started his Sophomore year we decided he would get to start driving himself to school as he always has crazy practice schedules with his sports! So we sold the GMC because it needed a bit of work, nothing serious but like the blinkers didn't work so it needed a new steering column and the Hubby just thought it wasn't dependable as it was so old! So we bought him a 1994 Suburban, I know...a bit big for a kid BUT I want SAFETY for my kiddos when they are out there on these country roads!! The "Burb" had a bad engine when we bought it so the Hubby replaced it with an engine he bought from some guy he knows that owns an auto shop.
So J drove the "Burb" most of the school year then randomly one day it broke down...Lost all oil pressure and spun a bearing :( So the engine was toast! So then the Hubby decided he didn't want to mess with putting another engine in it, nor did he have the time so he bought J this 1989 Chevy.
I know we went backwards a few years but the Hubby insisted! To be completely honest I was against buying this truck as it would have been cheaper to just put an engine in the "Burb". BUT you know how Hubby's can be! He was very adamant that this was a good idea because this truck had been completely rebuilt by a friend of his about 2 years ago. It had a super solid engine and hadn't been driven much since it was built because the guy had bought himself a different truck. So of course he bought it and I won't even go on to tell you how many things we've had to replace on this truck. BUT not engine things, like brakes, axles, exhaust...Hubby says "well this stuff is all acceptable because I knew it hadn't been done"...WHAT?! Oh my goodness!! So a little over a week ago J and the Hubby replaced the compressor for the AC and the next day J calls while he was on his way to weights and says the truck is acting funny! So Hubby asks if all of the gauges are showing normal and J says yes they are, so they decided it must be something tied into the AC. Well they were wrong...J calls soon after and says "I'm broke down on the side of the road" AGHH!!!! So we rush to get there and lo and behold there is oil and antifreeze/water all over the ground! YEP threw a rod through the block. Engine D.E.A.D~!!! I was so stinkin furious! We paid a bit of money for this truck and now we have to buy a new engine! I just wanted to cry! Just to clarify, J is a very good driver he is not "hot rodding" or anything like that. We have had comments made that he must cause this, well both instances there was nothing one could have done to prevent it!So for now he has to drive our business service van while we get the engine done. So it's been kind of an ongoing joke that J might call anytime and say that the engines toast.. Probably not a good joke because the call this morning to the Hubby before 6 am was "umm dad I just hit a deer"!! REALLY?! WHY OH WHY?! Thank GOD he was not hurt in anyway shape or form and I am so proud of him because he did not swerve! We have always taught him to just hit *whatever* if it jumps out in front of you because you are likely to lose control and roll if you slam on the brakes and swerve! It was shortly before 6 am, he was headed to weights driving down our dirt road about 2 miles from the house. The van is not terrible but it will need a new fender and grill. He currently cannot open the passenger door because of the fender damage.
Sorry but the birds had already stolen the doe's eyes and tongue!
Hair in the wheel were it hit!
Hubby getting it off the road before someone hits it
PLEASE OH PLEASE can we have a break soon!!
Well I am so ready to be posting something that doesn't cause heartache for anyone!! My original plan for today was another introduction on one of my yearling fillies, however I think there is something wrong with my computer....It is being really slowwww uploading pictures so I will have to switch computers tomorrow and try it! So for today lets talk about J's "new" truck!! Well of course you know I mean new to him LOL!! I spoke a few weeks ago about the fact that we were truck shopping for him, well we had a little change in plans and in the end decided to go with a Suburban. I know some of you are probably thinking "a Suburban for a teenager"?? Well we have our reasons, so lets see if you think these reasons are good!! My first and foremost thought when allowing my son to drive is safety, well as we all know the safest vehicles are usually trucks and SUV's...Now let me explain why the safety thing is such an issue for me. We live about 9 miles from our town, about 5 of those are dirt road and the other 4 are 2 lane highway. The high school that J goes to is about 15 miles from us so that means 5 miles of dirt road and 10 miles of 2 lane highway...This highway has been an area of many tragic accidents, with many involving teenagers. Matter of fact about 3 years ago, there was a group of 3 girls who had left the high school to go do something for the yearbook and not even a mile from the school's parking lot they were in a head on collision with a semi and all 3 girl's were killed instantly...This is not the first accident around in that area, there are more!! Now I am not oblivious to the fact that J could still be hurt or God forbid killed even in something big, but I do feel safer that way! Another thing that played a factor in what we chose was price, if you priced a truck and suburban from the same year the trucks are higher...Not sure why that is right now, but it is. Not only is the suburbans running lower in price they are also cheaper on insurance! So then one more perk is J will have plenty of room to keep all of his sports gear and not lose it! And even with all of his sports gear he still has room for that coveted speaker box that Hubby has installed for him...You know how them boys love to jam, of course J's jam is country and rock primarily LOL!! So with that being said I tell you that right now the suburban is kind of "soccer mom" look right now, but give my Hubby and J a month and it will be a full fledged redneck ride LOL!! J has decide the name for his burb is "the Shaggin Waggin" LOL!! Teenagers, oh they crack me up!!
So today I decided I would start cleaning it out as we just got it home last night..We had to repair some things at the shop and we will do the rest here until it's ready to be painted, yes of course J gets to have it painted a color that HE would like to have so I think he has chosen black. Well I am going to tell you I pray that anyone who has 4 children and owns a vehicle of that size does not let the kids go wild like this previous owner did LOL!!! We also decided that we don't think the thing has been cleaned since it was new!! Hubby bought this from a guy up in K.C. but they originally brought it from California, man they got a lot of sand in California :)But this thing is so filthy inside I literally used 2 bottles of 409 and 2 rolls of paper towels and that is just the console and front seat area!!
J waiting for Hubby to unlock it so he can see the inside!!
Hubby showing J how everything works..
Of course J is now playing with the radio LOL!!
Still checking it all out!!
Loading her up!!
Up she goes..
Hubby saying WHOA boy!!
Ready to go home now!!
I promise as soon as this "redneck ride"is done I will post the after pictures!!
