How Do You Build in Reliability?

[rbsWELDER]

Got a couple inches of snow in Mooresville, NC, this morning. So I thought it would be a good time to get a big cup of Earl Grey hot tea and kick off a discussion that I have been thinking about for some time!

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times” Charles Dickens words certainly come to mind when I reflect on this past hot rod season. This past summer has been a bit of a roller coaster ride with our T-bucket!

We have had some great times including NTBA get togethers in: Ocala, Green Bay and Pigeon Forge. I took first place at a car show, Kid’s Choice Award. Dozens of night cruises with Laurie around Lake Norman.
Since Ying cannot exist without Yang, we have had some car trouble:
• Ignition Problems just before Ocala. (Loose connector!) Thanks, again, Cuz!
• Starting problems before Green Bay. (Battery and Alternator replaced.)
• Fuel Pump failure/clogged fuel filter - Replaced in Green Bay parking lot.
• Broken Windshield, in the trailer, upon our return from Green Bay.
• Rear Axle – Bad Bearing/Leaking Seals
• Gas leaking. (Multiple pin hole leaks, in our gas tanks.) Addressed with an internal ‘aircraft fuel tank coating’ inside our tanks, still giving it time to make sure the problem is completely solved! (Note: Tim Lyon has made numerous improvements to his fuel tank design since my bucket was built. I may yet have him build me some new fuel tanks)
• Thermostat – Stuck open, such that the engine never got up to temperature.

So as the weather gets colder and our miles per week decrease (Except for VroomKrazy), I thought that it may be a good time to start a discussion on how we can make our rides more reliable for the exciting 2018 driving season! If we get a hardy discussion going here, I will consolidate the ideas into a single document and post it on our website!

So let me start it off with a couple of thoughts:
• Use quality components! (I really like the Tuff Stuff alternator that I put on the T.)
• Wiggle your spade connectors a couple times each year.
• Take seriously any ‘mysterious problems’, before they become catastrophic failures. (Just before Green Bay, my car acted like it was running out of gas, with a full tank. Had I known to check the fuel pump, I could have avoided changing the fuel pump in the Tundra parking lot and not missed the Iola Collector Car Show.)

Your thoughts????

[mike wade]

So you are telling us that if it is white on the ground you just sit at home????........I might need a job like that, NO I don't need any JOB......But I will respond to what you are saying.........
If you will look the car over "any time" you come back from a cruise you will see some of those things before the problem..... .

Any time you can have someone else to "look" over the car when you can, cause a new set of eyes is always a good thing....

I always put mine up on the rack and inspect the underside for anything out of order, soon you will be able to see things that need attention......

That is a couple of ideas..... .....I need more coffee now.....

[Bill Cleveland]

St Louis Chapter has a "Safety Day" every Spring, and one purpose is having multiple pairs of eyes look over your car. The other thing is what we used to call "preventive maintenance" - change filters and fluids BEFORE they really need it.

[rbsWELDER]

So you are telling us that if it is white on the ground you just sit at home????

Mike - Come on, I told you that I was doing three things (Multitasking!): Sitting, Thinking and Drinking tea! Oops, actually four, I am typing too. I am sure that I will need a nap soon!

I think the visually inspections, especially by others, is a very productive course of action. When we get the Carolina Chapter up and running, I would like to have an annual or semi-annual Safety Day! Unfortunately, I do not have a rack or access to one. (Note: if I did not get laid off a year ago, my plan was to have one by now! The best laid plans.... The good news is that I did buy a set of ramps, unfortunately, they skate forward as I try to drive up on them.

[Lugnut]

The way I see it is this...your car will run fine now since you won't be coming back to Green Bay!

Luigi

[rbsWELDER]

But we are coming back to GB this summer!!!