Considering Throwing In The Towel

[sargentrs]

Different places pay differently but I drove for Domino's here in town. I got $6.00/hr (minimum wage was $7.00) + $1.50 per delivery + tips. They like you to declare $1.00/hr tips to keep them clear on the Fed minimum wage laws. At the end of every shift, you turn in your receipts and hand them that much money and tell them how much you got in tips for the shift (we always figured 4 hrs = $4.00,etc) and that gets recorded as SS tips. Only show them as much money as you want them to declare on your Fed W2. Then you take the rest of your money home. I've taken home as much as $120 in one 10 hr shift because every else wanted to go home and I stayed late if possible. I figured I had to make 3 deliveries/hr to cover my gas expense. That was about 4 yrs ago so gas was a little cheaper. You really need a car that gets around 25-30 mpg to break even at 3 deliveries/hr. Most guys bought a beater Honda or Toyota (I drove my wife's Chevy Cobalt) to deliver and saved their DD. The top earner at my store had a Honda Insight getting 55 mpg and worked 40-50 hrs/wk. He made some real bank! I only worked 20-25/hrs and still cleared $200+/wk. Keep a log book and receipts for your expenses like oil changes, tires, etc to deduct from your taxes. I deducted $4000-$6000 per year in mileage, uniforms, maintenance, etc.

[Ranchero50]

That welder will fix that hole without too much drama. All you'll need is a big washer, a hole saw just under the size of the washer a 2x4 and some clamps. Clamp the 2x4 under the frame and figure out the center of the hole on the 2x4. Then used the 2x4 as a hole guide for the hole saw so your new hole will be where it needs to be.

Use a round file to bevel the new frame hole and the washer edge. Set the washer on the 2x4 and tack it in place. Then finish weld it. Flux welds slow and with the little bit of metal around the flux on that wire you can run it hot and fill it in. Just don't weld for over 15 seconds at a go and the welder won't overheat.

[davbell22602]

That welder will fix that hole without too much drama. All you'll need is a big washer, a hole saw just under the size of the washer a 2x4 and some clamps. Clamp the 2x4 under the frame and figure out the center of the hole on the 2x4. Then used the 2x4 as a hole guide for the hole saw so your new hole will be where it needs to be.

Use a round file to bevel the new frame hole and the washer edge. Set the washer on the 2x4 and tack it in place. Then finish weld it. Flux welds slow and with the little bit of metal around the flux on that wire you can run it hot and fill it in. Just don't weld for over 15 seconds at a go and the welder won't overheat.

I have a started topic here somewhere that shows the pics of what my radiator support holes look like on my frame but cant find it. The view your posts doesnt work still.

EDIT: Here it is

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =7&t=58043

[hdpusher]

If you did this the money you would save on storage would by alot of parts.

Dang near all of a truck will fit in the bed and a $20 tarp will keep most of the weather out for the winter.

For a job, stop up at Quad Graphics on the North end of town (old Century Graphics plant) and apply. They are always looking for someone willing to work.

[davbell22602]

If you did this the money you would save on storage would by alot of parts.

Dang near all of a truck will fit in the bed and a $20 tarp will keep most of the weather out for the winter.

For a job, stop up at Quad Graphics on the North end of town (old Century Graphics plant) and apply. They are always looking for someone willing to work.

I would but cant due to HOA rules. Not supposed to keep anything outside including trash cans.

[basketcase0302]

I would but cant due to HOA rules. Not supposed to keep anything outside including trash cans.

This is a choice I made some 20+ years ago and never looked back...
Dump the glittery lifestyle of living in such a place and move to where you can work on your truck-or get rid of the truck.
It really is that simple, unless you can afford to pay someone else to build the truck.
Good luck with the job search as i still pray our jobs come back soon and our economy once again thrives.

[sargentrs]

I would but cant due to HOA rules. Not supposed to keep anything outside including trash cans.

This is kinda what I faced. My house sits on a hill with a block foundation and my crawlspace is 12' high on one end and 3' high on the other end. I dug down a 20' square on the deep end, by pick, shovel and wheelbarrow (took about 2 months), and built a deck on top of it for a work shop then tore my truck apart and carried every part except the frame and the cab down under the house (you can see the pics in my build thread). The bed got carried around to the rear of the house and put under the back deck. I built a dolly for the cab and a cart for the frame and rolled the cab to the back of the garage and the frame in front. I rolled the frame out in the driveway and blasted it one weekend and the rolled it around behind the house and painted it another weekend and rolled it back into the garage and as I refinished parts in the basement, I carried them back up and put 'em on the frame. If you don't look in the garage, you'd never know there was a project going on.

[jimmy828]

I rent where i'm at now.When i rented it i made sure it was the kind of place where the landlord did not care what's in the yard. I built myself a 8x8 building to store my bump parts in while working on it and also keep it tidy around the truck itself. All that is in front yard.(love the country life) AS far as your truck being in storage, sounds like you could have more dollars in storage than the truck is worth if it stays there long enough. We all know that you don't want to part with your dream but we have to make sacrifices sometimes to make life a little easier for our self and the ones around us. Good luck with job hunt and may God bless you and your family.

[davbell22602]

Thanks for help guys. I dont wanna get rid of it.

[basketcase0302]

[68 Ford Stepside]

Have faith & things will get better. I have picked up extra cash by selling stuff I have no need for anymore at the local flea market. There is always something that your neighbors are willing to pay for, such as yard work, painting etc. Use the truck you have to make cash hauling away old appliances, trash etc. There are jobs, just not what you are looking for right now. Pump gas at the corner filling station. Transport the elderly to doctor appointments. I know from experience that there is money waiting to be made if you look for it. All of these temporary jobs can sustain you until that dream job you want becomes available. Have A Great Ford Day!

[davbell22602]

Considering keeping it for now.

[68 Ford Stepside]

Hope everything works out for you. Have A Great Ford Day!

[davbell22602]

Thanks. I'd think I be happier keeping it for now.

[elgemcdlf]

Dave I hope you find a way out of your present situation soon. I have been out of work since my heart attack over a year ago. A couple things I will say for folks is your situation is a perfect example of why you do not want to get involved with a HOA & why keeping it driving as much as possible throughout the process really helps. I have been doing ours a bit at a time but always trying to keep it driving. That approach would have greatly altered your present situation concerning the truck. What would it take to just put the beast back together again as a complete truck? Would it drive? That would end storage along with make it a usable vehicle. As your situation grows better maybe take an approach closer to mine to working on it.