Ventilator

Oh, I remember those days with the starter on my '69 Camaro, after installing headers. A fabricated soup can and some heavy woven asbestos were my friend. That was about 37-38 years ago. This was before they invented starter heat wraps, and maybe Velcro?

If it is only on the one side, and in the same place on all the trucks with this problem, it is likely a stamping problem. That is a very large panel to stamp out with curves and contours, mainly the flare at the wheel opening. The dies used to stamp these panels are enormous, and a flat sheet of galvanized steel is placed in to be stamped. The die has what are called draw beads around the outside edge which engage the sheet to hold it while the die draws out the form of the panel. Of course there is a lot of stretching and heat going on during this draw cycle. They use oils or coolants to aid in this process, but sometimes the draw beads might show signs of galling. If this happens, it will stretch high stress areas, making the metal thin and weaker in these areas. The draw beads are there to hold the sheet until the main draw takes over, so there is no overlap or crinkling. Most of these dies have a nitro cylinders that act like air springs that aid in the draw, which could have been lower than optimum pressure. Another possibility is they didn't have the setup correct (shut height) for a certain amount of panels during a run, since others seem to be having the same problem? My guess, by what I can see from the pic, is it may be a stamping die issue? Either that or the guy installing that side of the truck box is using a rubber hammer?

There is either an alien or TMNT in your back seat.

Thanks for the info. Back in the day, it was mostly 15" rims. Some 16" and 16.5".

Not so worried about the tread, more about if I could let enough air out for a good footprint? These new tires are a lot different construction than the tires were 35+ years ago. We could go down to 8 psi, not sure about these new tires? I have 265 65 18's, so they should do better than the 20's and 22's? Just been out if the loop for too long, but I have an old Silver Lake flag out in the barn. LOL

Didn't know Cummins was making 12 volt motors? I thought Power Wheels was the only one? Learn something new every day. Sorry, couldn't resist. Spent a lot of time at the dunes back in the 70's. Back when that '76 was a new one! Seen any new 14's out there putting around? Not sure if my factory tires would even get me on the dunes?

Never had a Vette on my bucket list, but several Camaros have been on there. That new Z/28 would probably satisfy my craving for my old '69. Maybe?

More likely what chuck said. Check the seal around the TBL.

5.3, 3.42, 87 octane. Driving back and forth to work. Mixed driving.

SOME even have it behind the rear wheel. Sorry, sore subject.

Never any moisture in my SLE headlights. Mine is garaged every night though, so that could make a difference. I have had my truck since last September, so it has been through all four seasons.

No good deed goes unpunished! At least in my world it don't.

I bought this 1986 3 years before you were born. I was 25 (your age now) at the time. My youngest (daughter) was born in 1989, when I was 28. Now my car is 28, and my daughter is 25, does that make me old? LOL Memorial Weekend, 2014.

It will only be there on trips and remote hunts, and it will be well charged with a battery tender hook-up.

Mine will carry a spare battery for remote hunting trips. This will allow you to jump start your primary battery, or swap it out if need be. It will just be a place to carry a spare, in my case. Just a little added piece of mind.