Kinda long.
Some on here know Billy & I have a contest going. I paid off my trans 1st, Win 1. I have in garage 1st, Win 2. More details on this are in FLT L7 thread. https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=460867

Anyway. I get a call from Vince @ FLT. Where's your convertor? It's here, at my house. I said remember when I told u it was shipped by mistake instead of goin there (FLT)? He said, ya, now I do.
It sat since Feb. here at home. He preferred to have it, cause aftermkt parts need to be checked for fitment. I commend Vince for his attn. to detail & goin the extra mile even if it delayed or didn't delay.
I had to call UPS hub for details if it'd make it to FLT on time to be in my hands for w/e. Then, call & meet a UPS driver @ 3:30PM to take convertor to ship out. I leave a friend's at 2:40. Go to UPS Store to try to save time for my buddy, the driver. He didn't care bout a few minutes, but I did cause I know he's on a tight schedule. I get a shipping document & head home. I pull onto street only to see firetruck ~6 houses down. Think nothin of it. My bro's not home, & I'll only be a few min., so I park in his spot on driveway so I don't hafta take convertor as far as if I parked out in street. It's now 3:25. I scoop up some stuff to take in house, no sooner he pulls up. So I throw all my **** back in truck & take a 44# convertor on a lil longer walk.
Go inside to fire up computer. Power's out. Remember fire truck down street? It's due to a downed power line.
I needed to look up FLT's address, so that's a bust. Can't go out the fast way of sub to save time cause of...fire truck.
I go the other way, & of course gotta hammer it past the Sunday driver's out on Monday. I get close to x-way & see a gravel hauler. I choose opposite lane. Go over expressway & get in a line of 5-6 cars. Other lane:gravel trk only. Off the e-way ramp pulls a HD semi wrecker 90* from my position, blocks my lane. Now everyone jumps in other lane when lite changes. I'm stuck while he hooks a semi w/. trailer. 1 lite. Also, off the ramp, another semi pulls into street way wide right to go around wrecker & semi.
He has to back twice & head into oncoming traffic, 7 that can't move either cause he's manuverin. 2 lights more. Green, hammer down. 3:35 I meet drive. Call FLT, Andy picks up & gives address. I need driver's tapegun to re-seal CircleD box. I run outta tape after 2 passes. He said I'll handle it back at bldg & he does. Cause I followed up.
Vince has stall next day.

I'm plan on goin to track on Wed. for T-n-T 1 last time pre L7/ stall. On. Wed. I put my CAI back in. Still need to wash truck. My bro, can u help me? I check time, say long as it's not too long. 45 min. later, I pull hose around rear of truck on driver's side. Uh oh, rear is flat. Call local tire shop, cmon down. I'll be there in 10. Goes up on hoist, takes off & I say it's right here, pointing to staple in inner sidewall. "We can't fix cause of this", says he.
They check all their stores, warehouse, & Tire Rack. Production is halted, unknown when it'll resume & we have none anywhere. Before they told me, my other bro I called after I filled in I got a sidewall flat, & Tire Rack told him same.

I run a 275/70 on rear, unlike my fronts are 255/70/16. Spare is 255. I had to use spare. Track is out!!!

At home, I do a search on Tire Rack. As stated, indeed, no 275 Grabber HTS's. Site says 11, it's wrong. Zero! I check another place to find 1. It shipped it from TX & it's $53 more than what I paid originally 12K miles ago.

It's a OWL, but I'll flip it to inside.

Even my 255's are on halted production. Who knows when? Now, I have a dilemma. Buy the 275, but I can get a pr of 255's. Very few of these exist. I wanna run a bigger tire, like 17", 18", or 20". Problem: I can't swing 4 new tires & rims. So I'm kinda stuck.

Moral: It really stinks when a tire, a top-rated tire, no less, is put on hiatus. And lack funds to go to eventual bigger size to later run big brakes. But that wasn't to be til I went thru the 16" HTS's.

<--Tire size not made anymore...maybe. -->

 

I heard this story already....


J/K, bummer man...I hate spending cash on something that I already just bought....


BTW, I let you win

 

Aah ya, sure.

Oh, I left out my fav part in the novel.

I asked while spare was being installed & info on non-existant tires. "Do u have Drag Radials?"

What? So,I replied again, same answer, DR's.

He says, "For what, the truck?!?"

That's exactly why I wanna build a truck.

Plus, they're functional.

 

That's more reading than I did in my whole college career. That's some serious luck. I just hate buying tires period because they are so expensive.

BTW, the DR comment was pretty funny.

 

Just to set the story straight. When I called you about the converter I was going over your order sheet and pulling your parts. When I realized it wasn't here that is when I called. I never knew anything about your converter until I talked to you about it not being in FLT's possession. I don't get on the phone much these days because they usually have me chained to either my bench, the lathe or the Dyno. As I said I did not have a clue about the status of your converter until we talked Tuesday.

If you had told Andy this at an earlier date I guess he missed it and it did not get into your file here that you had the converter. I will say in Andy's defense.....give the guy a break. He talks to way to many people and sometimes it's hard to keep things straight. Hell how many times did the two of you talk in the last few days? As I said I wanted to make sure that your install went smooth and with me having the converter I could verify this part for you. I do appreciate you acting as fast as you did. BTW I hope you like the pan I hooked you up with!

Sorry to hear about the other issues you have had to face the last couple days. I say go get a six pack and go hang out with your new trans! The two of you need some time alone together to get to know one another! BTW the trans only drinks ATF! Enjoy Vince

 

when it rains it pours

 

Damn Tom, your dog didnt get run over too did it??? J/K

I understand your trials, ive had a rough week too, but its all good now!!

It all works out in the end.

It will be worth it next week when you have your new trans!!!

Man, i feel sorry you had to type all that out !! LOL

 

I had a long reply that just vanished too. Actually, my dog ran away. The cat got ran over after it chased the bird out when I went to get my bills outta the mail.

 

 

No worries. Long as your setting the story straight, lemme say this. Get down off your high horse, Ego Rider. I knew u called immediately after realization of no converter & were being sincere when u said so. I do know I talked to 1 of you months ago after stall came here & it was said a house converter would work. It was just ironic in a funny way it sat here for 2 mos. only to zip it out to you, & see it 2 days later. Reread part of my novel where it says I commend you for springing into action after that. You followed up by goin the extra mile on the pan too. Andy & I talked alot on the tail end. That's why I contacted both of you, I wanted it to go smooth.

The (+) part of this thread was FLT.

The (-) was the tires. The whole negative to this thread was / is the tire dilemma. It was never a shot to my FLT boys. Not even close. I even told me brother the only way this coulda turned out better as we drove back w/. trans was if I wasn't facing my tire dilemma.
I went w/. your co. cause I saw your operation. Your product & honesty is why.

I sacrificed working thru vacations to get this paid off quicker, as I can't stand owing anyone $. I work part-time, so it was tough. I'm not lokin for , just sayin. I made this happen thru effort. I support you guys cause of your product & integrity. And will continue to do so long as I see that. Please don't be butt hurt. I still love you Vince.