Obligations to friends.

Scrat · Post by **Scrat** » Thu May 12, 2011 8:14 pm

I have a problem. My friend is a fool. He's got himself in way to deep with this project. He has a towing company and bought a wrecker that had flipped over. He stripped it down to the frame. New cab, new motor. It's a Ford 550 tow truck with a turbo charged diesel. When he got the new cab from the junk yard he pulled it apart to paint it. He never labeled any of the electrical connections - nothing. It's a complete utter mess. He called me today because he is totally lost with this. I think he actually threw out the wrong dash board. The dash we have there might be from the old wrecked truck as he was thinking of trying to adapt it to the new cab. I guess it didn't work but I haven't been involved up to this point. Both dashes apparently look the same but the wiring is different inside.

He's in for 1000s of dollars on this truck already, he needs help with the wiring but I don't know if I can even fix this mess. And I do mean MESS.

Where do you draw limits with friends and favors? He's a good person, just gets way ahead of himself at times.

Advice anyone?

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:07 pm

Do you know of any one else with electrical experience that would lend a hand/favor?

He should know not to throw anything away until the project is over. I can tell there's a lot of frustration & stress trying to get up & running again.

As a friend to friend - can you refer him to some one.?

Perhaps you could call other junk yards or other towing company's for advice & parts?

I know my Dad used finger nail polish to label connections which helped. different colors etc.

Well, hopefully the loss will help with a Tax right off? I hate this kind of stuff, you want to help - they need your help yet every one is helpless..

Patsy

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:21 pm

Sounds like it would be a serious commitment. Paying it forward has its rewards though...

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Fri May 13, 2011 3:17 am

Can you source the workshop manuals with the wiring diagrams - without that it would be a nightmare and probably time for him to cut his losses.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Fri May 13, 2011 5:11 am

Go back to the junkyard, find another and take pictures.

Post by **LarsMac** » Fri May 13, 2011 8:13 am

What are friends for, but to take the shovel away from us and pull us out of the holes we dig ourselves into?

At this point, I think he needs to find a whole other cab, or Perhaps he can find another dashboard for THAT cab at a boneyard.

Georgia engineering the old dashboard into the new cab is going to create even more "opportunities"

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Fri May 13, 2011 8:33 am

Do what feels right. If he is the kind of friend that would take advantage of your good nature without thinking of reciprocating then maybe he is an acquaintance rather than a friend. Some peole will just use your friendship and are not really your friends. What I mean by do what feels right is trust your instincts and behave honourably (for want of a better way of putting it). If he is the kind of friend that wouild help you no matter what then why are youi asking? Some day you might need a tow.

Scrat · Post by **Scrat** » Fri May 13, 2011 4:53 pm

He has towed my wife 2 times for nothing, I have helped him before on other things but nothing near this big. We're going to go make a plan of attack tonight. It should be interesting. I have to say that I think he's a cool guy and a good friend but I'm going to make sure that if he ever does this again I'm not the one to call.

Post by **LarsMac** » Fri May 13, 2011 6:46 pm

Scrat;1359515 wrote: He has towed my wife 2 times for nothing, I have helped him before on other things but nothing near this big. We're going to go make a plan of attack tonight. It should be interesting. I have to say that I think he's a cool guy and a good friend but I'm going to make sure that if he ever does this again I'm not the one to call.

Next time ya gotta take the shovel away before he gets too deep.

I have a friend just like that.

We have had a couple of adventures like that.

Good luck.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri May 13, 2011 6:51 pm

Your a good friend Scrat and he will appreciate your efforts even if it is a no win situation you are giving it your best shot.

Scrat · Post by **Scrat** » Fri May 20, 2011 8:31 pm

Well it turns out it was the wrong dash board BUT one of the mechanics had taken the right one and placed it outside the building where they store old body parts ect so we got lucky there because the components of the old dash fit nicely into the new one. We tried to start it but it wouldn't turn over, after looking around we found the intercooler (it preheats the incoming air) for the turbo was half filled with oil. We had to remove it and flush it with diesel, we cleaned the turbo charger too. After that was done we tried to start it again. It ran for about 15 seconds and the low oil indicator light came on. We know there is oil in the engine because we put new oil in it. The oil in the intercooler was from the engine, it flowed through the engine and into the turbo system when it was lying by the side of the road on its top. I've got 13 hours into this thing this week alone he's got way more than me.

Funny thing is at first I was very intimidated by getting involved in this. Now I am starting to like it. :yh_rotfl

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat May 21, 2011 8:21 am

Funny how that happens it's a challenge now that you have to accomplish.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sun May 22, 2011 12:49 pm

I'm impressed you've made it this far - not too much farther and you'll reach the finish line.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:20 am

Scrat;1359897 wrote:

Funny thing is at first I was very intimidated by getting involved in this. Now I am starting to like it. :yh_rotfl

And that is why he asked you

Post by **spot** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:36 am

I think it's well worth the effort Scrat. You'll feel pleased with life when it's working. The more outrageous the initial request the better, that's my thinking.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:47 pm

Scrat;1359897 wrote: Well it turns out it was the wrong dash board BUT one of the mechanics had taken the right one and placed it outside the building where they store old body parts ect so we got lucky there because the components of the old dash fit nicely into the new one. We tried to start it but it wouldn't turn over, after looking around we found the intercooler (it preheats the incoming air) for the turbo was half filled with oil. We had to remove it and flush it with diesel, we cleaned the turbo charger too. After that was done we tried to start it again. It ran for about 15 seconds and the low oil indicator light came on. We know there is oil in the engine because we put new oil in it. The oil in the intercooler was from the engine, it flowed through the engine and into the turbo system when it was lying by the side of the road on its top. I've got 13 hours into this thing this week alone he's got way more than me.

Funny thing is at first I was very intimidated by getting involved in this. Now I am starting to like it. :yh_rotfl

strange sometimes how life can change.

glad your enjoying helping your friend.