| The General Lee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This was my very first pick-up. My Daddy bought it and gave it to me in 1992, when I was 11 or 12. It came with the ancient three-speed collar-shift transmission, affectionately known as the "three-in-the-tree". The truck pulled well and road well, but lacked acceleration on the highway. I drove the snot out of this truck for over six years on the rebuilt 302. In early 2001, after the transmission shifter failed, me and my Daddy pulled the four-speed transmission out of his 1986 F150 and slid it into the General. We had to fab up some mounting brackets and things for the new two-piece driveshaft, but we got everything installed and tested the very first time. I finally had to retire the General when the engine's rings were worn to the point of requiring complete replacement. Since the engine had been rebuilt a few times, the cylinder walls were already bored to the maximum diameter for oversized rings and pistons. Eventually, I intend to get a rebuilt 351 installed in the truck to use around the farm, but those plans might change. I can see this truck getting a 12V mechanical CUMMINS motor. :^) |
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