What have you done to your CUCV today/lately - Part 2

[AFGVET]

I needed to do both the radiator and a harmonic balancer. I suspected that the rubber in that 40 year old stock harmonic balancer if not shot would let go at the worst possible moment. So I decided on doing a Fluidampr.
The radiator was rotted out completely on the lower half. I got a radiator from Summit, one of their Classic OEM. It ran me over $500. (rebuilding the old one was going to be over that).
Well Caveat Emptor. The first problem was that the engine oil cooling lines wouldn't screw in. The was a small slip of paper in the radiator's box mentioning something about Summit not covering stripped threads. So I pulled out the radiator and took a close look at the fitting in the radiator's side tank. The bums that made it in Mexico (yes it was made in Mexico, not hyperbole) did not completely cut threads in it. I took first to a radiator shop and they referred me to their machinist, but while he examined it and mentioned that the oil cooler's construction (inside the radiator) was of a lesser quality than the original. (something about barrel vs. plate). -well I can always put in an auxiliary cooler if its a problem, right?-
Machinist said the female fitting in the radiator was "rough" and not really cut at all for any fitting. Additionally, it was not deep enough to ensure the male fitting would seat deep enough. This was fixed by using a steel intermediate fitting and turning it to fit.

The Fluidampr went right in with no problems.
I bolted up the pulleys and Lo and behold the power steering pump was being a difficult Son-of-a-Cuss (see no profanities for all you thin-skinned word police).
Yes there is that GM claw tool (thexton 383) for this, but I didn't have it.
I watched this video and found it very helpful. (especially that part about the hidden 14mm bolt)
I devised a method using a ratchet strap to pull the pump in the correct direction. It worked pretty well.

My wife came out and I watched as I turned it a few times. With no overt sounds of strike at the flywheel, I started her up.
She actually asked what I had done because it was much smoother and quieter.

(I tried to sequence the photos, but I couldn't figure out how)

 

[2INSANE]

New Year’s Day a group of 14 of us went to the top of Flathead pass during a snow storm. 1/2 of us got stuck. We all creeped, winched, dug and pulled each other to the top. A few close calls with roll overs or sliding off the mountain and had only one Jeep break down. After the trail ride was over, on the way home my front differential new Yukon 5.13 gear blew. Other then that, that’s all I’ve done so far.

 

[87cr250r]

Check out a product called Daubert Nox-Rust 121 B. It's supposed to be the self-healing wax coating GM uses on some of their truck frames. I'm in California so I can't tell you how well it works but it looks good and the price isn't bad. It can be applied over other coatings and requires minimal prep. It's a newer technology based on gelled calcium sulfonate.