HORROR STORY- How NOT to appreciate the power of a Cummins.

[John - K5AWO]

It started off with a call about 10:00 a.m. today with, "John, the pickup won't start!%#^$&* ('85 Chevy HEI ignition died)

I'm at work of course... I sneak off and pick her up, take her back to work with me. Send her home in the CTD. So far, all is cool as it can be in 112*F coolness and a ride that won't go.

Fast forward to 8:00 p.m. after the solar eclipse has started and the temps are finally below 100*F.

Check the '85 Chevy pickup (old faithful for years). Lots of spin with new battery and starter this spring but no go, No spark...

I short chain the pickup to the back of the CTD. Instructions to most logical and understanding wife: Don't go fast, keep it slow. Remember, I don't have power steering AND I will not have any brakes. Don't stop quick, don't jerk. Take the freeway so I don't have to stop at all the RED lights.

First inkling. Pulled out of parking lot of death on to the side street leading up to freeway. 50 mph in less than 200 yards, I am standing on the brakes with TWO feet and manage to slide all four wheels and the only results I get is hearing the turbo wind up, the 47RE downshifts twice and we get up to 55 mph..... then BRAKE LIGHTS!!!

We are at the on ramp. I call her cell phone to tell her to take it easy, 560-0@#$% varoooommm! drop the damn cell phone.

We come off the on ramp at 50 heading for daylight! I jam the brakes to get her attention...... whheeeeee whooosssshhhh and 65 here we are- 72 inches behind a CTD bumper, side rail freeway fences are a blur of whiteish nothingness...

I give up on telling her anything, just pray to the Lord she don't jam on the brakes.....

Off ramp time: Oh Lordy, she did it!!!!!!!! The brake lights come on at 65 mph and I loose sight of the chain and bumper in front of me. BOTH FEET, LEGS AND LOG CHAINS!!!! I hear screeching rubber, winding up turbos, and the gawd awfullist stink of burnt brake pads and drum linings...... That ramp is 5 degrees downhill to boot. Oh thank goodness, the light at the ramp turned green a 100 yards before we get there........ what little brakes are left on poor ole Chevy I slam totally to the floor. She stopped!!

DON'T DRIVE OVER 30! WE finish up at about 40 mph, and I won't bother with the rest of the story as it gets unrepeatable fast....