Hey DTR Friends
 

Hey all my DTR friends and family.I know it’s been awhile but I want to let you know that I am still here kicking.

In the last 35-38 years as an electrician and maintenance engineer I have worked five to six days and evenings a week while being on call all while driving my 1991 D-350 Dodge Ram everyday to the job other than a few scattered transmissions a turbo and a head gasket it has never failed me in over 500,000 miles.

In 2019-2020 during Covid I was able to stay home for an entire year and not have to do any work for the company so my truck just sat here in my driveway collecting dust although I did keep it washed, I try to start it weekly to circulate the oil and I have installed an onboard battery charger to keep my battery banks charged.

In 2021 I resumed my work this time only working four five days a week but still all odd hours.

During this time I was able to address my fuel gauge not working I cut a hole in the truck bed to remove the top of the tank and cleaned it out since my fuel gauge sender was not working and I could not find a replacement sender I decided to modify a late model fuel sender and since the low fuel light was integrated I installed a float switch and adjusted it for ¼ tank now my fuel gauge works perfectly and I also recently replacing my glove box door thanks to Oliver.

I was basically working myself to death but this is what I have always done.

So now in 2024 when I went to renew my commercial driver's license that I've had for over 50 years the doctor ask me did you know you have a heart murmur to which I said no, and she said I'm so sorry I cannot pass you for your your physical.

Yes cardiology confirmed it so after 50 years I had to let my Class A commercial license go and get a class C, I was kind of sad since I've had it most of my life.

Since 2020 life has been pretty rough for us here with my health, last year I pretty much had to retire for medical reasons.

In February 3rd of this year I underwent open heart surgery at Kaiser Permanente Sunset to repair a failing valve and now I am just sitting here recovering trying to plan out my life for the next few years as I get my strength back.

I wish I could be as active as I used to be on DTR with all my friends but as time goes on and I really haven't had to do anything to my truck except drive for occasional jobs and with diesel fuel being over $7.00 a gallon here in Southern California I do not drive that much unless I have to.

Although I do have a new Holset 14 cm turbine housing to install that my wife bought me for my birthday about 4 years ago.

I also want to let all the administrators know that I have been paying Photobucket’s ransom so my pictures in all of my previous posts and write up would still be accessible.

(I need to talk to one of the administrators about transferring my pictures to DTR so they won't get lost if something unforeseen should happen)

Every once in awhile I still check in lurking around to see what everybody's doing and to see who's still here and I've been meaning to get back on here but I just haven't had the time with all our crazy life..

Wow it seems DTR posts have really taken a drop from what it used to be this is so sad we made so many friends here just hoping we can reconnect.

Your fellow DTR Administrator.
Jim

Awesome to see you on DTR there old boy!

**** Photoshop and their photo costs.

Sorry to hear about the health issues.

Although we never really interacted I have appreciated and used many of the fixes you have in the stickies. It is a shame that this forum is going the way it is with all the "BOTS" that seem to be most frequent posters and I have contacted the Admins about this and was told that the unpaid mods couldn't read all the posts to see who was a bot or not....Really? with so few posts that was a cop-out. I hope your recovery goes well for you and you have many more years to spend with friends and family.

Glad to see you are still kicking Jim. Get yourself healed up and enjoy retirement, if you're like me you'll wonder how you had time to go to work.

Jim although I never interacted on the site with you but like so many others have enjoyed and learned reading from your in depth post.Just slow up a little and enjoy life.Have a blessed day

Good to see you Jim, I was absent for a couple years myself when life got rough but recently came back now things have started to settle out. Hope to see you pop in from time to time and offer advice and suggestions from your wealth of knowledge.

As for the pics on photobucket, not sure how to get them to stay up other than as you suggested the DTR hosts them. But you could also just copy and paste the entire thread, pics and text, over on the internet archive Way Back Machine....I did this to a bunch of my threads a number of years ago, just after Photobucket started the pic hostage and extortion business plan, and then just put a link to the archived thread at the top of the thread, so if the pics ever stopped working then people can just click on the link and see everything just fine.

Take care on your recovery and enjoy a more laid back life.

Hey Jim, welcome back. Often wondered where you went to. Sorry to hear about your health issues. Hope you recover enough to enjoy an active and enjoyable retired life. Now that you are back, don't be a stranger. Yes, unfortunately DTR is not the active and fun site it used to be years ago.

Jim - I had no idea we had so much career path in common! Sounds like i'm just a few years behind you.

Stay healthy out there!