STALKING THE USED PICKUP

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When you change the oil in your truck you should also do a grease job on the front end. This will add to the life of the vehicle's king-pins and ball-joints and make the pickup easier to handle. In the long run, it will also save wear on your tires by maintaining the whole front end in good shape.

It's important to keep up to date with minor repairs on your vehicle. If you need new spark-plugs or distributor points, replace them before they put too big a load on some other part and cause major problems. If you're conscientious about repairs, the per-item expense will be minimal and you'll save money in the long run.

In order to keep your pickup in shape, you're going to need certain tools. The number and type will depend on the extent of the work you plan to do, but a good basic set for around $50.00 should let you keep up with standard maintenance.

Don't go out and buy fifty dollars worth of just any old thing, though. You'll need most, if not all, of the following specific tools:

1 good grease gun with flexible hose and a nozzle small enough to reach the universal joints
1 hack saw
1 cold chisel
1 ball-peen hammer
1 complete set of screw drivers
1 rachet
1 good breaker bar
1 set of combination wrenches
1 set of open-end wrenches
1 set of lug wrenches
1 bumper jack
1 hydraulic jack

Economize on most any of these tools—any good brand will do—except the socket set. You'll probably need sockets ranging from 3/8" to 1" in a 3/8" drive set and it's OK to purchase these in the lower cost, uncoated variety . . . but don't buy a cheap brand.

On most other tools there's little difference between brands unless you're a pro mechanic. Not so with sockets.

The sockets made by the Snap-on Tool Company cost a couple of dollars more, but they do things that no other socket can. A special shank drive allows each socket to grip the sides of a nut or bolt head rather than the corners and many worn bolts and nuts with rounded edges can only be removed with Snap-on sockets. Don't worry about replacing them . . . Snap-on offers a life time guarantee.

If you're planning on being along way from civilization or if you simply like to be prepared, there's a number of spare parts you may want to carry with you. The following equipment should see you through most any small job you'll have to do.

1 complete set of water hoses
1 complete set of fuel lines
2 fan belts
1 water pump
1 fuel pump
1 overhaul gasket set
1 thermostat
1 ignition set (Points, plugs, plug-wires, rotor distributor cap, fuses and electrician tape).
1 coil
1 oil filter
1 air filter
1 tubeless tire repair kit
1 tire pump (One is available which screws into a spark plug hole. It's a good buy).

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