Big Kenny

I've lost track of the many times that I've got the "You want to do what?" look from my dear wife. As most of you who actually read this know we opened a commercial truck wash facility in Wells, Nevada this past February. As I recall the idea for that also received the afore-mentioned look. Anyway, a few months after we opened we were visiting some friends up in Riverton. As Jen was catching up with Kristen, I was drooling over Matt's restored car collection.

The truck wash topic came up and I told him I would like to get an old classic Peterbilt or Kenworth to fix up and park outside our chrome shop. I described the ideal truck as an old 50's or 60's model Peterbilt with a needle-nose long hood and all decked out in Chrome. I wanted something to be an eye catching billboard but also have the capacity to be driven to haul equipment, hay and of course truck shows. Matt asked me if I was stuck on a "Pete". I told him I wasn't and he asked if I would be interested in a Kenworth. I said sure. He told me he had one parked out in back of his house. My wife just rolled her eyes as we excused ourselves from the house and went out to look at it.

It was dark outside but with the aid of some outdoor lighting you could see the classic lines of a 1969 A model Kenworth. It was a dingy maroon color but the body was in great shape. Matt gave me the details on it and what he was planning to do with it. He said it was going to be fixed up to be a yard truck at his trucking yard up in Salt Lake. They had put a newer 400 Cummins engine with a newer transmission and new rear-ends.

I told him I was interested and we started to discuss price. We went back in the house and my wife could tell I was sold. On the drive home I gave her my sales pitch and why it was such a good buy and how it would help etc. She wasn't an easy sale but she said finally she'd go along with the idea if I really felt that passionate about it. Once I decide to do something she always gives me her unwavering support. That has proved to be such a blessing, time and time again.

In the following week we made a couple of attempts at getting the truck started. We finally realized it had a safety toggle switch that allowed it to start. Once that was found it fired right up. I had never driven a class 8 truck. I don't know if Matt knew that when he told me to get in and take it for a spin around the neighborhood. I got it and promptly stalled it as I couldn't get my foot on the clutch because the steering wheel was so huge and there wasn't enough room for my long legs. I opened the door and put my foot on the clutch and then shut the door and off I went. Again my first time driving a truck that big with a transmission like that. I couldn't figure out the shifting thing very well. I ground the gears a lot and made a lot of noise. I got back to Matt's and told him about it. He said, "Come on, let me show you how to drive it." I sat on a 5 gallon bucket for a seat and he drove. He showed me the art of shifting without using the clutch. We sped down 12600 South by our old house and he threw the "jake brake" on. It was awesome. As you can see from the pictures it wasn't the prettiest truck, but I could see the potential. Matt agreed to re-plumb all the air lines and replace the bad batteries. We settled on a price and he agreed to deliver it to Wells.

I made arrangements to get it painted by a local guy from Wells. I talked to a couple of our chrome distributors and they agreed to front a large portion of the chrome for it as it was going to be our show truck. I spent long hours at the Kenworth dealership getting replacement parts for it. I was hoping to have it all done in time for the car show in Wells, the end of July. Needless to say that didn't happen. In fact it's still not done. It is mostly painted and this past Saturday my dad helped me put a new hardwood floor in it.

One thing I'm not is patient. When I was a kid and I got model cars to put together, the glue just didn't dry fast enough. I wanted to finish it all in one shot. I hated waiting for parts to dry. Putting together Big Kenny is much the same for me. I've finally decided that parts of this truck will just be a work in progress.

Most people still think I'm crazy for doing it. Even my wife admits she still doesn't have the vision for it but trusts it will turn out to be an amazing project in the end. My dad who is very practical thinks I'd be better off spending money on a real sign. Once it's done, if it's ever done, they'll see what I've envisioned for the past eight months. I hope it turns out. I'll keep you posted as it comes along.