Small update on the brake issue. I've successfully bypassed the ABS module, but haven't really driven it yet to test it out. I trimmed the ends off of the brake line going into the ABS module and replaced them with 3/16's male fittings, and joined them with a 3/16's union. My main concern here is finding out that my truck only had rear ABS, which means that it was likely not causing all of my brakes to lock up, which has been my problem.
Also, I (my wife, actually) recently got summoned to appear at court for a certain 'junked/abandoned' vehicle, which has been parked in my driveway; plus I drive it around a bit here and there. Obviously not abondoned, at any rate. So I look up the Missouri City, TX .gov website to find their definition of a junked/abandoned vehicle (italicized sections denote my emphasis):
* An abondoned vehicle is defined as any vehicle left unattended
on the roadway for a period of 48 hours or longer.
* An abondoned vehicle is subject to towing at the expense of the owner.
* A junked vehicle is defined as any vehicle on
public property for more than 72 hours
that is inoperative and does not have current registration or an inspection certificate.
While I don't believe that my truck fails any of these qualifications due mainly to the use of the conjunction word 'and' in part three, I am nonetheless focused on getting this truck re-registered and inspected before the court date on September 4th. My vehicle is not on the roadway, it is in my driveway. My vehicle is not on public property, it is in my driveway. My vehicle is not inoperative, and therefore does not fulfill the AND portion of the listed qualifier in part three. It is true that it has not been registered or inspected since 2008, but since I don't drive it on the street, I don't see the problem there. The truck has been and is currently, however, registered with the Texas Parks & Wildlife as as a Texas Off Highway Vehicle.
At any rate, the next step was to add the truck to my insurance (as a 'farm' vehicle). Easy.
Next will be the registration. Should be easy enough, even though the vehicle is not registered in my name currently, thanks to my lacking the title...
And then the inspection sticker.
I also have a shiny new 2014 Texas Off Highway Vehicle Program sticker en route in the mail.
According to the requirements for Fort Bend County, a properly inspected vehicle must have the following:
1. Horn
2. Windshield Wipers
, brand new, purchased in Moab.
3. Mirror
two side mirrors. No rearview at the moment, but only two are required.
4. Steering
5. Seat Belts
6. Brakes (system) (Parking - beginning with 1960 models) - Here lie my issues.
7. Tires
8. Wheel Assembly
9. Exhaust System
10. Exhaust Emission System (beginning with 1968 models)
11. Beam Indicator (beginning with 1948 models)
12. Tail Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
13. Stop Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
14. License Plate Lamp (1)
x2
15. Rear Red Reflectors (2)
16. Turn Signal Lamps (beginning with 1960 models)
- had to replace the flasher and turn signal fuse, but all good now.
17. Head Lamps (2)
, just put new shiny ones on a couple months ago.
18. Motor, Serial, or Vehicle Identification Number
19. Gas caps on vehicles 2-24 model years old. -
Brand new added on in Moab after I broke my OEM one.
For #6: Aside from my brakes locking up, the brakes work (overly well), and for usually a mile or so before they lock up. Plan is to load on trailer, drive to inspection place, and offload there, to minimize the amount of time that the brakes are being used. Should be fine for a once around the shop drive to test brakes. Only other issue is the Parking Brake. Which I do have, but it is not functioning properly at the moment. My plan there is to route the emergency cable back through the firewall and attach it to the brake pedal, in effect making my parking brake a 4 wheel hydraulic disc version. . I'm going to also add a traditional mechanical brake via a floor mount that ties into my driveline brake, at some point in the near future. In the meantime, the hydraulic version should be enough for the inspectors.