Itinerant Air-Cooled

That car kinda looks like the Popemobile.

Rural mail carrier was a popular gig in Iowa where I went to school. All sorts of vehicles used but mostly seemed like Ford Taurus. There's a Jeep dealer out there that specializes in RHD Jeeps for mail carriers. Quite the niche.
I have had excellent reliability from my 2000 Jeep and the resale value is a huge bonus.

It does at that. We still are waiting. It had some running issues their mechanic determined were carb related, a new one they got had the wrong base, so they are waiting from one from Japan. He said it has electrics involved with it, the last year of carbs before going to fuel-injection. Almost $1k for it. So we still have to see. Meanwhile, I've done one day of work, riding with and shadowing the carrier on the route I will be substitute driving Saturdays and vacation and sick days. 63 miles, over 600 delivery points, rated at over 9 hours. After that I was asked if I still wanted the job. Apparently many folks bail at that point. So the next step is five days of training at the main hub in Portland, which I couldn't do this week because of the Monday holiday.

So it goes.


neal

Forty percent of the twenty percent of those that apply for the job and are given an opportunity bail.

We bailed on the snail cute as the dickens that it was.

One of the conditions upon hire was that you have a vehicle capable of the task. My first day on the job last Monday I would have been turned loose to deliver a portion of the route I'm learning to sub for except I don't have the rig I said wouldn't be a problem to have.

My postmaster is not amused.

I'm now the proud owner of a 1989/90 Suzuki Jimny with the budget intercooled turbo charged inline three cylinder almost .6 liter powerhouse. A Kei car that hit these shores from Japan this past January 11. The cooler ones sported the .66 liter engine similarly outfitted. Fuel injection, electronic ignition, right hand drive five speed manual true four wheel drive in the simplest sense.

And there's some O-ring on the turbo that needs to be replaced because it's letting some of that intercooling system leak into the combustion chamber. And electrical issues regarding the turn signals, brake lights, burnt out low beam on a headlight kind of things.


neal

Holy crap, Neal: I punch into this site after five years and there you are. Congratulations.

Howya been? I've been rolling with life's punches.


neal

Been well, thanks. Working my day job and doing music nights and weekends.

Alas, I am of the forty percent who washed.

Anyone in the market for a RHD JDM '89 Suzuki Jimny? How about a 96 Geo Metro automatic with new tires and brakes.

So it goes.


neal

It was not for you. I am glad it fell thru, in spite of poverty etc.

It was a wild and furious ride deep in the belly of the beast.


neal

ruckman101 wrote:It was a wild and furious ride deep in the belly of the beast.

This is the Post Office you're talking about? They all seem pretty laid back to me.

Time constraints. Nine hours fifteen minutes to get, put in order, load and deliver mail and packages to 614 boxes over 63 miles by 4:30 pm so that any out-going letters and packages you pick up make the truck and start to their destination. You go like mad from start to finish and pray the packages fit into the mailboxes rather than having to drive up to the house and ring the bell. Actually grueling. I took no breaks, ate nothing, often drank nothing. And this is the slow mail season. I can't imagine Christmas. Most routes are smaller. Just my luck.

neal

ruckman101 wrote:Time constraints. Nine hours fifteen minutes to get, put in order, load and deliver mail and packages to 614 boxes over 63 miles by 4:30 pm so that any out-going letters and packages you pick up make the truck and start to their destination. You go like mad from start to finish and pray the packages fit into the mailboxes rather than having to drive up to the house and ring the bell. Actually grueling. I took no breaks, ate nothing, often drank nothing. And this is the slow mail season. I can't imagine Christmas. Most routes are smaller. Just my luck.

Yikes! That is a lot of pressure, especially just starting out. My local guys always seem relaxed and in control, but they have a dense suburban route that they walk, and they've had a chance to learn and optimize how they do it. Sorry it didn't work out, best of luck.

Eleven, twelve hour days were unacceptable.

neal

ruckman101 wrote:Eleven, twelve hour days were unacceptable.

neal

Yeah, ain't they'ain't?
Colin

So you ended up getting the job after all?