ML builds an old truck

[DarkMonster620]

Course has already been corrected.

Side note- the tech support number for SEM is funny. They don't even bother trying to answer they just outright tell you we're too busy to answer the phone right now and to leave a message.

I also sent an email into tech support which they did respond to fairly quickly. I have not gotten a call back.

It sounds like this stuff wasn't really meant for surface rust even though you can use it in that application. Looks like it's meant for heavier rust that's beyond surface.

Our tech support works sort of the same way, you call, leave a message and a tech[me] will call you back

[Monsterlover]

Our tech support works sort of the same way, you call, leave a message and a tech[me] will call you back

Yeah but if I didn't want to talk now I'd send an email

[DarkMonster620]

Yeah but if I didn't want to talk now I'd send an email

In our case is that during the c19 era, we all went to work from home ... I was connected directly to the phone central but, then the ISP provider made changes and we couldn't get the calls directed to us]back then], me now, directly ... So, gotta call and leave a message ... My phone number will ring for you if you were to call directly but, I would NOT know you are dialing since it's 'an outgoing line only' ... Plus, I'm about 5 000 miles away from Detroit

[Monsterlover]

PXL_20240310_175739035 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240316_170505384 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240316_170532164.MP by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240323_212720989 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240323_203538451.MP by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240323_203414666 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

Floors are permanently installed now

Had to move the passenger side turbo drain because I didn't think about it when I initially put it in and the starter blocks it

I used bulkhead AN fittings the first time because I was afraid to weld on the pan. This time I went the weld route. Looks ok to me so here's hoping it doesn't leak through the weld.

PXL_20240324_164707566 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240324_164651856 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

[Monsterlover]

And now I'm fixing paint. Again.



received_3348113028668055 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

[Monsterlover]

I was also able to get the engine and transmission back in by myself. And got the starter mounted. Pretty solid 9 hours of work today.

I'm just happy that things are more assembling versus disassembling now. It's a big deal.

PXL_20240324_235113089 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

[1.21GW]

...I'm just happy that things are more assembling versus disassembling now. It's a big deal.

 

[ducpainter]

And now I'm fixing paint. Again.



received_3348113028668055 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

How'd it go?

Ya know...if'n you did all your friggen fabricating before you painted...

it would look better.

[Monsterlover]

How'd it go?

Ya know...if'n you did all your friggen fabricating before you painted...

it would look better.

I did all the fab before paint. Things just needed a little clearance. When I painted initially, I had a different plan for headlights.

Adapt and overcome.

I think it came out pretty well. The only real way to know is look at it in daylight which is a little ways off. Looking at it with a spotlight though, things look pretty decent.

I ended up buying a detail spray gun at harbor freight for $15. And it actually did a pretty good job.

I masked a bunch of the frame and tried to do it in such a way that the line wouldn't show. Well, we all know how that goes.  

Before things were dry I pulled the masking and there were some sharp edges that showed. I fogged them out and it looks like it worked. And I'm pretty sure I managed to keep the paint where the paint was supposed to go.

[ducpainter]

  Good call on the detail gun.

...for the record...clearance is fabrication...

[Monsterlover]

Been working steadily and plan to continue that. Still lots to do but less so every time I'm out here turning wrenches on it.

Intake assembly did not exactly go to plan. Turns out the bolts that came with my intercooler were out of spec. One of them so much that it turned into a self-wocking bolt.

The holes in the intercooler didn't line up exactly with the intake but it was pretty close. I had all the bolts started a couple turns and was running them in gently with my cordless impactor. Done this many times. I did two and noted they were a little snug and the third one was when I decided to pull the plug. I didn't like the way it felt. I took the first two out and all the rest that I had started just a couple turns. The third one I had driven in was permanent.

Pipe wrench didn't work. Welding and nut to the stud and trying to turn it out failed four times, shortening the stud each time.

I ended up grinding it flush, center punching it, drilling it out oversized, tapping it for a thread insert and installing a thread insert. That worked. The whole process really took the wind out of my sails last weekend though.

PXL_20240329_013650275 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240329_152034114 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240329_181334128 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240329_185940432 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240329_190017150 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240329_190055782 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240329_211116359 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

I am officially obsessed with 12 point fasteners. I love the way they look.

PXL_20240401_212115864 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

Old, crappy tailgate bolts got replaced with new stainless hardware and cap nuts. I've been looking at them for 3 years and always knew I would replace them then the other day just about tore and ass cheek off on one of them. So they got replaced now.
PXL_20240401_212625006 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240401_212639998 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240401_212815477 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240401_212825389 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

And on to my shifter fiasco. I never caught it but the tremac t56 Magnum, and the t56s that come in all the Camaros and whatnot all have the shifter rolled towards the driver something like 10°. I never noticed it.

I cut the hole for the shifter in the center of my transmission tunnel and after everything was installed the shift lever was damn near up against the left side of that hole.

I was able to find a nifty adapter that lets you adjust the shifter angle something like 15° any direction. As it turns out it was designed for the stock tremec shifter location which is at the rear of the transmission.

I am using the mid shift option which puts the shifter about 8 in forward and is a slightly different design. The adapter interfered with the body of the shifter so I ended up making this bracket to raise the adapter up vertically as well as bend it more towards the passenger side some unknown number of degrees. It'll all be covered by the shift boot anyway so even though it looks bulky it won't matter because no one will ever see it.  I cut my shifter out of a piece of plywood just for mock-up purposes and everything came out pretty perfect as far as the location of my hand in space and the shift lever not hitting the dash or steering wheel etc.

PXL_20240401_221509313 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr
PXL_20240402_212405995 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240401_221504122 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240403_211106106 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr
PXL_20240403_211114999 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

PXL_20240403_211050353 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

I am now at the point where I need to figure out where I will mount a battery, where I will mount my ECU and how I will route my wiring. I have also found a hydraulic parking brake apparatus that will essentially keep the rear brakes locked using just brake pressure from the pedal. It's small and I probably should install it to pass the enhanced inspection when I go through that process. Nice thing is it will be out of the way and not bulky like a big handle that you pull in your Honda Accord.

And beyond mounting all those things and routing all those wires will be constructing turbo manifolds.

I have concerns about the weight of the turbos being so far outboard of the engine since I need to route the piping under the hood and back up in space. I don't have a way to keep them tight to the block, at least that I've yet discovered.

Option would be to go straight up through the hood on each side but I'm not as keen on that look.

Everything's up in the air at this point. It shakes out how it shakes out.

[Speedbag]

 

[Monsterlover]

Man, I just went back and looked through the beginning few pages of this thread. Have I had this truck almost 3 years and been working on it for almost 2 and 1/2???

Where does the time go...

And the money, where has that gone?!?!?  Whatever, it's still cheaper than a kid or a gambling/ drug habit

[Monsterlover]

I'm thinking this for the shift lever

Yay or nay

Screenshot at 2024-04-04 16-46-51 by Kevin Ames, on Flickr

[ducpainter]

I like it, but not for this truck.