Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT Quonset Hut Garage Build

[dwysywd]

I'm by no means a Cummins expert but on my Duramax I was getting terrible mileage and it was smoking a lot. The problem ended up being a stuck open EGR valve, an idea worth investigating at least. Even with the issues you have had with the truck I think you will like it in the end.

JB

JB, thanks for the feedback. Fortunately I have no ERG valve because it’s the 5.9L before Chrysler and Cummins made the 6.7L with emissions ERG valves and DEF.

But I learned a few things tonight while talking with the guy who wrote the tune. And I’m not getting as bad of fuel economy as I had figured. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still leaking fuel but here is how he broke it down...

The estimated 25 mpg was at 55mph with a manual and stock truck with highway tires. I have 33” BFG KO2 ATs which will have a negative effect on my mpg by about 12-15%. I’m running a 48RE automatic trans. Also, I’m running King Ranch front bumper which will have a negative airflow dynamic and I was driving 75 mph. All things considered, I should be getting about 17-20 mpg based on these items (15-17 if going 70-ish and closer to 20 if going 55). Add in a small leak and I’m down to 12-ish.

He was telling me the devil is in the details. These were items we didn’t discuss before I installed the fuel economy tune. So he’s going to look at the data logs and see if he can figure out the gap. And I think I still have a high pressure leak only under fuel rail psi over 6000. Why that number, cause at idle less than 6000psi I can’t find a leak but if I drive it and then park over dry pavement like I did today, I drip drip drip fuel.

So I’m chasing that still but at least it isn’t as bad as I originally thought. The delta is between 12 and 15 mpg based on what and how I was driving Monday. That’s 3 miles per gallon difference or 1/4 of the amount I thought I was leaking. I thought I was leaking 5oz per mile but its probably more like 1oz or less per mile. That means over 132 miles I’d lost a gallon to dripping fuel. Much more manageable but still needs to be solved.

On a separate note, my radio broke and the aftermarket head unit I installed didn’t work... there is something wrong with it. Sheesh!





Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[dwysywd]

And my brand new starter broke Sat! Worked it’s way loose and cracked the trans adapter plate it’s mounted to and one of the mounting tabs off the starter. Thankfully my buddy came by and is pretty sure he can weld that up. Still!

When it’s all said and done I’m going to have a 2006 Dodge Megacab with all new 2019 parts LOL



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[jbmatth]

I know the feeling sadly, I have three times the cost of my truck in parts on it, I'm just glad I do all the work myself. If it makes you feel any better the "new" power steering pump and steering gearbox I installed 2,500 miles ago are about shot.

Glad things are looking up for you a little at least.

JB

 

[dwysywd]

I know the feeling sadly, I have three times the cost of my truck in parts on it, I'm just glad I do all the work myself. If it makes you feel any better the "new" power steering pump and steering gearbox I installed 2,500 miles ago are about shot.

Glad things are looking up for you a little at least.

JB

Not sure if it makes me feel any better [emoji1787]
But misery loves company!

As for the fate of the truck, well, when you buy at auction, which I do frequently, you win some big and then...

But in all fairness I love the truck and have resigned myself to the fact that it’s exactly what I wanted, setup exactly how I’d set it up. So if I sell it, then 2 things happen: 1) I will inevitably buy another truck and 2) I will start working on it... cause not one used truck out there is problem free. Even NEW ones are not problem free and they have a factory warranty.

So if that’s the case, I’ve got about all the normal wear items repaired. This truck was plagued with starter issues from the beginning. The PO replaces a starter when it was in fact a faulty neutral safety switch. Then someone beat on the starter with a heavy blunt object, my guess a hammer, and cracked the ecm lead wire mount on the new starter. So it broke. Then I paid for a new starter because the previous new starter was now ruined. I purchased one from pep boys and was told it had a lifetime warranty... more on that in a second, it was installed. The mounting tab on the cast aluminum starter cracked, that caused the starter to loosen, that caused it to twist while I started it, that cracked the transmission adapter plate mount to crack.

So when I called Pep Boys, they told me that it was impossible for brand new cast aluminum part, most likely made in China, to crack so they would not warranty it under the lifetime policy for Mfg defects. [emoji848] really? Am I alone that this sounds like a defective casting? It was a clean break in the mounting tab. LOL. Noooooo, aluminum castings from China fail? I can’t believe it. [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

I called American Express, when a company won’t honor their warranty, they will investigate and charge the company back. So I got my $187 back from Pep Boys at least. My buddy is going to try and weld the tab back on the starter. And he seems to think he can repair the adapter housing on the trans adapter too. But it’s been very wet here and I can’t get the 7000 lb truck through his yard to his shop for another few weeks.

So that’s the saga for now. [emoji16]



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[jbmatth]

It sounds like you are correct, misery loves company. I wish you the best with the truck and hope you get it all sorted out in due time.

JB

 

[dwysywd]

It sounds like you are correct, misery loves company. I wish you the best with the truck and hope you get it all sorted out in due time.

JB

Amen brother! Just when I thought the weather was going to cooperate, a) silly rabbit- I remembered I was in Michigan and b) it’s been raining every other day

so it will take a week of 80 degree weather and no rain before I can move it to his shop. Nbd

I rearranged my vehicle situation so that I am not driving the older super duty every day and I clean it this weekend and put it up for sale. Can’t wait to get that monkey off my back.



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[dwysywd]

Super duty is up for sale! It cleaned up nice. I almost don’t want to sell it. LOL. Dirt road on the way got dirty again. I had to wash it before I parked it out on the highway for sale.


Not much to update on the truck. I took the opportunity to gunk foam the entire engine bay, used the whole can, and pressure washed every square inch of the engine bay and below while I had a borrowed PW. Now time to get the starter off tonight to take it and get fixed. Still waiting on the weather to dry up enough here so that I can drive it back to my buddy’s shop behind his house and repair the adapter plate the starter mounts against on the engine.

Sidebar, I ordered a new single DIN radio with a small 3” screen that accepts a camera feed. And I purchased a wireless backup camera that powers off the reverse light switch feed. So while the truck is waiting to be repaired I can do that work.

Also took my 4” cube fog and driving lights off my super duty I’m selling and I am going to install them on the Megacab. These are rigid knockoff Chinese LED lights. The ranch hand bumper has cut always for 2 sets of lights. And the rear ranch hand bumper has 2 LED backup lights already installed that need to be connected to the reverse lights. Going to connect that when I install the backup camera.

And finally I purchased a Ram Mount to attached to the seat base mounting bolt to hold an iPad for Bluetooth tunes/podcasts and Waze maps. I was torn on putting it in dash and mounting the iPad. I decided that because I already had the iPad and I don’t really like the car play interface that much. Also the car play was going to require a double DIN radio which meant o had to cut the bezel and give up the cubbie below the radio. And the mounting hardware doesn’t cover the stupid radio knob cutouts that dodge put in the dash for the factory 1.5 DIN radio. It just looks ridiculous with the kit mounted.

So I guess that’s more of an update than I realized. Pics to follow as I complete this stuff over the next few days.



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[bunks-tj]

that super duty is a great looking truck

 

[dwysywd]

that super duty is a great looking truck

Yeah starting to feel like maybe I’m selling the wrong truck. LOL



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[dwysywd]

Sold the Megacab too. Back to QBT and not working on vehicles!

This is what I got to work on this evening, where I had 90 min to myself to just chill in the barn.

I drilled 2 holes, one for the additional 30 amp breaker and one for the frost free water valve. Felt good to get started on these.





Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[dwysywd]

Update: seems the only time I get to update anything is when I’m not home.

So anyhow, finished the alternate 110 - 30 amp plug. Now I just need to add the 220 - 50 amp welder.

Next, purchased a pneumatic motorcycle table. Going to get rid of the pallet rack I have it on now. My dad just finished his cement. So the pallet rack is a donor to his barn and I get some much needed floor space back. I loved it. It was CAF, but alas you have only so much SGFT and the pallet rack was too big.




Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[dwysywd]

Well sorry for the delays in posts. But I’m taking some advice I decided to embrace and this summer was awesome. I may not have gotten to all the projects but here’s a good run down:
[emoji3591]Helped a good friend relocate back to Michigan where we are starting the process of buying a business.
[emoji3591] took the whole family to glacier national park, all I can say is wow! If you haven’t been there then you are missing out. This was the most majestic place I’ve been in the US and I’ve been a few places. This is a bucket list for everyone in my opinion, even if you don’t like the outdoors. We rented a cabin about an hour south of the park. It was amazing. My kids are 20 and 16 now and they were a ton of fun to take on this trip.
[emoji3591] helped my 16 yr old son pass his driving test. We did lots of parallel parking practice
[emoji3591] and now we almost have his 1997 XJ ready for its maiden Offroad trip to Batchawana ON, CAN. We are both excited.
[emoji3591]been hitting the gym 3-5 x per week since July 2018 so at it a solid year now and feels great

So maybe I didn’t clean the garage or finish building my motorcycle but hey I figured I need something to do this winter when it snows!



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[jbmatth]

Sounds like you had a good time, for some reason the photos aren't showing up for me in your last post.

JB

 

[Finallygotit]

........for some reason the photos aren't showing up for me in your last post. JB

Same here

 

[racer-john]

Pics X3

 

[dwysywd]

Sounds like you had a good time, for some reason the photos aren't showing up for me in your last post.

JB

Lmao. I’m so sorry guys. They were just arrows. I will post photos. I have to get them from my photo-journalist daughter. LOL.

Here is what I have. The first one was the view of Lake from our cabin front porch. We rented this awesome place about an hour from Glacier NP. It was only about 20 min further than Kalispell and it was awesome. Definitely going back.
Kids and wife around the fire pit. Mountain goats on high line trail at logan’s pass, and the wife at a Avalanche lake. And the wife and I In front of Jackson Glacier just east of logan’s pass.





Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[djones1a]

Beautiful country, Thanks for sharing!

 

[bdbecker]

I think that area is going to be our next big family vacation spot. My brother spent a few summers around Lakeside and knows all the in's and out's of the area.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Super nice photos!

 

[dwysywd]

I think that area is going to be our next big family vacation spot. My brother spent a few summers around Lakeside and knows all the in's and out's of the area.

BD I’d highly, highly (did I mention highly?) recommend going there on a family trip. I will be the first to admit that I felt at first like I wasn’t sure I’d like it let alone love it. Next, I was simply blown away at the majesty of the mountains and the natural raw beauty that Glacier offered. It’s the same feeling you get when you see the Grand Canyon for the first time. I’ve been in the mountains a lot. I driven through the Rockies from Denver to Moab and Salt Lake City to Moab 7 or 8 times. But there was something magical about this place (and not like that over commercialized mouse magic). I think the phrase is heart stopping beauty. There are lots of options to get there too. We flew into Missoula mainly because it was only about 90 min drive to our Airbnb cabin and Flying into Kalispell was more money and the same distance. There is an Amtrak that will literally drop you at the park entrance too. Or you can drive it. But iirc you live south central? So that might be out. It was 36 hour drive for us from eastern Michigan. And I didn’t want to burn 6 days of my vacation driving 14 hours a day (w/ breaks of course [emoji1787]).

As for the last month, my life got unbelievably complicated. LOL. I don’t quite know how it happened but damn if my Sept got chocked full. So my big work event that I’ve been working on all year planning is oct 7-11 and I’m gone the 5-12 to manage it. And then I get a few weeks off and then I go back to MT for some much needed RNR and my mule deer hunt.



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[bdbecker]

I know what you mean about the beauty of a place like that - our trip to Alaska this summer was absolutely mind blowing. I just looked it up - it would be a 20 hour drive from here. If it were just Wife and I, we'd probably drive because we like road trips and have about as much fun on the journey as we do at the destination. But since it would be a family trip, we'll probably end up flying since I don't think the kiddo is quite old enough to tolerate something like that. Luckily, it looks like flights are surprisingly affordable.

I hear you on time getting away from you. I've been struggling to get my ceiling sheeted - I wanted to be done by the end of August, hopefully I get done by the end of the year.

 

[dwysywd]

Little project I’ve been working on. So my motor on my POS pressure washer went out. Normally I’d scrap the whole thing except I had just purchased a brand new pump. So I got on the hunt and found a replacement motor where someone’s pump went out. I got an extra cart with it. I had seen people repurpose the carts for various things and knew kind of what I was wanting to do. I purchased the hose reel and added it to the cart. The tip holder holds air chuck accessories nice, snug and in easy reach as well. Overall I’m very happy with my crafty little piece of repurposed junk.


Next Hut progress:
1) finally finally finally got my pallet rack up on 3 course of blocks. It brings the bottom shelf up to exactly 36” off the floor. Now, some might ask, “why not just move the shelves up instead of the whole pallet rack?” And that’s a great question. Here in the photo you can see why

I wanted the top of the rack closer to the top of the window. I didn’t have a lot of room to move it up in the rack, maybe 4”? And if I moved the bottom up too high it makes the whole thing a bit unstable. So this kept the rigidity and accomplishing my goal of having storage over the window plus a proper work bench height at 36”.

2) picked up a proper hydraulic table motorcycle lift for a song. So next is to transfer the bike project to that.


3) finally got my floor heat sort of working. I’ve had a lot of issues. I think I have a leak in my number 2 line. When it’s on and the pump stops the pressure drops. But when I shut down #2 completely, I don’t have this problem. So the floor heats the barn just fine without that line anyhow. I have 4 loops. But for some reason after about a week of running the floor looses pressure and then the boiler shuts off.

4) next is to install the pallet racking on the south side and move all the junk to an organized chaos tub system.

5) remove the wood stove. It’s in the way of project 6

6) setup and install my work station. This is a flat surface to write and draw. Seems a bit crazy to have a place just for this but I promise not having a dedicated place to do this means I have **** all over and usually very little dedicated space for working though details or a wire diagram.


That all for now. Thanks for tuning in.

Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.



Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[dwysywd]

Update:

Got the motorcycle moved.

Got the pallet rack raised. Need to remove wheels. Those won’t be of any use mounted that way now. LOL. The goal was get the bottom shelf up to working table height at 36” and the top shelf above the window. This could not be down by just moving the racks. I had to bring the whole height up.




Sent from my iPhone using a facsimile machine.

 

[86turbodsl]

New uprights would fix that for ya. Looks like keystone brand. Pretty common.

 

[jbmatth]

I like the idea of how you have that setup, but I have to say the blocks are the wrong direction. You have them loaded on the center line which is a huge help in this case. It is unlikely but if one were to break from dropping something on it the hole thing could come crashing down on you.

JB

 

[dwysywd]

New uprights would fix that for ya. Looks like keystone brand. Pretty common.

Thanks, bought them on Craigslist and didn’t know what brand. I will search for that.

I like the idea of how you have that setup, but I have to say the blocks are the wrong direction. You have them loaded on the center line which is a huge help in this case. It is unlikely but if one were to break from dropping something on it the hole thing could come crashing down on you.

JB

Thanks. I was thinking about that when I set it up. My buddy was the one who said being on the center line they’d be fine. But now that you kind of spell it out I agree. The table is really just for reloading work. But the top shelf with be for storage.

I have to take the wheels off and move them out to the edge anyhow. So I will flip them. I also wanted to add one more 2.5” block.

Merry Christmas everyone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dwysywd]

So got a few things done. QBT is hard to come by right now. That being said, here is what I’ve got cooking:

Finished my reloading table resurface. I purchased some white laminated mdf and then attached it to the base of my pallet rack boards. This allowed me a very spacious reloading area and the white cleans up nice with windex or equivalent. Next I need to move the shots shell and center fire reloading stuff out here.

Next I took a hitch light I purchased and then added a 7-pin pigtail to it. I need to simplify the harness but wanted proof in concept before I cut it all up. LoL. So now I will remove the 4 to 4 pin and trim the wire so it’s just a 7pin plug. I don’t need all the wire. It just gets in the way.


Finally, picked up this gem. 1939 Dodge WC cab. I’m retro fitting it to my TJ frame. Standby for some updates on this project. Almost done with the barn clean up. So I will be moving this project inside soon. Also need to repair my roll up door. All in good time Watson.

This was the inspiration. My TJ is a 97 4.0L not a Cummins. I have a 12v. Maybe down the road that could be done. But the coil overs will be nice. And I have a set of BFG MT 35” for it on base AEV wheels. And I’m adding an NP241 transfer case with 2wd lock out and a set of front and rear air or e-lockers. The goal is rat-rod inspired off-road. so, we will see where this takes me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jbmatth]

That would be a very cool toy to have, looking forward to updates on it.

JB

 

[Finallygotit]

 

[dwysywd]

Nothing to see here folks, just keep moving, that’s right, it’s just a 1939 Dodge WC on my trailer, that’s all. Nothing to see. Move along. [emoji1787]




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dwysywd]

That’s actually just ice on the cab. I took it to the car wash when I got home and soaped it all down. It’s tucked in my brother’s barn until I get my roller door fixed on my barn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dwysywd]

Added new work bench to the shop. The struggle is always finding a place to write or work out something. So I solved for that by installing this Kobalt folding wall desk that I purchased used NIB. I mounted the diamond plate behind it. Not sure if that’s going to stay or not. But the desk is perfect. I can sit on a stool or stand and it’s the perfect height.


Sent from my iPhone using my facsimile machine.

 

[dwysywd]

New door installed. And I decided to get the opener now. Boy is it nice.


Sent from my iPhone using my facsimile machine.

 

[bdbecker]

Sweet... jackshaft opener?

 

[dwysywd]

Sweet... jackshaft opener?

Yes. The nature of the type of building I wanted to minimize the amount of things I hang from the ceiling. Plus the reg openers are damn clunky. This is so nice I’m going to install them on my regular garage doors where we park inside. They are quiet and are really high quality. I will get a picture of it posted.


Sent from my iPhone using my facsimile machine.

 

[bdbecker]

I hear you. I removed my conventional opener when I sheeted the ceiling and couldn't believe how much of a difference it made in how open my garage felt. If I do put an opener back on the door, it'll be a jackshaft.

 

[dwysywd]

Ok update time. Here is a picture of my recently installed sun shade... LOL, repurposed magnets that were not great for their original purpose now have a new life holding the shade. Also, got the desktop working. It has a wifi antenna so it doesn't have to be right on top router. Set up 2 nice 20" flat screen monitors. I'd like to hang them from the back peg board inside the unit so that I can close the desk top if I need to, but for now this will be fine.

Also moved the motorcycle on to the bike lift. So, now, while I do have some junk on my reloading table.

I am slowly getting there, but I had junk spread out all over.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Looking great!

 

[bdbecker]

I love magnets... clever fix for the curtain!

What kind of windows are those?

 

[dwysywd]

I love magnets... clever fix for the curtain!

What kind of windows are those?

I like to buy rare earth magnets from Amazon. I keep a handful of sizes. These replacements happened to be special order... they were $8 ea I think. Those repurposed ones were too weak to keep the magnetic lights on the trailer. So new rare earth ones work great.

As for the window, it is 10'5" wide and 5' tall. My buddy remodels Chili's, PF Changs, Tim Hortons, Wendy's, and a few other places. I think this one came out of a Chili's. Its double pane. It needs to be cleaned... LOL, lots of fly guts from the shop spiders.

Anyhow, it was a "barn" warming gift from him for my birthday. I was going to originally put it in my office, but realized that it would take up too much room in the office. So, the barn was the next best place.