rattle_snake's random shop projects v0.1

[Ohmthis]

425 hp and 550 tq, that will really get the truck motivated! My truck project is a paltry 225 hp and 300 tq if I’m lucky. Keep updating, I really like your posts.

 

[rattle_snake]

425 hp and 550 tq, that will really get the truck motivated! My truck project is a paltry 225 hp and 300 tq if I’m lucky. Keep updating, I really like your posts.

Until I can afford/justify re-gearing the axles even 425hp in a heavy truck with big tires won't be impressive. Even after gearing it won't be anything special compared to a modern truck with 6+ speed trans, turbo, etc. But it won't cost 80k either.

 

[rattle_snake]

Received parts for pump rebuilds. Found a impeller that is used many brands of pumps for half price. Vendor said 'one in the same'.
Well turn out not so interchangeable. But I have tools and enjoy the challenge.
So after some rework on the lathe I was able to get the impeller installed but it rubbed the volute when torqued down. After a few more rounds of clearancing they fit OK.

Installed a new bearing on the aux pump and got the pair ready for installation. Still have to do wiring an filll tub for leak test. What can go wrong?
I guess I don't like our disposable society and would rather save $400 rebuilding instead of replacing just because a wear item is worn out.

 

[zmotorsports]

That looks (and sounds) like the same pump issues I had when we had our hot tub. The sales people just kept telling me to buy a new pump assembly and I told them I fix things for a living and didn't want to drop the coin merely for a new assembly.

I'm with you Justin, society looks at everything as being disposable these days.

Great job fixing (saving) it rather than being a part of the problem.

 

[rattle_snake]

That looks (and sounds) like the same pump issues I had when we had our hot tub. The sales people just kept telling me to buy a new pump assembly and I told them I fix things for a living and didn't want to drop the coin merely for a new assembly.

I'm with you Justin, society looks at everything as being disposable these days.

Great job fixing (saving) it rather than being a part of the problem.

The first few 'spa parts' website I browsed didn't actually sell parts and only new complete assemblies. I like this quote:
"Unless the pump is less than about 3 years old there's not much point in repairing a broken pump. You should just replace it."
Uh, no.

Got the tub filled and running, no leaks on anything I worked on. But a leak somewhere else that I can't see or touch. Will see where that goes. Next is new guts for the ozonator as they only last a few years. Tub is a 07, bough it for $1800 in 09'. Moved it twice and this is first repair. Gets lots of use year round so can't complain much.

 

[C91x]

Have you considered finding an E4OD to put behind the 460 instead of the C6? Lock up torque converter and OD are worth it in my opinion.

 

[rattle_snake]

I did consider the E4OD but as you likely know they only came with electronic controls behind fuel injected 460s. So an aftermarket stand alone controller is needed unless you run the OEM ECU/FI motor. The controllers are expensive and I don't plan on a lot of highway miles. C6's are cheaper to buy and have built. So mainly a $ thing. Lots of other aspects of the project to pour money into.

 

[C91x]

I bought my us shift controller from baumann for around 400, made my own harness, and used a cheap chevy TPS and was all in for 450. Being able to adjust line pressure based of throttle position as well as all the other benefits made driving my car so much more enjoyable. With that said its probably not worth the headache if you don't plan much driving over 50mph. I really wanted to build a bump or dent side ford with a modern drivetrain before buying a new truck but i was building a house and a shop at the same time so a brand new truck made sense. I just have a hard time spending so much money on something that depreciates.

 

[rattle_snake]

I bought my us shift controller from baumann for around 400, made my own harness, and used a cheap chevy TPS and was all in for 450. Being able to adjust line pressure based of throttle position as well as all the other benefits made driving my car so much more enjoyable. With that said its probably not worth the headache if you don't plan much driving over 50mph. I really wanted to build a bump or dent side ford with a modern drivetrain before buying a new truck but i was building a house and a shop at the same time so a brand new truck made sense. I just have a hard time spending so much money on something that depreciates.

Thanks for the info on the controller. What converter do you run?
I hear ya on depreciation.
I'm trying not to spend too much on the bump project. Not many, no matter how nice actually sell for over $20k, even with 50k invested. I think if I can get it done for 15-17k I can get about that back out if needed, give or take a little (working for free). Lockers, chromo axles, 4 spd TC, high hp motor, high end paint job and so on don't have much if any ROI.

 

[rattle_snake]

Completed yearly maintenance on the Baja. 673 hours on the old 454. Have a new oil suction pump but it's still super slow job. I warm up engine on muffs but one could argue that multi weight oil is thinner cold.

Trailer is so low can't put the drive down, so have to use slope in yard and stack of 2x6s to change drive oil.
Ready for another season of boating, which is now since it's pretty much spring (new leaves are going on trees already).

 

[zmotorsports]

Good looking boat Justin. I'm a bit jealous of your spring like temperatures. We are in the middle of an arctic blast and winter storm right now. Only in the 20's today.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Sub'd. Just came over from your comment on my thread and a welding table build. Slick setup you have working.

 

[rattle_snake]

Good looking boat Justin. I'm a bit jealous of your spring like temperatures. We are in the middle of an arctic blast and winter storm right now. Only in the 20's today.

Low of 20 is cold. Oh, wait you probably mean high of 20.

No need to 'winterize' it anymore now that it lives inside the shop, which doesn't really go below 60. Probably didn't need to do it when it was parked outside either, but my OCD forced me to.

Sub'd. Just came over from your comment on my thread and a welding table build. Slick setup you have working.

Thanks it was quite the ordeal but nice to have a well function shop now. Be nicer with a fancy new belt grinder, just sayin'.

 

[rattle_snake]

Built another flag/whip mount for a friend's CR250R as dune trip approaches.
Subframe/airbox/fender are quite different than my 450X even though they are both 2005 models.

Had to make a bend in the mount using pie cuts to snake around the exhaust

Tried to keep mount low and safe for the inevitable crash.

 

[PhantomEB]

That’s a great idea.. I will copy if I ever do get my CRF250.....

 

[rattle_snake]

That’s a great idea.. I will copy if I ever do get my CRF250.....

Thanks, I borrowed the concept from HRF, with some mods. Good luck with getting a bike.

 

[rattle_snake]

Well unfortunately the flag mount I made for my friends bike broke off in the dunes. Didn't see it happen and didn't find the other half. The 1/2 square tube failed behind the rear mount where the leverage is highest. Probably just fatigued from oscillations and became brittle. The Dunes are very rough on everything.
I rode the piss out of my 450 getting only 10 mpg. It was my first trip to the dunes and I made it out alive after tackling the biggest hills and bowls. One of the most thrilling experiences. Could be 100' drop off on other side of a given ridge so have to pick intelligent route and be smart.
Atop Olds

 

[rattle_snake]

Transfer case torn down for re-seal and twin stick modifications. Bearings are OK. My inquisitive mind what to know exactly how the rail interlock works and why the mods are done the way they are. Without mods rear low can already be had but not front only L or front only H. The mods allow this but not sure if range mismatch is protected in both directions (R L + F H and R H + F L).

 

[jjeffries]

I just found this thread and read it stem to stern. When it comes to caring for machines, cleanliness is next to Godliness, as my Dad taught me. Thus I admire your workshop and approach to everything. Thanks for taking the time to document and share. John/CT

 

[rattle_snake]

I just found this thread and read it stem to stern. When it comes to caring for machines, cleanliness is next to Godliness, as my Dad taught me. Thus I admire your workshop and approach to everything. Thanks for taking the time to document and share. John/CT

Thanks for the kind words John. I try to finish what I start and not have too many projects going to keep the clutter down. Also having clean and dirty sides to the workshop helps. Can't run a grinder next to the open T-case. Ideally have separate rooms or even buildings for wood, metal, and clean assembly but happy with what I've got.

 

[nsula_country]

Justin,

1st time visiting your project thread. Definitely need to create my own. HVAC thread is almost completed! And haven't spent much time fixing Photobucket links on Shop thread.

What size tires are currently on your 72?

CT

 

[rattle_snake]

Justin,

1st time visiting your project thread. Definitely need to create my own. HVAC thread is almost completed! And haven't spent much time fixing Photobucket links on Shop thread.

What size tires are currently on your 72?

CT

Ya this is where the leftovers & shenanigans go. 72 has just a stock size 29" tall or so. Still pondering tire choice and size. 38s or 40s. Got the transfer case shift rails modified for twin stick action, hope to get the case re-assembled.
but
there is a 12 ton pile of gravel waiting for me at home plus an RO system install through a granite counter top. And a clogged toilet that needs more than a plunger....

 

[nsula_country]

That last one sounds like fun! Time for the snake, or re-plumb?

I was curious about current tires. Like 235/85/16... 245/75/16...

 

[rattle_snake]

That last one sounds like fun! Time for the snake, or re-plumb?

I was curious about current tires. Like 235/85/16... 245/75/16...

Tire are 245/70-17
So, in this post you mentioned 'A project with 4 tires...'

We need pics and info!

 

[rattle_snake]

NP205 for 72 Ford is sealed back up. Didn't need any bearings. Got the rear shift rail modified to allow FWL and FWH operation.
Trying to decide if I should paint the bare surfaces blue or clear coat.

 

[nsula_country]

Justin,

Subscribe and follow!

nsula_country's What's Going on in the Big Red Barn Thread
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=417864

CT

 

[rattle_snake]

Had to make another trip out to the dunes before it gets too hot. I guess I'm hooked on sand, so much fun to ride at or near full power all the time. Made another wheel chock that can be moved around. Uni-strut and some scraps

Used horse trailer to haul bikes which had a separated tire among other issues. Truck's brake pads got all used up on the trip and wrecked a rotor. Dooh! So did a brake job and some other maintenance...

Cranked up the compression setting on the front suspension which did help a lot but blew out a fork seal.
So rebuilt the CRF forks


Going on another camping trip with kids and bikes/quads so had to get everything fixed quickly.

 

[zmotorsports]

Duning is easy to get hooked on Justin. My wife and I started in 1988 just a year before we got married and duned very heavily including sand drag racing until we got out of it and sold everything in 2012. We started with Honda ATC's, then went to Suzuki ATV's, then Banshees and sandrails. Loved every bit of it and you're right it's addicting. The thrill of going around a bowl at or near full speed is a rush. I think I enjoyed building the toys as much as using them. We had a couple of our quads featured in Sand Sport magazine back in 2010 and it was kind of cool working with the editor on the article and meeting them for the photo session. My son was in high school and it was a hell of an experience for him.

 

[rattle_snake]

Duning is easy to get hooked on Justin. My wife and I started in 1988 just a year before we got married and duned very heavily including sand drag racing until we got out of it and sold everything in 2012. We started with Honda ATC's, then went to Suzuki ATV's, then Banshees and sandrails. Loved every bit of it and you're right it's addicting. The thrill of going around a bowl at or near full speed is a rush. I think I enjoyed building the toys as much as using them. We had a couple of our quads featured in Sand Sport magazine back in 2010 and it was kind of cool working with the editor on the article and meeting them for the photo session. My son was in high school and it was a hell of an experience for him.

Your son is very lucky to have such a cool dad. Back then and now.

My dad is visiting for a month and it's nice to spend some time wrenching in the shop together. Next are fork seals for his 81 GS.

The sand is hard on the machines (and me) so I try to give the poor bike some love after a trip. Oil change, filter service, clean the sand out of the wheel spacers, swap out drive chain and sprockets. I bought a non o-ring chain just for sand and it stretched as expected. Out of adjustment range now and one less link puts tire too far forward for paddle. Only thing I can think of is to try a different combo of $prockets...

Anyhow a poser pic of the bike, which matches the shop pretty well

 

[zmotorsports]

I don't know how "lucky" my son feels at times Justin, but thank you for the sentiment.

I agree about sand being hard on things which many people don't understand. I would have a week worth of work when we would return from the dunes between fixing something that was leaking, sand in something making a noise or just cleaning everything for the next trip. Keeping air filters clean and preventing that fine sand from getting past was a never ending battle.

I was **** about air filters and pulling them to see if anything, and I mean anything, made it past and into the intake tract of the engine. My personal engines lasted quite a while but I worked on a lot of them where people neglected their air filters or didn't install them properly and they fell off. On ATV's running open elements on most all of the custom quads if the filter fell off the paddles were unloading right there and dusting the engine was a very common occurrence so I was adamant about keeping my filters clean and tightly installed. Air boxes are good things to keep on sand machines but nearly all of ours were custom built chassis and ran open/exposed elements to keep the weight down and maintenance quick. I kind of miss the dunes at times as we had a lot of fun as a family.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

The only thing harder on equipment than sand is cinders.

 

[PhantomEB]

I live in the land of MUD, and yet I hate it.

Mud turns into clay then turns into sand, death of bearings on my off-road toys. No wonder I take the bypasses around mud holes with the quad. Bronco won’t be so easy but I will be practicing what I preach. Wash every nook and cranny when home after a trip out. Tackle all issues and prep for the next time out. My brother and I follow this and we got the least of the issues of all of our groups.

 

[zmotorsports]

I live in the land of MUD, and yet I hate it.

Mud turns into clay then turns into sand, death of bearings on my off-road toys. No wonder I take the bypasses around mud holes with the quad. Bronco won’t be so easy but I will be practicing what I preach. Wash every nook and cranny when home after a trip out. Tackle all issues and prep for the next time out. My brother and I follow this and we got the least of the issues of all of our groups.

Yeah, I despise mud and have been known to drive a mile or more around a large non-bypassable mud hole when out on the trails just to avoid having to go through it. It seems to be a standing joke with member of both our Jeep clubs. Mud and pinstriping are two things I cannot stand. Maybe I chose the wrong hobby.

 

[rattle_snake]

Finally broke down and bought a utility trailer (aka get out your wallet you cheap *******) for a variety of needs. Had been using the wife's horse trailer for hauling bikes, trash, and whatnot but every time I needed it there was a conflict. I attempted to load both quads and my dirt bike into the horse trailer and confirmed that it was indeed possible but a very poor idea. My neighbors have utility trailers I can borrow if needed, but they all have one or more issues with cracked tires, no spare, no tie down points, expired registration and so on.

I had been shopping for awhile, then had a friend who was going to let me keep his 5x10 it at my place. Too small to fit everything but free is good. After several weeks of failed attempts to actually get it I broke down and bought a new trailer of the size and type I need.
Its a PJ 12'x6.5' with a 3500# dexter and 15" tires. Better build quality and features compared to the other available options for about the same money. I can now fit the various combination of machines and don't have to depend on anyone else to leave for a trip on time. I'm an impatient SOB when I'm ready to hit the road and find a camp before dark.

Maiden voyage was a close-quick-n-easy trip with some friends for desert riding and camping before it gets too hot out. My girls had a great time and I enjoyed spending time with them riding, shooting and talking around the camp fire.

 

[rattle_snake]

While my dad is visiting we tackled a fork seal job on his 81 GS. It is good to spend some quality shop time with him.

 

[rattle_snake]

Happy with my new trailer but like anything I have to modify it.
Step 1 was to add a tongue jack wheel. Problem is the wheel itself is 7" taller than the simple foot it came with. To get it at the right height and still swing up would require moving the attachment points of the pivot mount on both the trailer and the jack. So perhaps another time...

The compromise was to at least adapt the jack for a wheel. So I tossed it in the bandsaw to chop off the fixed foot.

Then welded a sleeve onto the foot and drilled a pin hole at 90* to the original orientation so it would clear the toolbox I am also adding. Now I can use either the foot or wheel.

Next mod was to add a *cheap* tongue toolbox for tie-downs, jack wheel, or whatever. Added a piece of angle to support the bottom of the box.

'lil paint and box secured.

Next mod is some tie down points on the trailer deck. The need is for light duty stuff like chainsaw, fuel cans, greasy BBQ so I found some medium duty recessed d-rings. Was going to fully flush mount but wood is cupped enough it won't do any good.

Next are 3 sets of tire chocks for dirt bikes but I can't seem to decide on a simple solution. lots of options just have to pick one.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Getting caught up on this thread. Didn't realize I wasn't subscribed.

Treasure that time with your dad my friend! I'd give anything for 1 more day of wrenching with mine!

Nice work making the trailer "yours". It amazes me how some people just live with things "as-is".

I got our bikes out of cold storage and running a few weeks ago, haven't put any real time on them yet, however.

 

[zmotorsports]

Hey Justin, I just noticed that your utility trailer is a PJ Trailer. I am looking at one of their car hauler flatbeds. Have you been happy with their work as far as trailers go? I've crawled under and all over the ones here that I've seen and they seem to be very well built. We also have a couple of local trailer builders here that I could get one just a little cheaper but so far I don't think they compare to the PJ's that I have looked at. I would like your opinion if you don't mind.

Thanks.

 

[PhantomEB]

Why ain’t I been subscribed to this one!

So many similar lines of thinking!

 

[zmotorsports]

Why ain’t I been subscribed to this one!

So many similar lines of thinking!

Yeah, what's taken you so long????

Justin has some seriously nice projects going on here.