Above 1200 Sq/FT The Empty Cup 40x64 Post Frame

[eastmtn]

I got everything put back together and unfortunately will have to order another radiator. In the meantime here are pics of the new transmission cooler and coolant hoses.




This is my daily driver currently. I spent so much money on building the Empty Cup that I sold the Porsche Panamera GTS to finish it up. So I finished the install, added fluid and checked the system for leaks. I finished up about 2200 (10pm) that night. The next day I heard a high pitched whine come from the steering box while driving to work.
It turns out that I had pulled the power steering low pressure hose when I was trying to remove the radiator and had gotten air into the system.
So I got the pump back out and flushed the power steering system.



Thanks to Youtube I learned an easier way to flush using the pump I already had. If you take off the return hose from the power steering reservoir and stick the pump hose into it, it creates an air tight seal via suction. I put an extra piece of hose over the return ****** and crimped it shut to maintain the seal. I then used the pump to create a vacuum while keeping the reservoir topped off with new fluid. The only potential for mess is when replacing the return hose back on the reservoir ******. The pump hose will not leak because it's under suction but when you pull the crimped hose from the reservoir you have to be ready with your thumb to keep fluid from running out until you replace the hose back on the ******.

Here's a link to the video.

 

[eastmtn]

I had planned on detailing the engine bay but lost too much time with the project. I did however decide to buy an aftermarket power steering reservoir and power steering cooler. This is another week point for Gen 1 Raptors. The fluid heats up and aerates easily due to the larger tires and lock to lock steering when running in the dunes. But like all things Raptor I'll have to wait another 6-10 weeks before the parts can be shipped.

I've also begun to save for and research my next daily driver. The Raptor is a gas hog. I don't make excuses for it. I did not intend for it to play the daily driver role. It has a custom tune from Livernois Sports for extra 50hp at the wheels and no pedal delay. I have to run premium fuel 92+ so 11 mpg highway driving at premium prices on a 36 gallon tank is a repetitive kick in the gut when you drive as much as I do.

 

[Xti04]

I feel your pain. My boat has a raptor engine in it and it ***** down the fuel like a coke ***** with a nose the size of Texas. But it makes 400ft lb of torque and pushes a 5000 lb boat with another 4000lbs of people and ballast in it just fine so I cant complain too much.

 

[eastmtn]

I feel your pain.

The smiles outweigh the cries. They don't call it the boss engine for nuthin. I'm checking out your boat now on your thread and getting boat envy.

 

[Xti04]

The boat is my happy place for sure! Its our one family activity that gets kids outside and enjoying something together. They both learned to surf last year and my youngest got up this year but with water temps still as low as they are didnt wanna stay in long.

 

[eastmtn]

I've got an update on the chicken coop. It's huuge! J took the original plans for the coop and doubled them to account for the extra 15 chicks that were delivered. I loaded the 2x6 rafters in the truck to drive down to the bottom of the property. J built the walls inside but realized they were way too heavy for us to transport so we partially broke them down into manageable pieces that I moved with a hand truck.

J fastened the panels back together at the site and we went about erecting the walls.

 

[eastmtn]

At this point the coop is about 60% complete. We need to finish bracing the top, putting hardware cloth down into the earth for predators, and build nesting boxes

 

[eastmtn]

During the last winter our bee hives were decimated. It was way too cold for them to survive. We bought more bee packages a few weeks ago and used the existing infrastructure to give the new bees a head start. There's an electric fence around the boxes to keep the bears out.



I went for a paddle on one of my surfski's for the the first time since the garage has been built. Being able to suit up and load the boats In a climate controlled space is spoiling me. I've gained too much weight to paddle the fast boat unfortunately. I have to shed my winter insulation layer first.

 

[eastmtn]

J finally finished the chicken coop and just in time too. The chicks had gotten too big for the pens we had setup in the attached garage. There's lots of hardware cloth along the bottom and and top to keep predators out. Each nesting box has its own door for easy access and the chicken ramp can be stowed up in the air when cleaning out the floor.

 

[eastmtn]

Now the clean up begins.
On another note, the parts for the Raptor's power steering reservoir relocation came in. My plan is to get installed and post pics next week.

Other projects have been put on hold while I save up for a new commuter vehicle. I'm racking up 600 miles a week on the truck and I would rather put the bulk of those miles on something else.

Future plans include a storm shelter, work space and tool storage, a concrete courtyard in front of the Empty Cup and a nice walking path between it and the house.

 

[eastmtn]

I changed the location of the power steering reservoir for easier access and installed a kit that increased it's size, added a removable filter and a radiator for the fluid. All of that was to avoid changing out and replacing the pump with a baja rig solution that would have been overkill for my purposes. Gen 1 raptors have OEM F150 power steering reservoirs and pumps. If you do anything more than commuting and mall crawling the pumps will give out prematurely. The foreman popped his head in to help a little.

 

[eastmtn]

J bought a set of floating shelves a few months back and was very disappointed in their craftsmanship when they arrived. So she waited for a week off and built her own. She broke down pallets to get that rustic look. She then sanded and refinished them. The frame and supports were built with leftover wood from the chicken coop project. When I get a day off I will hide all of the wiring for a cleaner look.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Wow like the shelves!

 

[eastmtn]

@Blackbyrd Thanks. I think she could give the Pottery Barn some competition.

 

[jbrentd]

Love the shelves! She's very crafty.