Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage

[Strouty]

I am probably going to rip into things soon, I was going to bring it to a guy, but I think it would be better on my lift, then I don’t get stuck paying someone to do stuff that I should be able to handle. He will come to my shop and do the work.

 

[XJSuperman]

At the risk of muddying the waters I ask this: The plans are to either fix the 454, or swap in a what?
6.2L or 6.5L diesel?
Another 454? (7.4L Vortec) Which is what I assume the current motor is...
A newer vortec?
Some like the 5.3, some the 6.0, some the 7.4L, and some the 8.1L

 

[Strouty]

The plan had been to rip out the 454 and stuff a 6.5 diesel in there, but I think that I will be sticking with the 454, the truck is too good not to keep together. Once I get it running again, I will list it for sale on eBay for $10k, then drive it until I get a good offer.

I am over at the tower project, still not complete, only going on three years, I have to do some planting in the “rain garden”, landscape architect says I have to remove all the plants that have grown naturally, probably take a day to do it, but I have no real way to move dirt, plus I have to get water over here for the plants. Looking things over, I may need to bring more tools, things are looking awfully overrun with grass and weeds. I can see that having a mini excavator and a smaller tractor with a bucket would make short work of things. May have to do some investing this year, I know they would be handy in the future and probably could make a decent living with them, so probably should become a priority on my end.

 

[XJSuperman]

I can see that having a mini excavator and a smaller tractor with a bucket would make short work of things. May have to do some investing this year, I know they would be handy in the future and probably could make a decent living with them, so probably should become a priority on my end.

Isn't there a mini excavator at The Hill?

Can you weld a bucket to a knuckleboom and do some light scratching with it for this task?

 

[Strouty]

The mini is at the island now, won’t be available until October, besides it is Dad’s and he isn’t keen on loaning it out. The knuckle boom could do that, but I would think it would be pretty harsh on things, besides, new toys are always fun.

 

[racer-john]

"besides, new toys are always fun. "
Ain't that the truth. Lol.

 

[shortykorte]

This should work.


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[Strouty]

As much as I would like that, it really is too big for what I need to do.

This morning I met with the crane company about taking down the left over tower, looks like it will work pretty easily, but will not be cheap.

Then the plants showed up for the rain garden.

I then tried to get the army truck that is sitting over at the site going, no problem, inflated a tire, but the trailer has stuck brakes. It was pretty bad, I got a couple freed up, but not very reliably, so we may have to haul that trailer away on another trailer.

Then the fence guy showed up, got that figured out.

Now I am at the SG, had to free up the brakes on the tag trailer (there seems to be a theme going on), now I am going to load up the water tank and Clark to bring over to the site, I need to move the shed out of the way and Clark is the only thing I have to easily do it. Plus this is a practice run to see if I think I can actually drag the Mitsu over there. I am thinking it may be too heavy and that I will run out of motor since I changed the gear ratio to make Perk better over the road, we will find out. Clark weighs about 12k and the water tank will be another ton, the Mitsu weighs about 23k so almost 5 tons more.

 

[Strouty]

I have been out fumbled, one of the springs that help lift the ramps on the tag trailer is hitting so I can’t move the ramps close enough together to load Clark and I don’t have any easy access to anything that will cut it. Even the torch is buried in the shop, two grinders, one has a flap wheel, the other a wire wheel. I think I will just take the trailer up to the Hill with just the water tank, I can fix the ramps and fill the water tank. Really all I need is the water tank, pump, and generator to get the plants in. Except I still don’t have a truck to haul the water on, I guess I could take Bev instead, this is getting complicated and my head hurts now.

 

[Strouty]

I have too many things going on..... I think someone mentioned that a while ago.

What I need right now is a flatbed truck, kind of like a Ford F550. Where can I find one of those? Seriously, this is getting ridiculous, I have ten trucks, not one is useful, I have ten trailers, not one is useful. I have a forklift that the rams leak, another one that the steering leaks, I have an excavator that needs the blade installed, plus I am still not sure I can even transport it. How did I put myself in this situation, because, yup, just because.

I think the real question is what is the next step to get me out of this situation? I need to think on it a bit and regroup tomorrow. Bev may be the short term solution, but I need to figure out a long term fix.

 

[steaks&anvils]

I have too many things going on..... I think someone mentioned that a while ago.

What I need right now is a flatbed truck, kind of like a Ford F550. Where can I find one of those? Seriously, this is getting ridiculous, I have ten trucks, not one is useful, I have ten trailers, not one is useful. I have a forklift that the rams leak, another one that the steering leaks, I have an excavator that needs the blade installed, plus I am still not sure I can even transport it. How did I put myself in this situation, because, yup, just because.

I think the real question is what is the next step to get me out of this situation? I need to think on it a bit and regroup tomorrow. Bev may be the short term solution, but I need to figure out a long term fix.

ah darn it, that all *****.

BUT, plants need a drink = Bev's past life. I hear god's voice in this.

 

[Strouty]

Culligan delivery. LOL

I think that makes the most sense, Bev will sit at the site and be a portable water/tool truck.

 

[xtremek]

I think you hit it. Develop the plan, work the plan, don't deviate from the plan for a set period of time. Reassess the plan after milestones are reached, or that time period has elapsed.

 

[xtremek]

And good luck.

 

[harley jim]

Buddy we did talk about identifying what you need to do your job and what you want for toys.
You were going to make a list of needs and wants and prioritize from there. Then I think the EMPLOYEE did something and, well,
You need to get back to the list. Get work equipment sorted out fix or buy what you need there, then play with your other rigs how you want.
Sometimes I think you get so much on you you cant shake it off and it burys you and your thought process.


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[Strouty]

I agree that I am buried by my stuff, my fault for sure. I also think you are correct that the employee was my latest “excuse”.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Not to point fingers or make you feel bad etc.

Is this tower, where the plants are needed, owned by the company? or is it a company project?

If it is company owned or project, then just rent a piece of equipment needed and rent a trailer. If you need to rent a truck too, then do that.

does the company own any equipment/trailer/truck that can do this? if so, why is that not in working order?

Are you, as an employee, expected to use personal equipment on company jobs?

 

[Strouty]

For clarification, I am NOT an employee, I am subcontracted to handle things like an independent CEO.

The tower project is something I am doing for the Trusts that own the tower, so it is my job, I am just trying to do it on a budget for the “family”.

Could I rent everything?, probably, should I?, maybe, it is a toss up right now. If I use my equipment, It is proof to me that my stuff is worth it. The Trusts don’t care how long it takes me, so I make more money using my equipment and I work some of the bugs out while I am at it. It is stressful and the finger should be pointed right at me.

In the end it will be worth it, I just need to get through this self created mess first. Will things be easy, definitely not, but I still want to make it work. I stand to make $30k doing a months worth of work, it may take three or four months to get it all done because I have to still deal with Dad’s company and my own ****.

 

[steaks&anvils]

For clarification, I am NOT an employee, I am subcontracted to handle things like an independent CEO.

The tower project is something I am doing for the Trusts that own the tower, so it is my job, I am just trying to do it on a budget for the “family”.

Could I rent everything?, probably, should I?, maybe, it is a toss up right now. If I use my equipment, It is proof to me that my stuff is worth it. The Trusts don’t care how long it takes me, so I make more money using my equipment and I work some of the bugs out while I am at it. It is stressful and the finger should be pointed right at me.

In the end it will be worth it, I just need to get through this self created mess first. Will things be easy, definitely not, but I still want to make it work. I stand to make $30k doing a months worth of work, it may take three or four months to get it all done because I have to still deal with Dad’s company and my own ****.

That clears it up. It just gets very confusing on the who what and why of some things you work on. Small business and working for yourself is an interesting juggling act.

I totally agree that if you can, working out bugs on a paying job is good. The enormous evil empire I work for does not own anything, they rent as needed. They treat their people like that too...

 

[Strouty]

It is very much a juggling act, I can drop a lot of balls, it is the chainsaws that I try and keep up there.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

The secret to dropping a chainsaw is to not be under it when it comes down!

 

[Orionrising]

Can you just 'remove' the natural vegetation with Roundup or garlon?....

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[harley jim]

I dont think I would say he was an excuse, I think he tried to get between you and your father for some kind of personal **** agenda. As I understand he is going or hopefully gone. That and your step mother causes angst between you and him.
I really am serious when I say you and Pops need to go on a fishing trip and get reacquainted and have a serious heart to heart on what is going to happen in the next whatever time period then accept it and plan accordingly. You cant and wont be happy until you get you anchored and wishey washey ain't anchored.
I want to see some of those trucks on the road someday I think they are cool and you have a creative mind and that will make for some interesting trucks.
I know a guy here with a 2 1/2 ton army truck he converted into a taco truck, it is very cool.

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[Strouty]

I will try and move out of the way when I hear one coming down.

I think anything I use to kill the current vegetation will probably harm the plants I need to put in there, I don’t want to take a chance, just spent almost a grand on them.

Employee is gone, as for reconnecting with my Dad, that ship has sailed. He would have a great time, everything would be fine, but he would forget it all in a few weeks as his brain rewrites things to fit his mold (the one where I am the cause of all the bad things). It *****, but it isn’t going to get better, in fact I am sure it is going to get much, much worse.

 

[Allenw]

Roundup should be safe to use, I've used it over the top after seeding before the plants came through the ground.

 

[Strouty]

I will see how bad the weeding is, the rain garden is basically bark mulch on top and sandy soil below, I think most everything will easily pull out, might use something on the smaller stuff.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

I can make you an excellent rental price on an 8 year old with a shovel

 

[jakemac]

Transporting child labor across state lines ?
Hmmmmmmm .............
LOL


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[mybigwarwagon]

Transporting child labor across state lines ?
Hmmmmmmm .............
LOL


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I will let him walk. Problem solved.

 

[Orionrising]

yep that perfectly fine native vegetation, what do they want in there?

 

[jakemac]

I will let him walk. Problem solved.

There you go. [emoji106]


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[Strouty]

I took off the stickers and "old man" pads and covers, burb looks much better now. I still need to get some good factory running boards and get rid of the 1980s style that is installed. I also found some previously repaired damage, the passengers side rear barn door doesn't line up well and has no adjustment, will need to mess with it a bit, but it works for now. It also has no rear power lock and the keyed portion has been pushed in, took some patience to get it unlocked. I will have to tear into that and figure out what the issue is. Front drivers door needs new bushings and pins to make it perfect, not nearly as bad as any of my other burbs I own. Only thing so far with the interior is that they glued something to the cup holder handle, then tore it off, so there is a bunch of residue that may never come off. Then the center console has a broken clip, when it is folded up, the clip board flops around.

 

[steaks&anvils]

I still need to get some good factory running boards and get rid of the 1980s style that is installed.

Dude. WTF? Don't sweat the running boards. They work. Why spend money on "bling" for a truck you say you are going to flip anyway? on parts that don't need to be messed with?

Or, can you pull the running boards from a 'burb you already own?

Remember, we are here to keep you on the straight and forward.

 

[1Garageman]

Dude. WTF? Don't sweat the running boards. They work. Why spend money on "bling" for a truck you say you are going to flip anyway? on parts that don't need to be messed with?

Or, can you pull the running boards from a 'burb you already own?

Remember, we are here to keep you on the straight and forward.

I think he watched the TV show Pimp my Ride! LOL

 

[Strouty]

I have multiple sets, it will be last on the list.

Front brakes are down to almost metal, so I will need to do the same thing I did with the other burb. I am going to try and get my parts today, but I have a bunch of things to do that come first.

















I did find some rust, probably have to junk it.






This is the most obvious of the body damage repair, nice thick bondo. Yes, that is a crack.

 

[casmurbax]

That truck looks super clean... even with the rust and the bondo....

Any prices on a motor come in it?

Maybe I missed but why do you need to clear the Vegetation?

 

[steaks&anvils]

I have multiple sets, it will be last on the list.

OK, I feel better now. Carry on.

Bummer on the body work. Nice on the no rust. Seeing previous pictures of rusty under carriages and now this clean one, I understand better all you east coast rust haters... Rust is a pretty orange color though

 

[Strouty]

Cas, vegetation has to be cleared so I can plant approved plants. I am going to try and repair the engine first, then get prices on an engine if I need one.

S&A, I am not convinced I would ever say it was a pretty orange color, to me that is the sign of death.

 

[casmurbax]

ok so let me understand this....

Tower coming down is there 2 towers there?

You need to do some reclamation after the tower comes down? isn't what is growing there now native to the area?

I read where you stated that the landscape architect cut down, plant these instead?

 

[Strouty]

The plants only have to do with the "rain garden", it is for drainage and was a requirement for the permit, so I have to do what they say, regardless of how silly it is.

There are actually four towers there currently and I have two that need to be taken down, two will stay. One is a big tower, the other is a little tower, but they also have to come down to satisfy the permit.

Not much for reclamation afterwards, more about getting the tower down than anything else.