Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage

[mybigwarwagon]

You don't have trucks, you have industrial legos.

 

[Strouty]

One of my biggest issues is the transfer case, I have a rugged one, but it has no low range and I feel if I am going through all this, low range might be a nice thing to have. One of the trucks that I was looking at buying has a transfer case with high and low as well as a 20k pound rated front axle. Of course it is over $10k and I would essentially be using it as another parts truck......

If I start selling things, then I guess maybe that won't hurt as bad, I have quite a few things to sell, just need to NIKE it.

Lets get through the Lista storage wall first, then we can look further into buying more trucks. Honestly, like I said, I do not need Perk as I really don't have the time to acquire more heavy things, so this would be the time to make all this happen. Of course just typing that, I am forgetting about the fact that I may have to bring some of these big trucks to the salvage yard, how quickly things can change.

I definitely need a solid plan, if I use all the parts to build a "new" Perk, then I don't have to actually tear Perk apart until I have the new frame built and it is ready for the cab and knuckle boom. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, moving things out of the office and going to get all the flooring and some of the bathroom and kitchen cabinets for the remodel, thankfully I have help! I want to measure out my frame and also measure a couple other truck frames just to see what they will weigh and cost to have made up. This will involve height, thickness, width, and length, that will be nice to know, then I can start figuring my weights from there. The hood and cab are not too heavy, I know how much the engine, transmission, and front axle will weigh, so I can get some estimates pulled together, I would like to see about adding a winch to the front like I had originally planned, but that will totally depend on the overall weight, looks like I have to keep things around 17k to be safe. I can tell that is going to be tough as Dad's Freightliner weighs 15k on the front and it is not all wheel drive. I am pretty sure his boom is substantially heavier than mine is and that will be the difference between things working on my truck and not. Of course I am building this truck with a baby engine at 315 HP and 1100 ft/lbs of torque whereas his truck is about 500 HP and 1850 ft/lbs of torque. that makes me think I am being dumb and should just build a monster........

 

[Horror Business]

I know the F550 is gone, but I missed where it went. Did you end up selling it to your mechanic?

 

[Strouty]

We traded, he is going to give me a lot of hours of his labor, so he will help with some aspects of the Perk build.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I hope you keep his soul in a jar on your desk.

 

[xtremek]

Can you use the tilt deck gooesneck as is until the Perk is done? Sounds to me like you need focus? Says the man who needs focus.

 

[1Garageman]

Sounds like you have a $hit load of things to do with Perk alone!

 

[legenddc]

Everything is in a state of flux. Offices, houses, shops, trailers, trucks, daily drivers, etc. At some point it make sense to buy what you need already complete. It will cost more in money but save so much more in time.

 

[Strouty]

I agree Legend, but it won't be a big truck, probably be a daily driver that is fully operational with no needed work.

Things are starting to take shape a bit, but I am seriously figuring this year is already done for.......

 

[legenddc]

Makes sense as you use it every day!

I'm struggling with the same thing right now and our house. Been working on updating the doors for what feels like forever. Not sure if I want to do that again on the flooring or **** it up, pay for it to be done and spend my now free time with my kids.

 

[Strouty]

I think this year is going to bring some big changes for me, might be good, might be bad, but things can't keep going the way they currently are.

 

[WheelsNT]

Just a thought — seems like you are trying to make Perk into a knuckle boom / Tru-Hitch / 5th wheel / do-everything truck. You have lots of vehicles. Maybe split the jobs out into separate vehicles, that way all the weight isn’t on one truck.

 

[Strouty]

Unfortunately I prefer the Swiss army truck thought process. Perk was supposed to be the small version with OMO being the larger version, except the rules are breaking up all my fun.

 

[Strouty]

I got some info back about the frame rails, still need to talk with the installation company that deals with knuckle boom cranes. I based the frame off my Dad’s truck as it is a factory rail with the GVW that I want for the front, it also has a professionally installed knuckle boom that is bigger than my boom.

If I use his rail size, 3/8” outer and 1/4” inner, it looks like all four pieces (inner and outer rails) would be about $5600 and they also told me that if I want, I can galvanize the rails as well without damaging them structurally. I also priced out a 1/2” thick rail and it was a bit cheaper, but everyone so far has told me that a single rail will twist too much, even a thick one like that.

Another good thing, I found a set of aluminum rims that fit the MRAP military axles, I need to see if they are the proper offset, but they look just like the military version, except they are 22.5” diameter instead of 20”. These rims are over $500 each and They are in the Quonset hut, yup, Dad randomly bought them years ago and they have been there all along. Go figure.

 

[xtremek]

SO correct me if I'm wrong. You're going to build the truck from the ground up, with a Strouty frame, mrap front axle, a Detroit engine, a different trans, and a new to you t-case. The only big components you'll be using from the Perk are the cab, the knuckle boom, and the 5th wheel. So you can keep the Perk on the road for 85% of build. I think you've got it.

 

[Strouty]

I will be using a different fifth wheel as well. I am still not sure about the boom, I may use the bigger boom as well. The big question is, do I use the big engine and buy a new hood or cut the firewall and rework things or do I use the smaller engine and live with the fact that I am forever going to be underpowered........

 

[1Garageman]

Sounds like a lot of money, work and hours to get Perk to do what you want her to.

 

[RADcustom]

Whats wrong with the Cummins that is in there now?

 

[Strouty]

I can do things to the L10 Cummins, but I really like the idea of the Detroit. The little Detroit (50 series) is only 8.5 liters with four cylinders versus the L10 having six cylinders and 10 liters, so the Detroit should be even better on fuel. Basically I am weird and that is why I want the Detroit. If I go with the big Detroit, it would get worse mileage, but have all the power that I would need. Either way I will use that Detroit 50 series in something, someday.

 

[jakemac]

A cut-away Burb w/boom lift. [emoji6]


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[Strouty]

I have thought about taking an F-550 chassis and putting a burb body on it. DOT would leave me alone and I could haul a serious trailer with it.

 

[harley jim]

You know what will happen if you build an under powered truck, seriously.
And besides how could you live without that Detroit scream!


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[xtremek]

Tim Allen was right? Maybe.

 

[Strouty]

You know what will happen if you build an under powered truck, seriously.
And besides how could you live without that Detroit scream!

Not that type of Detroit, these are the more modern version, the ones that turn diesel fuel into power versus the old ones that turn diesel fuel into smoke and noise. I do have one of those, but it is in the FWD and I don't think I will be changing that anytime soon.

This morning the electrician helped me chase out some circuits and we got everything so that I can remove the old sub panel and finally install a piece of plywood over my desk area. This will let me mount some shelves and things there without worrying about the old panel. We also are working on a plan to get the newer bay rewired so that I can remove all the conduit from the wall and install the Lista storage wall there. I am glad he helped me, as it was a bit confusing with all the old wiring that had been messed with over the years. One more small step forward.

 

[xtremek]

Small steps are progress, any progress is good. Win.

 

[Richard Cranium]

any step forward is a positive step.

 

[Strouty]

Going to dig into the panel a bit more, looks to be a mess, I really just want to get it out of the wall, don’t care about the old wires, everything will be redone with conduit for a surface mount setup. That should make future changes much better.







Temporary lights.

 

[Orionrising]

body swap have been done before....

 

[Firebrand]

No baling wire or bubble gum in the box so a 'Win!'

 

[rmalkow2]

I have thought about taking an F-550 chassis and putting a burb body on it. DOT would leave me alone and I could haul a serious trailer with it.

Shazaam!

That sounds like an upgraded Burb to me.

 

[quattro_sinko]

A cut-away Burb w/boom lift. [emoji6]


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Cut-away? We going clam-shell

 

[Strouty]

I marked the wires, then started cutting to get the ones for the shop lights out of the panel, turns out there was a white from one romex and a black from another romex???? Anyways, as soon as I cut the neutral, the lights went out and I couldn’t get them working again. Not sure what was going on, called electrician and he was stumped, ended up playing “guess how it is supposed to be” and I won!

 

[Strouty]

body swap have been done before....

That is a bit beyond what I was thinking, looked really cool until the rear end….

Spent some time moving things around, look what left the shop tonight!





Can’t wait for tomorrow, going to feel so much better with those boxes gone.

 

[jakemac]

Cut-away? We going clam-shell

I was thinking more along the lines of cab up front, flatbed on the back.
A reverse mullet. Party up front, business on the back.


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[harley jim]

That's a hell of a shop space, I love the high ceilings, I'm always bumping my cieling.

Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Strouty]

It is going to be soooo much better without those toolboxes in there.

 

[86turbodsl]

Good deal. Progress.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Was those your fathers box's

 

[Strouty]

Yup, the boxes are going away tomorrow morning.

 

[Strouty]

Toolboxes are gone, working on the office project for a bit, then hope to get the bay with the lift cleaned out.