Seagoon
Well-known member
All I know is that when he has the correct lugs fitted it will work and it doesn't need painting till after he has a few more projects useable.
You KNOW he doesn't need any help to go down the rabbit hole.
Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage
- Thread starter Strouty
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
You KNOW he doesn't need any help to go down the rabbit hole.
Seagoon
Well-known member
BTW I do know it's all in fun. 
The only part of the trailer that is red is the frame rails, the rest of it is blue, like on Perk, it was factory blue paint. While I like the American flag, I am not a fan of the color red at all, I draw the line at maroon.
There is a lot of work to be done, plan is to get all mechanical stuff so that it works well, then take the trailer apart, sand blast and paint it all, then put it back together. That will be a project for another year, I may do a quick paint job this year, but just to make it all a uniform color. Perk and the knuckle boom definitely need to be painted as well, the boom is an ivory color and the cab is white, so it actually looks awful. I want to paint the boom blue and do some orange accents. Again, all my mechanicals need to be done first, if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter how pretty it looks.
There is a lot of work to be done, plan is to get all mechanical stuff so that it works well, then take the trailer apart, sand blast and paint it all, then put it back together. That will be a project for another year, I may do a quick paint job this year, but just to make it all a uniform color. Perk and the knuckle boom definitely need to be painted as well, the boom is an ivory color and the cab is white, so it actually looks awful. I want to paint the boom blue and do some orange accents. Again, all my mechanicals need to be done first, if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter how pretty it looks.
jakemac
Well-known member
I wasn't even planning on having the aluminum wheels until last, but I also wasn't going to spend 2/3 of the cost of them on white steel wheels. Right now the list of things that need to be done before all the cosmetic stuff is huge and I am sure that there are other things that I do not have on the list that need to be done......
PERK
Figure out why remote for knuckle boom isn't working
Change out front wheel studs for aluminum rims
Change front tires (one has sidewall damage)
Change out rear tires
Swap hood so I can open it with one person
Add mirrors to hood
Rework front frame so hood can be mounted differently and I can install nicer looking grill
Rework exhaust so that it is behind the cab
once exhaust is done adjust door mirror on passenger side so I can actually see without standing up off the seat
reinstall pintle hitch
Add electric brake controller
Install permanent wiring for 7 blade RV style connector (requires some rewiring and a separate control box)
Add receiver hitch
Change fifth wheel so that the air adjustment system is actually usable
rework rear lights
rework rear trailer plugs
rework rear glad hands
Add gooseneck hitch
Add hydraulic port for Muv-All trailer so you don't need the pony motor to operate it
rework rear frame bolts so Tru-Hitch will sit flat when in storage position
Add pull out air hose reel for air tools and tire inflation
add another toolbox
Install 18 speed transmission
Once transmission is installed the entire hydraulic system must be reworked
Change rear end gears to match new transmission
Longer Term Perk
This plan involves essentially building a separate truck chassis while still using Perk, then when I am ready, I would swap the hood and cab over to an almost complete chassis.
Swap engine, use 50 series Detroit
Swap front and rear end out to disc brake
Add air locker to rear
Make custom frame then get it galvanized
Add transfer case and front end to make 4x4
Change tires to larger super singles
Muv-All Trailer
replace current studs with longer ones for aluminum wheels
replace all lights and add more lights redoing majority of the wiring at the same time
Add aluminum pieces to cover deck openings
replace lower winch cable
Make a spare tire mount
add some sort of tool box(es) temporarily
rebuild rear rams (one leaks)
rework pony motor to make it quickly removable
create new headboard with tool boxes
replace transition decking with new 3/8" diamond plate
add upper 20 ton winch
add air dump switch to manually control trailer air bags
Make all hydraulics remote control with manual backup levers
add levers to other side of trailer
Sandblast and paint
Tru-Hitch
Rework air line setup with glad hand attachments
add two hose reels for towing air
replace existing tool box with larger one
Replace batteries with better ones
add upper 20 ton winch
add upper roller pulley for 20 ton winch
Sandblast and paint
rebuild all rams (almost all are leaking)
add additional tie down places
add more chain storage
redo light bars with smaller LED units
buy 60" wireless rear light bar for towing
PERK
Change out front wheel studs for aluminum rims
Change front tires (one has sidewall damage)
Change out rear tires
Swap hood so I can open it with one person
Add mirrors to hood
Rework front frame so hood can be mounted differently and I can install nicer looking grill
Rework exhaust so that it is behind the cab
once exhaust is done adjust door mirror on passenger side so I can actually see without standing up off the seat
reinstall pintle hitch
Add electric brake controller
Install permanent wiring for 7 blade RV style connector (requires some rewiring and a separate control box)
Add receiver hitch
Change fifth wheel so that the air adjustment system is actually usable
rework rear lights
rework rear trailer plugs
rework rear glad hands
Add gooseneck hitch
Add hydraulic port for Muv-All trailer so you don't need the pony motor to operate it
rework rear frame bolts so Tru-Hitch will sit flat when in storage position
Add pull out air hose reel for air tools and tire inflation
add another toolbox
Install 18 speed transmission
Once transmission is installed the entire hydraulic system must be reworked
Change rear end gears to match new transmission
Longer Term Perk
This plan involves essentially building a separate truck chassis while still using Perk, then when I am ready, I would swap the hood and cab over to an almost complete chassis.
Swap engine, use 50 series Detroit
Swap front and rear end out to disc brake
Add air locker to rear
Make custom frame then get it galvanized
Add transfer case and front end to make 4x4
Change tires to larger super singles
Muv-All Trailer
replace all lights and add more lights redoing majority of the wiring at the same time
Add aluminum pieces to cover deck openings
replace lower winch cable
Make a spare tire mount
add some sort of tool box(es) temporarily
rebuild rear rams (one leaks)
rework pony motor to make it quickly removable
create new headboard with tool boxes
replace transition decking with new 3/8" diamond plate
add upper 20 ton winch
add air dump switch to manually control trailer air bags
Make all hydraulics remote control with manual backup levers
add levers to other side of trailer
Sandblast and paint
Tru-Hitch
Rework air line setup with glad hand attachments
add two hose reels for towing air
replace existing tool box with larger one
Replace batteries with better ones
add upper 20 ton winch
add upper roller pulley for 20 ton winch
Sandblast and paint
rebuild all rams (almost all are leaking)
add additional tie down places
add more chain storage
redo light bars with smaller LED units
buy 60" wireless rear light bar for towing
Last edited:
rmack898
Well-known member
Now that you have tomorrow’s work list all sorted out and you take Sunday off to relax, what do you and Chuck have planned for Monday
OK, so in theory every lug nut, wheel stud, and inner cap that I need is headed my way, pretty sure I will be lucky to see any of it before next Wednesday due to the holiday. I just hope everything is correct, all the hardware has a left and right thread, so it is really easy to have one get mixed in with the other. I did order a few extras of some, but a lot of it was in ten packs, the individual parts were all between $4 and $11, so I really didn't want to have to order too many extras. All in all, I spent almost $900 on wheel hardware, I did not anticipate it to be that much, what can you do. I did spend a couple hours over the last two days searching stock and finding the best prices, if I had ordered it locally, they would have charged me more than double depending on the parts. It is crazy how much a price can vary, the availability or lack of is pretty crazy too. Apparently budd wheels (stud pilot) is considered old and obsolete. I had originally thought about swapping over to the hub pilot style setups, but I didn't want to spend the $1000 for the two hubs on each axle, at this point, it would have been money well spent, but there isn't anything I can do about it now, once you get to a certain point, you have to push through. I just hope that everything I ordered is correct, we had to rely on catalogs and dimensions from old drawings, I couldn't even get one of anything locally to try before I buy.
Today I did some of my errands, less than half, had to pick up my Buddy's tires and rims we dropped off yesterday at the tire shop, then had to help my Brother change some tires from rusty rims to freshly painted ones, then I had to go and get the parts for the dock at the Camp. Going to work in the morning for a bit with the carpenter and then my Cousin is going to help me get some things done and we are going to install the dock or maybe docks, depends on how much time it takes.
Chuck is doing well, he has been at home today, going to go outside for a bit and let him run around in the grass.
Today I did some of my errands, less than half, had to pick up my Buddy's tires and rims we dropped off yesterday at the tire shop, then had to help my Brother change some tires from rusty rims to freshly painted ones, then I had to go and get the parts for the dock at the Camp. Going to work in the morning for a bit with the carpenter and then my Cousin is going to help me get some things done and we are going to install the dock or maybe docks, depends on how much time it takes.
Chuck is doing well, he has been at home today, going to go outside for a bit and let him run around in the grass.
harley jim
Well-known member
Dont that figure, 60 and windy when you are wet.
It is supposed to be a high of 55 tomorrow, glad I did it today. Still have another dock to install at Dad’s camp next door, that one is more of a PITA. I also need to add another three adjustable legs to to one I installed today and swap a swap out a couple for shorter ones. When I pull these docks out, the plan is to change them around so that they have a straight path in, right now you have to turn the largest most cumbersome part and it isn’t fun, my back and shoulders are complaining.
mybigwarwagon
Well-known member
I would hurt someone for some 60 degree weather about now.
harley jim
Well-known member
88 deg° today that's about 10° cooler than Thursday
Weather guessers talking snow in Western Maine mountains. I have heat on in house this morning, 51 degrees and thats the high for today.
Lofty goals and it looks like it could keep you busy for years. My question is will you use this equipment so much that it has to be perfect?
xtremek
Well-known member
We were nice yesterday and will be today (70's), but the fun is over. Most of last week was in the 90's. THey're saying 90's for the next 10 days, with it close 100 middle of this week. We never saw 100*F when I was a kid, not even in August. This is going to miserable
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Next week they are saying highs in the upper 60s and low 70s, I can live with that. Today is definitely cool, and I think the low for tonight will be in the 40s, I wouldn't doubt that the mountains may see some snow.
I suspect it will keep me busy for a while, that is why I think building a completely separate truck chassis for Perk makes the most sense, that way I don't actually decommission Perk until it is time to swap the cab over. None of it has to be perfect and it probably never will, but I am working alone most of the time, so I do need to get the remote controls and hydraulics functioning well.
One of my projects may have just got a shortcut, I had sold a crew cab 3500HD diesel to a Buddy of mine, he is now expecting a second baby and has decided he doesn't need the fourth truck anymore, so he asked if I wanted to buy it back. We agreed on a price and I am taking it back tomorrow, it needs a bit of work, but it will be a fairly quick thing to set it up with the utility body from the green 3500HD that I dragged home a couple months ago. This will give me an open body utility truck, I will be able to use it instead of borrowing other trucks, plus it can become a roving toolbox, one that I really need due to the multiple locations and multiple projects going on right now. It currently has a dump body on it, one that is actually a bit too big for the truck, so that dump body will end up on Bev eventually
I hope to start consolidating projects so that I am truly ready for winter, both shops need to be usable and I would like to have a project going at each shop. The Salvage Garage will be a suburban project and the Hill will most likely be Perk and the transmission swap and hydraulics upgrade.
The two 3500HD series trucks for reference:
I hope to start consolidating projects so that I am truly ready for winter, both shops need to be usable and I would like to have a project going at each shop. The Salvage Garage will be a suburban project and the Hill will most likely be Perk and the transmission swap and hydraulics upgrade.
The two 3500HD series trucks for reference:
jakemac
Well-known member
You’ll need to paint that utility body blue to match Perk.
mybigwarwagon
Well-known member
My experience has been that utility beds make great tool boxes, and lousy pickups.
For the stuff I haul it will be just about perfect. There are rugged tie downs in the floor and I will add E-Track all down the sides, probably add a rack as well, but haven't really decided on that yet. This is a 12' body, so lots more room than a pickup truck. I have found that I am just not a pickup truck type of guy.
xtremek
Well-known member
Sounds like you're making good progress, but will this new project slow you down much?
bulletpruf
Well-known member
That was my question, too. When I get too busy, I pass up deals unless they're "deal of a lifetime" type stuff.
Strouty a suggestion. Since your buddy needs the cash and you need the time, how about having him do the swap and refit, if you think he can do the work?
At the least hire him to help, maybe it will go faster.
Ron
At the least hire him to help, maybe it will go faster.
Ron
Both the green and white truck are 2001 or 2002.
I am sure it will, but when doesn't something slow me down?
See above.
That particular Buddy has no time, the one that is helping me once or twice a week will help me, but everything is a balancing act.
I just need to pick up those two loaders, then I can breathe easier. I am stressed right now because the truck and trailer are not ready to run the open road, one of the loader guys is getting annoyed, the other doesn't care. I just have to get it done, then that stress will be gone and I can replace it with another stress. I won't be making any long distance deals for a while, the rest of this year is going to be cleaning up the projects that I have already acquired and getting the process organized so the ones that are being back burnered will still be viable when I can get to them. My main concern is getting the loaders back, hopefully after this next week I will have both the truck and trailer ready for the road trips, that will take away some of my stress for sure, but nothing like having both loaders back at the SG. And yes, I have toyed with the idea of paying someone to go and get them, but I need to prove my trailer and truck combo are worth all this effort, so I feel I just have to do these two trips. Once the first one is done, the second one will be less stressful anyways.
The white one looks just like mine except for the extended cab. Funny how GMC kept that style in whats called a work truck. With that extended cab that will make a great utility truck if you ask me. Lots of room in body and good dry space in cab. I use the back seat area for Milwaukee cases and my tool bag. Plus you can never have enough clothes for outside work in Maine.
GM never made anything except the regular cab in the 3500HD series, all the crew cabs were conversions, the cab is welded together in the middle and the frame is lengthened. My first crew cab was a 1998 HD series, that was a long time ago. I pulled the utility body off my first truck, that was just a single cab 3500 and it was always overloaded, the HD series rolled around at about 14k all the time, but it handled the weight much better.
Back then I didn't take nearly as many pictures, wish I did, but I didn't. With that truck, we took out the bench seats and installed captains chairs and a center console up front, then on the passenger side rear we installed one more captain chair and then I had a ARB 12 volt fridge to keep food and drinks in. That left room for our clothes and gear that we didn't want in the back.
xtremek
Well-known member
Hopefully the box/body swap goes quickly on the HDs. And I hear you on the upcoming road trips. The first few are always stressful. But so validating if they go right.
bowtiguy
Well-known member
It’s called imprinting ..... “momma”. 
lilscorpion
Well-known member
This is kinda how I live my life but in hind sight, I think it ends up the excuse to just buy what I want and justify it.
