Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole

[jbmatth]

Herb,
Thanks for the offer, I'm not sure how things are going to work out just yet, I'm in limbo right now still. The output shaft where the bearing is bad is also trashed and a new one is over $250 just for that shaft.

In other news my friend said he would take $500 for everything so I'm working with another friend down here to help me get it loaded up and bring it to the house so I can get to work pulling that axle out. Oh what fun, have a great weekend all.
JB

 

[jbmatth]

I didn't have my front axle parts to work on my truck last night while I was on my fatigue day so I worked on a few other things. I did some clean up, removed another 3 gallons of mud from my truck frame, and burned some trash that had been piling up. The truck is pretty well as mud free as it is going to get until I do other maintenance work that isn't known for now.

I also painted the last of the parts for one of the drums on Herb's Hearse. While I was waiting on the paint to dry I worked on a project for one of my little brothers. He bought a '68 Camaro this summer with the hope of having it on the road by fall. Well that isn't going to happen, this is the state of the car now:

He already removed the front sub-frame stripped it, painted it, and added disc brakes, tubular control arms, and poly bushings:

The car originally had single leaf springs but was converted to the SS multi-leaf spring at some point which left this little gap:

I offered to make the spacers for him since he doesn't have many tools or a great place to work on them. My parents came in this weekend for my oldest daughters 5th bday party, and my wife's aahhheeemm 21st again, and they brought the parts with them. Whipped them up:

Checked the fit:

Blasted everything and primed them:

I put the first coat of color on this afternoon before coming to work. I also picked up a bunch of grade 8 hardware to replace the grade 5 stuff so I'll send that back to him as well. I keep saying he needs to just bring it out here to work since I have all the tools he would need, but for some reason he doesn't want to be away from his wife that long.

With that my smoke break is over,
JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

Nice work on your brother's car.

Wish I lived just a little closer. My Bobcat sets up lifts in a flash.

 

[jbmatth]

Nice work on your brother's car.

Wish I lived just a little closer. My Bobcat sets up lifts in a flash.

Old Iron,
Thanks for the kind words, I hope he likes the parts too, I'll finish painting them when I get home this morning and see about shipping it all back tomorrow after the paint has had plenty of dry time.

I can tell you really want to play with that Bobcat and take a road trip so I guess I'll let you come play, I won't even charge you anything and will even provide pizza and drinks to keep from getting too hot in this Ok. summer.
You know just to help you from getting board working on your own projects.

JB

 

[NedNorton]

JB,
Wow, you have a lot going on. Sorry to hear that the "new" truck is adding to the list of stuff to do but I'm sure that it will be all sorted in short order.

I see that the new blast cabinet is getting used. How are you liking it? I hope that you can get a free day and pick up the lift. Once that thing is in you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

Keep knocking away at the projects! Always an inspiration for me to get into the shop and get something done after catching up on the goings-ons at the Hidey Hole.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[jbmatth]

JB,
Wow, you have a lot going on. Sorry to hear that the "new" truck is adding to the list of stuff to do but I'm sure that it will be all sorted in short order.

I see that the new blast cabinet is getting used. How are you liking it? I hope that you can get a free day and pickup the lift. Once that thing is in you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

Keep knocking away at the projects! Always an inspiration for me to get into the shop and get something done after catching up on the goings-ons at the Hidey Hole.

Cheers,
Chris

Wow, thank you for the kind words Chris, I must say you are also one of the threads I read for inspiration and you mill restoration is

The truck will be all sorted in short order, but I just haven't had the chance to get the needed parts from my friend at work as we are on the exact opposite shifts right now. That leads into the lift, but if nothing else I think I'll be done this week at some point so I'll head up to pick it up even if I have to borrow a friends truck to get it.

Nothing new to report as of now, I mowed for about an hour today before work, the grass didn't seem to grow at all the first week I was on this, but that second week after the rain hit is a different story.
JB

 

[jbmatth]

It was one of those weekends where I made 2 steps forward and 1 step back. The plan was to pick up the frame from my friend Thursday, take it home and drop it off with the trailer and return another friends truck, then head to work Thursday night. I only managed to get it loaded on the trailer and make it back in time for work. While the frame and trailer were at his farm he managed to put it up for sale. LOL
View media item 62431
Little did I know he was on the right track. I got off Friday morning, picked it up and headed home to start working on pulling the front diff. so I could removed the axle shaft I needed off of it. I tried prying it off, using a pickle fork style wedge, and a slide hammer all with no luck. The bearings didn't feel great anyway so maybe it would have all been for naught if I could have gotten it off anyway. My forearm is still dead from using the slide hammer. I ordered a new shaft to the tune of $249 and it should be delivered today actually, and it was shipped from Arizona.

So if anyone in the area needs an NP263 transfer case or a 14 bolt with 3.73:1 gears let me know I'll make you a deal. I guess I'll try to part it out before removing the parts I could sell and scrapping the rest. Or I guess I could make a dune buggy out of it. I pulled the diff. out on the trailer, then pulled it off the trailer by strapping it to a tree and driving forward.
View media item 62430
I planned to install the front diff. Friday, then drive up to Wichita to grab my lift and bring it home, obviously that did't work out. Then Saturday morning I planned to install everything I could to get closer to having it ready for when the axle arrived. Well then this happened:
View media item 62433
We had 4" of rain and lots of wind and lightening. I worked on cleaning up some of the water once it stopped raining and shop vac'd out ~20 gallons from just the floor! I spent Saturday with the family and catching up from spending so much time away from them recently.

Sunday I couldn't mow like I planned because there was just too much standing water and I had lots of down limbs to clean up. I needed a new chain for my chainsaw so I picked one up from a box store while doing some back to school shopping, came home and of course it was the wrong one. An hour and a half later I had the right one and started trimming low limbs to make mowing easier. I ended up going a little overboard and now have 5 big piles I need to burn and still more to clean up, I just ran out of energy, it was near 100°F when I started and could only muster 5 hours before I was ready to crash.

I managed to install the passenger side drum brakes on Herb's Hearse this morning before work so I am still making progress a little at a time on it. Herb, how is that rearend coming along?

The plan is to replace the axle shaft this week, get the truck on the road, and head to Wichita Friday to pick up the lift, cross your fingers for me it works out this time.

JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

sending some positive vibes your way!

i had a basement flood twice in the same week with heavy rains about 4 years ago....no bueno!

 

[BUGTHUG]

Oh boy, I had the same problem with water on the floor. Just less of it. When they put the walk in door in, they didn't put any sealer or a seal to keep the water out, so almost every time it rains I have water in the same spot over and over
I have to go to the VA tomorrow morning, its probably 3 or 4 miles from where your lift is. If you want I could swing by there and pick it up. Then drop it off tomorrow, or when ever you have some time off. I need to know today cause I have to load trailer
Worked just a little on rear end, been mowing and trying to stay out of the heat. Let me know

 

[jbmatth]

sending some positive vibes your way!

i had a basement flood twice in the same week with heavy rains about 4 years ago....no bueno!

Outlaw,
No fun indeed, it is frustrating with all of the screws I put into the roof to keep this from happening I'm still fighting it. I'll have to get The Warthog Hidey Hole re-roofed if I really want to stop it. Sadly that isn't in the cards for the time being.

Oh boy, I had the same problem with water on the floor. Just less of it. When they put the walk in door in, they didn't put any sealer or a seal to keep the water out, so almost every time it rains I have water in the same spot over and over
I have to go to the VA tomorrow morning, its probably 3 or 4 miles from where your lift is. If you want I could swing by there and pick it up. Then drop it off tomorrow, or when ever you have some time off. I need to know today cause I have to load trailer
Worked just a little on rear end, been mowing and trying to stay out of the heat. Let me know

Herb,
I'd rather deal with your water leak than mine. I would like to say yes but I won't be able to unload it off of your trailer until I get my cherry picker back from a friend, if that will even handle the columns. I also agreed to pay in cash to reduce their credit card fees. If I can't get my truck fixed this week I'll give you a call. I didn't expect these issues when I ordered the lift that is for sure.

In other news my axle shaft is out for delivery now, I hope to install it tonight or tomorrow morning. If all goes well I'll then be able to get the lift picked up Friday, I'm taking the day off to "recover". (Read that as work like crazy around the house to try to catch up.)
JB

 

[BUGTHUG]

How much weight do you think one of the columns weigh? My Kubota tractor can lift around 400#, I think a little more?
You don't know any farmers around that has a bucket tractor?

 

[jbmatth]

The columns are about 600# each depending on how much I can take out of them. I do know a few that might be able to help, but will wait until I get closer to actually installing the lift, or have to free up the trailer before I actually worry too much about removing it from my trailer. Thank you for the offer though, however when the time comes to install the lift your tractor might come in handy for lifting them, I'll have to put some thought into that.
JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

How does the manufacturer recommend erecting the lift?

Give me a little notice and I'll wander by for a few hours. If you want to assemble all on the ground I'm sure we could lift it in one piece with the Bobcat.

 

[jbmatth]

Andy,
I haven't read that far into the directions just yet, but suspect they would recommend lifting the columns individually, I'll check into it and post the information here. Thank you very much for the offer, and I believe I'll take you up on that one.

In other news my truck is back on the road, I have gotten terrible about taking pictures when it is so hot out so I don't have any to share, sorry. I had almost forgotten how much fun it was to have air conditioning when it is this hot out, and it is sooo much quicker than the Saturn.

JB

 

[bonecrrusher]

JB - what year is your Duramax?

I can't believe all that **** was in the intake.

Also - who did your tune - looks like you have a DSP5 switch.

I'm looking into an Idaho Rob tune, DSP5 switch - but might look into the EGR delete now too.

 

[jbmatth]

JB - what year is your Duramax?

I can't believe all that **** was in the intake.

Also - who did your tune - looks like you have a DSP5 switch.

I'm looking into an Idaho Rob tune, DSP5 switch - but might look into the EGR delete now too.

Thanks for stopping by Crusher, my truck is an '06 with the LBZ, I will always do an EGR delete on diesels from this point forward if I can for that very reason, that was some sticky nasty stuff in there.

I had Kaufman Automotive do the tune he is just north of Wichita and I like it so far. I do have a DSP5 switch that I installed because he didn't have any in stock, it took maybe an hour and most of that was fighting dirt in everything. I've heard a lot of good stuff about Idaho Rob, but didn't want to splurge on an EFI Live box just yet or go without the computer for a while. Let me know what you think about his tunes and the EGR delete if you go that route.

JB

 

[bonecrrusher]

Cool man - I wasn't sure what motor you have.

My truck is an '05 LLY - and I really haven't had many problems with it. The only time it "stranded" me was when the fuel filter/assembly crapped out. Luckily it died in the driveway. I ordered a new assembly for like $100 something and got it in 2 days from Amazon Prime. Besides that - I rebuilt the front suspension - put in a set of brakes all the way around and thats about it.

I've added a bunch of electronics and **** from other models - Escalade navigation, TBSS bluetooth Onstar box, Avalanche power mirrors w/ puddle lights, backup camera.

I have a Corsa muffler/catback waiting to go on the truck - that's why I was considering the Idaho Rob tune. There are like 3 or 4 LS tuners in my area - but nothing specializing in Duramax's though. Like I said - after seeing your intake, I really need to look into that EGR setup.

I have a "build" thread here if your interested:
http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/build-threads/430538-fixing-up-my-2005-gmc-sierra-2500-hd.html

 

[jbmatth]

I had a similar situation with my filter head that I think I talked about here. I shut my truck off at a gas station and it wouldn't start back up. Someone else pumped on the primer while I turned the truck over and it started right up, and wouldn't leak while it was running. Turns out I had a bad seal somewhere in there. I think it was about $20 for the parts and rebuilt it that night in less than an hour, not a bad fix at all.

I'll have to check out your thread, I never thought about adding the bluetooth/Onstar box, but will check into it. With my CD/DVD/Navigation/stereo/etc. system it has provisions for installing a backup camera which I'll eventually add, I don't really need it for backing up, but it would be wonderful for hooking up to trailers.

JB

 

[JohnnieMo]

I installed something called a Bluestar in my car. It hooks in place of an on Star module and uses the stock buttons and microphone. When accessed it just uses your smart phones built in voice control capabilities.

It's nice because you can then ask it anything from "navigate to gas station" or "phone Fred".

On top of that it is pretty cheap and has top notch sound quality. I highly recommend.

Sent from my BlackBerry Priv

 

[jbmatth]

Johnnie, Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Sounds like a pretty good system, I don't have any controls on my steering wheel the onstar button on the mirror. The cd/DVD thing I have does have Bluetooth and will make calls through my phone as well as play music but I've never tried it sadly.

In other news I finished the passenger side brake on Herb's Hearse, and have the drivers side in primer:


I also picked this up today:


I finely was able to get the planets to align and get my lift. Turns out I lied, I actually ordered a Rotary Revolution RTP 10 not the Forward I10, or at least that's the one I brought home. Oh well same lift all in all. It is tucked away in The Warthog Hidey Hole awaiting Herb to bring me the rear for his Hearse so I can install the lift there. No rush Herb.

JB



Sent from my bag phone.

 

[1/2 Cup]

JB, well done with the new lift....

 

[Grumblebum]

Hmm, nice shiny lift.

Hope you didn't have any damage to your shed tools with the water.

 

[JohnnieMo]

Johnnie, Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Sounds like a pretty good system, I don't have any controls on my steering wheel the onstar button on the mirror. The cd/DVD thing I have does have Bluetooth and will make calls through my phone as well as play music but I've never tried it sadly.

I'm always lurking (just not always posting).

So you do or do not have the mirror buttons? I thought those were pretty standard in trucks since the epoch. That's all you need.

Lift looks sharp. I look forward to seeing it up and running. Your back will thank you a million times over.

Sent from my BlackBerry Priv

 

[Joe-R]

Hi JB,

Congratulations on your new lift!!! I'm glad the planets finally aligned for you. I can't wait to see it in action in the WHH. Maybe I missed it, but what are the specs on it?

Joe

 

[bonecrrusher]

Ohhh lift time... hell yeah!

I will say - since I installed mine - I will never crawl back under a car again!

 

[BUGTHUG]

I'm still cleaning away on those parts. Its been so damn hot a few days that I just can't do anything. Always something. I'mtrying to get that done, I'm sure you want that space back. The front hub looks nice.

 

[jbmatth]

JB, well done with the new lift....

1/2 Cup,
Thank you, I really appreciate it, and am glad it has finely happened.

Hmm, nice shiny lift.

Hope you didn't have any damage to your shed tools with the water.

Grumble,
No damage that I can tell so far, other than my table saw table. At one point I had it all cleaned up and smooth only to have it get wet and now the entire top is surface rust. I need to clean it off again and coat it with something that won't transfer over to wood. Any suggestions?

Hi JB,

Congratulations on your new lift!!! I'm glad the planets finally aligned for you. I can't wait to see it in action in the WHH. Maybe I missed it, but what are the specs on it?

Joe

Joe,
Welcome to the Warthot Hidey Hole I don't think I've seen you comment before, but if so it is because I've slept since then. The lift is a Rotary Revolution 10,000 pound (4,500 KG) lift. It is 12 ft (3.6m) tall, and will lift up to just over 6' tall (~2 m). Here is the link to their website: Rotary Revolution RTP10, and the Installation Instructions

Ohhh lift time... hell yeah!

I will say - since I installed mine - I will never crawl back under a car again!

Bone,
I'm looking forward to having it installed, it will happen soon, and by that I mean sometime before the year is up.

I'm still cleaning away on those parts. Its been so damn hot a few days that I just can't do anything. Always something. I'mtrying to get that done, I'm sure you want that space back. The front hub looks nice.

Herb,
I know what you mean about the heat the past few weeks, it has been killer, but luckily it isn't supposed to be over the mid 90°F (~32°C) for the foreseeable future. Look at it this way, the sooner you get me the rear end the sooner I can install the lift and more easily work on the brake lines, fuel lines, check over the wiring, install the fuel tank, and ...

I'm always lurking (just not always posting).

So you do or do not have the mirror buttons? I thought those were pretty standard in trucks since the epoch. That's all you need.

Lift looks sharp. I look forward to seeing it up and running. Your back will thank you a million times over.

Sent from my BlackBerry Priv

Johnnie,
I only have the power button, and the compass/temperature button on my mirror, all 3 of the Silverados I've owned lacked the OnStar button for some reason. I'm picking up the wiring and breaker for the lift today and will get it run this week inching ever some much closer.
JB

 

[jbmatth]

Update on a few other happenings this weekend. I mowed again and am finely caught up on that, I only had to mow 3 times in a week and a half to get back to square one. I also cut and burned 3 of the piles of limbs that I'd cut down and cut up since the last storm, now only 3 more to go of the original 7.

Also I finished installing the brake drum on the passenger side of Herb's Hearse:
View media item 59891
I have slowly been selling parts off of the spare Silverado frame and am now in the black on it. I sold the transfer case for $400 which I could have asked for more but I'm not too worried about it, I also sold/traded the torsion bars for $100 plus $75 for installing them, which turned out to be a chore.

I removed the lower control arms from everything and tried to pull the arms out, that didn't work so I had to step up to using a 15 pound (6.8 kg) sledge hammer to get them free from the keys:
View media item 62883
Next came removing the bars from the LCA's....I ended up chaining the bar to the frame on the truck:
View media item 62884
View media item 62885
Then beating on them for about an hour even using heat and PB Blaster it was a headache, and more accuratly a hand ache. Turns out the old sledge I have only had this one job left in the handle, I got them off, but was worried it wasn't going to last that long:
View media item 62886
That was my grandfathers and I've only used it one other time since 2009, and I'm sure it wasn't used after he passed in 2004 and was old then, so it was due for a new handle which I'll pick up today. That is all for now, have a great and productive week everyone.
JB

 

[Joe-R]

Wow JB, I've never seen a sledge hammer handle that looked like that!!! Have you been doing some 'roids in your spare time? LOL

 

[TMcCay]

JB,
I use a topping for my woodworking tools called Slip-it. It has been around forever and does not transfer to wood. A can last forever. Some will say Johnsons Paste wax (the stuff in the yellow can) but I myself have had better results with Slip-it. I got mine from Toolcrib but it can be found on Amazon. Hope this helps.

 

[TankMech88]

Great job and thread man, really enjoyed reading through it and looking forward to more updates.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Might have been a deal to just throw in the LCA's.

Your handle did the splits.

 

[jbmatth]

Wow JB, I've never seen a sledge hammer handle that looked like that!!! Have you been doing some 'roids in your spare time? LOL

Joe,
I'm with you on the handle, I've only ever seen them break by the head. Funny you mention the 'roids, I was really big into weight lifting in high school and college and picked up the nickname JB Smash. I never tried to smash anything to get that nickname, but things had a habit of breaking while I was around, like the handles on a couple of T post drivers.

JB,
I use a topping for my woodworking tools called Slip-it. It has been around forever and does not transfer to wood. A can last forever. Some will say Johnsons Paste wax (the stuff in the yellow can) but I myself have had better results with Slip-it. I got mine from Toolcrib but it can be found on Amazon. Hope this helps.

Mr. Tee,

Thanks for joining in on the adventures I have in my on personal slice of heaven here at the Warthog Hidey Hole. Also thanks for the info on Slip-it, I'll put some on order. Check that, I just ordered some, gotta love the internet for everything you can find and ease of spending hard earned money. I'll report back when I have a chance to use it.

Great job and thread man, really enjoyed reading through it and looking forward to more updates.

Tank,
I appreciate the kind comments and thank you as well for tagging along for the ride, there will be plenty more to come I assure you.

Might have been a deal to just throw in the LCA's.

Your handle did the splits.

Andy,
The ball joints on my LCA's were shot or that would have been the easier option certainly. Oh well it is done now and I have the money in my pocket. Well I did anyway, now I have some Slip-It on order and plenty of other stuff begging to be purchased.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

I have a few updates to give ya'll that may amount to a lot of work...
First of all my subscription for my own thread hasn't been sending me updates so I don't know I have new posts until I check to make an update, frustrating. I unsubscribed then resubscribed so hopefully that will take care of it.

Secondly, last Thursday I came home to hear my compressor running non-stop, I normally shut the air line off so I don't have to worry about leaks at the reels constantly kicking the compressor on. Well, that morning I forgot and this happened:

I never did find the hose clamp, even after cleaning the entire shop over the weekend, hmm... While I was in Wichita on Friday I picked up a couple of hose whips to replace the braided hose I had been using. I installed them last night:

Ahh much better and makes me a happy camper, I bought 3/8" NPT hose thinking there would be 3/8" NPT ends on the hose just like the reel, but no, they were 1/4" NPT, so I had to pick up some couplings too. I also installed a pressure regulator on my blast cabinet that also has a water knockout pot, hopefully it helps some, we shall see. If not I might buy or build a desiccant drier to put in-line with it as well.

Lastly, I marked out the location where I want the lift that will provide the best layout I can come up with. I drilled a couple 1/4" pilot holes to test depth as the specs on the lift call for 4.5" of 3,000 psi concrete. Good news is I do have exactly 4.5" but no idea on the strength. I have a couple questions out to Rotary now to see what they recommend but I'm afraid I will have to get a concrete saw and go to town with it. In the back of my head I know that will be the better option in the long run, but will just not be any fun and will push back the install date that much more.

JB

 

[madoc1]

i am no expert, but i have read that concrete gets more solid (tougher) as it ages and that can continue for quite some time. as old as your''s is, i bet it is plenty strong. but then again for peace of mind----

jim

 

[jbmatth]

Jim,
That is correct, concrete cures for a very very long time. I've read somewhere that it can still be curing, although slightly, after 100 years. I'm just debating on what to do at this point. I found out a co-worker can test the strength for me, but as you said, for piece of mind...
JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I like to save money when I can, but when it comes to what I would be securing a lift to, I wouldn't cut any corners! I'm sure you feel the same way.

Shutting the valve off on the air compressor is a ritual I have had since high school. That was the last thing you did on your way out of the shop at our farm. We had one pump motor that ran until it burned itself up, almost took the garage with it.

 

[jbmatth]

Outlaw,
That is where I'm really leaning toward, and if it is worth doing, it is worth overdoing. Rotary calls for 4'x4'x6" pads centered under each of the post. However Mohawk has this information on their site and that is most likely what I'll do. More work, more material, but in the end I know I'll have plenty of support for the lift.

Now where did I leave that sledge hammer...
JB

 

[jbmatth]

Update on what I've been up to over the past week and a half. I needed something to keep me busy for a few days so I decided to restore an ax and pick that came with this property when we bought it. The pick was in the Warthog Hidey Hole, but the ax was found one day when I was mowing. Sadly I don't have pictures of them painted, or of the pick, but here is the ax as it was found:

I used the wire wheel to clean it up followed by the blast cabinet, then finely the belt sander:

I couldn't get all of the pits out of the metal or there would have been nothing left. I then sharpened it more with a file until it could do this:

Not clean enough of a cut for a knife, but acceptable for an ax.

More to come on the lift front...
JB

 

[jbmatth]

Now onto the lift, I've decided not to chance the lift install, it will take more time and money but I'll have the satisfaction of knowing it will be as best I can make it. I'm going to rent a concrete saw this weekend and cut a 4'x14' (1.2m x 4.25m) hole in The Warthog Hidey Hole floor. I plan to tie the new slab into the old floor with #4 (0.5" or 12.7mm) rebar on 18" (46cm) centers, drilled 3" (7.62cm) and set with epoxy of some kind. I'm also laying a rebar 6" x 8" mat 11" (28cm) below the top surface. The new pad will be a minimum of 12" (30.5cm) thick or up to 18" (46cm) depending on what the soil is like. I figure this will give me plenty of support and won't have to worry about the foundation again.

I unloaded the lift last week with my cherry picker, a moving dolly, and a pair of jack stands:
View media item 63210
Unloaded:
View media item 63213
I have the rebar cut as of yesterday morning:
View media item 63215
I did a layout on the slab of the cut lines, I first located the 4 corners which took longer than I'd like to admit, but when I cornered measured them I was less than 1/4" (6.3mm) off, I'll take that:
View media item 63212
I also drilled locating holes in the corners so I didn't have to worry about the chalk line wearing off.

I purchased the 10/2 wiring, 20 amp-240 volt breaker, and installed it to the takeoff by the future lift location.

I also got to do a little drafting on the lift box:
View media item 63211What could this be I wonder?

Here is another hint:
View media item 63214
And one more:
View media item 63216
I'll let everyone guess what this will eventually become.

Have a great day,
JB