Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole

[jbmatth]

Looks like you had a lot of fun, and met some of the GJ'ers. Looks like the weather was decent most of the way. Glad you didn't have any major car problems. The picture of your Cobra and the yellow 55 look good together. The small town car show was probably fun, and gave you time to rest a little bit.
Man that's a lot of driving, but looks like fun. I would like to make a long trip in my hearse, but don't think either one of us would survive.
Glad you guys made back OK! Back to rowing the boat.

Missed your reply Herb, sorry about that. I'm glad the trip went well and I really did have a great time other than some of the long stints in the sun in a very hot car. Al's '55 is a very nice looking car, it has a 383 with plenty of power to move it down the road.

You mean a hearse isn't meant for drives longer than from the funeral home to the graveyard???? Lucky for me most of the other cars needed fuel every 100 miles and other drivers didn't have a young mans bladder so we had plenty of rest brakes.

Glad that you had a great trip.

Great project, to fix the 57 up so you can take the family. That sounds like it would be a great time for all.

Good luck on the Silver Fox. I can understand that taking the body off made many things easier on the newer vehicles.

Dwight

I'm looking forward to getting the '57 back on the road, I really just need to decide how deep I want to dive into it. I know it needs a new axle, all the brakes, engine, trans, fuel system, interior, guages, seals.... I need to take another breathe before finishing.

Pulling the cab was the best option and has saved the couple of hours it took to pull it off. Note to file the next time I start digging into another one.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Well work continues on T.S.F., I was ready to start lowering the body this morning but did a quick cleanup to gather tools and make sure everything was accounted for before trapping something. I lowered the body a few inches at a time making sure I wasn't trapping anything and reconnecting as I went while access was still better than it will soon be. This is where I made it to when time ran out:
View media item 71538
There really isn't anything else I can re-install until the body is back all the way down but now is when I need to go really slow and take my time not to break anything. By breakfast tomorrow I should have it back on (Don't hold me to that please....pretty please...I know how my projects usually go.) and well on my way to installing everything back on the engine. Wish me luck!

JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

Got my fingers crossed on TSF.

 

[jbmatth]

I did quite a bit of work on both T.S.F. and around the house this weekend. The body is back on, all accessories are installed and the only remaining parts left to put back on as of this morning are the grill and bumper. I filled the oil, trans. fluid, and water only for now in the engine, as a way to give it a flush before draining it all out and adding the 50/50 mix. Cranked it over just to see with the injectors unplugged and...have two puddles on the floor, one is a bad fuel line, easy enough fix, the other is trans fluid spilling out of the dipstick tube, that may be a tough fix.

I also spent a lot of quality time with a chainsaw and matches. I have a lot of Osage Orange (Also called hedge apple, horse apple, bois d'arc, bodark, bow-wood, yellow-wood or mock orange.) trees that when small have a lot of thorns that cut you to shreds when mowing. I've been tackling these little by little over the past couple of years and made a huge dent this week.

I also trimmed up a few low limbs and should have a better time mowing from here on out.

JB

 

[shortykorte]

Is that Ricky Bobby in the background? lol


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[jbmatth]

Is that Ricky Bobby in the background? lol


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I'm on FIRE, I'M ON FIRE!!! Tom Cruise put me out with your devil magic!

 

[jbmatth]

On another note T.S.F. is running, WOO HOO!!!! I started it up this morning and it runs great....but I had to pull part of the front accessories off to replace a gasket on the return line for the injectors. I haven't fixed the trans fill tube leak yet as there is a good size puddle under the truck and I want to move it so I'm not laying in that the whole time working.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Glad you got it running JB! Put one more in the "W" column.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Nice work, nice to catch up on your projects!

 

[jbmatth]

Glad you got it running JB! Put one more in the "W" column.

I'll count it as a W when I get it sold and make my money back, or a bit extra.

Nice work, nice to catch up on your projects!

Speaking of which, Sean I heard you might want a truck, no rust!

JB

 

[madoc1]

great job. now you can sell your one good head to some poor guy in need.

jim

 

[mybigwarwagon]

My grandmother had a hedge apple tree in her back yard when I was a kid. That thing was nasty to mow around.


Once my dad caught us using the hedge apples as weapons it got cut down. LOL>

 

[jbmatth]

great job. now you can sell your one good head to some poor guy in need.

jim

Jim,
I have so many parts laying around it is pretty crazy. I have a good drivers side head for this LB7 and one for an LBZ, I hate to scrap the parts as they are valuable to someone but unless they sell they aren't of any value to me other than scrap. Do you need anything?

My grandmother had a hedge apple tree in her back yard when I was a kid. That thing was nasty to mow around.


Once my dad caught us using the hedge apples as weapons it got cut down. LOL>

But the apples were soooooo cool to hit with baseball bats, there weren't many fast balls but there were many fast pieces flying around. Sounds like I need to set up a game with friends sometime.
JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

Congratulations on the start!

Excellent work!

Ummm.... extra heads

Cast aluminum????

 

[Grumblebum]

You have been a busy boy lately JB. Good work getting TSF fired up.

GB

 

[jbmatth]

Congratulations on the start!

Excellent work!

Ummm.... extra heads

Cast aluminum????

Yes sir, I have two good extra heads, and two bad ones. I wonder if I can find someone that likes cast aluminum....

You have been a busy boy lately JB. Good work getting TSF fired up.

GB

I have been busy even if I don't really feel like much is getting done I am at least moving around a lot.


This morning it was all about tying up loose ends. I put a majority of the tools away, installed the bumper and grill, moved the junk from in front of TSF out of the way and took it for a test drive. AC works which was previously untested, woo hoo, it drives fine and no new leaks. It is still smoking white smoke so I need to run some diesel injector cleaner through it to see if that helps to clear it up any, fingers crossed it will. If not that could mean new injectors.

Well that is all for now, have a good one everyone.
JB

 

[madoc1]

jim

 

[jbmatth]

This morning I got a little bit of an early start, *cough 1 am cough* and decided it was time to try to clean the injectors without removing them. I've read in the past you can us AC Delco part # 88861803, GM Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner. The instructions I could find said to mix 13 ounces with a 1/2 gallon (~2 liters) of diesel. The first step is to disconnect the supply and return lines from the back of the engine. They look like this:
View media item 71623
To get them off you are supposed to use a 3/8" (9.5mm) and 1/2" (12.7mm) fuel line disconnect tool, I only have 1/4" and 3/8". These are the 4 barbs you have to compress outwardly to allow the hard line (right above) to separate from the flex line (left above).
View media item 71625
The 3/8" return line came loose easy enough, however, the 1/2" line was another story. I tried small screw drivers, picks, spit and vinegar, and the kitchen sink but nothing was working. The only options I had were to try to get one from the store sometime today or ask myself what would Andy do. I then realized I didn't have a forge or aluminum biscuits so I decided to make my own. I started with:
View media item 71624
A scrap piece of 16 gauge steel, and using a hammer, pliers, vise, tin snips, and brute dumb force I made these:
View media item 71626
Well it actually worked, woo hoo. I set everything up and let it idle for about an hour and a half, by that point the smoking exhaust was pretty much non-existent. I'm going to research a good additive to add to the fuel in the tank to see if there is something else that will help it a bit more but I'm calling it a success. On a similar note I'm draining the fuel from the tank and will have to find a constructive way to dispose of it as I don't know how long it has been in there and don't want to push my luck.

Also removing the trans fill tube was a 5 minute job as the bolts are easily accessed when the truck is on a lift. Now with all of that complete it is time for another good cleaning and prep it for listing it on the market. Woo Hoo.

Side note, the fuel gauge in Black Plague 2.0 has decided it would rather read empty all the time than the proper level. So I get to pull the bed eventually and replace the sending unit, glad I have the lift to do that rather than drop the tank. Can you tell I really like having a lift?

JB

 

[dchance]

Yep, Glad you do. That way you can do more projects since you can work faster.

Good Success on the TSF

Dwight

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Sometimes the best tool is one you make yourself. I have several.



I have used my gantry crane more than once to lift a bed off to change a fuel pump.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Great job on the tool fab! Did it take longer than going to town to buy the "right" tool?

While I would dilute the fuel with a full tank, fuel you drain makes great parts cleaning fluid. Then when it is dirty it's good to start brush fires.

 

[jbmatth]

Yep, Glad you do. That way you can do more projects since you can work faster.

Good Success on the TSF

Dwight

Thank you Dwight, I sometimes wonder if it has slowed progress down as I'll pick up the entire project just to remember I left the oil filter in the drivers seat. Drop it down, grab the filter, lift it back up then realize the drain plug I was holding so I don't loose it is now in the drivers seat.

Sometimes the best tool is one you make yourself. I have several.

I have used my gantry crane more than once to lift a bed off to change a fuel pump.

War Wagon,
I have made a few tools in the past and am sure I'll make more in the future as the need arises and my tool collection continues to grow.

Great job on the tool fab! Did it take longer than going to town to buy the "right" tool?

While I would dilute the fuel with a full tank, fuel you drain makes great parts cleaning fluid. Then when it is dirty it's good to start brush fires.

Andy,
It took mush less time as I built this tool at around 3:30 am and waiting on the parts store would have meant an entire day of delay as I only have one Saturday per week.

I found out there really isn't an way to drain the fuel from the tank so I was going to work on just driving the truck until it is all gone, hasn't worked out all that well and the truck is now smoking again. I'm going to borrow a tool to test the injector balance rates and see if it is the injectors or if it is possibly just the fuel. Fingers crossed.


All,
Updates to come as I get caught up.
JB

 

[jbmatth]

As I've promised you and my family I would build her a new bed, a Jeep themed bed specifically. While they are away at my parents for the week I took some time to work on it a bit, then that turned into a long bit. I started off laying out the sides:

One of the unwritten rules of any new project is you get to buy at least one new tool. Well on this project I got to buy two. The compass and the protractor, as you can tell they are high quality pieces from the wally world art supply center.

The most time consuming part was going to be the grill, I took the oportunity to measure the grill on my wife's Jeep before she went to work one morning and started laying everything out and drilling the holes for the grill bars:

Then the completed rough grill:

This photo will show something I didn't realize I'd forgotten I knew before it slipped my mind:

When wanting to make a radius from a 90° angle set the radius on the compass, from the corner mark the radius to the intersecting point to the right and down as shown. Then center the compass on where each of these lines cross and draw a little arc where they should cross. From there draw your radius and boom perfect every time, or close enough my saw skills will do more damage than a poorly drawn line.

And here is the assembled bed:

Since this photo I've taken it back apart to round off most of the corners with a round over bit on my router, and prepare it for paint. I don't remember the colors she chose and want her to be here when we paint so I'll just hold off for the completed photos.

JB

 

[jnkpile]

Hey sweet Jeep bed! I thought about using MDF too but ended up going with Baltic birch ply and left it "****" , my eldest loves it and my youngest can't wait to take it over! Now I'm thinking I'll build a roof rack to put the bunk bed on.
A 109" Series IIA (sorta) [emoji41]
If you turn the Rover emblem the hood opens and is a toy box


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[jbmatth]

Hey sweet Jeep bed! I thought about using MDF too but ended up going with Baltic birch ply and left it "****" , my eldest loves it and my youngest can't wait to take it over! Now I'm thinking I'll build a roof rack to put the bunk bed on.
A 109" Series IIA (sorta) [emoji41]
If you turn the Rover emblem the hood opens and is a toy box


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jnkpile,
I don't think I've seen you post before so welcome aboard and thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I haven't had much luck working with ply in the past and not getting it to splinter like crazy, and of course I've never used high quality ply but have worked with MDF quite a bit and new how it would machine. That is one cool bed and I like the integrated toy box, good idea. I opted not to make a hood for it and have to fight to get the sheets on and let who knows what get lost down in the foot well.

JB

 

[vonhef]

Sweet Jeep creation!

 

[Vieux]

 

[jnkpile]

Well that was my big mistake. No foot well, the hood is all toy box. I used a "crib" mattress because we had an extra one and it was about 12" longer than he was tall. I thought he would fit until he was 6 or 7 but nooooo...... lol! It's still 6" or so longer than he is but with all the thrashing around he does when sleeping I think he needs a bigger bed.
Have fun with your Jeep bed build, she's gonna love it! Cheers


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[dlcwent]

JB, very cool Jeep/bed. I'm sure it's a big hit.

 

[rmalkow2]

Awesome Jeep bed. Good job dad. Your daughter is going to love it and the chance to finish it off with you. Memories for a lifetime.

 

[jbmatth]

Sweet Jeep creation!

Thanks Von, I like Jeep's but wouldn't call myself a big Jeep fan, my wife and daughters, you bet they are.

JB, very cool Jeep/bed. I'm sure it's a big hit.

DLC,
The girls are still with Grandma and Grandpa this week so she doesn't even know about it yet.

Awesome Jeep bed. Good job dad. Your daughter is going to love it and the chance to finish it off with you. Memories for a lifetime.

Malk,
I didn't think she would enjoy the saw dust and stuff but know she will like the paint so I'll save it for her.

Well that was my big mistake. No foot well, the hood is all toy box. I used a "crib" mattress because we had an extra one and it was about 12" longer than he was tall. I thought he would fit until he was 6 or 7 but nooooo...... lol! It's still 6" or so longer than he is but with all the thrashing around he does when sleeping I think he needs a bigger bed.
Have fun with your Jeep bed build, she's gonna love it! Cheers


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JNKPILE,
Oh that is a bummer, I know it was a ton of work and now your son is too big to enjoy it. Maybe just make it into an indoor sandbox now, I'm sure he wouldn't make a mess. LOL

JB

 

[jnkpile]

Ha! No chance! Luckily his little brother will make use of it


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[GLTHFJ60]

Subscribed! Love the engine work on the duramax. Finished up a cab-off project on my powerstroke a few months ago.

Any ideas what caused it to drop a valve?

 

[1/2 Cup]

JB, the jeep is just awesome, well done...

 

[jbmatth]

Ha! No chance! Luckily his little brother will make use of it


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Jnkpile,
That is a good thing to work out, it is convenient to have a little brother to hand it down to.

JB, the jeep is just awesome, well done...

1/2,
Thank you, it is coming along pretty well so far. The girls are now back home and when I surprised Bear with the bed Cat was not happy she didn't get one too. I had to explain she could decide what bed she got when she starts school next year, that'll give me some recovery time before having to do another. Maybe she will pick a simple design as well, crossing my fingers.

Subscribed! Love the engine work on the duramax. Finished up a cab-off project on my powerstroke a few months ago.

Any ideas what caused it to drop a valve?

GLTHFJ60,
Thanks for reading my thread and hopefully you'll be tagging along, and the engine work isn't done yet, I'll explain more in my next post. It didn't drop a valve, what had happened as best I can tell is the injector on 7 cylinder stuck open dumping fuel into the engine creating a very hot mixture. This in turn started to melt the piston and head. Eventually it burned a hole in the exhaust valve and head:
View media item 70892
This ended up in the exhaust valve seat coming out and dancing around in the combustion chamber:
View media item 70890
I had all the injectors from the new engine and the "known" bad injector sent in to be tested. That one was just dumping fuel and couldn't be tested so I assume my theory is correct.

Updates soon,
JB

 

[jbmatth]

Before the girls made it home late Saturday I took T.S.F. for a spin and took some time to think about the white smoke a bit more. I caved, brought the truck home and got to work to replace the injectors with a set that had previously been sent out and tested as usable but not perfect:
View media item 71885
I'm about as far as I can get while I wait on some seals and gaskets. Also here is a photo I took after I cleaned it up a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised for the most part at how clean the truck really is:
View media item 71886
On Sunday I surprised Bear with the bed and let her and Cat help me paint on it for a bit, I'd say they had a good time:

I was a nervous wreck and just wanted to step in and get it done without a big mess. But in the end I held back and just cleaned up a bit after they went inside. One thing I won't clean up is this little reminder Cat left me:

We should be ready for the purple paint today once I get home.

JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

I'm glad to see you finally got on the important work!

Great design you have their, and great memories of a dad who cares for the girls. They won't remember the excellent troubleshooting you're doing on the truck.

Can you take the fuel line loose and pump the tank dry with the booster pump?

 

[dreamingmuscle]

You need to dump a ton of clear on that footprint

 

[BUGTHUG]

You should of made a extended cab Jeep, that way they both get to ride their way to sleep.

 

[Vieux]

Looks like the engine needs repair.
You have great helpers!