I hate the cold (and it’s not even winter yet)

Dangit, I HATE being cold. Winter isn’t even officialy here yet and already I am already sick and tired of being cold. I was born and raised in Colorado and you would think that I would be used to the cold after 35 years. Remember Ralphies little brother all bundled up in the Christmas Story Movie?  Yeah, THAT would be me. Global warming just seems like some kind of cruel joke to me. Perhaps the problem is that we had a very mild fall and I got used to it and now i’m just being bitter. Working on cars in the winter is a thankless job made worse by the indignity of water and mud dripping all over you. The concrete floor in my workshop is apparently the worlds largest cold sink and is cold even in the summer. The doors on the workshop open to the north so that when it is not iced over it is muddy and wet. Thank goodness for the heater of my own construction that feeds on dead dinosaur carcasses and beetle kill. It warms an area of about 6′ diameter to about 9000 degrees but doesn’t look anything like the heater in the BURBS movie. Outside of that diameter and near the floor a person is probably risking frostbite exposure or at least it sometimes feels that way. Probably more insulation will have to get added soon or perhaps some solar designs just to help a little. Gotta go split more firewood so I don’t freeze to death. Later!

New / old project 1926 MODEL T ROADSTER PICKUP

Well, the old man finally got tired of storing my Model T and dropped it off here last night.   When I moved out here to the country I really lacked a good dry storage spot for the thing and he said I could keep it in his garage for awhile… Well… that WAS about three years ago and since he is now retired he is busier than ever and needed the space for the multitude of irons-in-the-fire type projects he has going these days.  So, what I have here is another of my 1/2 done projects…. mechanically, perfect. The body is actually almost ready for paint, it just needs a little wet sand detail work to be ready. The fenders are a little rougher but have shaped up nicely thanks to an old school buddy that understands vintage tin. WAIT!….. Fenders on a hot rod Ford? Anyone who knows me knows that nothing that I own or drive stays stock long but, this one is gonna be mostly stock with the few alterations being period accessories. Like Rocky Mountain Brakes, a Ruckstell 2 speed rear axle and a muncie auxillary transmission with overdrive so I can drive 21st century speeds with 1908 technology  brakes and steering (hey.. was technology even a word in1908?)…….. or maybe not! Not one of my friends that is in the hotrod scene has a car that has’nt been chopped, filled, hammered, sectioned, leaded, pie-cut, channeled, frenched, rechromed, dechromed, lowered, ported, relieved, stroked and bored. One of them will probably do a lot more than 140 floored! The sight of all this vintage tin causes them to consider all kinds of horrible fates for my poor little T. Color is going to be the stock Ford commercial green yep-green. I gotta do my part for the green movement although this particular green movement might not go anywhere fast. Remember when GREEN meant unlearnt or untrained or untested?  Wait…..yeah, I guess actually now that I think about it… the definition still applies! The old T runs and drives now so hopfully the paint fairy will come along and get this thing rolling. When I actually get this thing done I intend to drive it to the top of Mt MClelland to the end of the Argentine Central Railroad grade above Georgetown Co. It’s a Jeep road, But i’m willing to bet Model T’s saw rougher roads than this when they were new. There are historic pictures of 20’s vintage cars up there back in the day,after the rails were torn out,  complete with picnic lunch. I will probably have the Lewis Sweet Shop in Empire Co. pack the lunch for me.  Actually, the intrepid 1930’s motorized adventurers might have done the same…. that place has been around a LONG time!!!!   Time to go… must…. read…. restoration……..handbook……….ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Project Queue. Wait, How Many Cars!?!?!?!

It occured to me a little bit ago that people reading this might not realize just how many toys I currently own and how many different cars and trucks I have owned over the years. For now, here’s the current crop of projects:

1926 Model T roadster pickup mostly stock with a few period accessories

1944 Ford GPW army jeep heavily modified ( see previous posts)

1947 Willys CJ2A  F head engine and t-19 gearbox. Koenig hardtop and 6′ meyer plow

1947 Willys CJ2A  Stock Build in progress 134 L head  t-90 d-18 power loc diffs in both ends

1948 Chevrolet 3600 Stock including the paint

1949 Willys CJ3A 181 Mercruiser Iron Duke 4 cyl sm420 d-18 Warn overdrive, Koenig hardtop.

1950 Chevrolet 3100 216 Fenton 2 carb intake Fenton split exhaust T-5 trans 3.90 rearend.

1951 Chevrolet 3800 Panel truck 327 sm420 4.11 rear, custom reciever hitch

1962 Austin Healy Sprite 948, 4 speed,  Stock except Yellow paint and disc brakes.

1968 Jeep m715 6bt Cummins zf 5 208 t/c. J truck cab 37′ Hummer tires. Regular daily driver

1972 Chevrolet Vega Notchback awaiting Cosworth 16 valve engine and t-50 4.56 gears. Autocross

1972 Chevrolet Vega Kammback The very first car I spent my own money for. Mostly stock Hee Hee.

1982 Chevrolet p30 motorhome with Cummins 4bt Turbo 400 16- 18 mpg towing a jeep

1987 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 aw4 np231 Lock Rite 4” lift 31” MTR. daily driver / snow wheeler

1987 Jeep Wagoneer Currently undergoing 6.2 diesel transplant

1989 Jeep Commanche om617 Mercedes Diesel T-5 NP207 D44’s Front and rear 5.38 33×9.5-15 Bfg

This is just the current list subject to change anytime ( still looking for that Jeep FC project ).

Jeep Wagoneer Diesel Project Canyonero Progress…..

Ok, anyone reading this knows I don’t regularly post new stuff on here daily, so a lot of stuff goes on in between posts.  I have been busy with all variety of work/income related projects so, it is with great pleasure that I finally return to the Wagoneer project that I pulled the engine ( the stock AMC 360 ) out of back in the spring. Last night, I fitted the new engine, a GM 6.2 diesel- not the well known and hated 5.7 Olds diesel but the much better Detroit Diesel designed 6.2. Now before you think I have completely lost my mind and tell me that the 6.2 will never compare to the Cummins in my M715 please know that I am well versed in the ups and downs of both engine designs. The M715 was built to tow, haul ( boy does it haul ) and wheel. The Cummins does that. For this Wagoneer, however someting a little less industrial was called for and as I was already in possession of this particular engine- a known quantity that came from a school district pickup truck. I decided to make this work. These engines could have been installed stock they fit so well ( why not?Jeep bought other GM engines in the 80’s ) and Jeep would have had a Wagoneer with fuel mileage in the 20’s. So, back to the project, the engine, turbo 400 transmission and dana 20 transfercase are installed, driveshaft in, shift linkage fabricated and crossmember reinstalled with mounts. Still, there is a lot to do to get this thing ready to drive as a nice cruiser so I’ve gotta get back to it. Later!

Marge gets Her Truck- A ‘52 Chevy 1/2 ton

 So, a few weeks ago my sweet love asked to borrow my beloved 50 Chevy pickup- the truck I have never ever let ANYONE borrow EVER.  Seems she thinks it ought to be available for her use so as to be able to run off to the hardware store, rock quarry or god forbid- Ikea or somesuch.  Now it might seem a little mean as the old truck does sit around a fair bit waiting for me to drive it.  Don’t get me wrong, I do drive my truck for many good reasons like the fact that the world moves a little slower when viewed from inside that small old cab- people wave and depression doesn’t seem to be able to penetrate the ratty old door seals that I hope to someday bother replacing. I also drive this truck anytime I go to see my friend Crash, just to rub in the fact that his ‘47 pickup is still just a pile of parts. That truck is special in a way that words cannot really express. It is my own little personal escape- it suits me well. For Marge- I obtained a ‘52 Chevy 1/2 ton shortbox pickup truck.  It is the same body style truck as mine ( Chevrolet called these trucks built between 1947-1953 the ADVANCE DESIGN SERIES) and is an amzingly rust free example. Perhaps this was helped by the fact that I have discovered multiple coats of paint ( Lovingly or otherwise ) applied by previous owners.  In order from top to bare metal - primer, brown, black, dark blue, light blue, light green and dark green- the factory farm truck green.  There is no engine or transmission installed but I have been saving many old truck parts for just this purpose for years just waiting for this opportunity. The engine is a very desirable and rare ‘53 235 cubic inch six cylinder lovingly known the world round as the legendary Stovebolt Chevy Six. The transmission will be the stock and nearly indestructible granny gear sm420 four speed manual hooked up to the original torque tube rear axle. Future plans will probably involve a  S10 T5 five speed and open driveshaft conversion like I did to the 50 pickup a few years back.  Marge has already been removing the paint from the inside of the cab in preparation for a nice fresh coat of paint ( something in a nice non-lead based formula ) to make the inside really something special. I have been tackling the mechanical bits and pieces and removing old paint from the outside of the cab so that it can also be painted. The fenders and other body parts will be next in line and will be attached as they are ready. Hopefully, soon she will have her own truck ( something long in coming ) and she will be able to experience the joy of having an old truck.

Project Comanche 240D D as in DEAD or D’OH

I killed it. Yep the poor little Mercedes 240d om616 non-turbo died after I ran it out of coolant and  failed to notice until it had gotten hot enough to kill off the head gasket.  It wouldnt even start unless it was pull started and even then had about .3 horsepower left.   Now, this would normally be a total deal breaker for a project like this except, that my neighbor had given me a Mercedes 300d om617 turbo motor a while back so…. In two days the 240 came out and the 300 engine went in and I drove it again last night. Wheeeeeee!!!! Wow! that extra cylinder (yeah the 300 engine is a FIVE cylinder engine) and a turbo makes this thing really fly. I reused the engine mounts. The extra length went backwards so the rear crossmember went back but amazingly lined up with existing holes. The turbo required a different exhaust so I fabbed up a new 2 1/2″ system starting with a modified factory downpipe and no muffler exiting in front of the right rear tire.  Irritatingly, it is actually too quiet – quieter than the 240 was with a turbo style muffler.  Another stroke of luck, a rear driveshaft was sourced from the parts stash that was exactly the perfect length ( I think it was leftover from a past swap project V8 VEGA ).  I used the 240 flywheel and it works good. Yes, the balance issue – well i’ve read the factory service manual about it and decided to bolt it on and see for myself. I have known other people that had no balance issues and this one is also smooth – smoother than the 240 was even all the way up to redline at around 5000 RPM ( YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY).  I should probably have done this the first time and it WAS made easier since I had used some 300D parts on the 240D build like the radiator and oil cooler.  Gonna take it to the local U-Pull-it parts recycling facility tomorrow and see how it does on a long run as the place is a good 50 miles from home.  I’ll let you know!!!!

Diesel Commanche Update IT RUNS!!!!!

Okay, it actually has been running for months now but, the rear end gears were the stock 3.08 Dana 35 stuff. This meant that in 5th gear at 2400 rpm I would be doing something close to warp speed 7.42. Not that the 72 horsepower would pull it anyway. Even geared this wrong it still pulled a respectable 27.8 mpg (for a truck) mostly driven in 3rd gear. Last night I finally finished the install of the matched set of Wagoneer Dana 44 axles with 5.38 gears that mathematically works out to 2400 rpm (the optimum mileage rpm) at 62 mph with a set of 33 inch tires.

89 Commanche Diesel

 I took the truck out and drove it down the county road and it runs great - cruises down the road a lot like a Mercedes 240 D as every little hill seems a little bigger than they do in a powerful gas car. I can live with low horsepower if i can get the fuel mileage that I want in a truck (30+mpg). The little Jeep Commanche weighs less than a Mercedes 240 D,and I drove the car this engine came from for 6 months and regularly got 28-32 mpg, so it should do nicely. Now, I know that a little Volkswagen Golf or a Hybrid of some sort can get better mileage but (A) I NEED a truck to do the things I do and (B) the cost of the hybrid would buy me enough fuel to drive this thing 211,764.7 miles ( fuel 4.25/gal- $30,000 hybrid- 30 mpg).  That also does not cover the interest, insurance and other costs that would realistically also be on there.  My actual fuel costs may actually be lower by running biodiesel and fryer grease but that is not always available. I will post mileage numbers when i get some miles on the truck. STAY TUNED!!!

The Commanche Project/240 Diesel

OK, so about two years ago I was given a nice Jeep Commanche pickup truck with no engine.  At the time I was driving a 82 Mercedes 240 D and liked the mileage of the diesel engine but not  the lack of carrying ability for junkyard runs or hardware store expeditions . Some tape measure sleuthing on the Mercedes engine and the Jeep engine bay revealed the near impossibility of such a interesting swap so I proceeded anyway. Mercedes engines use a front sump oil pan that goes right where the Jeep steering parts need to be. No problem right? Well there were some “details” to work out but the steering works fine now even if I did have to install a different front axle and a 4 inch lift. Now it has a Wagoneer Dana 44 front axle with unlocking hubs ( something the MJ XJ TJ ZJ Jeeps never came with)  and 4 inch CJ7 rear springs ….yeah in the front… I adapted a S10 T5 five speed and 207 transfercase to the engine -a truly wonderful combination of parts. Mercedes never blessed the USA with 240D or 300D Five speed manual transmissions the europeans got them (and 4 speeds too) most american Mercedes were automatics.  Just because they never built something does’nt mean that I cant have one, I just have to build it myself.  Next on the list of stuff is the rear axle. The lowly dana 35( though perfectly adequate for the 67 horsepower OM 616 diesel engine) will be swapped out for a Dana 44 sprung over matching the front and they will be geared at 5.38 . Tires are a set of BFG mud terrain tires in the 33×9.50x 15 size. Well, I will give an update when it is up and driving around hopefully soon.

48 Chevy Truck

 It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything but today was an experience that needed to be told.

It seems my vehicles like to gang up on me…… The steering shaft on the M715 is currently non operational due to a failed rag joint…. the crank position sensor died on the Jeep Cherokee….Commanche project still waits to be finished ( more on that one later). 50 Chevy Truck, yep that one runs…Dang!!!!…Licence plate just expired…about three months ago..GRRRRR. Diesel Wagoneer project? Yeah that’s coming along at a speed that rivals the LONG TERM CHORE LIST for getting done. This morning was going like this, and to make things worse I needed to haul a load of decking for a friend. What to do? Years ago I aquired from my buddy “Crash” a rust free but thourougly thrashed 1948 Chevy 3/4 ton truck still powered by a 216 cubic inch “dip & drip babbit pounder” Chevy six that had 86 horsepower new ( at sea level and optimum humidity). This engine probably does’nt have half that left in it now and is clearly well past I’ts prime years. This truck is usually called on to deliver the trash to the end of the driveway (perhaps 50 yards long) so horsepower and working brakes are not absolute reqirements. So after bleeding the brakes pouring a gallon of water in the radiator and putting a couple quarts of oil in the engine ( extra of everything in the bed) tossed in a pair of pliers and a 5-in-1 type screwdriver and headed to town listening concernedly all the way to rattles and noises that don’t ordinarily manifest themselves at driveway speeds. In 15 miles to town and the Lowes where all the materials were I remembered what it is I like about these old trucks. You drive a little slower, more people wave and you cannot help but be drawn into conversations at the gas station, hardware store, or wherever that truck goes.  We loaded the old truck full of  deck materials and delivered it all without even a hint of vapor lock ( a common malady on any old carburated vehicle on 90 degree days). As I was driving back home down the bumpy dirt county roads near home ( each and every washboard bump magnified many times over ) I contemplated how lucky we are to have modern cars with radial tires , soft supple suspensions, air conditioning, power steering and brakes, tilt steering columns, FM stereo, satellite radio and a host of other modern conveniences. You know what though?  I’m driving that truck again tommorow.

CHANGE OF PLAN

I have been informed by the powers that be, that a flatfender is not big enough for the family to take on a trip to Moab. Fortunately, I have a big Wagoneer that I have been playing with for awhile. It was dubbed the CANYONERO (OF COURSE). It is a 1980 LIMITED with gas suckin’ 360 AMC engine, TF 727 transmission, and 219 transfercase.   Axles currently are the factory Dana 44 & AMC 20. Complete with 3.31 gears. The plan? Well, since I like diesel engines it seems natural to install one.  A 6.2 GM Diesel. Thats the plan, with a turbo 400 & 208 tranfercase. Axles will be a 8-lug Dana 44 front with a Ford sterling rear both with 4.11 gears. 37 inch H1 tires and beadlock rims will serve nicely. Why this particular combination of junk? Well, I already own all this stuff so it will keep the cost reasonable. Stay tuned. The madness will be starting soon.