Re: Rat repair.
 

I like the cart.

Re: Rat repair.
 

nice torch setup

Re: Rat repair.
 

I agree some of HF stuff is junk. you did a good job cleaning it up should last long time.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Your gas cart rig looks good, similar to what I made yrs a go, but mines for a "B" tank set-up, a bit smaller than yours, but it's all I really need !

Gary

Re: Rat repair.
 

Man, have I ever been down that road!

HF gizmo = $30
Same thing made in USA = $100
HF gizmo + labor to make it work = $200

Re: Rat repair.
 

Thanks guys i appreciate the comps! I'll call it a lesson learned though, i could have spent the time working on my bumper.

I worked this weekend so didn't get anything done to the rat, but I slapped this big wing bolt together in about 25 minutes, I think it sticks out too far so I'll mod it some day....or not.. Should paint the chevy orange tubes ether black or red someday too. Did a little garage straightening, re plumbed my air manifold to move both dryers to the down stream end then plumbed it into my hose reel i got for my birthday last year, then a little weed wacking before going to work..

Don't know why but I'm not getting email notifications from all you guys lately, got one was from mcbassin, then from custom/10 in the last 3 days.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Just found your thread!

You are an inspiration for me to start my project. Will be following your thread.

For your three steps forward and two steps back method it is not in vane. Your R&D on procedure and modification will save me countless hours.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Thanks Dale i appreciate the compliment.

But that 3 steps forward and 2 steps back is not a preferred method! LOL But i take it in stride when it happens. :)


EDIT I havn't posted any progress the last few days but i have been working on the rear bumper and mounts, the bumper looked a lot better in the pictures than when i got it so its a bit of work. I'll post more later.

Re: Rat repair.
 

So here's the bumper i bought off the board from Randy, I paid more to ship it to me than what i paid for the bumper but i liked the look of it so figured it was worth it.

As you can see its got quite a bow in it plus a little bend in the upper plate as well as the same side had a big dent in the face of the bumper (right side where the paint is gone, and the bottom was pretty bent up as well.

Saved these old 1/2" plate brackets from my old bumper as re drilling holes is a pita. the soap stone is if course where i had to trim them back. I'll reinforce the plate by adding a triangular piece on the bottom, possibly a couple pieces of 2" angle but not too sure its necessary.

Re: Rat repair.
 

First order of business is to figure the best way to straighten it without a large press, decided i'd better cut it apart a little first so i removed the upright plate and the license plate mount plate, and the two little tabs in the center section that were pretty much worthless so i cut them off too..

Re: Rat repair.
 

Then i figured being as both sides had cracked out at the bottom weld the best thing was to grab the plasma cutter and cut the top of both sides where they join the center section, then clamp it to my table and then use the rose bud to heat the area adjacent to the cuts and get them to lay flat.

I used the rose bud to get the face of the one side flat, still have a lot of work to do on the bottom edge tho, gonna need to reshape the radius..

I dug up a piece of 2"X2" 1/4" angle and clamped it to the bumper and now its ready to start stitching back up.

That's as far as i got on it before work today.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Looks like you got her trued up there now... Odd it was bowed out. Seen that once after a buddy of mine years back tried to pull a stump out. Lol

Re: Rat repair.
 

Yea thats what i was thinking too, that or another truck stuck in the mud.

Its not super heavy duty that's for sure, but with the lift and class 4 hitch under it i don't think it needs to be.

Naturally its been raining this morning, hopefully it will stop when i'm ready to start welding, had a 10X10 awning but it got destroyed last fall.

When im done stitching and mounting i'll take it off and take it to the media blaster not too far away and get them to blast and prime it for me.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Well this bumper didn't cooperate, every weld wanted to make it move and flex, i even had the sides of the bumper bent a little in the opposite direction of the bend it had but even tacking it all into place once i finished welding it all it warped back in the same direction a bit, bit not as bad as it was.

The upper part had 2 sharp bends in it, I had to support the plate on pieces of scrap and put a clamp in the center at the bend, give it some preload and then heat it with the rose bud, of course i gave it a littler too much preload about 4 different times but i got it pretty close.

Guess it will have to do.

Re: Rat repair.
 

So i know my arm was getting splattered with weld splatter and grinding sparks but i was too focused to go get a long sleeve shirt. LOL! I should know better! :)

I still have to put this license plate mount plate back on, i figure i'll close the ends in while i'm at it.

But today i spend with my wife.. :)

Re: Rat repair.
 

thats one of those big a$$ bumpers like mine

Re: Rat repair.
 

Those welding/grinding sparks are a LOT of fun when they slip under the straps on flip-flops! - I saw someone else do it :smoke:

Re: Rat repair.
 

Well, its nothing like the diving platform that was on the back before, and its not as big and bulky as some of the bumpers i have seen on these trucks. :lol:

Re: Rat repair.
 

......Yea....... Yea....... that's it..... Someone else did it. That's your story and your stickin to it!


Yea that much i know better, the upright part fell off the table and landed on my foot yesterday, if course the steel toe didn't help as it hit above the toe. Isn't that how it always works? :)

Re: Rat repair.
 

I did some thing similar today with cutting wheel but it was my gut. Had to stand off to the side as I was to lazy to put on my welding jacket.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Nice work on the bumper. Ouch!

Re: Rat repair.
 

i love these big bumpers. when someone rearends you you dont feel it :lol:

Re: Rat repair.
 

Looks a lot straighter from here. Gonna rework mine, too. 'Twas rear ended by a kid a few years ago. It bent the mounts, but the bumper came through relatively unscathed. The diamond plate on the top of mine is rotted through in quite a few spot and will need replacing. Yours looks like it should clean up nicely now that you've straightened it out.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Slapped it up on the mounts shortly before work, i somehow ended up being 1/4" low on the passenger side so i'll have to weld a 1/4" shim to that mount. I also took the time to add plates to each side of that license plate mount bracket to close it in.

I may not be Ryan when it comes to welding (don't we all wish) but i know i have good heat and penetration so it will last.

Cant wait to see this thing in paint, all the white and rust makes it look like its warped allover the place.

I have been debating on both front and back bumper should i keep the white? or just go with bumper black. Leaning towards black.

Now the big concern, can i put it back on the mounts in place and get it tagged in place before i have it fall on me .... :smoke:

And can i keep the heat in control enough to keep the mounts from getting warped to where i can still unbolt and remove/replace. :)

Re: Rat repair.
 

Bumper is looking good! Nice size.
Probably have another metal meet in Aug. Watch the WCMS site for a date.

Re: Rat repair.
 

I don't mind sayin that i totally spaced on the meet, just been super busy.

Thanks on the bumper too!

Re: Rat repair.
 

Awesome job on thebumper. Must say it's almost identical to mine.. Great choice:)

Re: Rat repair.
 

Ok its mounted, i used a couple tie down straps to make sure it didn't accidentally get bumped and fall on my legs when i was welding it, also fine tuned the fit be\fore i stitched it in place.

Done for the day. I wanna drive the truck around for a couple days starting tomorrow and make sure i'm not gonna have any problems with the rear tank, then I'll take it off and have it blasted. Humm, I need a better exhaust too, wonder if they will have any problems with routing it out the back with the tank in place.

Now i need to find a bumper license plate light.

Re: Rat repair.
 

looking good! go with white! i painted mine black and it didnt look right! IMO

Re: Rat repair.
 

Well I want to repaint back to the Med Green i think, was leaning toward the black, but i can always repaint later if it don't work out.

So the last 2 days have been pretty hot around here, that makes it even hotter in my shop at work, add to it i have had 2 bust my butt days in a row and probably the same tonight, i think i'm gonna have a lazy butt today.

But i still made progress, ordered $250 in replacement panels, i just hope they end up being quality parts!

Re: Rat repair.
 

Very nice progress on the bumper.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Thanks again!

Re: Rat repair.
 

Well, the gas gauge works!, first pic is about 6.5 gallons, the next pic is about a 15 mile drive with another 10 gallons added.

I will add the filler didn't burp once when at the station, pump handle fully depressed, works for me!.

I bit of a problem on the way home it started idling rough so i started popping it in neutral at the stops, got it home and put a rock in front of the tire, fired it up and put it in gear, raised the idle about 100 rpm, then started readjusting the air fuel screws.

I noted there is a slight howling that i think is from the alternator when the tranny is in park, the sound disappeared when shifted to drive, it seemed to idle better when it wasn't howling. The second attempt when i was adjusting the carb with it in drive the whine was gone, then all the sudden the whine came back and the idle dropped about 150-200 rpm (by ear)

Now i'm a bit baffled as to what the problem is, I cant imagine the alternator causing the idle to drop, thinking back every time i welded on the truck i disconnected the battery negative but left the alternator wires on, is it possible i could have fried a diode? but how would that slow the idle suddenly? The battery gauge is reading good but i haven't had a chance to grab a multi meter to check battery charge (13.8-14.2)

Any ideas?

Re: Rat repair.
 

Looks good bud! Could be a bearing starting to pile up in your alternator... Would explain the noise and RPM drop at times. Hold a wood dowel or screwdriver on it... And stick your ear on the other end. Sounds hokey.. But works.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Before i drove to get gas i did a blinker check being as i had the bed off, If the blinkers work the brake lights work, they worked fine, so I went ahead and drove the truck to work today, home at midnight.

Woops! I neglected to check the tail lights and i had a blown taillight fuse, no tail lights and no dash lights, I did the headlight relay some time back so my headlights were fine.. Possibly due to a couple of uncovered trailer coupling wires that looked like they were touching... No spare fuses in the truck so about 13 miles home without tail lights, thankfully no cops to write me up. :lol:

Re: Rat repair.
 

My temporary exhaust is just way too loud, i almost ran down to the local muffler shop today to work in installing my new duals, then i thought that when the tranny and transfer case come out they may have to cut it so i figured I'd better back up a sec. I just called a transmission repair facility about rebuilding my tranny and reseal the transfer case, he said that it is possible that the exhaust may have to be cut out of the way, so i made an appt for Monday 8am.

Haven't said anything about it yet ( i don't think ) but the transfer case leaks pretty bad, the tranny is a bit tired and bangs a bit going into reverse, adjusting the modulator won't fix it, he mentioned something about a different pump may be necessary to stop the reverse banging, i'm no expert but i have been inside a Turbo 350 a couple times, have never heard about different pumps for these trannys.

Hopefully this will be the last of my mechanical repair for a while, i had decided long ago that i'm getting too old to pull the case and tranny out the bottom again, plus this way they can road test it before i get it back.

Re: Rat repair.
 

So while the neighbors are wasting there money on fireworks i'll just watch them and spend my money on the truck or tools.. :) We don't usually go anywhere for the 4th, don't wanna get hit by a drunk out on the road.

Today i removed the cab gas tank, i was surprised on the condition inside, no rust that i could see but a bit of a white film on the inner walls, way better than i thought, the pick up tube's mesh sock was still intact but looked like it was close to being due for a change. Until i fab a plate for the filler hole i just covered it with some aluminum tape.

I still have the original jack, jack handle in its wrap and lug wrench. I promptly knocked over my Coke in the truck right after this pic. LOL! :)

Re: Rat repair.
 

Figured now was the time to clean out the cab corners, i was surprised to find a thick layer of dense material that was poured in there and hardened, it wasn't stuck to it so bad that i couldn't remove it with a screwdriver. Is this common? i also had some seam sealer and it looked to be different material.

Until i can figure out how I'm gonna sand blast some of this i won't know for sure but i may be able to just weld a couple small pieces of filler on these corners.

I just hope the replacement panels i ordered for the rockers, kickers, floor ect are decent quality, the webpage didn't say what brand, but they were running a 20% off sale.

Re: Rat repair.
 

Lastly here are some pictures of the floor, i didn't buy complete floor pans but the ones that go about 4" in from the inner rocker. My thinking was i can always buy some flat steel if needed.

First 3 pic's are passenger side, last 2 are driver side.

A bit concerned about how to deal with the seam on the passenger floor. (2nd and 3rd pic)

The main floor still feels solid, just surface pitting, all the cab mounts appear to be solid.

I think this will be a good time to hit the floor with some muratic acid after i wire wheel it.

Any tips on this floor and or cab corners will be appreciated.

Re: Rat repair.
 

What panels do you plan on replacing? I did cab supports, inner/outer rockers, cab corners, lower kick panels and floor pans. They're all connected... If any are questionable nows the time to tear em out. I used that full length outer floor pan/inner rocker piece. Worked great.