The Hillbilly Deluxe dually build

[Tx Firefighter]

I had a little time on my hands today while the motorcycle carb was boiling in the crock pot on the workbench.

What kind of deviant spends two hours sandblasting and powdercoating the rear brake drums on a work truck ?

That's me, I'm that guy.





Lord these things are heavy. I read each drum goes 45 pounds. I believe that to be true. They may weigh a lot, but at least they're sanitary now.



Another part of my life spent doing work that will never be seen by anyone except me. It makes no sense.

[Tx Firefighter]

And, FedEx and Rockauto just delivered again. New bearings and races for the rear hubs.



That was not a cheap box to buy. Big truck, big money.

[Billy81]

Those brake drums came out great, I wish i could of done that to the drums on my 3/4 ton but i didn't have the time or resources but i definitely would have if i did.

[Tx Firefighter]

I started assembling the rear hubs and drums. Again, its hard to convey how heavy this stuff is. The combined hub, drum, bearings, and hardware must go 70 pounds each or so.

The hubs are weird design as you have to load them entirely from the back. You turn it upside down and drop in the outer bearing, press in the outer race, install a large internal circlip, press the inner race in, drop in inner bearing, then press seal in place. Then you drop the drum onto the hub and press in the 8 wheel studs which hold the assembly together.

[meatwagon83]

i know how heavy that stuff is! i rebuilt my rear a couple of years ago

[881ton]

You do some really nice work!!! A fanatic for detail I like it. truck is going to be sweet!

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by 881ton

You do some really nice work!!! A fanatic for detail I like it. truck is going to be sweet!

That's funny Rob. I've read your build thread several times taking in all the details. I was thinking that same thing about you.

[Tx Firefighter]

I just ordered some wiring stuff to finish the bed light wiring project. These will allow me to categorize the wiring for left, right, running light, etc. in a very sanitary manner.

They're cool little boxes with different grommeted outlets around the edge. I can run my main harness into it, then branch off to both sides of the bed, rear of bed, and trailer light wiring. All without having to solder a lot of wires together in one big bundle.



I'm also going to stop by the trailer supply house on the way home in the morning and buy new grommets for my lights. The truck has decent LED lights in all the spots on the bed, but the grommets are hating life. My trailer supply house has them for a dollar each.

[83GMCK2500]

Awesome junction boxes! I know in the newer trucks they carry the main harness back to a box similar to that, fastened to the frame and then depending on cab/box/bed config they plug different lighting harnesses into it. Also camper/trailer. I had been thinking about doing that with my truck and I like what you are using.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Awesome junction boxes! I know in the newer trucks they carry the main harness back to a box similar to that, fastened to the frame and then depending on cab/box/bed config they plug different lighting harnesses into it. Also camper/trailer. I had been thinking about doing that with my truck and I like what you are using.

If you look closely at the picture you can just make out the rubber plugs on each side to allow wire access. I figure I'll run my inputs from the truck harness in the bottom and my outputs to the left and right sides of the bed out each respective side. Then, the trailer light plug and center lights on the back of the bed out the top. Everything should be sanitary with crimped and heat shrunk connectors all lined up nicely. Then the protective cover screwed onto the box to protect it from exposure.

I'm definitely getting slower as I get older. I've been scratching my head for a week now trying to figure out a good way of doing this, then I finally order the box and will have to wait another week to get it delivered. Most guys would get under there with their crimpers and electrical tape and have that thing all wired up in short order.

[Tx Firefighter]

I swung by my local trailer supply house this morning and got new grommets for my bed lights. I'm hoping to make everything electrical completely bombproof on this truck. Anyway, I'm waiting for my junction blocks to be shipped so I might as well do what I can in the mean time. .

New grommets for my LED bed lights were absolutely stupid cheap.



That's 9 grommets for $5.06, out the door, including tax. The round ones were .42 each and the oval ones .87 each. What a deal. No more loose fitting lights.

[Tx Firefighter]

I'm almost done with the motorcycle and back to working on the dually.





I just need to go buy a gallon of gas to put in it, start it, and work out any bugs that pop up. One huge milestone is that the electrical system seems to work perfectly so far. That's saying a lot for a bike that spent some time submerged in the Gulf of Mexico.

In the mean time, I've still been gathering parts for the dually. I need a steering column and bought one from a board member. It arrived yesterday. Its rougher than I was hoping. Shouldn't be anything to get upset over, but I'll need to blow it all apart and refurbish it completely.

Soon, I promise, back to the dually full speed ahead.

[68Timber]

The bike is awesome, not that I expected any different. Is that a 600?

[flashed]

Tex ,that bike turned out great ,the owner will be proud of it .

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

The bike is awesome, not that I expected any different. Is that a 600?

Its a 250cc. The owner is quite attached to it after 31 years. We discussed the financial outlay up front and what the final value would be. He is very willing to restore it no matter how profitable or not the venture was. That's 14 months of work I have in it. He fronted all of the parts. I'd find what I need, send him an email and a few days later the UPS man would come down my driveway. He's been a fantastic guy to work for. Many times I'd grind to a halt with some insurmountable problem and he'd wait patiently by until I wrapped my mind around it and figured out a solution. Just a wonderful guy to deal with.

Originally Posted by flashed

Tex ,that bike turned out great ,the owner will be proud of it .

I sure hope so. I think its ready for a slosh of gasoline and a kick start. For some reason I'm just walking around it again and again touching up little things instead of going to town with my gas can. I guess I'm kind of skeert to try and start it. I'm gonna sleep on it tonight and then do it tomorrow.

[tekin112000]

The bike looks awesom, but I will be glad to see you getting back to work on the truck.

You do such great work it's always interesting to see what you are up to

[Low Elco]

Looks terrific! Thats actually kinda what Ive been lookin for!

[Greenlee]

The bike looks fantastic!

How much do you know about the electrical system on those old Honda's? I have a 1983 Honda c70 and the magneto or whatever it's called seems to be crapping out. I usually have to push start the bike for it to spin fast enough to get spark and start. Mine hasn't even been in the Gulf of Mexico as far as I know, although I live pretty close to it!

Sorry to take your thread further off topic! To bring the discussing back in the right direction, I will say the truck sure is looking good too!

[Tx Firefighter]

Greenlee, let me research that. I did a ton of CT70 restoration work so I have all manuals and basically everything. I'll get back to you on that.

I knew I'd be sitting on the couch tonight, trying to be a good husband but acting crabby and distracted, snapping at my wife, if I didn't go ahead and get it over with.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps1d572bb2.mp4

Video of the bike's first start....

[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Greenlee, let me research that. I did a ton of CT70 restoration work so I have all manuals and basically everything. I'll get back to you on that.

I knew I'd be sitting on the couch tonight, trying to be a good husband but acting crabby and distracted, snapping at my wife, if I didn't go ahead and get it over with.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps1d572bb2.mp4

Video of the bike's first start....

I appreciate any input on the magneto issue!

Looks like it's running good! Did your wife make those Honda stickers? Looks great!

[Tx Firefighter]

Today was a huge day. The restoration project went home with its owner.



Its dually time now !

[Tx Firefighter]

FedEx just delivered a package I've been waiting for. This was a "short money" week for my truck budget, so not a lot of bad assedness. One step closer though. I'm gonna order the last two tires and some other stuff tomorrow.

[881ton]

Really nice job! You my friend are talented. Can't wait to see the dually.

[TheBlueBomber]

Looks great! Came close a few months back to getting a '91 V30. Kinda wish I did now.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBomber

Looks great! Came close a few months back to getting a '91 V30. Kinda wish I did now.

I'd be one happy hillbilly if mine were a V30 and not an R30. Those trucks just don't exist down here in this area. Believe me, I don't miss many trucks out on the road and a 4 wheel jive dually square body is unheard of. I might have seen less than one per year on the roads down here.

Originally Posted by 881ton

Really nice job! You my friend are talented. Can't wait to see the dually.

And you Rob. I've read your thread several times and am very impressed. I hadn't mentioned it, but your truck looks so nice, it makes me a little melancholy that you're plowing with it and the elements will begin eating away at it from day one. My world is so much different here. Exhaust systems last 40 years down here. I've never seen a square body with a rusty rocker in my life. We can build neat stuff and the roads won't eat away at it in a normal lifetime.