Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

It just gets better and better, do you sleep at all or live in the garage.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Lately I think I live in the garage, I really want to have this thing on the road in the next 3 weeks so I'm pushing pretty hard right now. About 25-30 hours a week, and yes, I have a normal job also. My wife is very understanding and supportive and that makes all the difference.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

If your wife is like my wife, she wants it on the road too, wanting to take it for a spin!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Great work and progress! It is looking awesome, and that is awesome on firing it right up! Do have to back over seas anytime soon for work, or are you back state side for a while?

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Nope, I'm done with the overseas work (as far as I know). I did start a new position a couple of weeks ago with a good crew on a new production line so it's all good.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

I bet you're excited about that!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Yes, I am and it's great to home. Tonight I wired the new actuator for the shifter, tested it, finished most of the gauge wiring. I have also, in the last few nights, installed and wired a horn, welded the spacers for the gauges, fit the gauges and installed the rebuilt column. About the only thing left on the wiring is to wire the fuel sender, the cruise control, final wiring for the fans and final wiring of the tail lights. I haven't added it up lately but I'm sure I have over 150 hours in wiring this beast. It's one of those jobs I always seem to under-estimate. I need to get some batteries for the camera and shoot a video of the shifter and some updated pictures.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Hey look new batteries, busy day, I finished the tail light wiring, the cruise control wiring, MIL light. I mounted a switch panel to the right of the column which has the MIL light, power to CC switch and a switch for set/accell and coast/decell. The switch to the left operates the actuator for the shifter. Although it's not extremely fast it has loads of extra power. You can also see the spacers for the gauges. All these things will be redone after April's road trip which will give a good chance to work out the bugs.
Rob
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1238.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1239.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1240.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1236.jpg

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Very nice. It would be cool to see a video of the shift actuator in action.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

the actuator is really cool, hope you make your planned trip without a hitch.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Gauges look good, nice shift actuator.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Having an understanding wife makes all the difference. It's coming together really well, its so cool when you get to the point where you can flip a switch and something happens.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

The wiring is looking great! The spacers fit well, keep up the great work!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Another mild stone: I drove the COE out of the shop for the first time today. Mind you, I have spacers in place of the front springs right now so it rides like a wagon. I also mounted the new front tires and it sets a little lower then I thought it would. Other items, I built a temporary mount for the battery, mounted the front bumper, finished the front clip mounting, mounted the hood latches, finished the fan wiring and did a little more work on the brakes (small leak). So what do you think, is the first picture a little low for ride height? I also learned light tubes do not hold up under the power of a cab roof and a 9K lift. In the later pictures that is the target ride height. I also utilized the COE only option of the temporary door latch. The last small picture is a crappy video.
Rob
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1242.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1244.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1243.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1241.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...h_DSCI1257.mp4

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

so sick man, I luuuuuv the stance. sounding good too. that thing looks awesome, can't wait to see the bed on there. BTW I really really want a COE almost more than a burb, so your a lucky man!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

That looks so cool!! Sounds good too. You must be so happy.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Congratulations on the first drive out! Nice door latch option too.
From the angle the truck looks good from the front.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Real nice! I LOVE IT! Happy for you!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Hey Rob, hook up some jumper cables to your door lock and make them electric door locks. Great job. Its come along way from that truck you found in Colorado. Still enjoying the build. That road trip sure sounds like a lot of fun. Good luck.

Earl

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Thanks all, after I get the rest of the cab put together I will put the donor springs back in to give it a real test drive and see if I will need some new lighter load springs. Air bags may be in the future but for now I just need to get this thing sorted out.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Well I cut the springs (1 coil) put them back in, spent about 6 hours rebuilding the drivers door, a lot of that time was just trying to get it to latch good. After all that I took it for it's first official test drive, 25 miles. No real issues and everything seems to work good except the head lights need some adjustments. Heck even the cruise worked great. I'm stoked. I'll be starting on the bed this week end.
Rob
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1264.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1260.jpg

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Looks pretty slick.
Kim

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Congratulations Rob! Looks good!

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

so good to hear. can't wait to see it with the bed. yeah the stock latches can be a pain, thats why I'm just going with bear claws on my current build.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Congrads, bet it was nice to take it for a rip, looks even better with the 1" drop, can't wait to see more. Good work....No..great work.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Great job!! Good to hear your first drive went well, makes finishing the build easy. :metal:

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Been making some more progress. Finished both floor covers with seals, finished passenger side seat belt mount. Still on target for a Virginia road next week end. I plan on driving it to work all next week to get a feel for it and see what bugs need to be worked out during the week.
Rob
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1266.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1268.jpg

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

nice work and good luck this coming week. hope you make your trip.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

A little update: I've been getting a lot of little things finished up, the steps are installed, a drive indicator light is installed and most important I've been driving the snot out of it. 400 miles in the last 3 days. It is now my daily driver as the '46 is loosing an engine (rod knock). On the plus side the COE is running great and the 4.8L has more power then I expected. I did a 0 to 60 test using the GPS speedo function and it runs 7.39 seconds, not bad at all. I need to post some more videos of the shifter working and a general drive to give an idea of how it turned out for now. I will also pick up the steel for the bed tomorrow.
Rob

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Glad to hear you are enjoying the truck Rob.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

daaaaang your killing it. congrats. doesn't that suck balls when one things turns out great and then another not so great (rod knock). tuff to get a head these days. really seems ironic some times.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Great work on it and congrats on racking up the miles on it! Sorry to hear about your 46.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Great news on the running of the COE, sorry about the 46...Jim

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Sounds like the 46 is getting jealous now.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Thanks all, Yeah, I think all the other vehicles are suffering from a bit of neglect. So does it look like a new flat bed? I hope to have it framed up and mounted by Thursday night. Needs to be ready to go for sure by Friday night, as do tail lights and some sort of storage container. Do the projects or tasks never end on these old pieces of junk?
Rob
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1270.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1272.jpg

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

so cool, can't wait to see how the bed turns out.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Looks like the tires tuck under the fenders real nice.
Good looking work.

Re: Loadmaster '47 COE
 

Making progress, 3 1/2 hours later: The main frame is all welded up, tomorrow I will start mounting the runners to the frame. The ends look like crap but I will gring those back down and install caps later. I will also be removing the 3rd cross brace up for the fenders.
Rob
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1274.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...E/DSCI1276.jpg