Marks Diesel 46 project

[dennislbrooks]

59 steering wheel is a classy pic but I like the last pic best.

[Advanced Design]

The little one is a cutie. We just spent a week in Hanover visiting with our youngest granddaughter.

The steering wheel is a good idea.

[Diesel46]

OK I'm back at it after a long break. Had to do some major home remodeling and lots of family time with 5 grandchildren and one more next month. all 3 years and younger. I have some step by step pics to catch up to where I am now. Ill post in the next day or so.

[joedoh]

wow I love the mercedes engine choice, nice work!

[Diesel46]

I bought an A/C kit. I was able to get some universal mounts for the compressor. Made a plate and bolted to the engine block and welded the mounts to it. Also mounted a gm alternator.

[Diesel46]

I was looking for an old looking steering column. Had a 59 Chevy column hanging in the attic of the garage. I had to shorten it 4 1/2 inches and bought new bearings horn switch and turn signal lever. I ground off the mount for shifter handle and filled the rest of the holes. Mounted it with exhaust clamps. I cant remember what the universal shaft came out of but I was able to make it work with a shat support bearing.

[Diesel46]

Pulled the cab back off. Made a crossmember for the rear shocks and made up the mount for the brake booster and master cylinder.

[joedoh]

I can almost hear the clackity clack of that diesel! the overdrive will be nice too. I had an 81 300sd and it was a locomotive on the highway but turned a bit too much rpm for my liking.

hey did you know? you can build a lifting frame for your cherry picker and stick it through the windows, you can get a lot more height lifting from inside the cab.

[lower50's]

Nice progress having ac will be nice.

[Diesel46]

Originally Posted by joedoh

I can almost hear the clackity clack of that diesel! the overdrive will be nice too. I had an 81 300sd and it was a locomotive on the highway but turned a bit too much rpm for my liking.

hey did you know? you can build a lifting frame for your cherry picker and stick it through the windows, you can get a lot more height lifting from inside the cab.

That old 300D would go 100mph all day but you are right it is high RPM. I hope the overdrive knocks it down a little. I may need to experiment with rear end gears. I never thought about putting the crane boom inside the cab, good idea!

[Diesel46]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Nice progress having ac will be nice.

The A/C is mostly for my wife but I'm sure I will enjoy it myself.

[Diesel46]

I Stripped the frame down and turned it over and finished all the welds. Next will be sandblast and paint as soon as I have time.

[Diesel46]

Decided to take a day off work, I needed a break. Got home Thursday and still had some daylight (unusual this time of year). I moved the frame outside to degrease and pressure wash to get ready to blast.

[Advanced Design]

A great way to clean the frame. Sure beats a wire wheel while still in the shop.

[Diesel46]

Friday morning as soon as the sun came up and melted the frost away I started sandblasting. What a job. You don't realize how much surface area there is to a frame! It took me all day with a few breaks I was finishing up as the sun was going down and moved back in the garage. It sure was a good day for the job, warmed up to about 60, a nice breeze to blow away the dust, and lots of sunshine.

[Diesel46]

I got some epoxy primer and semi gloss urethane paint from summit racing. I don't paint cars every day but it seems like when I do all the products change.

[Diesel46]

Saturday, another beautiful fall Pennsylvania day. A little warmer than Friday, no frost and warmed up fast. I sprayed the primer on, waited about an hour or so and painted two coats of the semi-gloss black. Finished up and cleaned up just in time to be 20 minutes late for our grand daughters first birthday party!

[Diesel46]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

A great way to clean the frame. Sure beats a wire wheel while still in the shop.

Yea that would have taken days to wire wheel all the layers of stuff and get to bare metal!

[lower50's]

Looks good

[Dieselwrencher]

Your frame looks very nice! That has to help you seeing shiny stuff now!

[Diesel46]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Your frame looks very nice! That has to help you seeing shiny stuff now!

Thanks Dieselwrencher, I kinda feel like I turned a corner on the project but then I look at the piles of parts. I have a long way to go at the pace I work.

[lower50's]

Slow and steady you will get there.

[Nut Case]

Diesel46

Fun project, Bam used two engine stands to create a frugal rotisserie, so you don't have to lay on the concrete to get underneath to spray.

I made one works real well, so kudos to Bams invention.

Keep on keepin on


Nut Case

[Diesel46]

Originally Posted by Nut Case

Diesel46

Fun project, Bam used two engine stands to create a frugal rotisserie, so you don't have to lay on the concrete to get underneath to spray.

I made one works real well, so kudos to Bams invention.

Keep on keepin on


Nut Case

A rotisserie would have made the frame painting go easier!

[Diesel46]

I may have found a seat for the old truck. I bought a rusty Ramcharger for $200 to part out and scrap. The back seat seem like a good fit. I won't know for sure until I put some of the truck back together. If it fits I will get it recovered to go with the rest of the truck.