LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread

[kev2809]

man leon, you have more patience than me lol. looking good though!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by kev2809

man leon, you have more patience than me lol. looking good though!

I have always been blessed with a lot of patience. I get upset once in a while, but I was never the hammer throwing type. Well, maybe once when I hit my thumb....

Thanks Kev.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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Installed the hydroboost for the last time the other day. Everything worked out great on it. I had to drop the column down part way to get the brake rod to brake pedal bolt in. It wasn't a big deal but it gets harder and harder to lay on my back under the dash. I never did like that job anyway.

Finished up the last brake line today and installed it, so the brakes are all plumbed and ready to be bled. Luckily I had the old brake lines from the frame to the valve for patterns so that made it pretty easy. All of the power steering hoses are in except for the return from the unit to the pump, I need to pick up some hose for it. I forgot to bolt the battery tray in before I installed the radiator but I think I can take the lower radiator hose loose on one end and move that end of the radiator back far enough to get the bolts screwed in. I will do that tomorrow. What a dummy. You would think this was my first build or something....

When I get the brakes bled I can concentrate on getting it running. I really don't want to start it without any brakes. I might drive through the overhead door.... or worse.

I need to go over everything and check that all nuts and bolts, all brake lines, connections, etc. are secure. Sometimes I install things temporarily and then forget to finish them up.

I have one wire that I have labeled NSS from the transmission loom that I'm not sure where it goes but I will get it figured out. I also need to secure the transmission wire loom to the frame rail in the next few days.

I talked to a friend of mine that works at a local muffler shop Saturday at breakfast and he said he could get it in whenever I was ready. Vroom,
Vroom...

Later,
LockDoc
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[FL71C10]

Looking good!!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

Looking good!!

Thanks, I just keep chipping away at it...

[kev2809]

looks good Leon. those first run times shows all the mistakes you made lol. I had a fuel line barely threaded on for some reason. same thing with a trans line. and I had to go back and tighten about 3 or 4 brake fittings!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by kev2809

looks good Leon. those first run times shows all the mistakes you made lol. I had a fuel line barely threaded on for some reason. same thing with a trans line. and I had to go back and tighten about 3 or 4 brake fittings!

I will go over everything with a fine tooth comb. I have been there too.

Thanks,
LockDoc
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[Ol Blue K20]

Looking great Leon, I'm hating the notifications thing. I have to remember to check on things more often.

[68 C10 Driver]

LockDoc, that hydroboost looks great! Very cool indeed!

Cheers-

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Looking great Leon, I'm hating the notifications thing. I have to remember to check on things more often.

Thanks Dale. Yeah, I kind of quit using the notifications until things get straightened out.

Originally Posted by 68 C10 Driver

LockDoc, that hydroboost looks great! Very cool indeed!

Cheers-

Thanks Driver I hope it works as good as everyone says it does.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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Picked up the hose for the hydroboost return line from the unit to the power steering pump, and got it installed. Finally installed the battery box. I had to completely remove the radiator to get it done though. Luckily I didn't have any antifreeze in it yet. The story of my life....

The guy that cut down my dead trees for me gave me a 9 x 10 storage shed, so a friend of mine and I moved it this morning. Had to move it about 4 miles and had no problems with it, Life is good!

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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A few more delays but I finally filled the master cylinder reservoir and bled the front and rear brakes this afternoon. I will fill the power steering pump tomorrow. Weather is finally getting a little milder here so that will help.

I need to change the mounting on the Allison Transmission Control Module The metal case of the module has to be isolated from grounding to any metal of the truck. I will get that done tomorrow too. Then I need to start double checking all of my connections and grounds so I don't fry anything when I connect the battery....

LockDoc

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice! It's going to be a driver soon.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Nice! It's going to be a driver soon.

I sure hope so Dale. I can't wait to get it on the road.

LockDoc

[kev2809]

hey Leon, I was looking back at when you smoothed the cowl. did you make that filler piece or does someone sell it?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by kev2809

hey Leon, I was looking back at when you smoothed the cowl. did you make that filler piece or does someone sell it?

I made a pattern for that about 10 years ago I just cut them out as I need them.

Leon

[doowopper]

Very creative

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by doowopper

Very creative

Thanks, I just wanted something different.

I haven't had much time to work on it lately. I have been repairing storm damage to one of my buildings. I moved it back out of the shop a week or two ago because I like working outside.

I did pull the oil pressure sender out of it today. I am going to drill and tap it so I can screw the stock oil pressure line into it. Hopefully I will have more time to work on it now....

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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Hallaluja! I think I am finally going to be able to get back on this thing. I have to pull a set of stock spindles off of an extra 1/2 ton frame I have today. I sold them to a fellow builder and he is going to pick them up Thursday.

As I mentioned in my last post I removed the oil sending unit out of the 8.1 engine so I could install a modified one for the stock mechanical oil pressure gauge fitting. I have a non working one I saved so I will modify it instead of the good one I removed.

I will be drilling and tapping this for a 1/8" pipe thread. I first break the plastic off of the top and clean out the inside of the brass fitting. (there is a little circuit board/switch in there that covers up the hole in the fitting) When I drill a hole like this I always start with a small drill bit and work my way up. I used 4 different sizes on this one. The final bit recommended for the 1/8th inch pipe tap would be an "R" letter drill bit diameter. (0.3390). I didn't have one so I used a 11/32" bit. (0.3438)

If you would rather buy an 1/8" NPT adapter that screws into the LS oil pressure hole they are available.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-2268

So the oil pressure line is installed and on to other finishing touches.....

LockDoc

[Ol Blue K20]

That's using your noggin Leon! Great idea

[Getter-Done]

Very smart idea on the adapter
They would probably enjoy that tip/trick over in the LS section.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

That's using your noggin Leon! Great idea

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Very smart idea on the adapter
They would probably enjoy that tip/trick over in the LS section.

Thanks guys. I can certainly post it over there.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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I have been working on the truck as time allows, which isn't much lately. It is amazing how many things have come up to cause delays on it. Went to the salvage yard a while back and picked up some parts. Got the 2016 Honda Civic door seals and installed them. they fit like a glove and the doors close like a new truck....

Made a pattern of the rear axle shock brackets that are on the Blue '72 Dually, and have them drawn out on a piece of rectangular tubing, ready to cut them out and weld them on the project truck. I need to get that done so I can set the bed back on it.

I worked on the transmission cooler lines the last couple of days. I am cutting up some stock 2001 lines to make the custom ones I need. I am using 2001 5/8" lines and the fittings in the 2003 Allison 1000 transmission are the wrong size for them. I had to order adapters that replace the stock fittings in the transmission to the tune of $71.40 for 2 fittings. (picture and part numbers below) I have the lines ready to take to my local NAPA to have the flex hoses installed on them. I need 16" added on the left one and 19" added on the right one. That will finish up the transmission cooler lines and cooler.

I need to make up a positive battery cable tomorrow and see if the engine will crank over, after I get the cooler lines installed.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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A little more done today.

NAPA couldn't add a piece of flex hose to my transmission lines. All they can do is install fittings on the end of them. That's not what I want. I will see if I can find someone that can put a "bubble" on the ends of the steel lines and use some high pressure hose clamps on them, to attach the flex line.

Shock brackets are done. I will see if I can get them welded on the rear end housing in the next couple of days.

Battery cable is also done but I didn't have time to install it. The wife got sick when she was in the middle of canning peaches so I had to go in and help her. She is feeling better tonight.

I can't find the punch list that I had made up so I will have to make up another one..... ...

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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It has been too hot to do much of anything on the Dually project this last week.

Installed the Positive battery cable, and finished up the transmission lines and installed them and the external cooler in the last couple of days. I go out early in the morning and in the evening, even though the evening is still way too hot and the breeze usually dies down then.

After going over the punch list I hooked up the ground cable and tried to turn it over... It wouldn't crank over. No power. After checking a few things I discovered that I hadn't installed the wire from the positive post on the battery to the junction block on the inside of the fender.. DUH! ... When I hooked that up it turned over fine.

I went and got some fresh gas this morning and put some injector cleaner and Stabil in it. I put 5 gallons in the tank and turned the key on and off two or three times to get the fuel pressure built up. Turned it to start and it instantly fired up. YES!!! My joy was short lived though because it died just as quick. I tried it a few more times and it did the same thing every time. Ok, lets pour a little gas into the TB and try it again. It started and ran until the gas was all burned up. It is Drive By Wire so tomorrow afternoon the wife can go out with me and turn the ignition on so I can check to see if there is any response from the throttle body. I will try to borrow my friends fuel pressure gauge tomorrow afternoon and check that as well. I think I will hook up the laptop computer with the HPTuners software on it and double check the VATS status, because that is what it acts like to me. If I get it to start I will see lf I can get a short video and figure out how to get it on YouTube. No guarantees on that though, I have never tried it before.

LockDoc