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#776 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Eagle, ID
Posts: 3,004
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
LOL!!!!! Way to go, Ace, hahahahahahahaha!!!!!
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#777 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
so i mounted the charge cooler water reservoir in the bed like i had been planning basically all along. i instantly hated it, i assume you will to.
while looking for somewhere else to put it, i realized i had already mounted the same reservoir (but half the height) on the core support for a rad over-flow. the charge cooler will be using coolant anyways, why not make the res also the overflow?!?! out with the small one, in with the larger tank with fittings. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#778 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
then set about routing the hoses, and really worked out pretty nice with that res location. all 3/4" hose, so kinda beefy, but wasn't anything else down that frame rail.
made the most simple plate mount to hang off the alternator and the front was done. after taking the picture i actually doubled the zip-tie locations down the frame and they are not moving down their either. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#779 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
was really satisfying to cut off all the temporary ties down the chassis holding all the lines/hoses/wire and replace them with solid final organization. nothing flapping, nothing hanging, ready for the road!
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#780 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Scotts, Michigan
Posts: 3,770
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Yep time to start racking up the miles...Good luck with the debugging/driving stage.
Marc
__________________
…………...........__________ .................. ((__|__||___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;((_(O))____ (_(O)) 1948 Chevy Truck - Finished SOLD!! 1953 Chevy Suburban "Family Truckster" Completed: Spring of 2021 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=605484 1994 4x4 Blazer - "Field Find" https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...ferrerid=30857 |
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#781 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Quote:
rear most drive shaft is out and headed to the shop to get a non-spliced and balanced unit made. also going up to 1410 joints vs the 1350. ordered the Dakota Digital RTX, should be here this week. alternator doesn't work, ordered a new one finally also need to figure out the alignment ... my guy can't get a dually on his rack |
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#782 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
that was a shockingly productive weekend even though it feels like i wasted a lot of it in couch-potato mode.
the gauge cluster is officially installed and fully functional! the Dakota Digital guys really do make it super easy. i already had sensor wires in the painless harness and their kit had whole new pre-terminated runs with nice connectors. playing with colors, i was thinking more subtle but the wife wanted the green ![]() ![]() as part of finishing up all the wiring while i had that mess out, i needed a phone charger. found a USB adapter in my cabinet and got it mounted to the factory dash strut. easy access, out of the way, and mostly hidden. i actually had the dash control rocker switch there, but was too weird to hold a button while turning the key on for setup. left hand access is way better, and easier to toggle screens while driving. i still had no way to cover the last remaining factory hole in the dash til the wife said phone mount. so obvious now! quick print and she's really solid. after I'm sure i don't want to make any more changes I'll print it in carbon filled matte black to match everything else. eventually i'll toss the bluetooth retro radio in there and the phone will control it all anyways. i'm a little stuck waiting on parts at the moment ... new 1410 double cardin to take in and have a new drive shaft made ... extension adapters to get the air suspension sensors hooked to the dash so i have a setpoint to do an alignment from ... that's when i actually get to do a real test drive. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#783 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Eagle, ID
Posts: 3,004
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Those gauges look really good, I like them!!!
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#784 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
thank you! the RTX look really was the right choice.
i'm really glad i painted the original bezel gloss black too. i had sand blasted it from being so corroded, ended up needing a bunch of high-build and some sanding prep. but new chrome would have looked weird. |
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#785 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
testing FTW ... holy crap ... i think i was getting close to an electrical fire. the fuse block i used in the back is NOT up to the task!
i got some speed valves on the front bags for dump, and 4 corner psi sensors wired to the dash. while testing the sensors and setting the valve speeds the compressors, fans, and water pump were running. i didn't want to go over the pump duty cycle, so i turned the truck off and went to pull the fuses ... WHERE I BURNT MY HAND! not just ouch, like blistered 2nd degree burn on the '+' stud! whole panel was hot enough to smell it. all the wires were cool 6-8" away so they are doing fine, but the panel was cooking everything. pumps were probably pulling 15+ amps each ... the fan bank was maybe 15 total ... and the water pump is like 3. new fuse panel is rated for 40amps per fuse or 150amps total. the grounds i'm also splitting off into a separate block. FAKK ... ![]() |
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#786 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 8,026
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
have you thought of using inline circuit breakers for the compressors? that would take quite a load off the fuse panel supply wire. load, with multiple connections, equals heat.
https://www.seamaxmarine.com/product...rolling-motors |
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#787 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Quote:
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#788 |
*************
![]() Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 17,846
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
I opened this thread to look at a "few" pictures. Ended up spending two hours going through the whole thread,
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Rob - https://www.instagram.com/hart_rod_c10 As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another. Proverbs 27:17 FOR SALE: DBW pedal bracket - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651123 FOR SALE: Hood Brackets http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=679945 1987 Silverado SWB - 34.5K original miles http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801834 1969 SuperBurb - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=200387 1968 Farm truck - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=358692 1968 SWB - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=551258 1948 Chevy - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=122164&page=3 |
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#789 |
6>8 Plugless........
![]() Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Prairie City, Ia
Posts: 17,140
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Nice work on the wiring and the gauges look great! I've been using those large resettable breakers for about a year now and they seem to really work well. That's great you found the issue now and not in a busy highway or intersection.
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Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project Tired of spark plugs? Check this out. |
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#790 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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#791 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
test test test! i really want to get some miles under the tires ASAP to find more and have time to fix em. i'm still planning to drive it to WI in July for IOLA with some buddies.
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#792 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 8,026
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
if installing inline circuit breakers try to wire them close to the batteries so the power wire to the circuit breaker is short, otherwise there is that unfused length of wire to worry about shorting because it is unprotected. there is also the mega style fuses that could be placed next to the battery to protect large draw items, they are just not resettable, they blow and you need to unscrew and replace them. they are made for high draw load circuits, unlike a regular fuse panel.
plan for success, if a fuse panel melts down on the road it's a relatively large tow bill usually https://m.littelfuse.com/products/fu...bolt-down.aspx |
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#793 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Scotts, Michigan
Posts: 3,770
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
I bought this set up from Switch Suspension. I'm running (2) compressors. It was not cheap but it was designed for caring the load and is very well planned out. I have had mine on the road (4 summers) with zero issues power related (not including a junk Optima battery).
https://switchsuspension.com/dual-co...ing-kit-4-awg/ Electrical gremlins are no joke. Good luck. Marc
__________________
…………...........__________ .................. ((__|__||___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;((_(O))____ (_(O)) 1948 Chevy Truck - Finished SOLD!! 1953 Chevy Suburban "Family Truckster" Completed: Spring of 2021 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=605484 1994 4x4 Blazer - "Field Find" https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...ferrerid=30857 |
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#794 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
new fuse block is much nicer, and much cooler!
found a new suspension sensor was leaking, hope that's fixed now driveshaft should be ready today or tomorrow. i'm so anxious for street trials! worked out the alignment last night and that went easier than i thought for my first attempt at an IFS. i was WAY off to start, so there's no way this isn't better ![]() ![]() |
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#795 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Eagle, ID
Posts: 3,004
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Excellent tip!
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#796 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 8,026
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
As a firefighter, when we need to move a vehicle during extricate of victims etc, we would use scoop shovels under the tires. Works really well in the winter which seems like it karts forever up here. Lol
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#797 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
![]() IT'S A REAL TRUCK!!! holy sh!t, shoot, crap, AAAAAHHHHH!!! i'm can't even contain myself i'm so excited. it has no business being as good as it is already, i'm freakin out. ![]() |
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#798 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: somewhere, PA
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
ok, so reality. first drive went REALLY well.
did a little around the block and some quick back n forth while the wife was at home on-call to get me if issues ... then grabbed her and we drove right out to town for bolts. the idea was back roads out to tractor supply and back. well, they didn't have what i needed, things were going well, so WTH n down the road to ACE. they had what i needed and ended up with about a 23mile loop. it rides good for no adjusting yet, brakes are awesome, clutch is nice, shifts smooth, runs strong, makes all kinds of turbo noises even at next to no throttle, shockingly quite to drive, the air suspension has stopped leaking after the drive even! the looks i got were fun, we'll say it catches some attention. engine needs more gauges and a good bit of tuning. won't idle below 1000, has a haze at idle, and won't start without a throttle blip. i'm pretty sure the governor springs are set wrong, and i just needs lots of time turning screws. the big issue is that i'm 98% sure if i go full send, i'll YEET the head gasket. so i'm trying to be careful! steering is a touch stiff, but less notching while driving than i thought it would be moving around the yard. i'll still want to adjust angles one day, but good enough for now. speedo isn't showing, hopefully just need to re-sink the gps module to the dash, S475 turbo drain is leaking oil, and the breather is NOT enough and started blowing oil. much more breathers need added. ![]() Last edited by 6DoF; 05-24-2024 at 08:03 AM. |
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#799 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Eagle, ID
Posts: 3,004
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Well done! Lots of work, a congratulations is in order!!
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#800 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Scotts, Michigan
Posts: 3,770
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Very nice....The debugging can be fun. New things/noises/fluids appear at different times. But before you know it you've addressed them all and your just out driving.
Well done.. Marc
__________________
…………...........__________ .................. ((__|__||___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;((_(O))____ (_(O)) 1948 Chevy Truck - Finished SOLD!! 1953 Chevy Suburban "Family Truckster" Completed: Spring of 2021 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=605484 1994 4x4 Blazer - "Field Find" https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...ferrerid=30857 |
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