7 July 2017 Little stuff adds up -

I remember George telling me, when we mock up something sometimes it goes on then off then on again several times. As was the case of the steering box. With the front end coming off a 1977 F-250, so did the steering box. We had to mock it up, so on it went off it came and so forth till we got it right. I am trying something different with the pictures, which hopefully will illustrate this more. As of now I will say we are that much closer to the frame to powder coating, we need to box up the frame a little more, and weld it. The springs go to Arizona Springs to be re-arched and a leaf added. We need 220 (electric) for the good welder an its still some time away from getting it, so we are trying to improvise. Sold the 1977 F-250 for $650, which is cheap considering what I paid for it, but I got a donor bed, fender, seat, doghouse and front end. I'm happy. So here a little and there a little it's  getting done. Some pictures for you, with some visual.









More coming, I promise!

19 June 2017 What's the wall for?

As I said we hit wall, we are stalled. I need the professional help from George, but so does the railroad. So we are waiting, waiting for TEP to answer back on the electric too. So with that I thought I would post something else. Remember the 1940 pick up I mentioned George built, well he and a good friend built? It is a rock crawler/rock-rod. His friend recently passed away, which apparently he was some terrific guy. He taught George wrenching when George was a kid, taught him to weld and generally took him under his wing. It was a sad day to say the least. So here is your legacy and tribute to John, may you accept the gospel when it comes your way. He left the rock crawler to George, and so Jeremy, Jeff, George, and I went to load it up. George wants to restore it and get it ready to show again. It's been sitting for 8 yrs. If I tried I don't think I could mention everything it has, I know it competed in a Baja race, they placed it in a category with corporate sponsored vehicles. Not really fair since it was home built, but it took 3rd, shutting down several high dollar vehicles.
1. It has a welder
2. Air compressor
3. Water tank and pump
4. Cameras front and rear
5. Wench, which we used to get it up on the trailer.
6. 2 roll bars/ cages
7. Flame throwers (flames ignite from the exhaust)
8. 44 inch tires on 15 inch wheels
9. A little 4 cylinder Toyota motor
10. 1 tranny and 3 transfer cases can gear down to a ratio of 600:1. Let's put that in perspective. I ask George what ratio is a granny gear in a typical 4 speed? 25:1. It could climb up a straight wall.
11. Shackles that move independently, one wheel can be up on a rock and the other on level ground
12. More and more.
It was featured in a 4X4 magazine. So I have some pictures of us loading it, as usual they don't do it justice. Enjoy:


The tall shifter is the tranny, the other 3 are for the transfer cases. 2- 8 balls a 3 ball and a 5 ball.

 Needs cleaning and another coat of clear

Setting up the wench

Rear view

At this point we realized we need to remove the side bars from the trailer or it wouldn't fit on the flat bed. By the way the frame has beed shortened for mobility.

Loading it

Jeremy looks small compar

ed to the pick up.

This is some paper work on the truck:











And Finally the Rock Crawler doing it's thing,



Anyway nice work, and hopefully George will get it ready for show, AFTER my truck gets done!
Thanks for reading, until next time keep on truckin'

27 May 2017 Things happen, things change...

As I said things happen and things change, we just move forward and enjoy the ride. I haven't posted much lately, but it doesn't mean nothing has happened. 31 March I was in an accident/collision. Not my fault, a man made a left turn right in front of me ... "POW" I hit him broadside. Nobody hurt but there was still pain, totaled my pick up and his car. Dealing with insurance was irritating to say the least. In short they gave me next to nothing for the Toyota $3500 (the tires were worth $600 alone) or $3290 plus the Toyota back. I took that option. Farmer and Jeremy want to rebuild it and make a hunting truck out of it.  So I have about $800 invested in their hunting truck. Another project to work on that's the good part. I'm driving a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 with a 24 valve Cummins, that's a good part too. Anyway the garage is almost done. We need to get electric to the building, right now we are using an extension cord to open the 12x12 garage door. As for Ol' Pete work is slow, It's hard to get things done working around RR schedules. Actually we are at the same place as last post, but we have been able to increase our tools. We now have a Mig welder and a cutting torch, a chop saw and work benches. I do have some pictures to view, enjoy.




Starting to load up the garage, actually we are trying to organize everything. 










You can see the door size, it's 12x12.

We had to custom fit the frame and braces, but it works great.















Parts Farmer bought for the Toyota, New hood, fender, bumper, grill, and radiator support.







Welding equipment and bench





Garage door opened, more to come.

20 March 2017 What truck?

Since the last post we made a couple of changes, noticeable changes. It seems the time is split between the garage and the truck. A little here and a little there, but definitely noticeable. Farmer, Jeff and I boxed in the front cross member. Can't tell that, but we removed the front and rear axle so that the frame is sitting on jack stands. We are very close to taking the frame down to get it powder coated. The leaf springs are off and are ready to be re-arched. I now have another front axle, from a 1976 F-250, because it has front disc brakes and a higher pinion (front differential). Should match up perfectly. There are other parts I can use, we will see in the near future. As for the garage the East end is closed off with a wall. Next is the loft, then the West end with the 12X12 garage door. Oh and Skip and Chris came to help, We needed them to help lift the frame off the axles. My word it was heavy, Little by little, here are some of the pictures.

Jeff and Farmer

Cutting and welding

Again it doesn't look like much, but that is a boxed cross member

Springs are coming off

Farmer and Skip

Just a frame

Now for the garage improvements

Jeremy and I working on the wall frame

Tennasyn took these pictures

Skip, Jeremy and I

The ladders are 12 foot high we are working on.

East wall is up!!

Inside

Let me just say, I am very grateful for family and friends who help me get things done. It is in this that I find joy. I give thanks in prayer everyday. Until next post, Viya Con Dios.

8 March 2017 Time is moving quickly by ...not the work

I have to admit if I documented every time we did something I would have 100 more pages with one or two lines on it and a picture or two. So it seems it takes awhile to show any progress, that goes for the truck and garage. The other day we added a modified part, it was a cross member for the transfer case. I wrote about it earlier, we had to modify the piece and cut and trim the frame. We had to mount it set the transfer case/transmission on it see if it fit, make spacers cut holes readjust and cut some more. Then try to clean it all up. At the end of the day (so to speak), you wouldn't think we did anything, but we did. So what we have now is the cab off, engine out ( to be rebuilt soon), the transmission/transfer case out and set aside. We are cleaning up the frame and getting it ready to powder coat, I have started to remove the springs from the axles. I plan to have the springs re-arched and add a leaf to them, hopefully making it equal to a 1 ton. This brings up another point, we will replace the front end with a updated axle and pinion and differential. The "newer" (from a 1976 truck) front axle will have front disc brakes, which is very important for the weight of the diesel as far as stopping power. As I get into this I see many things that need to be figured in. It's still fun and exciting and believe it or not it is moving forward. As a point, Farmer and I have differing ideas on wheel and tires, we kinda agree on type, it's the size. I'm telling him we have a hundred things to do yet, wheels and tires are number 75 and we are on number 25. Don't worry. Other than George doing most of the special work, Farmer and Jeremy help more than anybody. Skip where are you? zzz. Anyway these are days never to be forgotten.

                                    
                                        Hard to tell, but there are cuts and grinding being done

                                    

That's the crossmember, came from a 1993 Dodge, it's cut lower for clearance above for the front drive shaft. 

                                    

Farmer grinding and cleaning up some cuts, Jeremy making sure it's done right.

                                    

This was cut and modified for the rear driveshaft and transfer case 

                                    

More clean up, as you can see even with the cab, engine and transmission removed it is still hard to get around. We need more room.

       

    

When this is completed it should be plenty of room. Notice the engine and tranny to the side.

This garage is a little bigger (20x40 x15 high at the apex) than garage we are in now.

Here is a side view

 Until the next time "Press Forward Slade's" with steadfast faith in Christ.