clinto
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Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!
My M35A2 Project aka Big Betty
- Thread starter TMNT
- Start date
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TMNT
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Well, that's an idea. I'll have to see if it will fit above the fuel tank. I don't want to lose my pioneer rack and spare tire carrier.
clinto
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Nope-waaay too tall.
Nothing is available premade, GI or civvy that will fit. I looked. Only idea I've come up is a a way to mount some ammo cans above the tank and make them removable (i.e. some kind of mounting system like sliders or such).
Nothing is available premade, GI or civvy that will fit. I looked. Only idea I've come up is a a way to mount some ammo cans above the tank and make them removable (i.e. some kind of mounting system like sliders or such).
TMNT
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So here's what the comparo between the Rapco 383 and the. Behr 34094 looks like after about 24 hours of drying.
In anything but direct sun, they are the same. In direct sun and viewed straight on, they are the same. Viewed at an angle, the difference in sheen is visible because the Behr is more flat.
In anything but direct sun, they are the same. In direct sun and viewed straight on, they are the same. Viewed at an angle, the difference in sheen is visible because the Behr is more flat.
TMNT
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I've started the battle on the passenger side mirror. All of the hardware came off without much trouble except for the hinge bolts. As usual, they are frozen in the hinge. Hope my neighbors don't mind another round of hammering and cussin'!
TMNT
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TMNT
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The passenger side is even worse than the driver side was. I'll have to let the PB soak a while longer and hope I can get these hinge bolts driven out by next weekend.
My DynoMax muffler should be here sometime this week. I hope to get the door/mirror finished and get the muffler installed next weekend. Getting the muffler installed with the mirror frame off should make that task a bit easier.
My DynoMax muffler should be here sometime this week. I hope to get the door/mirror finished and get the muffler installed next weekend. Getting the muffler installed with the mirror frame off should make that task a bit easier.
TMNT
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Well, ain't this a fine mess! The passenger side hinge bolts are putting up a real battle, but its not a battle that I'm going to lose. I was worried about bending or breaking something else while heating and pounding on the hinges, so I took the whole door off so I could get the hinges in a vise or maybe even a press.
I had one hinge screw give me a hard time but I was finally able to get it out with vice grips after breaking the head off of it.
I'm sure I'll need Soldier B to get that door back on.
I had one hinge screw give me a hard time but I was finally able to get it out with vice grips after breaking the head off of it.
I'm sure I'll need Soldier B to get that door back on.
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TMNT
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I dropped the door hinges off with a friend that has a hydraulic press. He's going to try pressing the bolt/pins out. I'm hoping a lot of steady pressure and a bit of heat will do the trick.
Just as a backup plan, I checked on the price and availability of replacement hinges. They range from about $45 to $50 each new! I'm hoping the original ones can still be saved.
Just as a backup plan, I checked on the price and availability of replacement hinges. They range from about $45 to $50 each new! I'm hoping the original ones can still be saved.
TMNT
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Yep, I checked. The box is a good 3 inches too tall to fit above the fuel tank. It's a decent space though for a custom box. I work with a few fabricators. I think I'll see what they can fab up for that space.
TMNT
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I was expecting the new DynoMax muffler to show up yesterday (from Amazon) but it didn't. It was however, on the front porch when I stepped out at 06:00 this morning.
Weird, but sometime between about 23:00 last night and 06:00 this morning it landed on my porch. It came by UPS but I've never had a package show up that late/early before.
Can hardly wait to get back to work on the truck on Saturday, but my job has me running hard the rest of the week.
Weird, but sometime between about 23:00 last night and 06:00 this morning it landed on my porch. It came by UPS but I've never had a package show up that late/early before.
Can hardly wait to get back to work on the truck on Saturday, but my job has me running hard the rest of the week.
DeucesWild11
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I had the same problem with my hinges, pounding and heating, finally drive it to my mechanic and we took one side off and torched it hot enough to get it out in a vice. But since I had to pay him I just decided to order another set for the other side. Allot less trouble! Now my big mirrors work great!
TMNT
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I found out this afternoon that a 12-ton press maxed out wouldn't even budge the pins. I'm going to try drilling them out with my drill press. If that fails or damages the hinges, then I'll finally give up and buy new hinges.
On the brighter side, the hood hinges that I ordered came in the mail today. Now my weekend plans include getting the door hinge/ mirror project finished, install the new DynoMax muffler, and replace the hood hinges. Not to mention the 47 sub-projects that those three projects will spawn. Projects reproduce around here like hamsters on Viagra!
Aim high!
Edit: That is if we make it through Tornadopalooza (or is that Tornadapocalypse) that is forecast for tomorrow!
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TMNT
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Weather is very nice today after the stormy Thursday night. I took the afternoon off and worked on Betty some more. I needed something low-stress so I didn't fool with the door hinges and saved them for tomorrow.
I started installing the DynoMax muffler instead. I disassembled the stack, did some trial fits, and cut off the J-pipe. An angle grinder with a cut-off wheel made short and easy work of that. I think I'm really going to like this upgrade.
I'm not going to use the turn-out stack and I'm going to install a flapper instead. I've always liked stacks with flappers and this will get rid of the jug.
On another subject, I had the home AC unit serviced today and found out we need a new system. It's 13 years old and the compressor is locked up. The new system will cost more than my deuce! Bummed about that.
I started installing the DynoMax muffler instead. I disassembled the stack, did some trial fits, and cut off the J-pipe. An angle grinder with a cut-off wheel made short and easy work of that. I think I'm really going to like this upgrade.
I'm not going to use the turn-out stack and I'm going to install a flapper instead. I've always liked stacks with flappers and this will get rid of the jug.
On another subject, I had the home AC unit serviced today and found out we need a new system. It's 13 years old and the compressor is locked up. The new system will cost more than my deuce! Bummed about that.
TMNT
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I made a mistake and ended up with a too short exhaust stack. I'll have to pick up a new piece of 3-1/2" exhaust pipe to get the stack cut to the right length. I like the way it sounds now.
I also managed to get the door hinges drilled out and separated. The drill cut into one of the hinges and I'm fixing that with JB Weld, but I should get the door and mirror completely reinstalled today.
I also managed to get the door hinges drilled out and separated. The drill cut into one of the hinges and I'm fixing that with JB Weld, but I should get the door and mirror completely reinstalled today.
dangeroustyz
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Nice Scott. Cant wait to hear it. You should upload it running so we can. It is nice weather today. BUT i had to work in the garden and adjust my moms brakes. I did roll up my side curtains on cargo cover. Looks like the bees are starting to take interest in truck. I am planing on sanding and repainting troop seats. Any tips you have would be appreciated. See you soon man.
TMNT
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Slowly but surely. Sat down here for a break and a glass of cold rum. Ahhhh!
The door is back on. Here are some photos of the progress.
The door is back on. Here are some photos of the progress.
TMNT
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Thanks. I'll do a video when I take it out for a ride later this afternoon.
Are your troop seats wood or fiber glass? I probably do much more than necessary. Prep is 98% of the job. Clean, scrape, sand, fill in the cracks in the wood, sand blast the metal, clean, prime, clean again and paint.
With proper prep, flat paint is very easy to apply and screw ups are easy to fix.
TMNT
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Finally got everything put back together and looking good. I like the exhaust note of the new muffler but now I hear all kinds of other rattles and squeaks that need fixing. Really pleased with it overall.
I'm trying to get some decent video for upload. The last couple of attempts have really poor sound.
I'm trying to get some decent video for upload. The last couple of attempts have really poor sound.
TMNT
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Regarding a video so you can hear the sound of the new muffled exhaust, still nothing good.
I discovered that I do not like the exhaust flapper as it rattles and clangs way too much. Above 2K the exhaust note resonates with the flapper and it sets up a terrible high frequency rattle/squeal. The sound transmits through the pipe so that it sounds like its coming from under the passenger floor. That noise combined with the 5th gear whine was awful.
I took the flapper off and it's much, much better. So, I'm going to convert it back to the original stack with the turn out at the top. Retaining the muffler of course.
The problem with the video is that there are so many other noises that a deuce makes, that the exhaust note gets lost in all of those other sounds. The transmission whine, the rattle coming from somewhere under the cab that I haven't yet found, the other noises the engine makes, etc.
I'll try getting some video from outside the cab and see if that gives me a cleaner sound.
I discovered that I do not like the exhaust flapper as it rattles and clangs way too much. Above 2K the exhaust note resonates with the flapper and it sets up a terrible high frequency rattle/squeal. The sound transmits through the pipe so that it sounds like its coming from under the passenger floor. That noise combined with the 5th gear whine was awful.
I took the flapper off and it's much, much better. So, I'm going to convert it back to the original stack with the turn out at the top. Retaining the muffler of course.
The problem with the video is that there are so many other noises that a deuce makes, that the exhaust note gets lost in all of those other sounds. The transmission whine, the rattle coming from somewhere under the cab that I haven't yet found, the other noises the engine makes, etc.
I'll try getting some video from outside the cab and see if that gives me a cleaner sound.
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