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Squibbly's M1009 and other Questionable Projects

Squibbly

Squibbly

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Didn't get a lot done today. Got family coming over tomorrow since Christmas was cancelled due to them all getting COVID for Christmas.

...COVID for Christmas....sounds like a Hallmark movie.

Did a little cutting and welding....well, as good as welding as I can do anyways.
Got the hole in the cab pretty much done. A few pinholes to fill in, then putty and paint.

1641701606257.png

It was the PO that put tape over this hole. Not me.

1641701335055.png

1641702487203.png

I sprayed some rust preventative paint behind the panel.

1641701374668.png

Cut the rot out of the rocker panel.

1641701513324.png
1641701429310.png
Fit a new piece.

1641701471556.png
Will probably put that in tomorrow.
 
Last edited:
E

ezgn

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Squibbly said:
Didn't get a lot done today. Got family coming over tomorrow since Christmas was cancelled due to them all getting COVID for Christmas.

...COVID for Christmas....sounds like a Hallmark movie.

Did a little cutting and welding....well, as good as welding as I can do anyways.
Got the hole in the cab pretty much done. A few pinholes to fill in, then putty and paint.

View attachment 855445

It was the PO that put tape over this hole. Not me.

View attachment 855440

View attachment 855446

I sprayed some rust preventative paint behind the panel.

View attachment 855441

Cut the rot out of the rocker panel.

View attachment 855444
View attachment 855442
Fit a new piece.

View attachment 855443
Will probably put that in tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Good job!
 
Squibbly

Squibbly

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Squibbly said:
Will probably put that in tomorrow.
Click to expand...

..or not. Woke up with my back hurting from leaning over the cab while standing on a ladder doing that welding the day before.
As anyone with back issues will tell you...if you try to keep pushing you'll be laid up for two weeks, rather than one day of rest.
Extended family was in all day. Cabin fever after they all had COVID.
...and my Oculus Quest 2 arrived...so I headed off to VR land to stab Zombies in the head.

1641820368013.png

Back feels better today, so I'll be finishing up welding that rocker after work.
Hopefully my "official" GM freeze plugs arrive, and I can change that leaky plug. It got much worse this last week.
 
Mullaney

Mullaney

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Squibbly said:
..or not. Woke up with my back hurting from leaning over the cab while standing on a ladder doing that welding the day before.
Extended family was in all day. Cabin fever after they all had COVID.
...and my Oculus Quest 2 arrived...so I headed off to VR land to stab Zombies in the head.

View attachment 855537

Back feels better today, so I'll be finishing up welding that rocker after work.
Click to expand...
.
Amazing how refreshing it is to stab a zombie in the head!
Ahhh. Much better now...
:cool:
 
Squibbly

Squibbly

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South Carolina
Mullaney said:
.
Amazing how refreshing it is to stab a zombie in the head!
Ahhh. Much better now...
:cool:
Click to expand...
Very True.

I'm pretty Amazed by this thing.

I'm also not technologically stupid.
It's ultimately a data stealing app disguised as a toy made by Facebook.
I use zero real info in the Facebook account I setup.
Have Zero photos.
Have Zero Friends.
Have Zero comments.
Don't VR chat.
Don't allow them to store voice data.
Go through a VPN.
..and let my son use the same account to play so it throws off their algorithms on stuff I'm into. 😁
I'll also occasionally search for destinations I have no interest in going to, and music I don't listen to (Jazz). Heh Heh.

Were it not for the privacy issues, this headset would be the ultimate downsizing tool.
You can be in a nice peaceful Japanese house watching TV on a Big Screen TV over a fire, with Coy fish swimming in a pond overlooking a mountain, even if you lived in a 10x10 room in some city someplace.
 
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M35fan

M35fan

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Arab, Alabama
Squibbly said:
Very True.

I'm pretty Amazed by this thing.

I'm also not technologically stupid.
It's ultimately a data stealing app disguised as a toy made by Facebook.
I use zero real info in the Facebook account I setup.
Have Zero photos.
Have Zero Friends.
Have Zero comments.
Don't VR chat.
Don't allow them to store voice data.
Go through a VPN.
..and let my son use the same account to play so it throws off their algorithms on stuff I'm into. 😁
I'll also occasionally search for destinations I have no interest in going to, and music I don't listen to (Jazz). Heh Heh.

Were it not for the privacy issues, this headset would be the ultimate downsizing tool.
You can be in a nice peaceful Japanese house watching TV on a Big Screen TV over a fire, with Coy fish swimming in a pond overlooking a mountain, even if you lived in a 10x10 room in some city someplace.
Click to expand...
Messing with algorithms is fun. I'm not sure what it accomplishes, but it confuses the bots.
 
Squibbly

Squibbly

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South Carolina
Having to stay late at work every night has sucked.

Got around to getting the freeze plug installed.

Was no easy task with the engine in the truck. Barely enough space.


The old freeze plug I punched right through.

You can see the thickness difference between them.


Bit of rust behind there.



Ain’t pretty but it’s done, and it’s not leaking. I’ll hit it with some rust preventative paint.

I reused my anti-freeze because I had changed it when I got the truck. I stuck a ladies nylon sock over the fill hole of the radiator and used it as a filter. It was pretty clean regardless. Yes, I have ladies black low nylon socks. If you've ever been "serious" multi-day hiking and camping, wearing a pair of these under your regular socks prevents blisters....and make you feel pretty. 😂




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
S

SomeNewGuy

Member
59
95
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Location
VA
Squibbly said:
Didn't get a lot done today. Got family coming over tomorrow since Christmas was cancelled due to them all getting COVID for Christmas.

...COVID for Christmas....sounds like a Hallmark movie.

Did a little cutting and welding....well, as good as welding as I can do anyways.
Got the hole in the cab pretty much done. A few pinholes to fill in, then putty and paint.

View attachment 855445

It was the PO that put tape over this hole. Not me.

View attachment 855440

View attachment 855446

I sprayed some rust preventative paint behind the panel.

View attachment 855441

Cut the rot out of the rocker panel.

View attachment 855444
View attachment 855442
Fit a new piece.

View attachment 855443
Will probably put that in tomorrow.
Click to expand...
So I did a bit of mig welding like a decade ago, an my rocker panels are about as bad as that...

Im still debating taking it to a shop, or tryin to do it myself. About how hard would you say it is? Would the old adage of "grinder an paint..." apply to a bit of a newbie?
 
Squibbly

Squibbly

Well-known member
406
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Location
South Carolina
SomeNewGuy said:
So I did a bit of mig welding like a decade ago, an my rocker panels are about as bad as that...

Im still debating taking it to a shop, or tryin to do it myself. About how hard would you say it is? Would the old adage of "grinder an paint..." apply to a bit of a newbie?
Click to expand...
It’s all about the tools. A few hundred bucks to have someone do it for you, or you need a mig welder, grinder, cutting wheels, D.A. sanders, etc. I’ve collected a lot of tools over my lifetime so there isn’t much I don’t have. You need patience, light wire (I use .023) and gas. Helps to have an air compressor so you can cool the welds quicker. This is the first body panel welding I’ve done. There is a learning curve. You aren’t running a bead. Your connecting spot welds so the metal doesn’t get too hot and moving around to different parts of the panel you’re welding to make sure you’re letting areas cool before you go back. Go on YouTube and lookup Fitzies Fabrication. He goes through his whole setup and has a lot of good videos.

You’ll burn through some of this metal. I chased a damn hole for an hour on that cab roof. Metal was thin up there.

Anyone with the right tools and determination can do it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
S

SomeNewGuy

Member
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Location
VA
Squibbly said:
It’s all about the tools. A few hundred bucks to have someone do it for you, or you need a mig welder, grinder, cutting wheels, D.A. sanders, etc. I’ve collected a lot of tools over my lifetime so there isn’t much I don’t have. You need patience, light wire (I use .023) and gas. Helps to have an air compressor so you can cool the welds quicker. This is the first body panel welding I’ve done. There is a learning curve. You aren’t running a bead. Your connecting spot welds so the metal doesn’t get too hot and moving around to different parts of the panel you’re welding to make sure you’re letting areas cool before you go back. Go on YouTube and lookup Fitzies Fabrication. He goes through his whole setup and has a lot of good videos.

You’ll burn through some of this metal. I chased a damn hole for an hour on that cab roof. Metal was thin up there.

Anyone with the right tools and determination can do it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Sounds like I'll do it myself then, would rather splash a bit of chash on practicing and have the knowledge to do it myself in the future... can borrow the welder and some other tools from the neighbor for now. Ive a fair amount to do as far as rust and was quoted 2k even when I supply the panels.

Its looking great man, keep up the great work. I'll look into that YT channel tonight.
 
Squibbly

Squibbly

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Location
South Carolina
SomeNewGuy said:
Sounds like I'll do it myself then, would rather splash a bit of chash on practicing and have the knowledge to do it myself in the future... can borrow the welder and some other tools from the neighbor for now. Ive a fair amount to do as far as rust and was quoted 2k even when I supply the panels.

Its looking great man, keep up the great work. I'll look into that YT channel tonight.
Click to expand...
Tip: Disconnect your batteries completely before welding.
I'm not exactly sure what you could potentially fry on these leaving them connected, but my batteries were quite expensive, and I didn't want to find out.

I can't imagine it's "good" for batteries (or circuitry) to have an arc running through the negative terminal.
 
Squibbly

Squibbly

Well-known member
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Location
South Carolina
I've noticed that in cold weather, given that I don't keep my GPM installed in the truck, that if I hold the GP push button for 10 seconds and keep it held down while I start the engine and a few seconds after its started (maybe an extra 5 or 6 seconds total), it starts smooth, doesn't blow black smoke, and stays smooth.

If I just push the button for 10 seconds and let go, then crank the truck it starts rough, blows black smoke and takes a few seconds to steady out.

I'm waiting till March to decide if I want one of the new GPMs.

For Christmas my wife got me a "virtual" gift certificate for new tires. I'm debating between BFG 31's and 33's.
Any reason to switch from the stock 31s? I think I've read you may get a few extra MPH on lower RPMs with the bigger tires.
 
antennaclimber

antennaclimber

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I put 33" BFG T/As on my M1009. Expected better fuel economy but it actually used more fuel. The 3.08 rear prefers a smaller tire when starting out from a stop. No issues with clearance inside the fender wells.

The 33's do provide a little more ground clearance and the top end speed does gain you a lower RPM. But climbing steep hills, mountains and longer hills, the 6.2 just doesn't cut it. It slows down and many times requires a shift to 2nd gear to keep up with normal traffic. Gets even worse towing a trailer.
 
E

ezgn

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
Lake Elsinore Ca.
Squibbly said:
I've noticed that in cold weather, given that I don't keep my GPM installed in the truck, that if I hold the GP push button for 10 seconds and keep it held down while I start the engine and a few seconds after its started (maybe an extra 5 or 6 seconds total), it starts smooth, doesn't blow black smoke, and stays smooth.

If I just push the button for 10 seconds and let go, then crank the truck it starts rough, blows black smoke and takes a few seconds to steady out.

I'm waiting till March to decide if I want one of the new GPMs.

For Christmas my wife got me a "virtual" gift certificate for new tires. I'm debating between BFG 31's and 33's.
Any reason to switch from the stock 31s? I think I've read you may get a few extra MPH on lower RPMs with the bigger tires.
Click to expand...
Have you tried cycling the glow plugs twice before starting?
 
S

SomeNewGuy

Member
59
95
18
Location
VA
Squibbly said:
I've noticed that in cold weather, given that I don't keep my GPM installed in the truck, that if I hold the GP push button for 10 seconds and keep it held down while I start the engine and a few seconds after its started (maybe an extra 5 or 6 seconds total), it starts smooth, doesn't blow black smoke, and stays smooth.

If I just push the button for 10 seconds and let go, then crank the truck it starts rough, blows black smoke and takes a few seconds to steady out.

I'm waiting till March to decide if I want one of the new GPMs.

For Christmas my wife got me a "virtual" gift certificate for new tires. I'm debating between BFG 31's and 33's.
Any reason to switch from the stock 31s? I think I've read you may get a few extra MPH on lower RPMs with the bigger tires.
Click to expand...
For some reason I thought starting the engine with the glow plugs on would damage them?
 
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