Just for kicks. You may have seen my many posts asking for advice and info as I learn about this beast...affectionately named "the Thing". Picked it up last July as a package deal with plow and trailer for a bit more than a salvage price. Rear differential had a new r&p installed 3 years or so ago and never run since. Turns out the mechanic re-installed the carrier assembly in backwards which resulted in 11 reverse and 1 forward gear. "Simple" matter for me to take it apart and rotate the assembly 180°.
At some point in her life, I'm told a tree fell on her...or somebody got carried away and smacked into one. Broken passenger window and significant damage to the front right cowl that was marginally fixed with sheet metal and tons of bondo (also note the headlights have been deleted). I have stripped all the paint from the steel to get down to rust, and am sanding down the first of 3 paint layers on the aluminum cab and doors for painting sometime here soon. After some new bondo and new windshield (that will show up in a couple days) gonna use epoxy primer and urethane single stage paint through a LVLP spray gun outside in the driveway. May go with orange, may just go back to the blue that was the second layer over the factory orange in order to approximate the interior color.
What I have done so far:
New track rubber and nuts/bolts, fixed the differential, adjusted engine valves and auto choke and set timing at 6°btdc, installed electronic ignition, changed all fluids, new oil pressure gauge and sender, traced all unmarked switches and fixed (this thing had multiple 70's halogen lights scattered everywhere and few worked...all gone now with new LED lights front and back), new wood side rails, repainted exhaust stack and shield, some interior painting and rust repair, removed and painted gas tank.
What's left to do: new tach, paint, pop inspection plate on the differential and properly adjust the brake shoes (live and learn). By rights I should replace the slider window tracks but probably won't.
Drive sprockes have life left in them, wheel bearings seem OK, tires seem ok so will defer spending another couple grand on those until the time comes. This is not meant to be a garage queen...she was rode hard and put up wet... just want it to hold together and be dependable. Over 100 hours of work into it, but my labor is free. Should be worth 3x what I paid when I'm done...but not selling!!!
At some point in her life, I'm told a tree fell on her...or somebody got carried away and smacked into one. Broken passenger window and significant damage to the front right cowl that was marginally fixed with sheet metal and tons of bondo (also note the headlights have been deleted). I have stripped all the paint from the steel to get down to rust, and am sanding down the first of 3 paint layers on the aluminum cab and doors for painting sometime here soon. After some new bondo and new windshield (that will show up in a couple days) gonna use epoxy primer and urethane single stage paint through a LVLP spray gun outside in the driveway. May go with orange, may just go back to the blue that was the second layer over the factory orange in order to approximate the interior color.
What I have done so far:
New track rubber and nuts/bolts, fixed the differential, adjusted engine valves and auto choke and set timing at 6°btdc, installed electronic ignition, changed all fluids, new oil pressure gauge and sender, traced all unmarked switches and fixed (this thing had multiple 70's halogen lights scattered everywhere and few worked...all gone now with new LED lights front and back), new wood side rails, repainted exhaust stack and shield, some interior painting and rust repair, removed and painted gas tank.
What's left to do: new tach, paint, pop inspection plate on the differential and properly adjust the brake shoes (live and learn). By rights I should replace the slider window tracks but probably won't.
Drive sprockes have life left in them, wheel bearings seem OK, tires seem ok so will defer spending another couple grand on those until the time comes. This is not meant to be a garage queen...she was rode hard and put up wet... just want it to hold together and be dependable. Over 100 hours of work into it, but my labor is free. Should be worth 3x what I paid when I'm done...but not selling!!!
