Well…I call it Cochon de Tere (~Land Pig) don’t know why, but I thought it needed all the help it could get. If your squeemish, turn of your puter and run away now, because this is not a swine beauty contest winner. I wish I had more progress to report on and what I do have to say is that I am a dumbass. You’ll see why soon enough. Allright the particulars…I bought it ~ last Augustish from Wayneraintree (Jeff) who picked it up from Cineault (Richie) who parted it out pretty thoroughly and was on the verge of sending it off to the crusher. Jeff swooped in for the kick save…acquired some bits off the carcass and moved this poor piggie on to me. Me…what was I thinking…well in short, my other pig (https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-iron-pig-preservation-society/169838-august-potm-pigwald.html) is far too nice to wheel (IMHO). I feel that way about the rest of the crap cept my 73 40. Although, I am thinking of cleaning it up as it is basically a good solid act. So, I said to self get something you can wheel w/o worry. Enter Cochon de Tere.
Missing were many many things…so after it was offloaded and wrestled to it’s current location (no steering column makes for added fun manuvering), I compiled a list of bits and began scrounging. That exercise took me through the cold months to get completed enough. Then late March/early April with bits-o-plenty in hands, it was go time. Steering column, instrument cluster, center dash and all related electro bits installed. The block and head for the most part were there and attached…so, the intake, exhaust, carb, dist., coil/ignitor, and all other attendant systems were installed and fiddled with. Then one afternoon in early April, I looked at it, it looked at me and well there was enough stuff hung and it and connected up (hopefully appropriately) to give it a spin. I snatch a decent battery, hook up the charger on start mode dumped some gas down the carb and turn the key. Little SOB came to life…much joy. Cut the euphoria short (after @ 1min if that) because I didn’t have the belts on and no water/antifreeze in it either. Crankcase full of oil…I’m a dumbass not an idiot. The following weekend arrives and belts are slapped on and the glycol infused. Dump some gas down the carb and turn key. She fires again and I let her idle while I fiddle with wires trying to see whats what re: the temp and oil pressure gauges…both not doing squat. So, I figure, I ran it at idle for @ 15 minutes whilst I fiddled. During the fiddling, I felt the top and bottom rad hoses and didn’t like what I was feeling (top hose hot, bottom hose nuttin) and shut it down. Turns out this was the dumbass part…although I didn’t know it at the time. I turned my affection to another area needing attention in order to make it a mobil pig. Mobility is key for me to be able to advance any real progress as work space is jammed up and musical chairs with Cruisers must be played. I went down underneath installed the drive shaft and confirmed there was nothing in the rear pumpkin except a memory of a locker. (and rear gears to need list).
The following weekend I set about to nail down and fix the oil pressure and temp gauge and apparent lack of coolant proper circulation issues. New temp sender, new thermostat installed and voltmeter in hand….I turn the key to much dismay. It sounded like someone was striking arcs with a stick welder in the engine bay and the motor…she no turn. I’m a dumbass remember. So that was like two weeks ago and I’m living in denial….but that sucker is locked up tight. I pulled the distributor, inserted my oil pump primer tool and using the drill at lowish..say idle speeds, spin the pump initially. Nothing even vaguely sounded or felt like oil was being circulated. Now I am self realizing, I am a dumbass. OK full throttle on the old drill and after about 2 minutes it all of a sudden bogs down and I begin to hear oil circulate and gurgle. Mr. dumbass is now hopeful. But this is/was too late…she locked up good and proper. So, now I am sitting here figuring on how to get the motor out of it (where she sits) then move said motor over to asphalt to where I can put it on the engine stand and begin to undo my stupidity. I have a plan…which is not necessarily a good or safe thing…but a plan none the less.
The short/long term plan for Cochon de Tere is simple and keep it simple stupid. It is to be wheeled. So, I have acquired some big fat meats (35x16 or so x15), the 225x75x15 bald dry rotted rollers that were on it just wouldn’t do. It has thereabouts a 4” inch lift that will do fine for now and into the foreseeable future. The roof will get new metal welded in. The bottom will be attacked by the cut off wheels (one in each hand ala Edward Cut off wheel hands) and sliders will be installed in lieu of rocker panels and other such lower sheet metal. The rear sill will get metal. Probably some metal in the floors so my fat ass doesn’t fall through. Some metal for the front fenders and aprons and at some point a squirt of Kawasaki Racing Green Paint. (Always wanted to put that color on something) All aformentioned steel replacement and body work will not be done to any exacting standard or quality…just needs to be structural and serviceable. I will have to keep reminding myself to back off on this piece…old habits die hard. Well enough of my drivel and whining….and on to the pics of this poor little piggie. Also feel free (besides laugh at me) to offer up suggestions, ideas of things to do to it as it returns from the dead. Besides wheeling at Rausch, it will also see time on the sand as Assateague….so chopping of the top is out as I don’t want to become skeeter and horse fly bait ! Those suckers take a big piece of your flesh !
Pics...first of it's illustrious arrival
Missing were many many things…so after it was offloaded and wrestled to it’s current location (no steering column makes for added fun manuvering), I compiled a list of bits and began scrounging. That exercise took me through the cold months to get completed enough. Then late March/early April with bits-o-plenty in hands, it was go time. Steering column, instrument cluster, center dash and all related electro bits installed. The block and head for the most part were there and attached…so, the intake, exhaust, carb, dist., coil/ignitor, and all other attendant systems were installed and fiddled with. Then one afternoon in early April, I looked at it, it looked at me and well there was enough stuff hung and it and connected up (hopefully appropriately) to give it a spin. I snatch a decent battery, hook up the charger on start mode dumped some gas down the carb and turn the key. Little SOB came to life…much joy. Cut the euphoria short (after @ 1min if that) because I didn’t have the belts on and no water/antifreeze in it either. Crankcase full of oil…I’m a dumbass not an idiot. The following weekend arrives and belts are slapped on and the glycol infused. Dump some gas down the carb and turn key. She fires again and I let her idle while I fiddle with wires trying to see whats what re: the temp and oil pressure gauges…both not doing squat. So, I figure, I ran it at idle for @ 15 minutes whilst I fiddled. During the fiddling, I felt the top and bottom rad hoses and didn’t like what I was feeling (top hose hot, bottom hose nuttin) and shut it down. Turns out this was the dumbass part…although I didn’t know it at the time. I turned my affection to another area needing attention in order to make it a mobil pig. Mobility is key for me to be able to advance any real progress as work space is jammed up and musical chairs with Cruisers must be played. I went down underneath installed the drive shaft and confirmed there was nothing in the rear pumpkin except a memory of a locker. (and rear gears to need list).
The following weekend I set about to nail down and fix the oil pressure and temp gauge and apparent lack of coolant proper circulation issues. New temp sender, new thermostat installed and voltmeter in hand….I turn the key to much dismay. It sounded like someone was striking arcs with a stick welder in the engine bay and the motor…she no turn. I’m a dumbass remember. So that was like two weeks ago and I’m living in denial….but that sucker is locked up tight. I pulled the distributor, inserted my oil pump primer tool and using the drill at lowish..say idle speeds, spin the pump initially. Nothing even vaguely sounded or felt like oil was being circulated. Now I am self realizing, I am a dumbass. OK full throttle on the old drill and after about 2 minutes it all of a sudden bogs down and I begin to hear oil circulate and gurgle. Mr. dumbass is now hopeful. But this is/was too late…she locked up good and proper. So, now I am sitting here figuring on how to get the motor out of it (where she sits) then move said motor over to asphalt to where I can put it on the engine stand and begin to undo my stupidity. I have a plan…which is not necessarily a good or safe thing…but a plan none the less.
The short/long term plan for Cochon de Tere is simple and keep it simple stupid. It is to be wheeled. So, I have acquired some big fat meats (35x16 or so x15), the 225x75x15 bald dry rotted rollers that were on it just wouldn’t do. It has thereabouts a 4” inch lift that will do fine for now and into the foreseeable future. The roof will get new metal welded in. The bottom will be attacked by the cut off wheels (one in each hand ala Edward Cut off wheel hands) and sliders will be installed in lieu of rocker panels and other such lower sheet metal. The rear sill will get metal. Probably some metal in the floors so my fat ass doesn’t fall through. Some metal for the front fenders and aprons and at some point a squirt of Kawasaki Racing Green Paint. (Always wanted to put that color on something) All aformentioned steel replacement and body work will not be done to any exacting standard or quality…just needs to be structural and serviceable. I will have to keep reminding myself to back off on this piece…old habits die hard. Well enough of my drivel and whining….and on to the pics of this poor little piggie. Also feel free (besides laugh at me) to offer up suggestions, ideas of things to do to it as it returns from the dead. Besides wheeling at Rausch, it will also see time on the sand as Assateague….so chopping of the top is out as I don’t want to become skeeter and horse fly bait ! Those suckers take a big piece of your flesh !
Pics...first of it's illustrious arrival
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However during this time of semi sober reflection, I have my plan nailed down for motor extraction where she sits. Those 8x8 posts supporting the deck go 11/12 feet in height. I'll mount a 2" sched 40 pipe to them to attach the hoist to and snatch it out. Drop it on the front deck of the Gravely Pro16 two wheel tractor and move it in side where I can snatch it and put it on the stand and undo the crime. Jeff, are you coming east for CMCC or just the ECPR ?
