Morph: a 1HZ/H55F into a BJ40, Expedition Truck - Alaska bound

[SabreTooth]

My employer also has a full CNC machine shop in the building behind ours as well as a full service specialty welding shop next door (Aerotech Machine and Aerotech Specialty Welding) Kevin4

Small world. We use one of Aerotech's welders for our specialty welding needs at work that exceed our abilities or speed. Thong (spelling?) is his name. Unbelievable welder and good guy. It takes two of our guys just to keep up with him to feed him parts, he's that quick. He told one of our guys jokingly who was leak testing a vessel that he welded that he was wasting his time because there would be no leaks. We checked anyway. He was right. Highly recommended.

Jim

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Yeah, Thong is very good. And not cheap - by far the highest paid guy at Aerotech. They used to have a few guys of his caliber but they tend to move on and start their own shops. Very dry sense of or humor too... did you know he is a Buddhist monk? Shaved his head a while ago and disappeared for a couple of months, back to Laos I think, and came back an "ordained" monk so he says. He's got one of our guys convinced the cancelled x-mas party is back on (its not ).


Anyway - back to the Yak...

 

[lowenbrau]

When those High School guidance councilors were trying to convince me to stay in school, never once did they suggest that I could become a Zen master, kung foo certified, tank welder supreme and demand whatever kind of pay I wanted. McDonald's or garbageman were good jobs, they said.

 

[Awl_TEQ]

So how come you guys won't take cinderblocks and old third members anyway! I cut them in half....


It was a lot of work dragging them to the curb...

 

[SabreTooth]

Hard to find time

It's hard finding time for everything. I'm still working on the DIY paint cell. Life gets in the way. Another week and I should be done and I am looking forward to wrenching on metal again instead of drywall, insulation, paint and wood...

https://forum.ih8mud.com/paint-body/332003-diy-paint-cell-inside-attached-garage.html

On a positive note, the garage has yet to dip below +5oC. Ideal wrenching temperature (between +5 and +10 oC IMHO). BUT the temperatures have been pretty mild here. Wait till it gets to -35 oC, then we'll see how well the insulation functions.

Jim

 

[Crash_AB]

After doing an engine swap in an uninsulated garage, I can tell you that the insulation is worth every penny. Of course this year I'll be working in the wind shadow of the garage since the truck is a little too tall...

Any updates?

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Insulation and a space heater is enough to make it comfortable for sure. Hell, even a vapor barrier alone makes a difference. I know I seem to have more friends with "mechanical issues" in the winter than summer with my heated 2.5 car garage.


Repost from your other thread - what's next after the cell, body or chassis?

 

[SabreTooth]

Both

Repost from your other thread - what's next after the cell, body or chassis?

Both. Having both to work on allows me to wait for parts or inspiration on the other. Nothing like splitting my vast quantities of time between two jobs.

See paint cell thread. That's what I'm concentrating on right now. Can't paint until that's done. Aim is zero VOC in house whilst painting (at least not discernible quantities).

 

[Awl_TEQ]

Gotta check which thread I'm in before posting - I'll keep non-cell comments here moving forward...

 

[D'Animal]

Any updates on the rig?

 

[SabreTooth]

Stalled

Any updates on the rig?

I'm afraid not. Everything stalled about a month ago. What with the bitter cold (-30 oC outside and -10 oC in the garage), in the process of job hunting (still employed but after 8 years, looking for new challenges) and just being damned busy in the run up to Christmas, no time.

The good news is that I have a few days off over Christmas and fully intent to get my act together. The bad news is, with all the snow and crappy roads, getting the frame & cowl to and from the outdoor sandblast place might be interesting and a salty experience. Nit what I had in mind for freshly sandblasted metal. I'm sure I'll come up with some solution using multiple tarps.

Merry Christmas to all. I won't say Happy New Year yet, because I hope to have updates before then.

Prodding me every little while is also good for motivation.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Crash_AB]

any updates on sandblasting adventures?

 

[D'Animal]

Any updates on the rig?

I'm afraid not.

Prodding me every little while is also good for motivation.

Cheers,

Jim

How about now?

 

[tmarx]

Prodding me every little while is also good for motivation.

Consider yourself prodded !

 

[Awl_TEQ]

I may see him tonight at the RMLCA club meeting - and I'll prod him as well. Word is he is a very busy guy..... lots of Yaks around I guess

 

[chappysfj40]

cool cool

 

[mano002]

he passed up wheeling this weekend in part to work on this truck, so hopefully we can get an update.

I'm done school on monday Mr BTW if you ever need a 2nd set of hands.

 

[SabreTooth]

I'm alive

I did work on a Landcruiser on the weekend and yes, I did pass up on wheeling to do so. Alas, it was my DD that got the attention in building new seat rails as the others had failed at 2 points, a combination of rust and not really being up to the job.

I'm still working on the last side of the paint cell...

You may well ask what I have been doing all this time... Well, there was River Shiver 2010 for which I acted as sponsor coordinator and P/T accountant (I still have leftover tasks to complete), I have a new job that takes up much of my "free" time, I have a friend that I'm helping build his house, I have a '45 DD that requires attention, oh and a couple of vintage / classic motorcycles that split my attention, if I had any more to split. I am motivated to get the '40 done as I need my garage space back for other cool projects.

The plan is finish the damned paint cell, go sandblasting and then get on the axles and frame mods.

I should have been in Alaska about right now. Oh well, such is life.

Jim

 

[mano002]

Right on, glad to see you are back at it!