Build Mouldy Mario gets defoliated.

[Michael B]

I know the feeling Ben. It seems like I can't get any progress made on the engine cleanup and detail for everything else going on in my life. The body should be back from paint this week and I'd really like to drop the drive train into it shortly after it arrives. But I don't see that happening any time soon. Alas it is an exercise in patients!

 

[73fj]

That right there is Cruiser Porn Ben.

 

[Pauciflora]

G'day Fellas, A quick update. I picked up my rear diff from the sand blaster and got it and few other bits and pieces into epoxy primer.

 

[Pauciflora]

I had previously flushed the fuel tank and tonight I gave it wipe down some grease and wax remover and then attacked a couple of rough spots with the wire wheel. It has some sort of rubberised or textured paint on it. Does anyone know what this stuff is?

 

[cult45]

No, however, given my experience with leaking tanks [wire wheeling scale can reveal the hole underneath] and the sheer pain-in-the-ass[ness?] of removing a full tank and draining it and testing it and repairing and retesting and all that s***e - I suggest sending it to a radiator shop for a bo-peep and a pressure test. Diesel tanks usually don't rust if they're being constantly filled, but it might pay at this stage.

 

[cult45]

PS. Fuel senders are cad plated from the factory

 

[Pauciflora]

Thanks cult. I hadn't thought about a leak test. The 47 tank straps to the underside of the cabin and is a real pita, to remove. I'll give my local radiator place a bell, that sounds like a good strategy. Cheers, Ben

 

[Pauciflora]

Got an hour or so in the garden-shed-come-spray-booth this afternoon and and top coated the rear axle, the fuel tank and a bunch of other bits. Reasonably happy with the results, the regulator seemed to be fluctuating for some reason, and I had to keep adjusting it.

 

[Pauciflora]

One of the things I've painted recently was the brake reservoir tank and the water separator or sedimentor. I taped over the original decal on the sedimentor, which turned out okay I think. So after the kids had gone to sleep I fitted them up to the chassis. I've included a gratuitous 'before' photo. Looks a bit healthier I reckon.

 

[Pauciflora]

If anyone owns a diesel it is probably worth pulling out the water separator or sedimentor and giving it a good clean out, rather than just draining it every so often. I was a bit shocked by what I found inside the beast when I cleaned it out. I suspect it might not have been working, so I had a new plug put on it.

 

[cult45]

Just when you thought things couldn't look any better, PF rolls in with yet another amazingly detailed set of snaps. Here's lookin at you, cad.

 

[Pauciflora]

Kinda slow old week. I managed to get out to the shed for a few hours tonight and started putting the rear axle back together. Brakes are in place. The drums are down at the brake shop being machined.

 

[Pauciflora]

I started putting the hubs back together. I got told that using an old rim was good way to hold the hub in place will pounding or pressing in the wheel studs. This technique seemed to work pretty well.

 

[73fj]

Thats some shiny jumbly bits there

 

[Indestructible 47]

great workmanship mate, hope you don't mind if I steal the ratios of "what to plate, what not to" for my project? doing a 60 series disc brake front end on my 47. your stuff looks great. cheers

 

[Pauciflora]

great workmanship mate, hope you don't mind if I steal the ratios of "what to plate, what not to" for my project? doing a 60 series disc brake front end on my 47. your stuff looks great. cheers

Go for your life. Yellow zinc is great. It is a pretty cheap process, if you haven't had it done before and should help preserve the truck for a bit longing. Cheers, Ben

 

[Pauciflora]

I have spent a fair bit of time over the last few days wire wheeling the rear leaf springs and the rear brake drums. It is a dusty, dirty, miserable job and I'm over being harpooned with little bits of wire. I reckon on average it takes me about 6 hours per spring pack, from the time I start disassembly to undercoat. I was pretty damn happy tonight when I got the final spring undercoated.

 

[Pauciflora]

A couple more shots.

View attachment 1310605

 

[Pauciflora]

I spoke with my brake man about painting the drums. I thought I might have to use some sort of heat proof paint. But, he said that 2-pac would be fine. It apparently, has pretty good heat resistant properties and holds up pretty well to normal driving. Brake in epoxy.

 

[Indestructible 47]

stuff, no half measures here. I like it. way to go.