Pig Parenthood
- Thread starter Bucky'sRig
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- Thread starter
- #22
Previous Owner
When reading other’s posts, I sometimes sensed a certain disdain for the “P.O.”. That nameless, faceless scoundrel who either: A.) talked them into buying this money pit or B.) So thoroughly screwed up a simple job, that it inexorably damned the vehicle to a purgatory of unfixable problems. I fortunately do not have this disdain. I bought with the foresight of knowing what I was getting (thanks to this site) and I have found no evidence of misguided repair attempts. The short of the long is I still like the PO
Our first communication after purchase came by way of email in which he asked whether I hated him or not for selling it to me. I allowed that there was no hatred (not even any mild grumbling) for he introduced me to a brand new way to spend ALL of my spare cash. Not to mention a new way to procrastinate at work. (2 more read-throughs and I’ll have Coolerman’s Knuckle rebuild instructions memorized)
My dilemma is whether to maintain his anonymity in this project; for all mistakes from this point out are mine and mine alone. He may not care to be linked to this project after today. But, to refer to him as “PO” in future posts, just doesn’t seem to do him justice.
I will continue to refer to him as Tom until such time that he asks me to cease and desist. We all owe this one PO a debt of gratitude for the salvation of this magnificent beast. Next up, less philosophical meanderings and more technical content…No really, I am doing things to this pig. Oh, and Tom…this rig still smells of mouse “essence”…thanks
(Miscellaneous picture...because we like them
When reading other’s posts, I sometimes sensed a certain disdain for the “P.O.”. That nameless, faceless scoundrel who either: A.) talked them into buying this money pit or B.) So thoroughly screwed up a simple job, that it inexorably damned the vehicle to a purgatory of unfixable problems. I fortunately do not have this disdain. I bought with the foresight of knowing what I was getting (thanks to this site) and I have found no evidence of misguided repair attempts. The short of the long is I still like the PO
Our first communication after purchase came by way of email in which he asked whether I hated him or not for selling it to me. I allowed that there was no hatred (not even any mild grumbling) for he introduced me to a brand new way to spend ALL of my spare cash. Not to mention a new way to procrastinate at work. (2 more read-throughs and I’ll have Coolerman’s Knuckle rebuild instructions memorized)
My dilemma is whether to maintain his anonymity in this project; for all mistakes from this point out are mine and mine alone. He may not care to be linked to this project after today. But, to refer to him as “PO” in future posts, just doesn’t seem to do him justice.
I will continue to refer to him as Tom until such time that he asks me to cease and desist. We all owe this one PO a debt of gratitude for the salvation of this magnificent beast. Next up, less philosophical meanderings and more technical content…No really, I am doing things to this pig. Oh, and Tom…this rig still smells of mouse “essence”…thanks
(Miscellaneous picture...because we like them
Miscellaneous pictures - yes, we do like them.
Mouse essence; I knew I liked the way you write... It sounds like the mice were having relations in your Pig :d'oh:
Mouse essence; I knew I liked the way you write... It sounds like the mice were having relations in your Pig :d'oh:
Bucky -
While I'm not sure it's completely deserved, I appreciate your kind comments towards my "PO" designation. And right back at ya - I am so happy that the purple pig has found a great new caretaker that'll give it the attention it deserves.
With your work on it so far, you have obviously immediately run headlong into the wall that I hit as well; the "where the heck do I stop?" wall. Good luck with that! I think that "rolling project" is a good way to approach it. I know with my car projects, if they can't be driven every so often, it's hard to keep my eye on the prize.
On the mouse "essence" - I did my best, but I think the only cure is a body off job. . . I can't believe it was only a year ago that I stripped it and washed down the entire insides with Bleach, Ammonia and Joy dish wash soap (not all at the same time!). I was hoping that the cleaners combined with a liberal use of the hose sprayer would do the trick but alas. . .
I am also reminded of losing about a weeks worth of sleep thinking I'd exposed myself to the HantaVirus. My "friend" who helped trailer it to my house convinced me of that - he wouldn't go near it and kept mumbling Hanta, which of course I had to go look up on the web. . . big mistake for my mental well being! Ahhhh good times.
Looking forward to following along.
Tom
Well done, Tom.
You should know by now that 'Cruiser Carma will follow you. Be not afraid.
I'd suspect the head liner and torn up upholstery-if any- and ducting to be the most likely areas that the critters urinated.
- Thread starter
- #28
Wobble
When I first started driving this vehicle, I took it very slow (because, jeez people, have you seen these things?). Eventually, I got my nerve up to hop on the interstate and get it “up to speed”. Well at 50 MPH two things happened; first the roof, which was previously collapsed and currently has no roof struts, suddenly returned to its deflected shape under the wind pressure. The bang was so loud inside this tin can that I nearly messed myself. Secondly, the rig started shimmying. Definitely not a vibration…this was a shimmy…the kind that makes all the extra “skin” on your body jiggle. Under 50 MPH, no problem; over 50MPH…I felt like one of the ladies below.
So, first issue is a no brainer, put some dang struts in the roof (I’ll get to that later). Second issue could be any number of things, so I go to the “resource” to see what needs to happen to end the phenomenon. Find a post titled “Death Wobbles from FSM” and sure enough the FSM discusses the issue…or rather the 17 possible issues under “steering shimmy”. yup, that’s what I’ve got. Issue number a.) Tire improperly inflated, heck even a neophyte like me can check tire pressure. Brand new tires Thanks to PO Tom; each has about 36 PSI so this shouldn’t be a problem. But, before I can get to item b.) “Incorrect front end alignment”, my eyes are drawn to the perfectly utilitarian steel wheels, each with a fine patina of surface rust and mouse essence. I say to myself “wouldn’t those look good sand blasted and powder coated”. And since item c.) is “Unbalanced wheel and tire”, I might as well get them sandblasted and powder coated and balanced at the same time. Sigh…
Pictures! What wobble feels like. What scope creep looks like.
When I first started driving this vehicle, I took it very slow (because, jeez people, have you seen these things?). Eventually, I got my nerve up to hop on the interstate and get it “up to speed”. Well at 50 MPH two things happened; first the roof, which was previously collapsed and currently has no roof struts, suddenly returned to its deflected shape under the wind pressure. The bang was so loud inside this tin can that I nearly messed myself. Secondly, the rig started shimmying. Definitely not a vibration…this was a shimmy…the kind that makes all the extra “skin” on your body jiggle. Under 50 MPH, no problem; over 50MPH…I felt like one of the ladies below.
So, first issue is a no brainer, put some dang struts in the roof (I’ll get to that later). Second issue could be any number of things, so I go to the “resource” to see what needs to happen to end the phenomenon. Find a post titled “Death Wobbles from FSM” and sure enough the FSM discusses the issue…or rather the 17 possible issues under “steering shimmy”. yup, that’s what I’ve got. Issue number a.) Tire improperly inflated, heck even a neophyte like me can check tire pressure. Brand new tires Thanks to PO Tom; each has about 36 PSI so this shouldn’t be a problem. But, before I can get to item b.) “Incorrect front end alignment”, my eyes are drawn to the perfectly utilitarian steel wheels, each with a fine patina of surface rust and mouse essence. I say to myself “wouldn’t those look good sand blasted and powder coated”. And since item c.) is “Unbalanced wheel and tire”, I might as well get them sandblasted and powder coated and balanced at the same time. Sigh…
Pictures! What wobble feels like. What scope creep looks like.
you can check wheel balance in a poor fashion by just swapping them around
- Thread starter
- #32
Given my smoking checkbook, I need all the "poor fashion" I can get.
Tie rods is a good suggestion. the rubber on the dust boots is falling off. Probably not a good sign.
So reading the FSM, it says "0.12 to 0.20 inches" but it doesn't say from what point. I've read 3 and 9 o'clock on the tire, but it seems like that would depend on the size (outside diameter) of your tires no? Is there a more exact way or is it by guess and by gory? Finally, is there any advantage taking it in for a "professional" alignment, or are they only going to do is adjust toe-in?
On another note, I finally got the beast off the jacks in the garage, pseudo-installed my D.S. door and took it to work today. Decided I'm going to heed Pighead's advice and drive it 3 times a week. Hopefully won't have to tow it behind my bike any time soon.
- Thread starter
- #33
Mea Culpa - I forgot the requisite photograph and evidence it's out of my dang garage. Please note glorious pig lean. (different than lean pig)! ...oh, and new license plate.
Nice tag 
Ming89FJ62 said:Nice tag
2x. Is that a fish on the tag?
- Thread starter
- #36
Nope, actually a dude planting a tree. Money from the special tags goes to the forests of Idaho; tree farms, reforestation, etc. We do have a fish plate in this state also though...seems as though there is one for every special interest imaginable.
- Thread starter
- #37
Swinesight
So as I continued working on my wobble over 50 MPH issue, I had the wheels checked for balance without tires on. There was one rim that had a bend in it, so decided to use that as the spare. A sane person would immediately put away the spare and proceed to fixing the initial wobble issue; I on the other hand would jump tracks and fixate on my darn spare tire.
Now, I’m not one to blame my woes on society’s ills or search for a malady du jour for my perceived shortcomings, but I’ve seriously got something wrong with me. I’m going to call it “swinesight”…everywhere I look on my rig causes me to find 3 new things to do. This results in me hopping from partially completed task to partially completed task like a six year old on Halloween night.
Well when it came time to tuck my new pretty spare tire up under the tail end of the pig, my inner 6 year old couldn’t bear to hoist it with the greasy, rusty, spare tire winch. And how do you get at the winch to clean it and paint it? Why you take out the support strut, which is also coincidentally greasy and rusty! Ohhh and before I reattach the newly cleaned and painted strut, I should probably clean up the frame where it attaches. I’m sick, I’ve got swinesight, and I need help.
I don’t have a picture of my (now) beautiful spare tire carrier, but believe me its gorgeous. Instead here’s an October camping picture in Grandjean, ID (only because I know we loves us some pictures). Now where was I? I plan to spend the weekend putting all the rubber bits on and around my D.S. front door. No telling where I'll end up.
So as I continued working on my wobble over 50 MPH issue, I had the wheels checked for balance without tires on. There was one rim that had a bend in it, so decided to use that as the spare. A sane person would immediately put away the spare and proceed to fixing the initial wobble issue; I on the other hand would jump tracks and fixate on my darn spare tire.
Now, I’m not one to blame my woes on society’s ills or search for a malady du jour for my perceived shortcomings, but I’ve seriously got something wrong with me. I’m going to call it “swinesight”…everywhere I look on my rig causes me to find 3 new things to do. This results in me hopping from partially completed task to partially completed task like a six year old on Halloween night.
Well when it came time to tuck my new pretty spare tire up under the tail end of the pig, my inner 6 year old couldn’t bear to hoist it with the greasy, rusty, spare tire winch. And how do you get at the winch to clean it and paint it? Why you take out the support strut, which is also coincidentally greasy and rusty! Ohhh and before I reattach the newly cleaned and painted strut, I should probably clean up the frame where it attaches. I’m sick, I’ve got swinesight, and I need help.
I don’t have a picture of my (now) beautiful spare tire carrier, but believe me its gorgeous. Instead here’s an October camping picture in Grandjean, ID (only because I know we loves us some pictures). Now where was I? I plan to spend the weekend putting all the rubber bits on and around my D.S. front door. No telling where I'll end up.
I'm finding out, it doesn't end. The snowball just keeps getting bigger. God help us all!
There is no help. Only more garage therapy.
Yes. 3 Pigs in our driveway, 2 of them are drive-able. 3 carb rebuild kits came in the mail this week, but I've got these fender patch panels from BobM that want to go on too. But fender patch panels will require rocker panel replacement...
I long for the simpler days of yesteryear when a greasy spare tire hanger was my biggest problem.