Project 79.5

[swamprunner]

ITS ALIVE!

Rainy day today so no paying work but I was able to work on the truck and get it running. Its been a long time coming. I didn't get to drive it b/c it was raining and I'm waiting on a air filter to show up.

The engine sounds good and it isn't loud and doesn't vibrate to much. I was relieved to finally here it run for a bit. I bought it as a new take out off ebay. It came from an equipment company that bought the wrong engines and were selling them off at a substantial loss. It looked great/new when it showed up but you never know with ebay.

Will post up some pics and possibly a video once I get a radiator and test drive it.

Still a long way to go but at least it can move under its own power now.

 

[crushers]

waiting
and
congrats
wicked feeling eh?

 

[swamprunner]

It would be even more wicked if I didn't have to tear the whole thing apart before I can actually put it together. But the beer did taste a bit better tonight. Still alot more to be done before its finished though.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

It would be even more wicked if I didn't have to tear the whole thing apart before I can actually put it together. But the beer did taste a bit better tonight. Still alot more to be done before its finished though.

"Still a lot more to be done before its finished though"
.....hurry up

 

[swamprunner]

its taken me a year to get this far...as much I want to be driving the thing instead of building it I can't see getting in a hurry now and do things half ass.

going to work on packing your bumper while I wait for parts to show up today. need a radiator and a temp air filter before I go driving it.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

"Need a radiator and a temp air filter before I go driving it." ..... In South Georgia we would simply "plumb" a 1 gallon milk jug with water and use old underwear as a filter. You are obviously shooting for a "higher" level of maintenance.

 

[swamprunner]

Here's a video of the engine running...not sure why video is tall and skinny in the player?

IMG_0994.MOV - YouTube

one more on a short test run...it was too hard to video and try and drive...no power brakes or steering and front wheel drive only.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NyMqYIru20&feature=youtu.be

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Congrats on the progress......

 

[MSGGrunt]

Love the sound of a turbo spooling up and then add to that the clatter of a diesel and it's music to the ears.

 

[swamprunner]

Thanks Charles...I ordered some steel with the money from the bumper I sold you. Hopefully it gets here soon so I can complete the fab work and take the frame to get powder coated.

Considering how small the turbo I think the whistle is more bark than bite. I don't expect to be smoking the tires with this setup. The excess clatter might be all the stuff that is loose on the truck. only the essentials are bolted together. In the state that its in I wouldn't drive it past the end of the road.

 

[srtdiesel]

Any update on the 79? It looks to be coming along great, so I hope that all is well and you are enjoying it. PM sent.

 

[swamprunner]

Update...haven't touch it since feb. But thats about to change. Work season is basically over so I have time to work on the truck again. I hope to have the last of the fab work done by the end of the month so I can tear it all down and send it off to powder coating.

Still a lot of work left to be done. I'm lacking motivation right now b/c I just did 100 straight 14+ hr days. Work on the truck will revolve around surfing and fishing. Fall is finally here on the east coast!

 

[crushers]

100 X 14+ hr days????? crikey!!

 

[swamprunner]

Yeah my brain is fried. Did I mention I own a bar and I've been dealing with tourists for the entire summer(no offense to all the good ones out there...its the few who give everyone a bad rep). Crikey! Working on cruisers seems easy campared to that. Serenity Now

 

[crushers]

around here we have tourists
the tourists which we enjoy having visit the area
and
the tourasses which we enjoy seeing them leave.

 

[swamprunner]

Agreed. Most are good but its its just like anything where the few bad ones give all the good ones a bad rep.

 

[swamprunner]

Well being as my house got flooded from sandy I'm staying in my shop for the time being.
It has provided some motivation to get this project back in gear. I have some time on my hands till my house dries out and I can get to remodeling.

I decided to tackle the exhaust b/c it was one of the bigger hurdles left.

I really went overboard on the exhaust. But I got it for next to nothing so I couldn't pass it up. It is all 304 stainless sanitary tubing. Way thicker than it needs to be. My favorite part it that it came from a brewery. So its only suiting its going on my truck. If only it expelled beer instead of diesel fumes Its all tig weld and it really looks too pretty to be going in a truck.

Heres a few pics

 

[swamprunner]

couple shots of it mocked up in the truck. Tight fit...just enough room.

its pretty much done. I'm just waiting on the clamps to put it together. all thats left is to weld a couple hangers on.

Will post some pics up when its all together.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Sorry to hear about your encounter with Sandy. I hope your displacement is short lived.

 

[swamprunner]

It was a hell of a storm wave wise. Some of the biggest waves I've ever seen here. Thats why we flooded here in NC. The wind wasn't a big deal. The road is in shambles but they are working diligently to repair it. Ferries only for another month or so. It could have been worse. Jersey got it way worse than us. But we're us to it an they aren't so it make it even worse for them.
I feel fortunate. I was able to save everything I wanted. I needed to get rid of clutter anyway...less is more.
Things should be back to normal by the new year...unless the Mayan's were right.