Please excuse my intrusion. I happened upon an easier route on starter clearance issues. Go to your local parts store and ask for a starter for a 2002 gmc 3500 van with 5.7 vortec. What they bring out to you is a significantly smaller and stronger starter with same bolt pattern.
The starter was never really an issue. The exhaust is routing like that more to keep it tucked up and out of the way more than anything. That being said, If the heat from the headers becomes an issue with the starter this could be a good solution. Thanks!
I would love to have another work party. Honestly, the end is in sight to at least getting it drivable. I think a solid weekend (ok probably two) of work and i could at least scoot around town with it and start working out kinks...
The muffler showed up today... Looks EXACTLY like a flowmaster. It was like it was meant to fit it up in the cross member. The extension tube needs to be shortened and I need to add some hangers but this is the general idea.... Just need to cut a turn down.
Plumbing brake lines is going to be the next major hang up... As of right now there is only a master cylinder. No lines, no tees, no blocks, nothing. Blehhhh.
I like doing brakelines. give me heads up on when you want to get started. i can come out some eve and bend some tube. you can check out my diesel while I am at it.
I like doing brakelines. give me heads up on when you want to get started. i can come out some eve and bend some tube. you can check out my diesel while I am at it.
That would be very helpful! Can't wait to see the rig too. I've been following your thread... looks freakin amazing. I'll hit you up in the next week or two.
I love my notcher and I discovered sanding wheels Vs grinding disks for a nice fit.
Since I switched back to gas I had to redo the shock mount/fuel cell/small children's monkey bars thing-a-ma-bob
The best news though is that I talked my boss into letting me use some of his warehouse space to move my build and toolsover there. Even though I am getting close to getting this thing to driveable I still have a long way to go before it'll see the trail. Moving my junk 35 mins away seems like it might be less convenient but in the long run I'll get more done there. This is my new work area after I get rid of the junk furniture that has just been accumulating there from our work office:
I am going to move my stuff this week and weekend for the most part.
Its better for a lot of reasons.... obviously the first part of it is simply space. The picture only shows where I plan to store my crusier, bender, press, hoist, etc... what doesnt show is the other 20,000 sq. feet that I can use for projects. I also dont have to fight the ceiling in the warehouse. It'll also make my wife happy as she'll get to park in the garage again. Honestly, I'm just as tired as she is of fighting all my junk in the garage to get in and out of it. Heck we might even be able to get two cars in there!
The other reason is actual work time on the cruiser. You've been at my place when the kids and wife are home.... they are constantly on top of me. I love them dearly but being interrupted all the time makes very slow progress (obviously). The other problem is that the garage is directly below the all the kids bedrooms so I cant bang around or grind after they go to bed. I figure I can at least get to work a few hours early and work on the cruiser in the moring before work or stick around for a bit after work too... heck probably could even get some wrenching done during lunch. On the weekends I can just cruise out here and start working instead of spending 30mins unpacking my garage into the driveway to get anything serious done.
I know it sounds like its less convenient but honestly it will make for more wrenching time in the long run. Right now I'm lucky to get in an hour a week and half of that time is spent trying to figure out where I left off from the week before. It'll also be nice because when we decide to do another work party. We'll all be able to get the rigs in there and have enough space to work on stuff without being on top of each other.
Good luck with the move Zach. I never heard from you in regards to bending some brakeline so I assume its on the back burner for a bit. Your shop is way more convenient for Mike and I too so keep that in mind. I really hope that you take advantage of all the positive attributes you have mentioned. It would be great to see this in the dirt sometime soon.
Good luck with the move Zach. I never heard from you in regards to bending some brakeline so I assume its on the back burner for a bit. Your shop is way more convenient for Mike and I too so keep that in mind. I really hope that you take advantage of all the positive attributes you have mentioned. It would be great to see this in the dirt sometime soon.
This is exactly why I am going to move my junk over there... When I am at home its very difficult for me to devote time out in the garage. The new place is right over by Bridgeport Village so it should be a pretty easy drive for you if you ever want to bend some tube (cant bend tube during business hours though).
