Builds Shipwreck (6 Viewers)

[SuperBuickGuy]

Let's see if I can get through these....
there were a couple 2.8 Cummins Fj40s - this one's distinction was another blog called it stock

ICON

not a fan of bedliner as paint... but neat setup

lots of rigs - both Tacoma and Colorado - set up like this

if you want to see the other stuff that interested me....
https://stoneshrink.imgur.com/all/#6

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

SEMA advice from me:

Carry water, drinks. It's amazing how few food/drink stands there are and how far apart they are.
Take a tripod chair
Stay in a nearby hotel, the 'day' lasts from 8 am to at least 10 pm so being able to break at will is important
In that vein, I spent $21/night plus $15 (tax)/night for a hotel and $15 a direction ($30) to stay up on Fremont street (and it was a decent hotel - El Cortez) so $70/night - there are options on the monorail that are basically that price if you book more then a month in advance. Monorail starts at SLS station and goes south to MGM Grand.
The good food, though, was up on Fremont street - all I have to say about the south casino food is it's expensive
Do NOT take fliers. By the end of the day, you'll have added 10 lbs to your pack.
Take tons of pictures.
Don't go for the celebrities - you'll rub shoulders with them but usually they're really busy (after all, they're being paid to work and be there).
Take a positive attitude. Most people there are happily on vacation, but there are a few, especially Friday, that are getting a bit crabby.
Have a comfortable backpack.
Buy good shoes, the best purchase I made before I went was good hiking shoes. My feet hurt, but my knees and back didn't....
get pictures with your favorite celebrities.
Remember, you don't have to work so it is fun.... if it's not fun, go somewhere else because this will be hell to you.

My takeaways:
I learned a lot about the products I use
Got a chance to see new stuff
Was inspired by the craftsmanship
Made some excellent network contacts that could include something I can't yet talk about but will be pretty cool if it works out
In contacts, I also got a really good contact for Search and Rescue lights... I'd bet that what I gain from that will more-then pay for this trip (which already is paid for because of my day job).

 

[srgould41]

You have a day job?

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

You have a day job?

yep, it's where I get sleep

 

[toyotaspeed90]

What is this earth shaking advice? This: you must have a ground from the battery to the motor and cannot rely on the frame as the ground 'wire'. DD's argument is that there is carbon in the steel and just enough resistance in the steel so that your dash many not function correctly. Well, my dash doesn't work right (and yes, I know I've never mentioned it probably because I figured it was installer, not Dakota, error)...... Too be continued

This is, just odd.

I would agree that you should run a ground from the battery to a good spot on the frame, and another from a good spot on the frame directly to the engine- primarily because engines move and sit on rubber isolation (mounts) and bolts can be surrounded by paint. However the same could be said about the makeup of the engine metal, this the engine isn't a good ground transference for sensors either. Yet, self grounded sensors aren't a big deal.

When I had my 40, on MS (and they are particular about grounds as well) I used a common ground.

I had a 4ga wire from the frame to one of the transmission bolts (same way Chevy does it). Then had a smaller wire run from the same bolt on the trans to the firewall - the other end of the firewall bolt had a ground that ran to MS.

Without completely redoing grounds you might consider something along those lines.

In my 40 the battery was in the bed - I would think there would be more resistance in a 15' battery cable...

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

easy to test, but I'm working on something else right now - so no update yet... I'm only 'missing' about 6 feet of ground wire. Not just that but my ground lugs are stainless bolts I welded into the frame when I built it.... in this case, it's merely running a wire from 2 lug points.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Time to withdraw a recommendation. I have a spot tracker on my FJ40. It worked-ish, for a year. I called them to fix it, and they called back just after I needed to renew. I said "well, don't need it because it doesn't work." "Oh we'll fix it and give you a discount." They did give a discount, and it hasn't worked since.... emails, phone calls, nothing. Don't use these jokers.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

and that is a negatory on the Dakota digital ground cable.

now to wait a week or two so I don't get as snarky with them when I call.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

and more wiring

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

in the 'other news' remember, I utterly loathe wiring.... so I have this project
starting to look like something

yeah, a plasma table. funniest thing, though, I needed to use a bench so I figured I'd finish this project to gain a bench back...

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

had a moment - so started uncovering the wires so I can wire in the MS2

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

so I found this.... not figuring out reasons why not to use it.... or use the throttle body with the MS2

in other news - the plasma table is coming along

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

My goal with the plasma table is to do a brackets-plus-instructions for less then $100. After all, if you're reading here - you probably already have all the skills, supplies and tools necessary to build a table and simply need the parts list (from Amazon) plus the brackets.... I do know for certain that tower is going to be very different and far simpler... also, it'll be designed to work with your current plasma torch.... the point being all-in for less then $1,000 with the possibility of building it (savvy builder) of less then $500 not including the plasma machine..... the other goal is ready to go by February 2019. So far, the Amazon 'cost' list is about $300 with the motors, belts, pulleys and computer bits (the controllers) - the computer here is whatever you're reading this on.... the table should plug in with a network cable.... I really want to make this wireless with bluetooth enabled motors - but as of today, there isn't a commercially available (meaning cheap) bluetooth driven motor that isn't affected by the electrical interference that a plasma tends to cause.

 

[deliverance]

Will yours have the ability of automatic torch height control?

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Will yours have the ability of automatic torch height control?

automatic, no, but adjustable by software - yes.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

'twas a good day.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

more work - wood shelf

lay out water pan

I realize most haven't bend pans ... so some pictures of the process

when the brake isn't deep enough, you have to get clever on how to brake up the pan

now you see the issue

yep, it's long - for a reason, so I can make the pan removable and have a drain

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Not '40 content... but at least mostly related
soooooo... cleaning up projects that I have the parts for..... like the airbag tilt

first, this is the angle

well shoot, it's almost like I planned this (I didn't, actually, but I'll take lucky over good every time)

I'm going to make 36" ramps.... which I'd have had the material for except I built the water tray for my plasma.... well, I guess that balances lucky

which, if I was photocompetent would clearly show a 8* angle rather then the 13*

I know in the 4x4 world that's a 'who cares' and in that world you'd be right.... but I live in many worlds including one that is going to be hauling a Renault
so there we go. verbal diarrhea

compressed

one bolt through the top, two through the bottom.... 6000# bags

and it works. lifts, lowers - I think what I'll like the most is it can work as an anti-bang device... pull the valve stem when I'm wheeling and away we go


there it is, airbagged up

now to install the air compressors on my Colorado and/or Suburban (there's already one on the FJ40)

 

[srgould41]

Now you need to add a pair of shocks to the bed.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Now you need to add a pair of shocks to the bed.

why?