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- #61
Just letting y'all know the thread isn't dead...I'm still out in Yuma for another week or so. Hope to make some serious progress in the next month. I'm shooting to be back on the road by mid-June.
Builds The Mule: My OM617 swap and other improvements (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter DPV7070
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- #63
Well gents, I'm done with WTI and got back into SD yesterday. The 
and kiddo are back east so I've got a whole day in the garage to myself today before I leave out to go join them. Focus will be on engine placement, fish plates, and getting the engine mounts burned in. Also will be trying out my new Hypertherm Pmax 45. It's been sitting patiently in my garage for 8 weeks...
and kiddo are back east so I've got a whole day in the garage to myself today before I leave out to go join them. Focus will be on engine placement, fish plates, and getting the engine mounts burned in. Also will be trying out my new Hypertherm Pmax 45. It's been sitting patiently in my garage for 8 weeks...
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- #64
Firewall is degreased and etched. Just need to dry it out so I can lay down the POR-15 after I get some stuff removed and holes taped off. I'm going to topcoat the POR with self etching primer, then shoot it with ceramic lizard skin. I opted not to use the sound deadener as I figured it would be a waste of money. Plus I like the sound of a diesel rattling around.
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- #65
I know my progress is slow, but if anyone is still following I need some advice.
I've got the firewall POR-15 coated and primed. Today, I'll shoot it with Lizard Skin Ceramic Insulation today (pics to follow).
My question is should I dump the extra time and money in paint matching the firewall to the rest of the Cruiser or should I just go with a low gloss black? If I paint match it, being 033 white, it's going to show a lot of grime, etc. Black will show a little less and everything else in there is black now (PO)
. I'm leaning towards just going back in black 
Anyways, I don't ever plan on selling this thing, but we all know things happen out of our control. I'm guessing color matching will increase the value, but then again, it's not like a purist would buy this thing.
I've got the firewall POR-15 coated and primed. Today, I'll shoot it with Lizard Skin Ceramic Insulation today (pics to follow).
My question is should I dump the extra time and money in paint matching the firewall to the rest of the Cruiser or should I just go with a low gloss black? If I paint match it, being 033 white, it's going to show a lot of grime, etc. Black will show a little less and everything else in there is black now (PO)
. I'm leaning towards just going back in black Anyways, I don't ever plan on selling this thing, but we all know things happen out of our control. I'm guessing color matching will increase the value, but then again, it's not like a purist would buy this thing.
jstncse
Crawling over something
I'm still watching. I would go black and not look back but then again, I wouldn't take paint and body advice from me.
My vote is for color match but its what's going to make you happy that counts.
I would go with a color match on top of it. Black shows everything but oil. Which in this instance there may be a lot. I've never seen an OM617 that wasn't completely covered in it.
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- #69
That's my thinking. Although, this engine seems to have been re-gasketed at some point as it doesn't have much grime present. Anyways, here's a shot of the first coat of Lizardskin ceramic insulation. Ear plugs and aluminum foil FTW.
I'm going to try to get the next coat to lay down a bit smoother, but I think this is the lizardskin part of the equation...
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- #70
Oh, and this stuff gets 2 thumbs up as far as being user and cleanup friendly...
Looking good!
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- #72
Decided to shoot the engine bay with color to match the rest of the Cruiser. It's going to slow down my progress, but at least everything will match. I may just get the firewall done and do the aprons and fenders at a later date. Hope to shoot it this weekend.
If it is anything like spraying Raptor hold the gun closer to the firewall and spray it on just a TAD heavier. It will lay down a lot smoother.
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- #74
The second coat laid down a bit smoother. I'm going to prime it with poly before the single stage urethane. I'm ok if it's not mirror finish.
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- #75
Well the color match is off a bit, so I'm experimenting with 1:1 colormatch to Cygnus (T012), 031 was just way too white. The Mule was re-sprayed back in the 90's and it is some kind of white that is between the colormatch and Cygnus. I'm probably overthinking it for being under the hood, but a man has to have principles! (and beer 
)
I'll try to hang some pics.
)I'll try to hang some pics.
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- #76
Laid down 3 coats of Omni 2.8 MTX that I mixed up myself after the wifey brought up a good point:
Wife: Well maybe they didn't match it to any Toyota color when they re sprayed it back in the 90s, it was Tijuana after all...
Me: Why the hell would someone do that?
Wife: They're weren't anal retentive Marine pilots?
Me: Ah, good point.
Just goes to show you can get bore sighted in any task whether it's the cockpit, driving, or you're garage. Sometimes you just need an outsiders perspective to stop the nonsense.
Anyways, I made a home brew that's somewhere between T-012 and the color match the machine spit out. I sprayed out 012, 033, and the color match for comparison.
Here it is in direct and indirect sunlight (ignore the fake grass...). The runs are when I was comparing it. L to R: T-012, 033, color match
I ended up going with a 1.25 color match base : 1 T-012 mixed 4:1:1.
I'm going to let it cure for a week since I can't get any sun on it before I start working around it. Glad to have this step done!!!
Wife: Well maybe they didn't match it to any Toyota color when they re sprayed it back in the 90s, it was Tijuana after all...
Me: Why the hell would someone do that?
Wife: They're weren't anal retentive Marine pilots?
Me: Ah, good point.
Just goes to show you can get bore sighted in any task whether it's the cockpit, driving, or you're garage. Sometimes you just need an outsiders perspective to stop the nonsense.
Anyways, I made a home brew that's somewhere between T-012 and the color match the machine spit out. I sprayed out 012, 033, and the color match for comparison.
Here it is in direct and indirect sunlight (ignore the fake grass...). The runs are when I was comparing it. L to R: T-012, 033, color match
I ended up going with a 1.25 color match base : 1 T-012 mixed 4:1:1.
I'm going to let it cure for a week since I can't get any sun on it before I start working around it. Glad to have this step done!!!
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- #77
Made a little progress this morning. Finished welding the bottom of the scab plates for the engine mounts. Cleaned up one side of the frame and slapped on a little paint.
The clock is officially running. I have to have this thing back together by the middle of Sept....ughhh
The clock is officially running. I have to have this thing back together by the middle of Sept....ughhh
what's the rush? is you wife going to sell it if it's not back on the road
. mine gives me the altimatum all the time.
. mine gives me the altimatum all the time.
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- #79
ha, nah I wish it was that simple. Duty calls...
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- #80
Fitted my twin stick kit. Of course I got distracted, forgot to remove the bushings, and melted the bushings in the high/low block. Those are gonna need to be replaced.
Made the template for my front frame plates out of particle board. I still need to smooth a few areas and make sure the width is consistent. It looks skinny, but the plasma torch has a little over 1/8" standoff so that will help with the width.
Gotta pick up some 3/16" plate tomorrow and I'll zip it out with my Hypertherm. I might see if there's enough interest for a front frame plate kit as I could probably produce a few without much fuss. Shipping would probably kill the deal though.
Made the template for my front frame plates out of particle board. I still need to smooth a few areas and make sure the width is consistent. It looks skinny, but the plasma torch has a little over 1/8" standoff so that will help with the width.
Gotta pick up some 3/16" plate tomorrow and I'll zip it out with my Hypertherm. I might see if there's enough interest for a front frame plate kit as I could probably produce a few without much fuss. Shipping would probably kill the deal though.
