halftrackinfo
general discussion => what's on your mind? => Topic started by: colkking on July 13, 2018, 01:30:29 AM
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So, I got the frame, crab, and axles back from the paint shop today.
Rocky Mountain Automotive, in Arona, PA does AWESOME work.
They sandblasted the parts, applied the epoxy primer, then painted.
The parts came out looking great.
Biggest challenge has been loading/ unloading them at the house...I am equipped with the following plethora of assets:
1) tilt bed trailer with winch
2) a myriad of Harbor Freight wooden furniture dollies
3) a six foot tanker's bar
4) a couple of 3 ton floor jacks
5) an 8 year old supervisor on summer break before he starts 3rd grade.
Got the frame off the trailer, and into the garage. Ditto with the crab. Rolled the crab into the garage, and after some helpful suggestions from the supervisor, we got it under the rear of the frame and bolted it on.
Put the front end of the frame on 12 ton jack stands, and now starting to rebuild/ create the winch boxframe. Had to get a new set of frame extenders for the winch--the old set sort of met an untimely demise sometime in 1952, I believe.
Also, attached the mounts for the drive axle to the frame. Using grade 8 bolts all the way around the frame--figured I would beef this up as much as I can, but will still use the countersunk slotted bolts for the armor.
Will post pictures shortly.
Thanks for reading! I figured this is a good way to decompress and organize my thoughts, as well as learn from the experts out there!
Cheers,
kk
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bringing the axles back from the paint shop
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and my supervisor, hard at work
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building out the winch box...
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and attaching the crab...
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Next steps are:
1) Sending out the paybed (M16 pedestal and subfloor boxes) to Rocky Mountain to media blast/ metal repair/ epoxy prime/ paint.
2) Completing the winch box assembly (thinking of build the whole winch on there as well while I am at it)
3) Completing the attachment of the front frame extensions and bolting on the front springs
4) Attaching the drive axle
5) Attaching the oil pan armor (figure it will be a royal pain once the engine goes in).
Still inclined to use grade 8 bolts throughout, although mocking it up with the cheap grade 5 bolts from Tractor Supply.
Has anyone had any issues with using 1/2" bolts on the frame? The holes seem just a tad too tight to get the 1/2" bolts through in some instances--had to resort to 7/16" bolts, but thinking that the grade 8 fine thread bolts should still be more than strong enough for the task at hand.
One question (of many) I have: do you guys recommend installing the engine and transmission together as a unit, or individually?
Thanks for reading!
kk
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the BEFORE photo...
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Looking great!!
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looks great, You do great work, Also do you have the 70 dodge challenger, I got 3 halftracks and a ww2 5 ton tractor and other ww2 stuff, I am doing a resto on a 70 challenger 440 six pack and a 70 cuda six pack completed,
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I am equipped with the following plethora of assets:
1) tilt bed trailer with winch
2) a myriad of Harbor Freight wooden furniture dollies
3) a six foot tanker's bar
4) a couple of 3 ton floor jacks
5) an 8 year old supervisor on summer break before he starts 3rd grade.
Hey, someone's gotta be in charge!
Looking forward to watching the build.
-Tom
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The parts look great. It looks like your top roller were stuck at one point?
More importantly, it looks like if you keep the supervisor supplied with pizza he'll go easy on you ;D.
Gary
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It looks like your top roller were stuck at one point?
Gary
Interesting...and good catch Gary. I had to go back and look at the pics to see that!
-Tom
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It looks like your top roller were stuck at one point?
Gary
Interesting...and good catch Gary. I had to go back and look at the pics to see that!
-Tom
That really interesting to see those rollers like that! I didn't see that until it was mentioned either.
Corey
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I honestly don't know why the rollers are flattened on one side..the rollers on both sides are flattened the same way. Anyone have any ideas why they are like that?
Is it a way they de-milled the vehicles or something?
To be honest, they both roll freely...and I thought the flat side was nothing out of the ordinary.
I reckon I will be in the market for a new set of rollers.
Got to go out and get some more pizza for the boss, then we'll be back at it again this weekend.
Thanks, guys!
kk
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Lots of hours on the project this weekend, but not as much as I would like to show for it.
Having some fitment issues with the bumper, but at least I know that the pieces are in the right places (thanks to seeing all of the pics you guys post and a donor halftrack in the sideyard) :-)
Nevertheless, I got the axles into the garage and staged the drive axle.
Also got the oilpan armor in place.
Got the idler axle holders cleaned up and installed as well.
Cleaned up the new dash--will start mocking up and installing pieces next.
Also looking at replacing the steering box.
Finally, I just finished removing about 10 pounds of creosode from the new front spring mounts, and the goal is to get the springs installed this week, then mount the front axle. I honestly thought the spring mounts had a rubber coating, until I started scratching it and found it to be about 3/4" of creosode coating.
Moving forward--I may not be fast, but I am persistent!
Thanks for listening!
kk
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latest progress on the frame...oil pan armor, drive axle, and boxing the front bumper..
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It looks great. It’s nice when you get to start assembling all the fresh, clean parts after everything it took to get it to that point!
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I bought a sand blaster and thought "It will be easy to do this my self". Boy I'm a fool. your frame looks spectacular and I admire your determination!
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Got some good work done this past week or so. It is actually starting to show some distinctive features. The winch bumper extensions are finally in place, and the bumper assembly (with a little bit of persuasion) is in place. Winch frame rails (thanks Steve!) are also installed.
Front leaf springs are cleaned up, and installed. After that, I got the front axle mocked up and staged--had a small setback with the shock absorber shaft mounting plate on the front axle--it looks like the last operator hit something a little too hard and actually broke the plate in half on the drivers side! I think the .308 hole in the upper driver's door might have something to do with that!
Finally, got the steering wheel mount and brake/clutch pedal mounts installed on the frame. Will be working on those assemblies next as well.
So, bumper, front leaf springs, and front axle, and steering/pedal mounts installed--I am happy with the progress.
Next big piece to play with: prepping the crate engine. :-)
Wish me luck!
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Got the bumper on!
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and the front springs and axle...
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Next big step is prepping the engine for installation. :-)
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Looks great , you got a lot of work done. 8)
Gary
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It looks fantastic! Good job.
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Man I love crated engines
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Made some headway this weekend!
Got the engine installed about a months ago.
Picked up the transmission from the local Freightliner dealership (found one of their veterans and they rebuilt my transmission for me and made it a training tool for their tech school graduates as well). The first picture is me and the transmission guru
Also, got my radiator redone at one of the local radiator shops (the guy is a spry 72, and has an awesome collection of Studebakers at his shop).
What I have found out is the shops love working on the stuff as soon as they hear the story behind the project..
Soooo, got my gun pedestal mount placed on the paybed, and had my neighbors give me hand and we got the transmission married up to the engine.
While we were celebrating the achievement, we figured we would put the radiator in place as well.
It's starting to come together...next step is to tighten everything in place, get the fan and fan shroud in place, mount the firewall, and then the real fun begins....
Thanks everyone for all the advice and guidance!
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Current state of affairs, 1 of 3
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Your halftrack looks great!! Keep up the good work. ;D
Steve A.
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from the front
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from the side
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It's gorgeous!
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Ken,
Looking great! You're miles ahead of me.
Paul
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Wow! Time flies! I did not realize that it had been since last November that I posted.
Updates coming.
Thanks,
kk
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Looking forward to seeing how you're doing! At the pace you've been going its probably looking really good. I wish I was even close to where you are!
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Just got the speedometer, tachometer, and gauges back from AutoInstruments in Virginia.
Here is a pic of original and final product.
Thinking it is a step up. :-)
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Dash is starting to come together...next pearl on the scavenger hunt is the light switches.
Got a bunch of good leads on them--THANKS for the advice!
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Got my idler shafts back.
Turned and honed.
Also got my brackets on.
Only setback was the paintshop did a great job of sandblasting, priming, and painting, but the coating won't let my track adjustment nut turn. So, a little bit of paint stripper should fix that...
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Looking really great!!
The before/after speedometer photos are a great advertisement for AutoInstruments.
WOW!!
Keith
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Hanging some more plates! Keeping them a little loose until everything is together to make sure it all fits nicely.
Starting to mount the right side.
Got the Maxson rings up on top of the pedestal, and secured the pedestal.
Windshield frame is up.
Horns are put together (put the grills on the front of them).
Got my hydrovac hard vacuum lines reproduced and installed.
The adult lego set is starting to come together! :-)
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Looking g great!
Where'd you get your horn grills?
Brad
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Brad,
Actually, made the horn grilles out of screen mesh I got from McMaster Carr.
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Brad,
Actually, made the horn grilles out of screen mesh I got from McMaster Carr.
Wouldn’t happen to have a couple of pictures of making the screen would you? I need to make a couple!
Don G.
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Its coming together nicely...and soooo clean!!
-Tom
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Looks great, it's nice when the parts are going back on and the shops getting cleaned up.
Gary