Squibbly's M1009 and other Questionable Projects

[Squibbly]

Didn't get a lot done today. Got family coming over tomorrow since Christmas was cancelled due to them all getting COVID for Christmas.

...COVID for Christmas....sounds like a Hallmark movie.

Did a little cutting and welding....well, as good as welding as I can do anyways.
Got the hole in the cab pretty much done. A few pinholes to fill in, then putty and paint.



It was the PO that put tape over this hole. Not me.





I sprayed some rust preventative paint behind the panel.



Cut the rot out of the rocker panel.



Fit a new piece.


Will probably put that in tomorrow.

 

[ezgn]

Didn't get a lot done today. Got family coming over tomorrow since Christmas was cancelled due to them all getting COVID for Christmas.

...COVID for Christmas....sounds like a Hallmark movie.

Did a little cutting and welding....well, as good as welding as I can do anyways.
Got the hole in the cab pretty much done. A few pinholes to fill in, then putty and paint.

View attachment 855445

It was the PO that put tape over this hole. Not me.

View attachment 855440

View attachment 855446

I sprayed some rust preventative paint behind the panel.

View attachment 855441

Cut the rot out of the rocker panel.

View attachment 855444
View attachment 855442
Fit a new piece.

View attachment 855443
Will probably put that in tomorrow.

Good job!

 

[Squibbly]

Will probably put that in tomorrow.

..or not. Woke up with my back hurting from leaning over the cab while standing on a ladder doing that welding the day before.
As anyone with back issues will tell you...if you try to keep pushing you'll be laid up for two weeks, rather than one day of rest.
Extended family was in all day. Cabin fever after they all had COVID.
...and my Oculus Quest 2 arrived...so I headed off to VR land to stab Zombies in the head.



Back feels better today, so I'll be finishing up welding that rocker after work.
Hopefully my "official" GM freeze plugs arrive, and I can change that leaky plug. It got much worse this last week.

 

[Mullaney]

..or not. Woke up with my back hurting from leaning over the cab while standing on a ladder doing that welding the day before.
Extended family was in all day. Cabin fever after they all had COVID.
...and my Oculus Quest 2 arrived...so I headed off to VR land to stab Zombies in the head.

View attachment 855537

Back feels better today, so I'll be finishing up welding that rocker after work.

.
Amazing how refreshing it is to stab a zombie in the head!
Ahhh. Much better now...

 

[Squibbly]

.
Amazing how refreshing it is to stab a zombie in the head!
Ahhh. Much better now...

Very True.

I'm pretty Amazed by this thing.

I'm also not technologically stupid.
It's ultimately a data stealing app disguised as a toy made by Facebook.
I use zero real info in the Facebook account I setup.
Have Zero photos.
Have Zero Friends.
Have Zero comments.
Don't VR chat.
Don't allow them to store voice data.
Go through a VPN.
..and let my son use the same account to play so it throws off their algorithms on stuff I'm into.
I'll also occasionally search for destinations I have no interest in going to, and music I don't listen to (Jazz). Heh Heh.

Were it not for the privacy issues, this headset would be the ultimate downsizing tool.
You can be in a nice peaceful Japanese house watching TV on a Big Screen TV over a fire, with Coy fish swimming in a pond overlooking a mountain, even if you lived in a 10x10 room in some city someplace.

 

[M35fan]

Very True.

I'm pretty Amazed by this thing.

I'm also not technologically stupid.
It's ultimately a data stealing app disguised as a toy made by Facebook.
I use zero real info in the Facebook account I setup.
Have Zero photos.
Have Zero Friends.
Have Zero comments.
Don't VR chat.
Don't allow them to store voice data.
Go through a VPN.
..and let my son use the same account to play so it throws off their algorithms on stuff I'm into.
I'll also occasionally search for destinations I have no interest in going to, and music I don't listen to (Jazz). Heh Heh.

Were it not for the privacy issues, this headset would be the ultimate downsizing tool.
You can be in a nice peaceful Japanese house watching TV on a Big Screen TV over a fire, with Coy fish swimming in a pond overlooking a mountain, even if you lived in a 10x10 room in some city someplace.

Messing with algorithms is fun. I'm not sure what it accomplishes, but it confuses the bots.

 

[Squibbly]

Having to stay late at work every night has sucked.

Got around to getting the freeze plug installed.

Was no easy task with the engine in the truck. Barely enough space.

The old freeze plug I punched right through.

You can see the thickness difference between them.

Bit of rust behind there.

Ain’t pretty but it’s done, and it’s not leaking. I’ll hit it with some rust preventative paint.

I reused my anti-freeze because I had changed it when I got the truck. I stuck a ladies nylon sock over the fill hole of the radiator and used it as a filter. It was pretty clean regardless. Yes, I have ladies black low nylon socks. If you've ever been "serious" multi-day hiking and camping, wearing a pair of these under your regular socks prevents blisters....and make you feel pretty.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Squibbly]

Got that plug changed just in the nick of time for this abnormal weather.

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[Mullaney]

Got that plug changed just in the nick of time for this abnormal weather.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

.
Yep, still sleeting but getting wetter here in North Carolina.
Looks like we might have gotten a little more here...

 

[SomeNewGuy]

Didn't get a lot done today. Got family coming over tomorrow since Christmas was cancelled due to them all getting COVID for Christmas.

...COVID for Christmas....sounds like a Hallmark movie.

Did a little cutting and welding....well, as good as welding as I can do anyways.
Got the hole in the cab pretty much done. A few pinholes to fill in, then putty and paint.

View attachment 855445

It was the PO that put tape over this hole. Not me.

View attachment 855440

View attachment 855446

I sprayed some rust preventative paint behind the panel.

View attachment 855441

Cut the rot out of the rocker panel.

View attachment 855444
View attachment 855442
Fit a new piece.

View attachment 855443
Will probably put that in tomorrow.

So I did a bit of mig welding like a decade ago, an my rocker panels are about as bad as that...

Im still debating taking it to a shop, or tryin to do it myself. About how hard would you say it is? Would the old adage of "grinder an paint..." apply to a bit of a newbie?

 

[Squibbly]

So I did a bit of mig welding like a decade ago, an my rocker panels are about as bad as that...

Im still debating taking it to a shop, or tryin to do it myself. About how hard would you say it is? Would the old adage of "grinder an paint..." apply to a bit of a newbie?

It’s all about the tools. A few hundred bucks to have someone do it for you, or you need a mig welder, grinder, cutting wheels, D.A. sanders, etc. I’ve collected a lot of tools over my lifetime so there isn’t much I don’t have. You need patience, light wire (I use .023) and gas. Helps to have an air compressor so you can cool the welds quicker. This is the first body panel welding I’ve done. There is a learning curve. You aren’t running a bead. Your connecting spot welds so the metal doesn’t get too hot and moving around to different parts of the panel you’re welding to make sure you’re letting areas cool before you go back. Go on YouTube and lookup Fitzies Fabrication. He goes through his whole setup and has a lot of good videos.

You’ll burn through some of this metal. I chased a damn hole for an hour on that cab roof. Metal was thin up there.

Anyone with the right tools and determination can do it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SomeNewGuy]

It’s all about the tools. A few hundred bucks to have someone do it for you, or you need a mig welder, grinder, cutting wheels, D.A. sanders, etc. I’ve collected a lot of tools over my lifetime so there isn’t much I don’t have. You need patience, light wire (I use .023) and gas. Helps to have an air compressor so you can cool the welds quicker. This is the first body panel welding I’ve done. There is a learning curve. You aren’t running a bead. Your connecting spot welds so the metal doesn’t get too hot and moving around to different parts of the panel you’re welding to make sure you’re letting areas cool before you go back. Go on YouTube and lookup Fitzies Fabrication. He goes through his whole setup and has a lot of good videos.

You’ll burn through some of this metal. I chased a damn hole for an hour on that cab roof. Metal was thin up there.

Anyone with the right tools and determination can do it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds like I'll do it myself then, would rather splash a bit of chash on practicing and have the knowledge to do it myself in the future... can borrow the welder and some other tools from the neighbor for now. Ive a fair amount to do as far as rust and was quoted 2k even when I supply the panels.

Its looking great man, keep up the great work. I'll look into that YT channel tonight.

 

[Squibbly]

Sounds like I'll do it myself then, would rather splash a bit of chash on practicing and have the knowledge to do it myself in the future... can borrow the welder and some other tools from the neighbor for now. Ive a fair amount to do as far as rust and was quoted 2k even when I supply the panels.

Its looking great man, keep up the great work. I'll look into that YT channel tonight.

Tip: Disconnect your batteries completely before welding.
I'm not exactly sure what you could potentially fry on these leaving them connected, but my batteries were quite expensive, and I didn't want to find out.

I can't imagine it's "good" for batteries (or circuitry) to have an arc running through the negative terminal.

 

[Squibbly]

I've noticed that in cold weather, given that I don't keep my GPM installed in the truck, that if I hold the GP push button for 10 seconds and keep it held down while I start the engine and a few seconds after its started (maybe an extra 5 or 6 seconds total), it starts smooth, doesn't blow black smoke, and stays smooth.

If I just push the button for 10 seconds and let go, then crank the truck it starts rough, blows black smoke and takes a few seconds to steady out.

I'm waiting till March to decide if I want one of the new GPMs.

For Christmas my wife got me a "virtual" gift certificate for new tires. I'm debating between BFG 31's and 33's.
Any reason to switch from the stock 31s? I think I've read you may get a few extra MPH on lower RPMs with the bigger tires.

 

[antennaclimber]

I put 33" BFG T/As on my M1009. Expected better fuel economy but it actually used more fuel. The 3.08 rear prefers a smaller tire when starting out from a stop. No issues with clearance inside the fender wells.

The 33's do provide a little more ground clearance and the top end speed does gain you a lower RPM. But climbing steep hills, mountains and longer hills, the 6.2 just doesn't cut it. It slows down and many times requires a shift to 2nd gear to keep up with normal traffic. Gets even worse towing a trailer.

 

[Squibbly]

Noted. Thank you.
Sticking with the 31s, based on this.
I figure a winch will pull my ass out of anything I may be missing not having the 33s.

 

[ezgn]

I've noticed that in cold weather, given that I don't keep my GPM installed in the truck, that if I hold the GP push button for 10 seconds and keep it held down while I start the engine and a few seconds after its started (maybe an extra 5 or 6 seconds total), it starts smooth, doesn't blow black smoke, and stays smooth.

If I just push the button for 10 seconds and let go, then crank the truck it starts rough, blows black smoke and takes a few seconds to steady out.

I'm waiting till March to decide if I want one of the new GPMs.

For Christmas my wife got me a "virtual" gift certificate for new tires. I'm debating between BFG 31's and 33's.
Any reason to switch from the stock 31s? I think I've read you may get a few extra MPH on lower RPMs with the bigger tires.

Have you tried cycling the glow plugs twice before starting?

 

[SomeNewGuy]

I've noticed that in cold weather, given that I don't keep my GPM installed in the truck, that if I hold the GP push button for 10 seconds and keep it held down while I start the engine and a few seconds after its started (maybe an extra 5 or 6 seconds total), it starts smooth, doesn't blow black smoke, and stays smooth.

If I just push the button for 10 seconds and let go, then crank the truck it starts rough, blows black smoke and takes a few seconds to steady out.

I'm waiting till March to decide if I want one of the new GPMs.

For Christmas my wife got me a "virtual" gift certificate for new tires. I'm debating between BFG 31's and 33's.
Any reason to switch from the stock 31s? I think I've read you may get a few extra MPH on lower RPMs with the bigger tires.

For some reason I thought starting the engine with the glow plugs on would damage them?

 

[Squibbly]

Have you tried cycling the glow plugs twice before starting?

I am basing my "experiment" of the glow plugs on page 14 of this manual.
CUCV_Glow_Plug_System_Diagnosis_and_Troubleshooting.pdf (radionerds.com)

 

[ezgn]

I am basing my "experiment" of the glow plugs on page 14 of this manual.
CUCV_Glow_Plug_System_Diagnosis_and_Troubleshooting.pdf (radionerds.com)

View attachment 856400

Good observation, I believe you have got it dialed in.