Well, well, would you look at the time.

Guess what kiddos?

Story time/nostalgia time, with a side of peanut butter whisky and some build catch up.

Not quite there, but this portion was back in early May.

So as stated, the finish day I had set, well, didn't happen.

So we grabbed Captain Tripps (another "build" under the excursion section here), some money, a list, and a trailer.

Time for the annual pilgrimage to the Ford Bronco and truck swap meet.

I've been going for years. So has my youngest "tractor". So long that he's amazed to see how it has grown from when he remembered it.

Our diesel/fab guy, never been.

Unc Killa- "Really/"

Stick- "never"

Tractor- "dAFUK?" (maybe the boys been hanging around me too much)

So we looked, searched, and procured some small things.

Nothing we really had on the list.'

Except 2 items.

One was on the list for Moby----- a hood.
Not a perfect hood.
But a hood for the rig none the less.

The other thing.

well.......it wasn't on the list.

Wasn't even something I would have thought of, no matter how many drinks are consumed.

So here I am with Tractor, Cardatheous, and Stick, talking with Joe Dirt's cousin, Bo Duke, about some parts when I spy something.

Unc Killa (sober, but definitely not ready for people interactions)- "what's that?'

Bo- "itssa custom hood"

Unc- "how much?"

Bo- "idda no. Really want to sale the whole rig"

Unc- "I just want the hood"

Bo-"its custom"

Unc- "sold"

So what we have here is somewhat of "different strokes for different folks" thing.

It is this.

A cold air induction F250 hood with a cowl, with a grafted in space for a 1970 Torino thinga ma jigger.

This pic is of the hood for Moby.

Notice the price written in marker.

On top of Moby's hood is the Torino piece.




This here is the close up of the Torino part.




Now remember, this is my birthday gift that I bought for me.

So before you get all judgy on how much hilljack I actually am, please remember this is my custom "s" box.

Its actually done quite nicely (in my opinion)((the hood that is)).






Don't worry, no fart pipes were included with this purchase.

Honestly, I quite like it. Going to look a lot better in black.

Stay tuned, cause next week, gotta sit a spell and tell you about how Cardatheous and I am made an electrician cry somewhere. At the very least, we committed an OCD Electrician sin.

Till then kiddos, Uncle Killa out.

Love and Diesel.

 

No, I have to disagree, it looks crap.

But !

Seeing as it was your birthday, I'd be more than happy to refund you what you paid for it, plus $1, and take it off your hands.

The extra $1 would basically be my generous birthday gift.

On a serious note, the custom modification looks like it was done very well, and I can't wait to see what it looks like, either mock fitted or permanently fitted.

 

If that hood fiberglass or steel? Either way mod looks good. As you said - it's your truck and others can go pound sand if they don't like it.

 

1$ makes me...ponder. Lol. The hood grafting was actually well done, top side and bottom.

 

It is steel. Which is the best part, IMO. Looking forward to seeing how it matches up with all my other "custom" crap on it.

 

Ha, I do like the Torino hood scoop grafting. Very clever and "artsy" in my opinion.
and
No-one else is gonna have one like yours. That is why we all need to just do our-own-thing. Right ! _ _ don't copy someone else's ideas, but create our own.

My '77 F350 is a conglomeration of modified oem Ford parts and pieces assembled over a two-year period 1886-thru-1998.
I made my fair share of F***_ups along the journey, but I did "Get-er-Done" eventually. And the curse is, I never took any Build photos because that was way before had digital cameras or internet. So, all of my subtle unseen Greaser-mods are all my ideas generated from smoke-and-beers (not smoke-and-mirrors) hahaha

Just modifying the oem frame mounts suspending the belly tank was major mods, and nobody ever sees them, but I know they are there.
I always prefer driving something a little bit different than the "average-joe". Yep, anyone can drive down to the local car-dealer and purchase a SuperDuty.
Buttt, not everyone can drive-in and purchase an Early Ford CrewCab pickup.

Keep us posted on the progress on your Torino-inspired-Hood mod.
Have you considered shelling out some Smackers and getting the Torino scoop chrome plated ?

 

Thanks! Not everyone's cup of joe, and I have my original hood if I don't like it on. (Kinda like anything we buy, don't know if you'll love it or not until you see it on).

Not sure about chroming that piece just yet. Wanna see it on before I make any more aesthetic choices (cuz, you know, class and all that. lol).

 

Well, well. Would you look at that, I didn't post last week. But, I have good reasons.

1st off, Holiday weekend. Thank you to all who serve, abroad and local.

And in our celebration, I managed to not lose any fingers,

But we did get pulled over on the boat (safety inspection).
Then my boat brokeded. So there's that.

2nd off, I bought another old Ford, to eventually sell of course. 1963 4x4 Colorado ranger truck. And someone added a turbo with intercooler to the original y block.

Lastly, we thrashed to help a buddy install his freshly rebuilt motor in his SRT8.




But back to why you are here:

Eleanor.

So remember Luigi? Remember how **** he was about lengths, general order, and the such.

Well, shhhh, don't tell him what we had to.

First off, while installing the brake lines, we noticed how bad the exhaust manifolds were.
Then we noticed the PS oil cooler had a higher amount than usual of JB weld on it.

Whelp, it would be easier to remove the front clip (dog house? whole front end? IDK).

Gantry to the rescue.

You know, cuz that bumper aint made of plastic.

Kidz- "what bumper, unk killa?"

Unc- "the tree smasher 5000"







Mother of Iron (maiden)

Yea, she aint gotten any lighter over the years.

Naked, but not afraid>>>>




And to quote Westlin Champlan, we will now expertly categorize the hood over here>>>




More nakeder, but still not skeerd>>>




So, Luigi went through the trouble to make the wiring tidy.

Then we had to undo tidy.

I swear I heard an electrician cry when we undid the beauty of his "pasta carbonera">>>






And this "hiding behind chairs biatch", well, it was kind of needed>>>



so now we're more naked, and maybe a little fear full?

IDK! SEND IT!!!





You know why Cardatheous is smiling in the last picture?

Cause we have both done manifolds studs. And we both do not want to do manifold studs? So we're not. That "s" is getting farmed out.

Stayed tuned kiddos. Next week we have more progress for you.

Unc Killa, out!

Love and diesel to all!!!!

 

Well, well. Look at that. And just like that, it is Sunday.

So, as we play catch up, I must warn you.:

My truck is still at the other shop, awaiting the headers, up pipe, oil cooler, IHOP (I think its called that. Or my fat azz is just hungry), and top side lines

Kiddos: "say what"

Unc killa: " yea, going to be having a conversation with him this week"

But beyond that, as we play catch up, a little present of class.

So my tree smasher of unknown brand has served me well over the years, from two different full size broncos, to Eleanor.

And all those years, it always looked the way it did in the previous post.

Not no more.

got her sandblasted from GPA sandman (cause this is more his speed than my jungle gym:





Took my minty looking and chalky feeling tree killer to the same dudes who powder coated my jungle gym:





Guess what?

Its the same tint/color/whatever as the jungle gym.

Cuz, you know, class and all that. lol

Now I just need my truck back so we can put the front end (dog house, clip, wtf ever) back where it belongs.

Bonus content.

While the trucks been away, and finished that SRT8, been working on other stuff.

Pic below:

totally safe for work (or school)..

What, you don't trust your Unc Killa and his faithful sidekick of Skrewball?

Seriously.

It's fine.

Love and diesel.
Unc Killa out!

 

Well well, would you look at that. Time sure flies when you work on someone else's s box. Lol.

So, front end off.

Bed off.

Cheek poker 5000 put to good use on the frame.

Paint fumes killed match brain cells.

What other !#kery can we get into that might kill us?

Kiddo's-"what's that uncle killah?"

Unc- " lets attack these squashed out biscuits of a 3" body lift...."

Kiddo's- (????)

Unc- "...with a 2x4, a floor jack, a drive on lift, and some doctor pepper in 100 degree heat"

Kiddo's "ahhhhhh.....oooohhhh.....oh boy"

So, before we show the photogenetic bottom biscuits of Eleanor, I need to share a fear I have had since this project gained momentum after Luigi made his spaghetti.

Everything, including the wiring, the jungle gym, the fuel lines, how the turbo is clocked...

the down pipe...

every f'ing thing.


every thing, was built around these busted biscuits.


The nightmare is once we give her a proper biscuit on the greasy side...

That something, somewhere....


May not line up. At all.

I may have lost a night or two thinking about this.

so we measured the new pucks

versus the old, squashed, busted can of biscuits.

and there is a difference.

But not enough to mess this progress up....thank goodness.

who knows have devastating that could have been.

So we proceeded.

And found out it was a good thing we done this.

Because the cab bushings were shot

the washers are disintegrated.

It was just, well, terrible.

So thankfully were skilled mechanics (omg, so not true. Our tree doesn't even have shade).

How screwed are we?

Not at all.

After all the other "s" we've been doing, this was literally a piece of the proverbial cake.

Speaking off cake, if you wanna bake one, ya better beat some eggs.

Off to the races.
Buy the way, if youre gonna lift, you need a bench (dad jokes).

The new bench with vice.
And the body lift to replace the busted biscuits.




The busted and crusted biscuits






"It aint stupid if it works" methodology going on here.

Don't worry, there's another board to spread the load.



You know, when you lift, and you bench, you need your protein.

Our bench doubles as a lunch table, today that is.



ta da, the finished product.

No more busted biscuits for this cougar. Her body lift is high and tight.







Until next time kiddo's.

Love and Diesel.

Unc Killah out!

 

Haha, I like your logic.

Great progress.

 

There's more of that logic to come.

 

Well, well, would you look at the time, Kiddos.

Chilled Vikings Blud (its a honey mead).

Cigar from a communist nation.

Scraped Knuckles from getting stuff done (as opposed to "from dragging on the ground" normally).

It must be Sunday evening!!!

So, real time 1st, then story time.

Eleanor is at the shop still. For real reasons. One of the shop's dudes quit, so they are behind.
Plus I dumped a vette on them to fix a few things before I put it up for sale.
Plus Cardatheous is working some overtime, so for right now its just me and Tractor.
So Lake of the Ozarks may not manifest.Still going to try, as we are so frikin close.

Story time:

so fuel makes it happen. And since these Crummies did not come in diesel mode, what's a boy to do.
Well, first we need something to put it in. With all the calamity of gathering parts, I have several diesel tanks to reference versus the stock unleaded FOMOCO stuff.

Got lucky. The rear tank (19 gallon) was used with the matching float/sender thing for that diesel tank. Just needed to fab up some bottom straps to make it happin.


Also ordered a same year as the donor brand new "saddle tank". another 19 gallon capacity I believe.
Also saved the sending unit for the donor tank.

But, there's 2 problems.
1st problem. It's frikin grey.





Correction, it was grey...




second problem. there is a part on the frame to the cross support structure that is, lets say, not cooperating.
so we removed it, and replaced with a fabbed/gusseted piece, and all is well.

The piece:





A new piece that is boxed, gusseted, and better than oem is now in place. Only picture I got of this process is Cardatheous coaxing the worlds oldest drill press to help punch some holes.



so we got the saddle tank, mid tank, whatever tank in. Needed to fab some more straps, plus modify the original, and its in.

Now to run the fuel line.

Now I know it's a little more money to do this. And I am very budget minded (lol, lmao, rollzzzz), but if you need to build a custom fuel line for the world's largest Lego project "s" box. A/N is the best way to go (IMO).

Plus, what we learn here (ya, neither of us have ever used A/N fittings and lines) will be used on Dolly (the 57 Cadillac) and Moby (Tractor's 79 CC with a Cummins).





So we got the fuel lines run up to the NOS donor dual tank switcher. Now we need room in the shop.

Captn Tripps (another "build" I have on FTE) to the rescue!




"I ain't seen the day light in 3 d@!# DAYS".

Fuel carriers installed....






Kiddos-"more room for what?"

Unc Killa- "did you check last week's bonus pic? Did you not see 'Bubba'?"

Kiddos- "ohhhhh"

Next week, we make more room at "the shop"

Love and Diesel,

Unc Killa, out!

 

Well, well, would you look at the...................


Holy shnickey's, I've overslept.


ORRRRRRRRR.................

Squint your eyes and pretend that Monday is Sunday.

My Monday identifies as a Sunday.


So here we are. Less than 2 weeks out from LOTO Shootout.

And I ain't got Eleanor back. Partly my fault, with Bruce (the corvette), and now with Captain Tripps deciding to yeet coolant from an unknown spot, going to the same mechanic whose trying his damndest to get Eleanor done. I can't fix em all (I tried on CPT. Tripps. I really did. Even got antifreeze in my eye).

If one aint going to the shoot out in a few weeks, maybe the other will. If neither are ready or fixed; no boating time as I can't drag my boat down there with what's left. Will still go in her vehicle, but no water fun.

I digress.

So I needed to make room for some other "projects", and with the jungle gym laying around all useless, and the short box held up by gravity and Jesus, time to start reassembling my giant erector set.

The bed:



My better half, and the man known as Cardatheous, and the gantry, ready to get it done.



Gotta love those furniture dollies.

Anyway.

We got a plan.

Its frikin hot out...
we're old...
and aint nobody got time for this...

So hillbilly thinking caps on...

kiddos- "oh boy"

Unc Killa- "oh yeah"

Me and the boys watching youtube- " did you see how derek from VGG used his lift?"

We got this:





You know, if you remember, I highly encouraged the use of these skates.

I now am buying stock in this company. Frikin pure gold for so many uses:




Made lining up the bed, frame, bolts, and the jungle gym so much easier.

Kiddo's -" oh yeah, the jungle gym."
Unc Killa- " yeah, the mf'ing jungle gym, baby!"



Love and diesel.

Unc Killa!

 

So, as always, trying to merge two time lines.

Present day, Eleanor is still at the shop.

Even if it is ready tomorrow or the day after, not enough shake down time before we haul "heathen's haven" down to LOTO.

With CPT Tripps no longer yeeting the green Kool Aid, looks like the excursion is a go on tow duty.

So next scheduled, planned, and goal'd out date will be before the snow flies (?) Lol. For F's sake, that's the best I got. Let's say, thanksgiving.

Wait, I live in MI. Snow could fly by Halloween (its happened, more than once here).

Kiddo's- "But global warming, Unc Killa"

Unc. Killa- "F, IDK. But it will be done. Let's play it safe, lets say Optimistic Halloween. Realistic, Thanksgivng"

Still real time.

I'm posting today, won't be posting next Sunday (Sanctioned Kilo races ((1st time even I believe at the shoot out)). My plan is to be sunburned, hungover, and fat as f when I come back. So if you got questions, you may get a response.

I may be slurred and blurry, but a response none the less.

Catch up time.

Cant drive a fat bottomed "s" box without SOME creature comforts.

Namely, power steering.

This was actually quite easy.

Ordered up a factory hose
ordered a donor truck's hose.

Brought 'em to the local hydro hose shop.

Tada!!!!:




Unc Killa: "will it hold under pressure"

Local stoner dude (hydro): "well, according the hose pressure on these two factory replacements....(charlie brown's teacher audio here).....(and here)...we can't warranty it...(more teacher's audio here)....It should hold just fine"

Unc Killa: "Awesome. It will hold then"




Love and diesel!

Unc Killa out!