[Elvis38]

Cool build man! I thought we had rust issues here(MN)

How are the tires workin out? Any difference in the ones from TW? Newer or something.

 

[billy bones]

Thanks! Sad thing is as rusty as it is, the truck is in nice shape for the year. Everyone asks if its southern :laughing:

So far the tires from TW have been fine. Date codes are all 08, those other 2 were just too lumpy for street use. That's the joy of buying used I guess.

 

[flatblack83]

I have the same mtr's but not from twf and ive tried everything, i spun em on the wheels, spin balanced em, bead balanced and still have one that shakes. Mine are all 08's also and i had to buy one more, seemed to get them that its not bad up to about 75....so thats fine. So you arent the only one with the tire problems.

 

[billy bones]

The first set of five came from auction, and two came from TW later on. Honestly I believe that Goodyear isn't capable of making a round tire, the only reason I went with them was the cost.

In winter they do shake for the first few miles until the rubber warms up a bit, summer they are fine. There was one tire that wouldn't balance out, I pulled out the airsoft pellets and replaced them with dynabeads. Problem solved. Must be because they are denser than plastic and take up less volume they can concentrate the weight a little better.

 

[billy bones]

Some progress. I built a steering fluid reservoir mostly out of salvaged scrap. It will hold roughly 1½ gallons and mount where the ABS unit used to be.

I'm not sure what these are for, found them in the dumpster. But they are roughly the right size, and are 1/8" thick.



Cut one to length and welded a patch into the notched area.



The back of the tank will serve as a mounting point, so I cut that out of some 3/16 steel and drilled pilot holes for my mounting bolts.



Cut out a pair of end caps



And cut out 2 more to serve a baffle plates inside the tank. This will slow down fluid sloshing around inside the tank and hopefully eliminate the chance of sucking air into the system.



For a cap I used an old fuel filler neck.



Cut down and tacked in



Added some iron pipe for a feed port, cut so it will draw from the bottom center of the tank. Also welded in a bung (pipe bushing) for returning fluid.



Welded in the baffle plates. I did elongate a few holes in the lower row to aid in fluid flow.

 

[billy bones]

End caps on



And a view from inside. The reservoir is upside down in this pic.



Rear plate welded on



All sealed up.





Plugged the ports and filled with oil. Will let it sit for a day or so and see if there are any leaks.

 

[billy bones]

There was some light seepage around the return port. Went around it again, then gave it a coat of paint. The same hammered bronze that is on the wheels.

 

[DMANbluesfreak]

I'm impressed every time I see you paint something with that hammered stuff. I think my next brackets will have to be painted with that stuff. Resi looks awesome!

 

[billy bones]

I'm impressed every time I see you paint something with that hammered stuff. I think my next brackets will have to be painted with that stuff. Resi looks awesome!

For rattlecan paint the stuff is pretty durable. Dirt doesn't stick to it either.

Did a little grooving on the MTRs today. May add some siping later on.

 

[DMANbluesfreak]

While you're grooving, get rid of the half-height piece between the two center tread blocks.

 

[billy bones]

Not a bad idea

 

[DMANbluesfreak]

My MTRs are getting low and a few months ago, they got down to that block. It was quite easy to groove out, actually.

I might steal your cross groove idea when I put my 40s on, though - as they're also old-style MTRs.

 

[billy bones]

The grooves are between ¼" and ⅜" deep and wound up about even with the top of that half block. Will have to find longer blades or use a saw.

 

[sterlingfire]

I would leave them until it wears down that far, or close to it. I guess unless you're looking to get more flex out of your tread.

 

[billy bones]

Did some mods on the new (to me) pump.

 

[billy bones]

Out playing in the snow yesterday. A few lame pics, I didn't take many, but I did have a ton of fun.












And the joys of diesel fuel :shaking:

 

[billy bones]

Some not mine pics from a few weeks ago

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B6fjLY8yij9mVkJ6bUZ3NG1acFU&usp=sharing

Back to work on the steering.

New to me steering box



I disassembled this one, the previous owner has a heavy foot, so I wanted to make sure nothing was cracked.



Drilled



Tapped to ¼" NPT, test fit -6JIC fittings

 

[just4cuz]

Great to see snow wheeling pictures. Is the little red one a cut up Samari?
A what temperature does the diesel start to gel up?
These last few weeks been dumping lots of snow on you guys?
My family is originally from Buffalo and moved to Toledo, not much better!
We moved to Califonia in 1964, my folks moved back to the Toledo area, in 1971, I stayed here.
Last week I took pictures of the snow in the mountains behind my house, closest I've been in a while.
The last couple winters have been brutal back there, all my relatives are tired of winter.

 

[billy bones]

The red buggy is a cut up Tracker. He did the Ultimate adventure with it in 2008. Gone through some changes since then. 4x4 & Off Road Events at Four Wheeler Network

13° seems to be the cutoff for the burban, it was -11° that day. I dd a Jetta TDI and that will start at -20° with no problems. The snow has been a bit less than normal this year, average is roughly 190" of snow each season a bit east of Syracuse. Its the cloudy days that are wearing on me. Haven't had a sunny day this since before Christmas. Sometimes the sun will pop out for a few hours, but most days are dark and overcast. I'm ready for spring :laughing:

 

['05TJLWBRUBY]

How's progress on the steering box going? I've not torn one down -yet, but saved one off my last donor/parts truck for this purpose-to either practice or put into my Burb. Been a long time waiting, key part SHOULD be shipping this week so hoping to finally start here real soon. This is one area I haven't messed with yet and looking forward to learning on shortly. Appreciate seeing you tearing into it along with the drill/tap at same time. Going OK so far? Any tips or pointers? Again, love the Burb, nice work.

Best of Luck,

Mike