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jforb · 12-19-2016, 04:59 PM

The current fleet. Starting with my wife's....08 Silverado WT (six cylinder), 06 Miata, 99 Prowler, 70 Dart Swinger (originally slant 6, now with a 340). Mine include the Chevy II altered wheelbase car I built for Drag Week, the 57 Suburban, and my 59 long bed Fleetside pickup.

Oh, and now the Lincoln.

I got to spend a little time under it today, fixing the loose steering (amazing what a $28 part will do for an old car). It really does look like it only has 33k miles, when viewed from below. Amazing. I wonder what other stuff will die from old age? The trans takes a while to get into forward gears when it's cold, but then is fine. Which doesn't surprise me, the clutch piston rubber seals in them usually got hard after less than 10 years in normal use. The climate control worked yesterday, but today it is blowing warm air (yes, it was warm enough here that it needed to be in cooling mode). Also not surprising. I probably need to bleed the brakes, and see if there's anything strange in the fluid. I'm surprised the rear calipers are working ok, they were problematic when they were young.

jforb · 02-10-2017, 11:07 PM

I've been driving the Mark IV quite a bit, put 1500 miles on it so far. Neat car!

My wife retired, so she's been home...and robotics started up, so I've been going to the high school for a few hours each day, helping with that. Trailer progress has been slow. Windows are all in, holding tanks in, waste plumbing done. I got the bed frame made, and started on the front belly pan, which took a long time to get done for motivational reasons. Finished it off tonight, time to start on the back end. I need to get it out of my shop, so once I get the bottom sealed up, I'll haul it out and swap the axles, etc. Then I have to get to work on finishing the bathroom, get a fridge and build that cabinet, etc.

jforb · 02-15-2017, 08:29 AM

pulled it out of the shop today...time to swap axles, and finish up the belly pan.

jforb · 02-17-2017, 03:07 PM

New axles, tires, brakes, etc. Belly pan is about done. Still so much to do...and we are planning on a little trip with the trailer on the 28th, if it's ready to go. Won't be finished, but it would have enough to camp in.

SteveSueMac · 02-17-2017, 04:30 PM

Sweet rig jforb!

jforb · 02-19-2017, 07:01 PM

Thanks!

I did a little work today, got the propane plumbing finished, and tried it out. Had to redo one flare (the first one I made, of course), then it didn't leak. Stove works. Furnace works. Water heater works, although I didn't run it more than a few seconds, since it has no water in it. I still need to do all the fresh water plumbing.

I think I'll camp out tonight, and see how it works.

(I'm posting this from inside the Airstream, on my laptop, using the house wifi...fun!)

nickclifford · 02-20-2017, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jforb

Thanks!

I did a little work today, got the propane plumbing finished, and tried it out. Had to redo one flare (the first one I made, of course), then it didn't leak. Stove works. Furnace works. Water heater works, although I didn't run it more than a few seconds, since it has no water in it. I still need to do all the fresh water plumbing.

I think I'll camp out tonight, and see how it works.

(I'm posting this from inside the Airstream, on my laptop, using the house wifi...fun!)

LOVE the black wheels ... did you buy new or have the originals sand blasted ? My '72 wheels are thrashed...not sure if cheaper to buy a sand blaster myself and refurbish or buy a new set .. ?

jforb · 02-20-2017, 02:30 PM

Thanks! the wheels were supposed to be black, but they are dark walnut brown (it's hard for my old eyes to read paint cans like I used to). They original wheels were black, and the two replacement wheels (later factory type) were gray, and the two new wheels I bought were also gray. I sandblasted the used ones, and just spray can painted all 4. I still have the two original wheels, but they are pretty rusty on the back side. The originals have clips for the early style hubcaps, the wheels I used all have lugs for newer style caps. But I need to buy some of the deep ones, the 1970's truck hubcaps I have won't fit.

The furnace worked all night. I did some plumbing today, and just tried it out...no leaks on the pressure side (amazing, as I see it). But the sink trap is dripping. I guess I need to replace that. I left the old plumbing for the galley sink drain and vents, I guess it was a mistake. Oh well. It looks like it's just leaking at the screw together joint that I disassembled when I removed the sink. Maybe the angle is wrong, or something.

Also got the two new 30lb propane tanks purged and filled. Only $35 for the pair, which I guess is not too bad.

nickclifford · 02-21-2017, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jforb

Thanks! the wheels were supposed to be black, but they are dark walnut brown (it's hard for my old eyes to read paint cans like I used to). They original wheels were black, and the two replacement wheels (later factory type) were gray, and the two new wheels I bought were also gray. I sandblasted the used ones, and just spray can painted all 4. I still have the two original wheels, but they are pretty rusty on the back side. The originals have clips for the early style hubcaps, the wheels I used all have lugs for newer style caps. But I need to buy some of the deep ones, the 1970's truck hubcaps I have won't fit.

The furnace worked all night. I did some plumbing today, and just tried it out...no leaks on the pressure side (amazing, as I see it). But the sink trap is dripping. I guess I need to replace that. I left the old plumbing for the galley sink drain and vents, I guess it was a mistake. Oh well. It looks like it's just leaking at the screw together joint that I disassembled when I removed the sink. Maybe the angle is wrong, or something.

Also got the two new 30lb propane tanks purged and filled. Only $35 for the pair, which I guess is not too bad.

found a metal worker where I live but he said would be way cheaper for me to buy my own sand blaster and do myslef ..

jforb · 02-22-2017, 12:30 AM

See what powder coating places can do. They sandblast as the first step in the process....

prairieschooner · 02-22-2017, 07:32 AM

VERY COOL! allot of great looking progress in a real short amount of time. Love the Lincoln!
Don't forget about Smoke Alarm & Carbon Monoxide Detectors...I hid mine in the closet just across from the bed (CO Detector at about the same height of our heads when sleeping. And I installed the LPG Detector just under the mattress.

jforb · 02-22-2017, 07:33 AM

Thanks for the tip on the detectors, I hadn't thought of them...

jforb · 02-24-2017, 06:06 PM

I've been working on the bathroom, made the shower wall, and a couple other cabinet/wall things. And got the plumbing all done. Had only one leak, there was a nick on the end of the threaded neck on the shower valve, so the fitting wouldn't seal on it...did a little redneck machining with my lathe, all better.

Also got the solar panels and charge controller in the mail, so I installed them. We have sun charging now.

I don't know what's up with the pictures, they appear sidways or right side up depending on what I use to view them. Sorry about that.

jforb · 02-24-2017, 09:48 PM

Pictures...

Hittenstiehl · 02-25-2017, 10:51 AM

Jforb that looks very nice. Clean lines. Did you opt to not place a sink in bathroom and use the kitchen instead or is it just not visible.

jforb · 02-25-2017, 11:18 AM

That's right, we decided to forgo the lavatory, and use the kitchen sink. The vent for it was a problem...since I remove the closet, where it used to be.

I stayed up till midnight working on the shower curtain, and got that done. It works, I stayed in the Airstream last night, in the yard, and took a shower there this morning. It was a bit chilly, 27 degrees in the morning, so the furnace was running about half the time. So far, so good.

Hittenstiehl · 02-25-2017, 11:25 AM

Thanks. We have also considered that (use the kitchen sink) solution. It works nice in little trailers.

jforb · 02-25-2017, 05:11 PM

Had a little setback today...I was under the back of the trailer, getting ready to work on something else, and noticed a drip from the black tank. The glued joint between tank and fitting was leaking. The fitting was put on by Icon, and included with the tank.

After lots of wondering what to do, I decided to pull the tank out, and cut off the old fitting. I did, and then removed the remains of it by prying and scraping. It looks like it just was not glued on well. I got a 3x4" ABS adapter, and turned it down in my lathe to become the fitting I needed. I glued it on with normal ABS pipe glue, and clamped it with a ratcheting strap. Hopefully it will be strong enough to work. If not, I'll go to plan B...which is not quite figured out, but I have some ideas.

I'll put the tank back in tomorrow, after leak checking.

Meantime, I got the bathroom door hung, and my wife started on some covers for seat cushions. Still a bunch of other little stuff to do.