What did you do to your non-G body project today? [2021]

[joesregalproject]

Ripped this rats nest out from under the dash on the new-to-me Dodge. Still not totally done either.

Looks to have an exhaust brake with a torque converter lockup installed. Its not functional and the wiring is sketchy so I'll probably take it out and start from scratch.

Got the EGT gauge working and fixed some broken wires here and there. Still q lot of wiring to track down and figure out.

Pressure washed the whole thing, engine bay and all.

 

[Supercharged111]

That wiring looks a little worse than what I ripped out of the flipper dually. I think you should have to pass a test to buy wiring supplies.

 

[CopperNick]

Nothing. Got the test and tune on the Van's ECU about as close as it has to be, but never did manage to get it to go into high idle during warm up. It does warm up okay but does it in a weird way. Giving some serious thought to scoring a refurbished laptop and downloading the tuning maps to see if I can identify the issue. Not sure if this can be done with the FI TEch units; more research needed on the matter. Bother.

One winter project for it is the reconstruction of the exhaust system. This might be highly problematic as just locating new head pipes has proved to be very difficult. Easier to find them for a 1961 Valiant!! Insult to injury is the one exhaust manifold which may need to be dropped to replace all the studs. No room to work and they are the original bolts holding it in place. High Pucker/Scare factor here. Retrieving the stump of a snapped bolt means pulling the entire engine!!! Heat is NOT an option. Do not want to burn my shop down. Insurance has no humor for that kind of mishap. Might be possible to drill the old studs out and rethread the ears but again, room is at a premium and the oil filter is right there.

Of course I could yank the whole motor and try to stuff that 5.3 in. About all that would be needed would be a set of adjustable front motor mounts. The deep pan could stay and so could the stock plenum. Biggest problems would be the wiring and fuel. The stock harness wouldn't work because it has nothing to mate to. It would be close to an entire rewire job to convert the van's wiring to accept the 5.3's ECU and fuse box. Be okay if this was a frame off project and done to the nuts stripped but, it ain't.

The solution? to all that misery would be to use the 5.3 but swap the plenum and its FI system for a standard manifold and carb or a Holley or similar FI substitute. Holley would be simpler just because it comes with its own ECU and harness; minimal invasive surgery to the existing wiring needed. And then there are the front brackets, no A/C or smog pump but still tight across the shoulders. And, oh yeah, there are the mods to the fuel system to perform...................

Yeah, I have given this some thought. Biggest obstacle, no matter what the decision ends up being, is the budget; There isn't any.



Nick

 

[CopperNick]

Went organic for the day and bagged up all the flower bed debris that i had cut down yesteday. Assaulted the rose hedge and gave it a "hair" cut to prevent winter storms from damaging the branches. That will get its own bag for next week. Still need to figure out if/how I can transfer the contents of the rain barrel from the outside one into an inside one. Hate to lose about 45 gallons of good water but if the temps drop the water freezes and can split the barrel; means having to score another one. Water isn't for drinking but there are too many chemicals in our "healthy water" from the tap. The indoor plants hate tap water, no nourishment for them in it. They need that nasty out of the sky stuff because it contains the trace elements that feed them. Working on it.



Nick

 

[Injectedcutty]

Yesterday I managed to muster enough strength to go take and pass the CDL permit exams! It was brutal, I must've broke a fever on the first exam as I broke out into cold sweats, darn near blacked out to boot lol. I didn't want to reschedule, so I just toughed through it and my resilience paid off. Now I have to spend the next few weeks prepping for the actual CDL exam which involves a pre trip, parking skills, and road test to get the actual licsense.

 

[melloelky]

View attachment 186127

I've seen that picture down @the post office..😏

 

[pagrunt]

Wow, here in Pa we get a piece of paper, nothing that fancy.

 

[joesregalproject]

Wow, here in Pa we get a piece of paper, nothing that fancy.

Since you are someone who got their cdl recently, what the hell is this self verification form I have to fill out? Says you are required to fill it out when you fill out your permit application, but looks like none of the options apply to me?

 

[Injectedcutty]

Since you are someone who got their cdl recently, what the hell is this self verification form I have to fill out? Says you are required to fill it out when you fill out your permit application, but looks like none of the options apply to me?

It's a new federal thing put into place during Covid due to a YUGE influx of new truck drivers. Also, beginning in February one must go through mandatory school in order to qualify for CDL exam. If all works out I hope to have mine by end of this year.

 

[pagrunt]

Since you are someone who got their cdl recently, what the hell is this self verification form I have to fill out? Says you are required to fill it out when you fill out your permit application, but looks like none of the options apply to me

You should to check off the "NI" box so you'll be able to drive overthe state line while working. The "NA" would be for in Pa only. I did the "NI" since Keystone Diesel suggested it incase I didn't get my state job. This also make sure you get a physical every two years.