Grizzly Trucks

[diamondtguy]

My friend Josh came by today and we went to work on the Grizzly. I am still suffering from last months trip to ER. Proper reverse light switch installed,the reworked mud flap brackets, air valve for the front bags. Fittings and one bulk head fitting. There was more. It was a good day. Next is making the braided hoses..Rear Bags were aired up and front let down onto blocks..

 

[John Shipp]

Nice work. In particular I noticed how well the paint is holding up on the springs, which I don't see where I am. (Too much salt)

 

[diamondtguy]

This is the switch and plug for the reverse lights. It is beyond me how I missed this putting the truck together. The truck was built with a dash switch that still works. Switch is a AC Delco pc and the plug is a Standard..Trans is a NV 4500 5spd

 

[diamondtguy]

I need 4 new #6 braided hoses for my front air bag upgrade. The two for inside the right side tool cabinet (compressor is in there) are done and I got the main supply hose half done. It needs to be fit now to get a length. I am servicing the tail gate latches as well. The adjusters has never been apart. Over one inch of seized 1/2 NF thread contact. Two says of soaking and a 3' pry bar(and some help) got it apart. Reverse light switch harness was done as well..

 

[diamondtguy]

Game changer for me yesterday. I bought a package deal of a Miller 180 AC/DC inverter tig and a plasma cutter. Both machines are barely used. I dont want the plasma and have sold it..The tig came with a lot of supplies and a full argon bottle..

 

[Hallback]

You're going to love that inverter machine!
It makes a great welder out of a good welder

 

[Welder Dave]

Nice purchase! Miller does make good inverter Tig welders. The Diversion 180 is a basic square wave Tig without all the adjustability of more expensive Tig welders. It should work pretty good for most applications. It's a dedicated Tig welder and doesn't have the option for stick welding, like most Tig machines, to make it more affordable. Having said that the Dynasty 300 inverter welders were fantastic Tig machines but not very good on stick. Dynasty 350's were much improved for stick welding. Must have to do with different processes require different arc characteristics when switching the process. Square wave is much better than sine wave for Tig welding.

 

[diamondtguy]

When we bought our home in Maple Ridge in 2006 I bought a water cooled Miller 250 syncrowave (internet pic) I had to up the shops power (100 Amp)for my aluminum work. I only have 30 amps here so I sold the machine. I kept my supplys and my welding table/cabinet (my work). For the last year I have been spending time with my ex. Good chance we are going to buy another home. Long range plan is a Miller water cooled 250 dynasty and a fresh air helmet...This machine will suite me for now.

 

[diamondtguy]

More latch work. I got the right latch apart with 3 heat cycles. The heat took out the roll pin tho. The roll pin holds the latch to the handle so it swivels. I dont have any 5/16 x 2 roll pins. I ended up useing a pin that you put a cotter pin in. I used stainless cotter pins. I just had to open the cotter pin hole up to 1/8. The left side was adjusted way to tight. It is all good now and every works as it should. Nothing seized anymore..Back onto my air system upgrades..

 

[diamondtguy]

Up grades to the air system. I did the right side cabinet stuff yesterday. Two new braided lines. One goes to the rear air tank bulkhead fitting and thats where the auto leveling gets it air from. I have a single check in the supply hose. The other hose goes to a bulkhead fitting and will head to the front to my 12V air solenoid. The plastic push in hose is the supply line for my exhaust brake.... It would appear my cabinet has a leak...

 

[diamondtguy]

I spent hours today massaging the holes in the manifold today to get it to drop nicely over all 14 studs..With that much welding things tend to move around. I tightened it up on my aluminum plate and every thing looks good...That job will get done when i am finished doing my current stuff....The grizzly tailgate makes for a nice work bench..

 

[Truck Shop]

Looks real nice!

 

[diamondtguy]

Thank you Truck Shop..
My post should say 8 studs not 14...

 

[diamondtguy]

I am putting rubber fender on the rear fenders. I did my fronts when i built the fenders. The fronts have horizontal flanges and rears have vertical. The material comes rolled up and saran wrapped. It is almost collapsed and would be a nightmare to install. So.. get some angle,lots of clamps and a heat gun. Heat the rubber up quite hot and let it cool. I leap froged the angle so each are got heated twice. Worked better than i thought. Getting the angle in the right place and clamped takes some work. 2nd pc should go much quicker..

 

[diamondtguy]

2nd pc done today. I then clamped them to some 3" channel and heated them up again. Did my layout for the bends in the fenders and made a little template for the cut outs.They should be finished tomorrow. Mary spent 1 1/2 hrs doing clean up on the truck yesterday.. It's all good.

 

[diamondtguy]

The rubber fender parts are done and ready to install. I have been thinking about adding another step to make it easier to get in. Tossed around a lot of ideas. Everything from fabricating one to a electric one. In the end I chose something that fits in to the trucks original intended use (I think)..They are available in 9" long and 12".This is a 9. Pass side will get one if I like the look of this one.

 

[diamondtguy]

I put the step on today. I like it. Very basic and worthy of a logging road. Glad I bought the 9" long one. More work on the truck tomorrow. Probably clean up.

 

[John Shipp]

When you look at the step close up, can you see how the wire rope is fixed top and bottom? Doesn't look like the "ferrules" are crimped, can rope be welded successfully to flat surfaces of steel? Cheers, like the design.

 

[crane operator]

When you look at the step close up, can you see how the wire rope is fixed top and bottom? Doesn't look like the "ferrules" are crimped, can rope be welded successfully to flat surfaces of steel? Cheers, like the design.

I've both welded and brazed cable. You can also spelter it, which is a zinc, tin and lead alloy. You can melt that down and pour it around the cable.

 

[Welder Dave]

I worked in a shop and they'd cut slots in a piece of pipe that just fits over the cable and then fill the slots with weld using a small rod not too hot for the first pass. Mig would be good to use if you had it. Run the final pass/passes hot enough to fuse to the pipe good. Would only do it for something not to critical if it broke like a step. Do a few practice attempts and see how strong they are.