So just one more day
I got some fuel lines and tranny cooler lines to bend. Its a puzzle but one that sure feels great after your done
CK5
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One Piece at a Time: My 1985 Diesel Suburban
- Thread starter AgDieseler
- Start date
So just one more day
I got some fuel lines and tranny cooler lines to bend. Its a puzzle but one that sure feels great after your done
So true. I know I work slowly and deliberately, and I'm always reminding myself of that quote, "perfection is the enemy of progress."
But I can't help it. Every version is better than the one before it. It's like playing Super Mario Brothers, and eventually making it to level 8-4.
David
Haha, that is a great analogy!
Other oil line done. Built in a mid line disconnect thinking I might later want a mechanical oil temperature gauge. Test fit the grill and it all fits. Barely.
Time for the mid-week cocktail.
David
Time for the mid-week cocktail.
David
Absolutely perfect! Very very nice work.
Much nicer than perfect. This is obsessive.
BTW, @AgDieseler, we're headed your way over Memorial Day weekend. Would you have any interest in meeting up on that Sunday?
Thank you. This has been quite the learning experience.
I'll own that.
And you bet! I don't know what our plans are, but I'm down for meeting another CK5'er.
David
Gotcha. I'll be putting up plans in our trip thread within the next couple of days. As always, trying to meet up with whoever is available along the route.
You're an Artist with the tube bender. Very nice work!
Much appreciated. Took a break from bending to work some other areas - turn signals, front valence - but I'll be back at it soon. Need to reroute one of the transmission lines to make room for the AC.
David
Good news today: Ron Davis' team is doing the final welding on the radiator, and the intercooler is all welded and holding pressure (25 psi for one hour).
Time to wrap up the turn signals, paint the core, route the AC lines, and start thinking about the upper radiator hose crossover tube and getting this assembly stabbed in the truck.
David
Time to wrap up the turn signals, paint the core, route the AC lines, and start thinking about the upper radiator hose crossover tube and getting this assembly stabbed in the truck.
David
I expect I'll make minor adjustments to the fuel metering and timing, but this is primarily an upgrade to the existing configuration.
The TE06H will quickly make 15psi of boost in 3rd with great hill-climbing power, but once that happens, the clock is ticking on EGTs and eventually coolant temperature. The only safety net is the thermo-viscous-engages-at-a-wider-temperature-range-than-I-would-like fan clutch. It's the lower engagement piece from Kennedy Diesel, but still not as effective as a Horton.
An intercooler is a key piece of the puzzle that will make high altitude extended hill climbs far less stressful.
David
Turn signals. Most of us need them.
The modifications to the core support that allow the Duramax intercooler to fit in its full width also removed the alcove the factory light socket occupied. Thus began the hunt for alternative lights.
I found a set of Optronics park/turn lights that were as close as I could get to the original big squares that nestle tightly behind the grill.
I experimented with an LMC light bucket to see if it might be suitable as a mounting enclosure for the new lights.
It was not. Instead, I made up a simple light bracket that would use the factory mounting points.
It clears just fine. The plug is a right angle piece that is practically flush with the back shell.
The two sides mirror each other, and I'll fix the light and bracket together with some 3M two-sided super tape. Happy with the location, and nearly factory look. These should work fine with my electronic relays.
At the same time, I've started committing some thought to air flow management, and started a quick and easy modification to the lower valence. It refers to earlier grill styles as well as the 90s diesel bumper vents. Every bit of air flow helps.
Closing photo showing everything mocked up. Just need to finish weld the signal brackets, and this part will be ready for paint.
It's time to start buttoning up this part of the project.
David
The modifications to the core support that allow the Duramax intercooler to fit in its full width also removed the alcove the factory light socket occupied. Thus began the hunt for alternative lights.
I found a set of Optronics park/turn lights that were as close as I could get to the original big squares that nestle tightly behind the grill.
I experimented with an LMC light bucket to see if it might be suitable as a mounting enclosure for the new lights.
It was not. Instead, I made up a simple light bracket that would use the factory mounting points.
It clears just fine. The plug is a right angle piece that is practically flush with the back shell.
The two sides mirror each other, and I'll fix the light and bracket together with some 3M two-sided super tape. Happy with the location, and nearly factory look. These should work fine with my electronic relays.
At the same time, I've started committing some thought to air flow management, and started a quick and easy modification to the lower valence. It refers to earlier grill styles as well as the 90s diesel bumper vents. Every bit of air flow helps.
Closing photo showing everything mocked up. Just need to finish weld the signal brackets, and this part will be ready for paint.
It's time to start buttoning up this part of the project.
David
Looking good!
One (small) step back.
I'm rerouting the trans hot side hard line to make room for the AC lines. They use a bit more space with the pass-through grommet. Vintage Air recommended against a bulkhead connection to reduce the number of o-rings in the system.
Also finish welded the turn signal brackets, and clearanced the grill around a hard line and against the condenser.
Should have a full day tomorrow to get those AC lines routed. Only have one set, so I'll template my bends using leftover oil line tubing.
David
I'm rerouting the trans hot side hard line to make room for the AC lines. They use a bit more space with the pass-through grommet. Vintage Air recommended against a bulkhead connection to reduce the number of o-rings in the system.
Also finish welded the turn signal brackets, and clearanced the grill around a hard line and against the condenser.
Should have a full day tomorrow to get those AC lines routed. Only have one set, so I'll template my bends using leftover oil line tubing.
David
Very nice.
