2000 Ford 7.3L Motovan build (225's build cont'd)
- Thread starter 225
- Start date
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
I can't reply to every post, but thanks for enjoying my trip, and the tips!!
First I wanna say, we did about 7k miles. Some long 12-14 hour days driving. In Colorado, my battery light came on. Thought I was gonna have to change the alternator, turns out it was just cold. A day later it went off. Betty Sue performed flawlessly.
What I learned from the trip:
1. We brought too much stuff. Mostly my wifes fault.
2. Wyoming is the most beautiful state in the lower 48.
3. The best Ruben is in Omaha.
4. Best Mexican food ever was at the Shed in Santa Fe.
5. By far, the weirdest people were in Taos.
Here are the pics:
Forgot this one earlier:
The Rio Grande. Small note, this bridge is where Mickey and Mallory got married on Natural Born Killers.
Santa Fe, lol...
On the way home we stopped at a truck stop because it was raining / snowing. Horrible road conditions.
Here was the next morning.
Stopped by the painted Cadillac's near Amarillo.
Then it was cannonball time. Did have this happy nugget parked next to us near Memphis:
There is a list of stuff that I will change about the setup. Not much, just stuff that could have worked better. I'll post that later.
Get out and explore!
First I wanna say, we did about 7k miles. Some long 12-14 hour days driving. In Colorado, my battery light came on. Thought I was gonna have to change the alternator, turns out it was just cold. A day later it went off. Betty Sue performed flawlessly.
What I learned from the trip:
1. We brought too much stuff. Mostly my wifes fault.
2. Wyoming is the most beautiful state in the lower 48.
3. The best Ruben is in Omaha.
4. Best Mexican food ever was at the Shed in Santa Fe.
5. By far, the weirdest people were in Taos.
Here are the pics:
Forgot this one earlier:
The Rio Grande. Small note, this bridge is where Mickey and Mallory got married on Natural Born Killers.
Santa Fe, lol...
On the way home we stopped at a truck stop because it was raining / snowing. Horrible road conditions.
Here was the next morning.
Stopped by the painted Cadillac's near Amarillo.
Then it was cannonball time. Did have this happy nugget parked next to us near Memphis:
There is a list of stuff that I will change about the setup. Not much, just stuff that could have worked better. I'll post that later.
Get out and explore!
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
Stopped by UJOR to pick some stuff up. Always good to see the gang. Thanks again!
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
I've been working on the rear bumper before I tear into the transmission.
I could have used new steel, but since I'm a boat captain, I wanted to use scraped steel that used to be boats.
I welded the shackle mounts with the welder on full blast. Talk about hot!
I could have used new steel, but since I'm a boat captain, I wanted to use scraped steel that used to be boats.
I welded the shackle mounts with the welder on full blast. Talk about hot!
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
All done. Now time to build the swing outs.
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
Rear shackles came in. I had a long honey do list today, so I didn't get much done. But I got the cross bar welded in. Tire mount and cargo box mount should be done tomorrow.
I was also browsing GovPlanet and ran across this guy. How cool would it be to have one of these guys? Put a camper on the back. They only get 7 mpg tho.
Not really something I would do, but still cool. What I would like to do is what one guy (I think he's on here) did. Add Military 37's to a 6" UJOR kit. Since I'll be upgrading to a 6" kit soon. It's tempting.
I was also browsing GovPlanet and ran across this guy. How cool would it be to have one of these guys? Put a camper on the back. They only get 7 mpg tho.
Not really something I would do, but still cool. What I would like to do is what one guy (I think he's on here) did. Add Military 37's to a 6" UJOR kit. Since I'll be upgrading to a 6" kit soon. It's tempting.
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
Yea buddy.
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
Yea, that's the plan. I'm working it out as I go. I have the cargo box that will go on the other side as well as the extension for the backup camera. I'm also putting in pins to hold the arms in place too.
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
A few small things to button up, but she's done! $1800 for a Alumness bumper, or this! All in around $250.
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
Thanks. I used to have a TIG welder, but until I get a garage, it's not practical. MIG welding isn't that hard to learn. Best tool I own.
luthj
Engineer In Residence
If you can see well, and do fine motor tasks, you can learn to weld MIG in a few weeks practicing at night. Setup is about 75% of the work. The rest is just practice.
A harbor freight multi process MIG/TIG/arc welder plus buying a gas bottle can be had for ~$1,000. Used even less.
Cutting and manipulating steel takes practice with the tools, but there are lots of great info on the web. A die grinder, handheld band saw, maybe a cut-of chop saw will handle most of the work. If you need to cut a lot of complex shapes, a plasma cutter will do the deed. They are easier to use than a welder, and allow rapid cutting of complex profiles.
Once you learn to do basic metal manipulation and welding, the doors to automotive modification and repair open wide.
A harbor freight multi process MIG/TIG/arc welder plus buying a gas bottle can be had for ~$1,000. Used even less.
Cutting and manipulating steel takes practice with the tools, but there are lots of great info on the web. A die grinder, handheld band saw, maybe a cut-of chop saw will handle most of the work. If you need to cut a lot of complex shapes, a plasma cutter will do the deed. They are easier to use than a welder, and allow rapid cutting of complex profiles.
Once you learn to do basic metal manipulation and welding, the doors to automotive modification and repair open wide.
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
Welding TIps and Tricks on Youtube is where I learned to TIG weld. MIG welding can be self taught. It's not that hard. I have gotten better over the years. I love welding and fabrication, if you could't tell lol. I'd love to get my hands on a plasma table.
Other than a license plate light that will be in tomorrow, and moving the rear camera off the door and onto the bumper, she's done.
Aluminess, even tho a great company and great products, $3k for a bumper is not what I would pay for one. I've got about $300 wrapped up in this.
Other than a license plate light that will be in tomorrow, and moving the rear camera off the door and onto the bumper, she's done.
Aluminess, even tho a great company and great products, $3k for a bumper is not what I would pay for one. I've got about $300 wrapped up in this.