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3 -- FOR
AUSTRALIA'S WONDER
WOMAN TRUCKIE
TERRY;
We have had a problem with the
compressor being in physical contact with the steering box, remembering that the
steering box is on the right hand side of our vehicle and very close to the
compressor which is also on the right hand side. This problem has now been fixed
thanks to Barry Clough and his mate Ken Bell, who's assistance to this project
has been immeasurable.
We have also committed to changing
the oil filtration system on advice from Ken Bell so that instead of the oil
travelling back to a filter canister behind the cab on the right hand side of
the chassis and then back to the cooler on the left hand side of the engine, the
'original' system of twin spin-on cartridge filters has been reinstated. This
has meant changing the water rail, and the oil cooler and procuring all the bits
needed for the change otherwise. I have also bought a new water pump which I
think is prudent given that the existing one has not turned in nearly five
years.
Last Thursday,
June 02/05, most of the day was spent dismantling the left hand side of
the engine, oil cooler. water rail, exhaust manifold and the water pump.
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Notice the air
assist server at the bottom right hand corner of this photo on the clutch
line. This is another trap with the right hand drive conversion, the
clutch lever is on the left hand side of the bell housing with the pedal
on the other side so the clutch cable travels down the left hand side of
the engine, around the front under the harmonic balancer and back up the
right hand side of the engine to the clutch pedal.
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Barry Clough has come up with a
modification to this so that the pivot arm through the side of the bell housing
will come out and be switched to the right hand side so that we can eliminate
the cable running around the engine.
This will mean that the air assist
on the clutch will be taken off and hopefully the fulcrum arm will give Diane
enough mechanical advantage for the clutch to be easy enough to depress. Barry
has a Flintstone which he has rebuilt, (the body work has yet to go on) and you
can stand on the ground beside the chassis and depress the clutch pedal with
your hands - he is very savvy in these matters. Today I am going to the chromer
with the wiper arms and the bonnet catches which have been pulled apart to have
new springs fitted. I think this is the last of the chroming that has to be
done.
I have been on Neil Owen's
(Mack Truck Parts) case about our new shutter system. He has been in touch
with someone at Mack in the States for several months now and not a lot seems
to be happening. I have told him we need the shutters pronto, and that I am
prepared to pay the air freight to get them to Australia so we can get them
fitted.
Our original plan was to have this
project mobile, and on the road by (Last) Christmas. You know; The best laid
plans of mice and men..............
DIANE;
We have committed ourselves to
Alice Springs & the truck show in August, and we can't wait.
It's about 3,000 km one way, so I
guess I will know the old girl quite well by the time we get there. We will
take lots of photos for the web page, As always, it will be a huge turnout.
By the way our winter is
here. ( Today being June 16/05 ) The temperature is getting down to about 15
degrees C. (59 degrees F.) at night. Might have to get the heater out of the
cupboard soon.
UPDATE, --- DIANE;
Our shutter system will not be here
for at least another six weeks. Air freight from the States would have cost
$600, so given the way things have been going, I have advised Mack to STICK
IT on a SHIP. (Now do not get the STICK IT location confused.
Right?) We have been waiting seven months for these parts. Other than that,
there is not all that much left to do.
Well the seat mounts are in and
the driver's seat is in place. I am going to leave the passenger seat out for
the time being so we can climb in and out of the cab easily, with room to work.
George Johnson, who is our new mechanic,
and a mad Mack fan kicked the old girl in the guts and she fired up, sweet as a
nut. No nasty noises, just a healthy roar and a little bit of fume. He reckons
that it won't take much to clear the exhaust fumes, just a bit of a run around
the highway. We can now proceed to get the cab fitted out, not much to do, get
the air and electrics fitted and all the front panels. Since it seems like the
engine is in reasonable shape we hope that the saga is nearing its end.
The trip to Alice Springs failed to materialize, for the lack
of critical parts on backorder. The disappointment was taken pretty hard. Who
was it that said, "THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MEN"? To ease the
disappointment, a diversion was implemented. How about a fishing trip, that
should help to take ones mind off the discouraging news.
Meanwhile back in the shop, Terry
has been doing some more custom building.
Just a couple
of shots of our air intake scoop. This is a one off (no one else will have one
like this) I got one of the blokes at the workshop to make it for us. To make it
we took a piece of 5 inch stainless steel tube, cut it through at 45 degrees and
welded a fence about three eighths of an inch wide to the cut edge and then cut
the slots to be above the fence to allow water to escape. We then welded the
tube back together again leaving the trailing edge open and welded a ninety
degree bend to the top of the tube and cut the bend in such a way as to provide
the teardrop shaped inlet. The mesh to stop the insects etc. is a three eighths
inch aperture woven stainless steel mesh. I have polished the scoop to a point
but it still needs some polish time to get it to mirror. The exhaust outlet at
the top of the stack is matching, only four inch. I have polished the muffler
and we have temporarily fitted all of the exhaust assembly to make sure it is
all going to work. I am waiting for a local sheet metal shop to make the stack
support mast which should be ready soon.
JUST A SHORT NOTE ON
THE WEATHER
Today is October 06 /
05 Northern Ontario, Canada. The heat wave has just broke, and dropped from 29
Deg. C (yesterday) to 2 Deg. C this morning. At the other side of the world in
Australia, tomorrow's temperature will be 39 Deg. C, just the beginning of their
heat wave.
To those still living
with Fahrenheit, that converts to 102.2 Deg. F. (Hot-Hot-Hot) Spring time in
Australia, and summer
still to come.
AFTER MANY
DELAYS........
waiting for parts to
come in from the United States, and a few other problems to be solved, the final
assembly is underway. This type of project rarely stays within a planned time
line. There seems to be many unknown factors to contend with on a first time
restoration.
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With things
really moving along again, they will have the mudguards (fenders) on
today. |
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Now we can start to fit up the chrome, and get the old girl
wired up over the next few weeks.
THE FINISH LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED
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AFTER A GREAT
AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY, THE END RESULTS ARE DISPLAYED HERE.
THE LONG
PROJECT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY & BEAUTIFULLY.
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IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THE AMAZING TRANSFORMATION THAT
ALL
THE PATIENCE AND HARD WORK HAS ACHIEVED.
HOPEFULLY
IT WILL BE SEEN AT THE ALICE SPRINGS TRUCK SHOW SOME TIME.
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-------- William (Diesel Gypsy) Weatherstone
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