SquareD Part 8, This thing ever going to get finished?

[dave945]

Based on everybody’s comments, I should be getting invited to Don’s Christmas party and probably deserve 46 years of missed Christmas presents. He’s my long lost uncle-cousin-brother-nephew!  I’ve missed you so much!

[Flyin6]

It's Thursday.... I had a dream last night that Don actually put Square D in a storage shed to make room in his garage for a home gym. I woke up thinking....I should do that with the Yeller Chevy LoL

So no word yet?  I guess back to my days planned activity....

Norm,

Don't want to raise your anxiety levels any, but I called around 1600 today, and they said they had not gotten to it yet again.

So, now I am starting to enter that iffy area.

You see I consider myself equal amongst all customers. If I pay the exact same rate, then my money should be as good as everyone elses, agreed?

So when a new vehicle shows up and gets worked on and mine does not, well, I don't like that very much.

A long time ago, I owned this really cool Airplane, a 1960 Piper Comanche 250. I was all the rage at first, with an engine overhaul and a couple multi-thousand dollar modifications. But the work tapered off and then stopped. I stopped in one day and there were boxes stacked up on the wings.

That really pissed me off. I reported the shop to the FAA, imediately literally rolled the plane out of his hangar and put it into my T-Hangar. I then hired one of their mechanics and we finished my plane ourselves. The FAA pulled his license to operate and he went out of business.

I get that old feeling when my stuff starts to get pushed to the back burner.

So, I think I'll give him to tomorrow. If nothing is done, I'll pull it out of there and go find the next guy. I hope it doesn't go that way.

[stlaser]

Calling tlane, Big D needs a real mechanic......

[Flyin6]

Calling tlane, Big D needs a real mechanic......

Needs a diesel mech to actually turn the wrenches, not get Don to do it again and mess it up a second or third time...

[stlaser]

So tlane is from Lafayette, In? Is that right? My memory fails me a lot but I think that’s right.

So from Big D’s place that’s about 3 hours give or take a half hour?

In the real man get it done no bs sense. Go grab C max & the GJ, I figure c max is hung up in a mulch bed again. So get that fancy tug n go strap Tate sold ya & have HH6 give c max a little nudge. Hook up that trailer, go grab the sputtering SQ D and throw it on that trailer then head northwest towards Tlane. I agree, we don’t need you wrenching on sq d again. Neither of us is young enough for that wait again......

[JR]

 

[Sammconn]

 
The frustration....

[Bigdave_185]

I honestly can’t believe they haven’t worked on it? So much of the world has come to this.   Is this truck a bigger metaphor to the American work ethic? 
Did it fall to the it’s hard so we aren’t going to try and fix it? Is it maybe to much “old technology “ that the young guys don’t know where to start?
Do we as supporters need to start wearing save SquareD hats and start a protest of this shop? Picket signs and Ski masks and break stuff?


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[Bear9350]

No he doesn't

Just felt a tremor in the force!

OK, so it's running. No vid to prove it, but the motor runs, just not all that great at the moment.

Its timing, and its not dialed in by any means

What they think happened is that when Wayne and I timed the motor last winter, we probably had it right but then the pump probably slipped on the gear while the collet was loose. So, essentially, the timing went away, and no one knows where in the heck it is.

Mike said it sounds very advanced, and I have always thought it acted liked a carbed gasser with way too much timing, like you missed a tooth on the distributor after a cam change.

He says the motor sounds good, and that it will run and run well.

He is questioning the dual fuel line inlet and talked to me about removing the front hose and simplifying everything. He thinks it may actually be over fueling.

So next is to set the timing, then fix the brakes, get the transmission sorted and follow on tuning

Mike thinks he will have it all figured out and back to me before the first of the year

I thought it sounded like you were giving him until the first of the year here?  Seems to me they still have a couple weeks to make good on their word?

[OldKooT]

Worst case deal Don.....I will run down with the Eco Beater, pickup square D, drag it home, get it running, and the problem will be solved. Nate and I can have it running inside a week or so that way.

[Bigdave_185]

Maybe we need to start a GoFundMe.com for it. 


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[wyorunner]

Worst case deal Don.....I will run down with the Eco Beater, pickup square D, drag it home, get it running, and the problem will be solved. Nate and I can have it running inside a week or so that way.

Grab nate and just head east and pick it up from the shop. Get it runnin, send Don the bill. All will be well in the Sq D world.

[rpar86]

So tlane is from Lafayette, In? Is that right? My memory fails me a lot but I think that’s right.

So from Big D’s place that’s about 3 hours give or take a half hour?

In the real man get it done no bs sense. Go grab C max & the GJ, I figure c max is hung up in a mulch bed again. So get that fancy tug n go strap Tate sold ya & have HH6 give c max a little nudge. Hook up that trailer, go grab the sputtering SQ D and throw it on that trailer then head northwest towards Tlane. I agree, we don’t need you wrenching on sq d again. Neither of us is young enough for that wait again......

Isn't there an issue fitting SQ D on Don's trailer?

[KensAuto]

I'm sure Norm has an old hay wagon to throw it on.

[Bigdave_185]

Tow strap for how many miles? In my state you can’t tow more than ten miles I think. But I am sure in the Tuck no one cares.


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[Flyin6]

Settle down there you bunch of yankees!

So I talked with Mike today, good heart to heart. HE is reasonable and straight up.

He told me he thought he and I agreed he had until the first of the year to get it 1. Running, 2. Stopping, and 3. SHifting. He said he had a bunch of stuff that had already been scheduled that was still coming in. He said that he didn't think there would be much of a problem with getting the thing up and going, so let's just let him work his plan out and watch it the next two weeks.

Goal has been set to have a driveable SquareD by the oneth of Januberry

Now, settle down you bunch of no good, gud-4-nuthin's

[KensAuto]

You were the one gettin' all fired up Boss^^^^ (unlike the green bucket-o-bolts)   

[Flyin6]

Well, maybe I was, forget it!

[OldKooT]

We all shall wait.....

I have a 20' Featherlight  care trailer it will fit on just fine=)

[JR]

SD time,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Bigdave_185]

Hammer time?


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[Dustoff35]

Still not running...

I'll check back, Next Year!!!

[stlaser]

Nice to see you stop by & post up Duane!

Oh & yeah, more 

[Nate]

Worst case deal Don.....I will run down with the Eco Beater, pickup square D, drag it home, get it running, and the problem will be solved. Nate and I can have it running inside a week or so that way.

now norm.........we can take my city truck, cause I am not sure I can be seen riding around in that eco fart......HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[OldKooT]

LoL Nate.... well you can drive, which makes sense anyway from a economy standpoint. The Eco Beater is hell on fuel when heavily loaded. We'd spend more on fuel that it would cost to fix square D LoL  I need to save my $$$ for barbecue, air compressor motors, fixing that yellow chebbie, and maybe then someday I can actually build my truck. Besides Nate.... when going to the city, take a city truck right?

[Flyin6]

This isn't going to be easy

But here goes

First up, the engine is running fine. It was timing and it is now set properly.

Then Mike proceeded to tell me a few things.

First up, someone didn't tighten many of the brake lines, as the system had many leaks, which have been fixed.

Next up, someone hooked up the lines to the hydro boost backwards. That, too, has been remedied

There was an oil leak on the hydraulic pump in the engine cover gear case, which is now no longer leaking

And then, well, it seems that when they put it in gear, like nothing was working.

Mike said it was as if the transmission was not connected to the engine...almost as if someone forgot to actually bolt the flywheel to the torque converter.

Knowing that my truck had been vandalized by some no-gooder who apparently broke in my garage and for some unknown reason, removed the torque converter bolts from the thing, because I would not have forgotten to bolt the flywheel to the torque converter...Well, anyway, knowing that for certain, I have informed the proper authorities, and an investigation is has been started.

Therefore, due to the on-going nature of this investigation, I cannot comment further on the matter.

[KensAuto]

Great news¡!!!!!!! Woot woot woot woot

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[Dawg25385]

Awesome news boss


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[Flyin6]

...has me dreamin' of parkin' the thing at the mall, right beside some kolean kar or toyota precious (Bout 2" from it,) then hookin' up scout, the attack dog to the rear hitch and going off shoppin for a bit.



Edit: Maybe a cube. I don't like those things either. Always have rainbow decals and sierra club and save the whales stickers all over their unimaginative, ugly surfaces.

[stlaser]

...has me dreamin' of parkin' the thing at the mall, you know stuck in some mulch bed right beside some kolean kar or toyota precious (Bout 2" from it,) then hookin' up scout, the attack dog to the rear hitch and going off shoppin for a bit.



Edit: Maybe a cube. I don't like those things either. Always have rainbow decals and sierra club and save the whales stickers all over their unimaginative, ugly surfaces.

FIFY

[Flyin6]

...has me dreamin' of parkin' the thing at the mall, you know stuck in some mulch bed right beside some kolean kar or toyota precious (Bout 2" from it,) then hookin' up scout, the attack dog to the rear hitch and going off shoppin for a bit.



Edit: Maybe a cube. I don't like those things either. Always have rainbow decals and sierra club and save the whales stickers all over their unimaginative, ugly surfaces.

FIFY

Well, D'accord,

Stuck or no, Kube owner still gets the same vibe

[JR]

Finally, the dust is off. Timing is fixed and few bolts tightened down (or found)

So, when do the pictures show up? Remember, no pics, not real.

[OldKooT]

*sigh.... next phase.

[TexasRedNeck]

Pic nothing! I want video!


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[Wilbur]

Getting there! I always hate those bolt thieves....

Me: "I'll just put these here where I won't lose them....."

Days or weeks later....

"Hi I'd like to order...."

SMH

[Flyin6]

Getting there! I always hate those bolt thieves....

Me: "I'll just put these here where I won't lose them....."

Days or weeks later....

"Hi I'd like to order...."

SMH

We're goin' to find that rascal and bring him to justice!

[kampfitt]

 IT's ALive!!

[Sammconn]

Timing...Hmm, I think that was mentioned...lol

Glad it's running.
Brakes, ahhh, overrated. Didn't they leak all over the garage floor?

Hopefully you find those rascally torque converter bolts.

Happy to see this page FINALLY turning.

[KensAuto]

I'd find that sucker that loosened those brake lines and string him/her up ...they knew what they were doing...no brakes and no engine braking!

[Bigdave_185]

I think this is a perfect close to our year,  finally will be able to get a comfortable rest with out wondering and dreaming


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[cudakidd53]

Wow Don, those guys are GOOD!  Worth every dollar you are going to pay them - sounds like you were going to have a 4 wheeled, Harley leaving puddles in the garage!

[cudakidd53]

You know, after thinking about it, I’ll bet most of those “missed items” were due to interruptions by the Red Dog eating your tools and the infamous “levitation gone bad” incident where you tried busting the concrete with your backside.  That’s gotta be near the trans cooler line section of the build. Throw in the “great candy bar wrapper fire” and there was plenty of opportunity for Gremlin attacks to go unnoticed.  You did paint it like a WW II bomber - roll the Bugs Bunny Gremlin episodes and the picture comes together like the missing minutes of the Watergate tapes!

The Defense Rests!

[Flyin6]

You know, after thinking about it, I’ll bet most of those “missed items” were due to interruptions by the Red Dog eating your tools and the infamous “levitation gone bad” incident where you tried busting the concrete with your backside.  That’s gotta be near the trans cooler line section of the build. Throw in the “great candy bar wrapper fire” and there was plenty of opportunity for Gremlin attacks to go unnoticed.  You did paint it like a WW II bomber - roll the Bugs Bunny Gremlin episodes and the picture comes together like the missing minutes of the Watergate tapes!

The Defense Rests!

I see you have my back on this one

Ya know thinking about it, those things are all a part of something like this. Square D was so much work, so over the top, so many modifications, and so totally unique, I fully expected to have a substantial and growing punchout list.

Missing the torque converter bolts...whoever did that...well, I have never done anything like that before!

So, in January, with a truck that runs and may even be driveable, I can go on to finishing a myriad of loose ends. Seems to be a theme in my life currently. I'll do it the way I am to things down at the farm. It is a full out effort to just close out open projects, you know, get things done.

I want to get the Dodge to a point where it works, and is needing nothing. Then I want to add on those long chevy rear springs and do something about that sagging front end. Likely we will see a pretty big change going on up front in the not too distant future.

[TexasRedNeck]

still no video proof..... :stickpoke

[Flyin6]

still no video proof..... :stickpoke

stick-poke hugh!

[JR]

Naw, it doesn't run. Its a garage queen, just a diff garage (maybe) 

[Flyin6]

Houston, we have a problem.

OK, the news is not good

First, the hydro boost which I had plumbed incorrectly blew its seals

They replaced it

The replaced unit just did the same thing. It had brakes, but now just massive hydraulic leaks.

And that is the good news

I guess I could also say it has not been stolen or burned down, or rusted away

But the torque converter/flywheel bolt missing thing is a lot worse than we imagined.

The torque converter will not engage the flywheel or crank hub. They think it is the RevMax billet converter nosecone that may be machined to an improper size (Too big-needing chucking and turning down to the proper size)

They need to pull the transmission at a minimum

Do any of you remember the two crossmembers I built and installed? How the fuel filter mount is also attached? How the exhaust is snaked through all that? How the trans lines run all over down there? How the wiring bundles run all over down there?
Keeping that in mind, we'd need to pull both drive shafts, the transfer case, linkages, and transmission just to be able to see what may be wrong...all at $120 an hour. I had budgeted $2K for the project, and we are at $1,920. Mike advises, that if I proceed, this will be a massive undertaking. We may then discover any number of bad things.

So, I think this goose may be cooked!

I told him to stop work while he and I consider what to do next.

I don't know if I have ever been kicked in the gut so hard as this, but reality just came home to roost.

I may just bring it home, pull it all apart and sell off all the individual parts, right down to the bare frame. When I get this sick about something, I get done with it, toss in the whillie-pete grenade and put it in the rear view mirror...

[cruizng]

Well that's a huge bummer. Sorry to hear that.


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[TexasRedNeck]

Don. You’re not a quitter. After all I have $40k in my LB7 and it’s not worth $15

You gonna let a little set back whoop you?  C’mon chief. You’re better than that.


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[Flyin6]

Don. You’re not a quitter. After all I have $40k in my LB7 and it’s not worth $15

You gonna let a little set back whoop you?  C’mon chief. You’re better than that.


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I don't quit, true

But not very smart

May have to take a huge step backward on it though. Not enough time to tear that thing down/repair/put back together myself these days. Was sort of the reason I hired someone.
Really disappointed in this.
Disappointed earlier that I hired a diesel mechanic to time the engine, who actually did it and did it all wrong, all at my expense. But he needed help at the time so what's done is done.
In all likelihood, probably looking at thousands more, and that dog won't hunt
I'll need to sit on this.