REAL MAN TRUCKWORKS & SURVIVAL
VEHICLES, CAMPERS, and BOATS => Build Threads => Topic started by: OldKooT on July 27, 2015, 01:10:13 PM
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Ok, you all asked for it, so here we go.
Back about 5 years ago my wife decided she was really sick of driving a Suburban or Tahoe or in other words "typical" Mom type transportation. Then as life in Nebraska happens, we had some major storms roll through and she managed to swamp her new Tahoe crossing a river on the road to our house. The truck was a total loss. She made a strong argument for a older less technology dependent SUV of some sort. To shorten the reading here, after a long drawn out story of oddity, she picked up a nice truck.
It is a 1988 Ramcharger. It was ordered new for a Ski lodge Chief of Police. They actually had ordered two, one was a auto, and ours was a manual transmission. Both were driven very little in actual patrol duty, and ours had around 35K on it when she bought it. Always stored in the heated fire department and seldom used, it was rust free and all original. As sold new is was a stripper. Radio delete, no AC, HD heat, HD charging, HD cooling, rear L/S diff, tbi 318/Np435. It's Dodge fleet white, with a blue interior.
(http://i.imgur.com/RmHQi3v.jpg)
Kay with her new ride, notice the other 3 Dodges in the background.
(http://i.imgur.com/jAI55bq.jpg)
Next......
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This became a common sight. Kay having to fix the RC, almost daily. At first it was just normal replacement of things you want to replace when a truck is that old. Hoses, belts, tun up and fluids. She managed most of that in a weekend, when she complete the packing of wheel bearings and the above she started driving it.
(http://i.imgur.com/lLNIvsM.jpg)
Fast Forward about 3 months. She has driving it possibly 1500 miles and then a very odd thing happened. We had a severe T storm with multiple hours of almost constant lightning. The storm part was normal for Neb, the odd part was the next morning when neither her RC or my 1993 Club cab truck would start. Both had been sitting next to each other in the driveway during the storm.
I found the PCM to be bad in my pickup and a simple replacement and it was running the same day. The RC also needed a PCM and was running a few days latter. But that was when the "issues" started.
It started with random no start situations, then it advanced to starting just fine but stalling and not restarting. Then one day it had no fuel, the next day no spark. We replaced a lot of stuff and almost at one point called a priest. Bottom line it became very unreliable...and I believe I towed it home a dozen times in a few weeks.
Kay with her usual grace just flat stole my W350ctd and declared the RC could just sit in the barn or hanger and rot.
Next.......
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I don't have any pictures of this next part but Kay one day just randomly declares she bought a 92 W250 CTD that was as she put it "ugly" but the price was right. Somehow she even talked the 80 year old farmer who sold it into delivering it.
She took possession on Friday and Saturday it had been reduced to scarp iron. She stole all the good parts and the rest was tossed in a pile, and she started work on her version of a Diesel Ramcharger. I was so busy at this point with farming I had little to do with much of the initial stages of this project. But inside of a week, she had the RC tore down to just a frame and body on stands, and she started reassembling. I had lost my make shift shop entirely....
(http://i.imgur.com/kwzDlLB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/TUoQWiT.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Yc8TqA8.jpg)
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(http://i.imgur.com/tVMEF0o.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/tz3tVse.jpg)
Original 1988 Paint....
(http://i.imgur.com/cHjhLVX.jpg)
She wired it herself....
(http://i.imgur.com/rVZ22Am.jpg)
And at this point the project stalls due to life getting too busy to work on it. It's runs/drives and has some issues. The largest one being it had just too much power from the heavily modified Cummins.
Next....
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Enter Phase 3: It became obvious that we would not be finishing the crew cab project before August as we intended. Spring storms and rain devastated fields, ruined ditches, tore out culverts, and in general made a mess. So we lost much valuable time to dealing with natures fury, and no truck building got done.
Add to that, I decided I want to build a very unique truck, and the project would take more time anyway with that drastic change in plans. So Kay had torn the engine, trans, axles from Anvil in an attempt to speed up the Crew Cab project. Despite her efforts, the weather kept coming and the time was just not there.
So my wife not being real good at accepting any form of defeat hatches her new secret plan. She is aware I had purchased a few new 5.9 crate engines for irrigation plants. Because of the rain we clearly would not be irrigating much this summer, so the odds of needing the new engines were low. Everything we had on line ran and ran well, but a few were getting toward the end of there lifespan so I had purchased replacements for when they were needed.
Well my wife in all her subtle way of dealing with things flat stole a brand new 5.9 CTD from my farm shop and deposited it on a engine stand at the shop here at home and declared she was putting Anvil back on the road with a milder engine. We WERE going camping/wheeling/exploring this summer/fall period.
So Phase 3 is as follows in a brief overview.
New 5.9 CTD with some mild head work, 60lb springs, blueprinting. A new 62 mm Super B turbo, A brand new NOS Bosch VE pump, Piston lift pump, and some unknown injectors that are new but no clue what they are LoL
The rest is about like the 2nd Phase. Dana 60 front, 14Bolt Chevy rear both with Detroit's and 456 gears. Alcan springs, 37" BFG Baja Mt's, Power stroke Intercooler. No grid heaters, no PCM, just a tractor with license plates. or in other words it's built much like it's name sake.... a Anvil.
As it sits today....
(http://i.imgur.com/SbG2VTG.jpg)
Next.... Bumpers, equipment, small changes, and lots of use. That's it for now, we are up to date in a abbreviated form
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Great start, the street legal tractor, "ANVIL".
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Modifications planned ASAWA (As soon as weather allows)
The 4.56 gears and 37's work rather well actually. That said our Speed-limit here on the freeway is 75mph, with a reality of closer to 85. And right now, Anvil is a 65mph truck at a happy cruise rpm. Since the truck was originally built for my wife to tool around with on our nasty back roads and such, 65mph was a plenty fast enough cruise speed. Now that it's going to stretch it's legs and be a long distance road cruiser at times, we will have to re-gear. To that end I think we will be switching to 3.73 in both axles rather soon.
The rear Detroit is a bit grabby in town with the stick. It's perfectly drivable but the tire wear will become an issue again if it's driven a lot. I may leave it alone but I have been considering a Air locker for the rear at some point. Of course doing this while swapping gears would make the most sense. Still debating this, as I dislike the complex aspect of selectable lockers. I most likely won't like the expense either LoL
We need a spare tire, and a place to stow it. A rear carrier makes sense. I may get to work on that and the front bumper/winch deal latter this week a bit.
The headlights suck... I believe some H4's are in the works. I may even own a new set yet somewhere, I will look.
I think a beefed up tie rod is also on the list. I noticed yesterday while looking for why it pulls just a little to the right under hard braking, that the OEM Dodge tie rod flexes a lot more than I would like.
It needs a big CB, an 102" antenna, and a scanner. Look for these to happen soon.... maybe a shelf-it as well.
Storage, spare parts, gear, and a rifle rack are also needed additions.
I should probably install a radio also.... maybe a floor mat too.
That about covers it for immediate projects needing doing. Now to find the time and ambition LoL
Although not what I'd call a bug-out escape humanity survival truck... it has some neat features of such a truck.
It fits under a 7' garage door. Which makes it parking garage/car wash friendly. It blends in fairly well..it's white, which incidentally is a great winter camo at any rate. Which is 5-6mo of the year in these parts.
It has 33 gallons of diesel and gets 18mpg easily even at 70mph. It should do close to 20-22 at 55mph, so it has decent range. Add two fuel cans on a tire rack, and your looking at 43 gallons. It is very simple... so although EMP proof isn't really a concern of mine, I imagine it is as much or more so than most.
It most likely will have fishing poles, a cross bow, and a rifle or two on board at all times. I have no use for a handgun unless it's a old Navy Colt or something with a semblance of range.
It should be semi light weight for a 4x4... I should weigh it and see I suppose.
So here we go, a farmer style build thread, this should be amusing.
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All of that makes great sense Norm.
Same as with Spartan, keep it under 7ft for city friendly use.
Do the H4s and got to relsys. So simple and you can go to the 100 watt bulbs for that reaching out.
What CB you looking at? I have been thinking about the 880 Uniden and it has NOAH also. Been a Cobra fan in the past but input is nice.
I like seeing a lady do this stuff. You sure look to have a keeper there. Heck we may even get a pic of you someday!
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That's an awesome story. What's even more awesome is the fact that it has the original paint....it looks emaculate.
I think I've said it before, somewhere, but me thinks you got a keeper (Ms. Kay).
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Norm,
I probably missed it along the way, but what trans are you running in that bruiser. I caught manual but do you know the numbers? I've got some ideas brewin'. Corn JUST got their tops last weekend; I'd say we're a far cry behind you guys there, but no megastorms anywhere in WA yet.
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Tate.... it's a NV4500 with a 1 3/8" input upgrade. It also has the 5th gear fix. I bought it new on a Pallet from a gentleman who purchased it from Advance Adapters, but never used it in his truck. It's coupled to a 29 spline Np 205.
It then runs to a non CV 1350 rear 1/4" wall moly tube driveshaft. I avoided the usual 1410's because honestly the truck will never tow any weight to speak of. The 1350 fits much better, and doesn't reduce yoke clearance at the rear 14 bolt like the 1410 does. I also have a 1350 front CV shaft. So one set of spare Joints covers the entire mess. Also a non CV rear shaft is cheaper and simpler to carry a spare for. I shaved the rear lip off the 14 bolt, welded the tubes to the diff and tossed some disk brakes on it. Well actually Kay did the brakes and shaving LoL
The front 60 is smoothed on the bottom and had the inner "C's" turned. It now has 6 degres caster... drives straight at 80mph hands off the wheel. It also is a snow commander front housing so it runs the Dana 70 sized inner C's. It has the large diameter inner Spicer shafts common to the latter model front 60's, and 35 spline Spicer outer shafts and those POS Warn lockouts for now.
Really it is a nothing fancy, old school kind of truck. No fancy Hyd steering assist it doesn't need, no real bling anywhere. Just solid parts.
We intend to continue the build long the same lines. Simple and reliable and also easily sourced replacement parts if needed.
The fuel system is a great example... a diesel filler neck with a 100 micro milk screen epoxied in place mid tube. A oem Dodge "sock" on a 3/8 pickup tube is sucking fuel just like the stock 5/16" line did. That then runs in steel line the entire way to the pump with a 4" section of diesel safe rubber at the frame adjacent to the pump. The pumps a low pressure Cummins replacement piston lift pump from a Case Backhoe. That runs to a baldwin OEM style filter with a fuel heater delete. Tractor simple, and reliable. It holds 12psi at 38 psi of boost no sweat...
Jr... the Headlights are going on relays as soon as I find my stash of Bosch relays LoL Kay loves to wire and I hate it, so she's looking forward to that project. And I did find my H4 Headlights so that's a done deal soon. I want to track down some Cibie Oscars before I build the front bumper, that's proven a little bit of a challenge so far. Well at least sensibly priced.
As for the CB: Most likely it will get a Tweaked Galaxy Dx94Hp Out here Cell phones often don't work, Ham radio is almost useless in many areas.... but CB is everywhere. A good rig, a 102" whip, and someone can hear you.
Ken... I could not ask for a better woman. She's a real treasure. I actually designed this truck around her reality. She's very simple to keep smiling woman, she's amazingly tough, very talented and she thinks old school... she churns her own butter because it's fun?
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OK winch choices for Anvil. I have the following "in stock" either new or close to new.
Ramsey 12K Electric worm gear RE12000 I believe. These are tough, but slow..not always a bad thing.
Ramsey 10K PTO standard drum width, holds 150' of 3/8
Ramsey 10K PTO wide drum, holds 200' of 3/8
Mile Marker two speed 12K hydraulic
Warn 12K Electric (I don't like this winch much)
I think I have a Warn 8274 but that's not an option with this truck, far too tall a profile.
Opinions?
The PTO is my fav choice, but the headache of the install would require front clip removal yet again. And them bolts are going to be wore out if I take it apart again LoL
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I just flat out like this RC
Perhaps the cleanest in the nation
Dirt simple, as reliable as a sunrise, cost effective, old school (Which is the best school), non electronic, clean, classic lines...With this beauty I could go on and on!
Oh, winch...I am using an old T-Max 9K in the nose of the D-Max truck. Just last week I winched my neighbors F150 up a long slippery bank he went down unexpectantly, then winched his zero turn up the same grade. Lots of electric motoring and no hiccups.
For the price, that 12K Chinaman thing I got for Christmas now sitting in Square D is not bad, but only 85' of rope. I like the Superwinch as well. Lots of them on the battlefield. GI's do dumb stuff, so Armee winches are used often.
Oh they don't do dumb stuff? I'm not checking but if you googled someone "Drifting" an Abrams, you're gonna find it. Or an Apache pilot who says "watch this," seconds before the disaster.
Superwinch, Battlefield DumbA$$ tested and redneck approved!
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I like the ramsey winch, had one on my 77.
Going to run some heat to the radio? Stock output is always iffy.
Love the drivetrain.
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Emergency Brake?
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As for the winch, Kay made the argument the MM12K is a two speed and will facilitate me moving the battery to the rear as I have often threatened to do. The less weight on the nose the better with this rig. So I guess the MM it is. I may however at some point provide it with a dedicated pump all it's own for more better performance.
Emergency brake: None yet.......but I figure for about $25 I can remedy that, and it's on my short list after bumpers. Somehow this didn't make my list...so good you mentioned it.
JR....That model radio has 100watts as delivered. Although I will always operate it at it's lowest power position of 4watts like everyone else on 11meters.
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MM 12K
Hmmm
Never thought about that one
Hmmm
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crunching numbers, 3.73 will put you at 1905rpm in OD at 75mph.
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crunching numbers, 3.73 will put you at 1905rpm in OD at 75mph.
That should be just bout a perfect blend of efficiency and MPG. Which is why I "like" that ratio in this application. It will still have plenty of low range reduction available for slow going off road work as well. The transmission should run cooler, the rear end cooler, and in general it should all just flat be better than it is now.
Since I have a spare 3.73 14 bolt laying around, I really have no excuse to not just do it soon and get it over with. If I was creative I could just change the housings and not even set up the gears. Although I doubt I will do that, it's too simple LoL
I just returned from the local office supply store. I got crayons and poster board to make some templates and mockup for the front bumper. Then I realized I have a shortage of metal to build said bumper with. I am working on a remedy for that issue now.....
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I saw an old dozer in one of your pics, but you might have to repaint the pieces you rob. lol
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Lol that pink one? We happen to live in what I call the "no parts, no materials exclusion zone" of Nebraska. I had to drive 45 miles last week to buy a torch tip for my gas axe. To that end..... I either order metal, or I will have to scavenge it. Since I must have something laying in a tree line somewhere since 1906 or so, I should be able to find something to build a bumper from. That's part of the fun, recycling something my forefathers left laying around because it might be useful. Bet they never envisioned a old planter or something being a winch bumper on a odd little SUV LoL
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crunching numbers, 3.73 will put you at 1905rpm in OD at 75mph.
That should be just bout a perfect blend of efficiency and MPG. Which is why I "like" that ratio in this application. It will still have plenty of low range reduction available for slow going off road work as well. The transmission should run cooler, the rear end cooler, and in general it should all just flat be better than it is now.
Since I have a spare 3.73 14 bolt laying around, I really have no excuse to not just do it soon and get it over with. If I was creative I could just change the housings and not even set up the gears. Although I doubt I will do that, it's too simple LoL
I just returned from the local office supply store. I got crayons and poster board to make some templates and mockup for the front bumper. Then I realized I have a shortage of metal to build said bumper with. I am working on a remedy for that issue now.....
Crayons???
Medium point felt tip...
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Yeah Don my granddaughter went shopping for poster board with me. She insisted we draw with crayons. The bumper project is on a slight hold as it's far to hot to work on such stuff.
I did wander over to my secret parts treasure trove and buy some more junk I don't need. I ended up with an entire pickup box of NOS Spicer parts again. I also bought a half dozen assorted step side tailgates my wife felt would make good shop benches. Some Pinteresty project she has schemed.
I suspect at some point my daily driver W250 is going to require some attention. I need to find some good budget front springs for it, and fix a few other small things so it doesn't fall apart. I may slide it into the shop for a crankcae full of fresh Schaeffer 15/40w and a filter. Possibly fix a worn king pin or two and see about the front springs....Having the entire box filled with Spicer stuff alerted me to just how bad the front springs really are.
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More parts!!!
Any new WW2 bombs?
You now have the Midwest's largest Dana parts depository!
And
Crayons it is, then!
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Not sure it counts much as a update..or even progress. But today Anvil started, went to town and back and acted just like a normal truck. I think that is a sign of success LoL
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If 'normal' is just that then it's a step in the right direction. It took a fair beating, so back o. The road driving would certainly count as progress in my mind.
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The draw back to Anvil working as it should.... I now need to work on my daily driver pickup. Something I have been putting off for some time.
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Anvil at work....
(http://i.imgur.com/NtlEnlJ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/wnUua4W.jpg)
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Another quick performance review:
Mileage is up now to around 22mpg consistently. Engine may be getting broke in and that's the reason I am guessing.
The front Alcans have settled down a bit as expected. Which has generated a bit of bump steer due to the crossover steering. It's very mild and only if you compress the front springs a lot, but annoying. So I may change the steering arm to compensate at some point.
Winter is on the way, it still runs too cool. I am going to change the thermostat yet again. Maybe I have a bad one again. I need to pop out a frost plug and install a block heater anyway to go along with the oil pan heater.
The rear 14 bolt may be falling apart. I am going to drop the cover and look this weekend. It sure acts like the Detroit broke.
Otherwise all is about normal...my wife drives it almost every day to work and no complaints other than no stereo LoL
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Hey Norm, you might try putting a restrictor in one of the heater hoses (assuming it's hooked up), to slow the (bypass) system down.
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Yah it's hooked up... but that's not a bad idea (restricter). I now also have a defective liquid filled Autometer temp gauge. Par for the course I guess. I used my fancy infrared temp thingy a few minutes ago and it seems to be running right at 165 instead of the 180 the thermostat is suppose to open at.
I decided to skip it for now and putz around building a winch mount.... VERY slowly. My goal is a bumper before next year LoL
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I decided to skip it for now and putz around building a winch mount.... VERY slowly. My goal is a bumper before next year LoL
How do we go from a Truck by June to a Bumper by next year!? LOL
I kid I kid
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Here is how that works....I got to the shop, made a template for the mounting brackets, cut and drilled them. Then I measured and cut and welded on a piece of angle at the desired height across said brackets. Then I braced the winch up there and put it where I want it. Then I sat in my lawn chair and stared at it pointlessly for an hour.
I have no ideas in my head how I want it to look, I know how I want it to function. So.... bumper block LoL
Maybe latter something will come to me.
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Here is how that works....I got to the shop, made a template for the mounting brackets, cut and drilled them. Then I measured and cut and welded on a piece of angle at the desired height across said brackets. Then I braced the winch up there and put it where I want it. Then I sat in my lawn chair and stared at it pointlessly for an hour.
I have no ideas in my head how I want it to look, I know how I want it to function. So.... bumper block LoL
Maybe latter something will come to me.
The same thing happens to me on almost every creative project i undertake. I spend more time staring at it then I do working on it.
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It's the lawn chair... Gets me every time too
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Oh I totally get it. The bumper block.
Said I wanted to do bumpers about four or so years ago.
Bought the winch three summers ago, In hopes it would help.
Stared searched high and low, total bumper block.
Then I had the vision in my head what I wanted, got my break in the thaw and knocked it off.
Now here I am again, stuck, trying to figure out the rear.
It wil come to ya, so keep setting in the chair, looking around, and when it hits ya, you'll knock it off no doubt.
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Here is how that works....I got to the shop, made a template for the mounting brackets, cut and drilled them. Then I measured and cut and welded on a piece of angle at the desired height across said brackets. Then I braced the winch up there and put it where I want it. Then I sat in my lawn chair and stared at it pointlessly for an hour.
I have no ideas in my head how I want it to look, I know how I want it to function. So.... bumper block LoL
Maybe latter something will come to me.
I get that too
...Bumper Lock
Spreads all over my brain at times
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The last few days we put the bumper build on hold and have been just driving Anvil as per usual. As I mentioned before the rear Detroit has been acting oddly. The assumption going by past experience is when I broke that axle, I must have broken the Detroit as well. (which often happens) But then.......... sometimes you can drive it a 1000 miles and it behaves just fine. So today......I called Tate prepared to spend some $$$ and replace the Detroit with a selectable locker. Except clearly I have been living under a rock, as what I wanted to buy is not even being made yet. Ok now what.....
So I tore the diff cover off, axles out, and the Ring and Pinion out, and disassembled the entire mess on my bench. Nothing is broken, in fact it looks like it has about 10k miles on it. (which it does) The magnets I epoxied in place inside the housing had just a small amount of "metal dust" and the fluid was actually still clean as a whistle.
So..why is it acting so oddly? Well I found the culprit I believe in what is a likely chain of events causing untold annoyance.
This gets technical LoL: Hidden behind one of the disk brake brackets I spied a slight "damp" looking wheel seal. Time to investigate a bit further....off came the wheel/hub. The disk brake rotor had a slight "hot" look to it...that is odd. And THEN the problem became clear. After looking for why the brake could be dragging and cursing silently the quality of today's "new" calipers I realized the actual problem was the disk brake bracket. The threads in the bracket for the one caliper bolt had been pulled right out.
This allowed the caliper to "twist" a little and drag, thus causing a slight drip of oil onto the rotor on the inside from the overheated wheel seal. Because it was dragging lightly, is was messing with the Detroit's head. And then of course mine as well. Oddly, it stopped just fine.
So a few quarts of Red Line gear lube wasted, a new wheel seal I had on the shelf, and the diff is buttoned up awaiting my as of yet not decided genius way of fixing the caliper bracket threads. (my guess weld em shut and drill/tap) and we will be back on the road.
The question still remains if we will keep this thing as is, or part it out. As much as we enjoy Anvil, it's short wheelbase on our gravel roads is a handful with the snappy mild Cummins anytime ya build any boost. 37" rubber, 4.56 gears and the 5spd make for a great combination...it's almost a bit too good for loose surfaces.
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So..... opinion. Do we part out Anvil and just concentrate on the Crew Cab? I don't imagine it would be hard to sell the pair of built/massaged/locked basically new 1 ton axles. The NV4500/205 Combo would be gone/sold in 20 minutes. All this would easily fund some "more funner" Crew Cab mods. (anytime I can fund a project and not actually spend any money I smile)
We could have Anvil in pieces and tucked away in a barn awaiting "phase4" in a weekend easily. But I imagine the crew will take all winter to build how I want it. Which would mean we'd be lacking a large rubber equipped 4x4 which isn't a good idea.
The other idea is to "enhance" my daily driver (almost stock 91.5 CTD standard cab) It could easily be riding on some larger rubber (think some 35" MT's on some Duramax Bead locks) maybe feed it Anvils 5spd/case? Maybe Anvils axles? Hmmm...... then take the stock stuff from the pickup and toss it into Anvil next spring?
I bet I could transform the pickup in a week or two tops...maybe less.
anyone have any 1st Gen Dodge front lift springs laying around they want to sell? I am having ideaers now.....
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You can not part out that beautiful white Ramcharger
What
Are you kidding?
That thing is one of the best I have ever seen
Don't, I repeat DON'T you dare tear that thing apart!
(I think the boy's losin' it!) :o
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Oh boy. Good luck with getting that ADHD under control !!
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Oh boy. Good luck with getting that ADHD under control !!
Actually I think it's AAADHD.
Age Aflicted...
And don't part out anvil.
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I think that boys cheese just slid off his cracker!
norm, put the tools down and step away from anvil!
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One issue with Democracy, it's opinionated LoL For now it will remain together...not because you all think I am nuts or all that. I have decided I need a daily driver 44" tire equipped pickup...so to that end, I will just build one of those in my spare time.
Anvil update: We road tested it last night about 150 miles, and it drives much better with the brake issue fixed. It's still overpowered for gravel road driving, but I may switch back to stock injectors and a smaller turbo to help that issue.
We are off to head down to the farm to use the brake and scrounge through my metal pile there for bumper building pieces.
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I have decided I need a daily driver 44" tire equipped pickup...so to that end, I will just build one of those in my spare time.
You say that like we should all have parts laying around to just throw one or ten together. Just make sure you make that one a build thread too if it happens.
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...... It's still overpowered .....
Says very few, possibly no one !!!!
I almost put that quote in my sig....
On that note, I finally ordered some efi live to replace the H&S (for more power, so I can try to spin my tires on a gravel road)......so yeah, adding more wires, while Norm is doing away with them. :-[
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I was just going to suggest that you leave it together and dial it back a bit in the power range. you can always go back, but not if it's in pieces.
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The white stallion lives...It survived for the time being!
I feel like I did something to preserve history!
Hey (Ab) Norm (al) ;) What about an older RC, like a 70's? One is sitting near by here in a patch of 6' tall weeds with a snow plow hooked to the front...
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Norm, I'll solve the problem for you by taking the whole thing off your hands....
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Norm, I'll solve the problem for you by taking the whole thing off your hands....
No, you have the Bus and the Dually..
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What are you saying Bobby? My wife would get mad if I bought another truck??
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What are you saying Bobby? My wife would get mad if I bought another truck??
Umm yea that was totally what I meant...
Cause you still haven't lowered the Bus, haven't seen the dually in a long time. I think you sold it! Yea that's it you sold it!
Consider the pot stirred.
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I think bobby is saying that he needs us all to pitch in and pay norm for bobbys new truck???
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Well I'll show you the dually. Backed over a Chrysler 200 at the airport last week. Poor guy his car was almost undrivable. Minor damage to mine.
Just ordered a new set of headlights for the Bus. About to put it in the shop and put it under the knife now that I installed the metal door
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The poor little cars these days really don't stand up to a truck very well do they.
At least it wasn't the bus, or you could have drove right over him. (Or did you with the dually)
Wow are we ever junkin' up Norms thread here. Sorry Norm.
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Glad you are keeping it for now Norm. What year was that rear?
Man you guys are getting restless. I bet when SOMETHING RUNS we will all calm a tad,,,,,,,,,
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I think bobby is saying that he needs us all to pitch in and pay norm for bobbys new truck???
Na I'm good with XJ. Winter is coming; which reminds me, I gotta catch up on GoT. Full time locker with lots of torque on hard packed snow, ice and black ice.. that's a mathematical equation for nothing good happening. Plus, I'm not really a fan of owning white trucks. Cars, yea I suppose that'd be fine, but for my trucks or in XJs case, I tend to prefer black,grey,silver. I don't know why.. oh well .
Well I'll show you the dually. Backed over a Chrysler 200 at the airport last week. Poor guy his car was almost undrivable. Minor damage to mine.
Just ordered a new set of headlights for the Bus. About to put it in the shop and put it under the knife now that I installed the metal door
Dang.
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My Wife, and our Grandson and I took a spin down to the farm to use the brake, and make a winch mount plate. While down there I figured I would weigh Anvil on our scale. 5427lbs with a almost full tank of fuel and the winch in the back. Not as heavy as I thought it would be.... anyway the scale house/elevator control.
(http://i.imgur.com/S2OGUZX.jpg)
A slightly better look at the leg.
(http://i.imgur.com/Kt62BH7.jpg)
We call this the South Elevator, we have another with larger bins on the N place as well.
(http://i.imgur.com/eWCb9mc.jpg)
Then we took a spin out to a piece of property we own it;s a section of combination field ground, pasture, river bottom, woods and what not. This shot is a 1/4 mile in from the gravel.
(http://i.imgur.com/QaDQxqu.jpg)
a few more as we drive in further...
(http://i.imgur.com/X0OEKPv.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/zI1D3bi.jpg)
Finally getting to the pasture, this area has never seen a plow bottom. Indians used to summer here because of the great fishing, hunting and shelter from storms. Today it's home to a few head of cattle.
(http://i.imgur.com/dgBSFJs.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/PGol9Rv.jpg)
Getting along much further in here is a shot of the river and valley.
(http://i.imgur.com/JN1Z2LY.jpg)
After following the rail line quite some distance you will stumble on the old homestead. If you look close you can see the old settler shack to the left of the falling down corn crib. Some day when we have a camera along instead of the cell phone we will snap some better pictures but I thought you may enjoy.
(http://i.imgur.com/kafUeoO.jpg)
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I tossed up a few pictures to really DOT it up LoL Besides it's good filler at the moment while I come up with some over complicated way to make a pipe bumper or something.
I see it's Thursday, today is the last day of irrigation, and then we prepare for harvest. Should have close to 20 days of not much to do that's work related. Good time to mend some fences, put up some more firewood, and mow some ditches, landings, and assorted other fire hazard areas.
We are slaughtering hogs and beef this month as well.
On a more truck note: Anvil's issue with the twitchy locker is gone. It's back to normal other than I discovered we have a small oil drip from the turbos oil return line. I should get on the winch bumper project...yesterdays little 4x4 romp across the river bottoms and through the woods was dicey in a few spots on the small 37's
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Norm,
Really nice looking place in AMERICAS HEARTLAND! Thanks for sharing.
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I tossed up a few pictures to really DOT it up LoL.
...yesterdays little 4x4 romp across the river bottoms and through the woods was dicey in a few spots on the small 37's
I guess I'm maybe? a little odd? 37's aren't small to me, they're freakin huge...and you want more, LOL.
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I want to build a log cabin by that river.
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Beautiful place Norm. Beautiful.
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Sam, 37" rubber is rather large in some ways/context. Take a drive into that property we were in yesterday, you'd feel a 37" MT is just one small step above a doughnut spare on a full size truck.
Many years ago the railroad attempted to build a dirt trestle across the valley. (2.7 miles) they got about a mile, built two bridges over the rivers and gave up. To this day I still find old rails and massive piles of spikes in the oddest places.
Some day I will fire up the old Unimog which we basically totaled back there in that place, and do a go pro video. It would be easier to show than explain.
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I think bobby is saying that he needs us all to pitch in and pay norm for bobbys new truck???
I'm good with that!
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Norm,
That sure is a beautiful place you've got there. If you do decide to part and sell pieces of anvil, I know of a good home for them ;D PM your email if you would. Also, good choice on not parting Anvil as of yet, that thing sure is a beaut.
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Thanks Ken, everyone..... since I am stuck at the desk for a bit awaiting a phone call I will share some history on that property with you all. May as well go way DOT LoL
Contrary to popular belief Neb isn't flat. The property in the pictures is part of a rather expansive drainage basin/valley the Indians used to call "wild dirt" in English. There are places where the river banks are 50' above the water. It does a good sandstone imitation of a canyon actually in some areas.
But lets go to the beginning...You must be bored to be reading this BTW.
My great grandfather bought the initial land from a Indian Gentleman roughly in 1917 or so. The old corn crib, and the shack in the one picture I shared was his home. Back in the days of homesteading he had established his little homestead on 80 acres of what was a rich valley his forefathers used to use to hunt and village in during the summers. (some say he was the Son of a chief) Back when everything was done with horses and by hand it must have been a remote paradise. The nearest wagon road was 20 miles south and called the Oregon Trail. Now modern history will tell you that the Oregon trail ruffly parallels interstate 80. This is simply not factual in many areas. One can still see wagon ruts and the wild sunflowers that grow along the length of the Oregon trail, as well as many other wagon roads from those days. (hunting wagon routes is a hobby of mine) But keeping the route closer to I80 suits the narrative so there it is. Closest it ever comes to I80 in this part of Neb that I have ever found, is about 6 miles.
Anyway back to the valley. Great Gramps worked the dirt here, cleared tree stumps cut by who knows who, and expanded that 80 acres of tillable ground to about 120. My grandfather with the aid of a Cat and more modern equipment expanded it to 400 or so around 1940. Today I farm about 400 because that's the extent of what can be farmed. (and that decreases yearly with the flooding of past seasons) But yet I have to back up more yet....to the 1920 era.
Roughly 1920 the Railroad decided it had to cross this valley and they started a real war with my Great Grandfather to acquire access. There were shots fired on many occasions, goverment agents, quite the hoopla if you believe half the locals tales. But in the end the railroad got their access, and began what even the construction engineers called a fool hardy endeavor. This valley runs roughly 27 miles long, they picked the absolute worst place to attempt to cross.
By 1923 or so they had moved enough dirt, and built a trestle which was a earthen design to span about a mile of the valley. This included two actual trestles over the rivers and deep canyon like ravines. Spring of 1924 this area had lots of snow melt and the resulting flooding washed out some of the earthen trestle, thus stranding two locomotives and assorted hopper cars dumping dirt on the remaining bridge. Two weeks latter both the bridges also were washed out tumbling the trains into the now mile wide river and sending it downstream. They at this point gave up the entire project. Family legend has it one of the locomotives they were able to cut up and retrieved along with some of the hopper cars. Legend also says one of them was lost in the quicksand almost a mile from the trestle. Research by myself has found that both Locomotives were claimed as a loss by the railroad to insurance. So, hard saying....there are monster quick sand patches in areas...one swallowed a 4020 JD back in 1974
More history... during the building of this project. a small town sprung up a bit south of the valley on higher ground and at one point had a population of 200+ people, a general store a church and a brothel. Also a small opera house per some folks...when the project was abandoned the rail line moved 8 miles to the West and the town faltered and eventually just about vanished. Today if one knows where to look among a sea of corn and soybeans, you can still find some of the foundations of the old town. The family that owns the old town site property are descendants of the man the town was named for. Very few even know it ever existed.
Back to my valley. Great Gramps got his land back from the railroad. They were happy to let him have it and did. Over the years he bought more and more of the valley and today we own a fair stretch of it. It was no good for crops, too rough for cattle, and I am unsure honestly why he even bought it, but I am thankful he did. Grandma used to say he bought it because the Indian's thought so highly of it that it had to be of value. I suspect he wanted to own the fork of the rivers so he could access the water.
When I was 16 years old my grandfather explained to me that since I was adopted he couldn't give me the farm land the other grandkids were going to get. But he would sell me that "worthless" valley and crop land very reasonable. We struck a deal and I paid him $175 an acre for the entire 2400 acres. I have no idea why I bought it other than I always loved walking around back in there and discovering all sorts of treasure. I once hosted a arrow head collectors "hunt" back in there, and there were over 75 found in one day. Remains of wagons that tried to get across it and never made it. LoL a model T pickup that I have no idea how it got to where it was abandoned. And to this day we still find rails, spikes, plates, you name it, scattered all over from the abandoned trestle project. It's so densely overgrown in some areas I have never even been on some parts of the land. The natural prairie grasses that have never seen a plow are a rare deal anymore, and the university has actually harvested some seeds here for study.
The evidence of the Indians staying there are everywhere. The wild oats that grow throughout the valley, pumpkins, apples, plums, grapes, even sometimes old strains of corn. There are buffalo bones in areas along the river banks and to this day we still have a few elk.
It's now a little hunk of yesteryear trapped by terrain and crops from the rest of the world. I set up a trust to keep it around untouched for as long as I have surviving family members. As much as we'd love to build a small home there, it just seems a shame to ruin it, so it stays as it is. Most people that know of it are long dead or close so as the years go on, it becomes forgotten more and more...which is fine with me.
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Freakin awesome. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks. It's great that the history of that is known to be passed down in the family.
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Awesome story Norm. Thanks for sharing.
I get ha with the 37's being too small, just sounds out of place on a daily driver to be too small.
It's funny how back in the day stuff like that was attempted.
What a beautiful chunk of land none the less.
And I can see why you'd be torn to tear it up too.
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I fully intend to have a daily driver on 42" rubber by spring 8) Think "Crew Cab" Maybeeeeeeeee LoL
If you ever have the chance to drive I80 through downtown Omaha there is one of the most amazingly odd railroad engineering masterpieces hidden in plain sight. A huge trestle that spanned a large part of Omaha. Originally built of wood they no kidding just dumped dirt off the sides of it and turned it into a earthen trestle. Today it's the UP's mainline LOL
Omaha also has the USA's only known double swing draw bridge
You can read about here.... http://www.johnweeks.com/river_missouri/pages/omaha07.html
On truck related discussion.....it's too hot to build a bumper so I am buying parts online.
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Norm,
I too am glad to see Anvil has "Dodged" the scalpel at this time. However, I know a good home for the parts that are removed ;D If you would, PM me your email please. Lovely piece of Nebraska you have there, sure wish my old man would have stayed in that area and farmed, especially considering both of my parents are from those parts.
Turner
Turner...I fixed your comment ;-))
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My wife once bought a Cadillac. One of those fancy all wheel drive sport models CTS. Anyway we were in Lincoln at the mall shopping and when I ran back to the car to get my wife's purse for her the alarm went off, and it would not shut off. So after finally getting it to stop I grabbed my phone and listed it on Craigslist. I sold it in the parking garage a hour and a half latter. Anvil has not yet caused any such feelings, so it's probably safe for a bit.
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So which was it.....you sold the caddy, or the lincoln? :)
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LoL Ken.... she retaliated after I sold the CTS and bought a Porsche because that was more sensible. A hail storm totaled that a few months latter. Karma I tell ya.
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Wow, she don't mess around. I guess mother nature don't either!
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Norm- awesome family history and great stewardship of Gods creation! Another "bucket list" item is to actually find my own arrow head. My Grandfather farmed in Wisconsin and N. Illinois In his younger years and had cigar boxes of them and even Clovis points- as a Graduate Student I learned how old/valuable those were! Love the Plains history of your area and chasing Ditch Parrots behind dogs there abouts is what make fall my favorite of seasons!
Thanks for sharing!
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Clovis points are a interesting topic around here. As far as the state's "experts" are concerned not many official finds exist. That said, I know of a half dozen or so personally that have been found.
I suspect Nebraska's history is poorly understood in many cases. If I had the resources, time and patience I'd pen a book on some of the "oddities" I am aware of.
I used to hunt an area near Wis Dells that would turn up a Arrowhead or two almost every time we went out. Also an area near Mountain Wis not far from the famous Pipeline 4x4 trail often produced results. And another near Black river falls...also near a 4x4 trail.
As for hunting...I hear locals say it's going to be a good year for Pheasant. I haven't seen as many as usual but I sure have seen a LOT of Turkey this summer.
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Allow me to DOT here for a moment
Not knowing if it's true or not
But the guy who is the caretaker for the farm beside mine says the last time someone came in and plowed/disked up one of my fields, they found several arrowheads. He said people would come there from time to time to hunt them.
That area is where I found an old homestead, burned down, in amongst the locust trees. I found a filled in cistern and a still functioning well, made of field stone in a circle, classic thing maybe 12 feet or so deep to the water.
It was said that the Indians moved off the place and the homestead came to be some time in the 1830's.
I don't know for sure, but the land became a farm, deeded to the family I purchased it from in the 1830's in courthouse records...
That's all fine and good, right up to the point when I get digging a bigger pond and accidentally exhume some graves...
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Don I know what I'd do. First I'd scout more....the trees can hide what was once obvious. That said, they also can tell a tale. Around where you found the homestead take a close look at tree size/species and see if you can determine the original clearing size. Once you have a rough idea of that I'd subtly mark that area.
Then I'd look for a hill side if one exists near there. Often graves will be well within sight of the water well lets say. They'd also likely be graves of settlers. Your time frame is correct btw, a 1930's homestead would be at or about the time the Native Americans about vanished from Kentucky.
Native Americans of the culture known to have hung out in your neck of the woods were not normally prone to living "alone" and they largely sought community type living. If you see signs that may have been the case at one point on your property....just pay attention when you excavate any dirt.
I would hit your local register of deeds if you haven't already and I'd get names of the property owners. Reference those against death records. Also I'd research then newspaper notices as an example... burial may often times be listed as "at home" or such and such a cemetery. It can be a fun little mystery to piece together, and kids can learn a lot from it as well actually. It's a great way to kill a few winter days learning all you can about your lands history.
I'd also either do it yourself, or watch over someone else who does it, but I'd sure take a metal detector in and around any suspected home sites. Sometimes that will yield some great clues as to the lands past inhabitants.
The place we live on...well I will post it separate but it has a cool past.
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Our "place" our home is on we have learned so far through research has the following history.
Our home/buildings was once the areas only large dairy farm. From in or around the 1890's to 1954 it supplied the local towns with milk and dairy products. I even have a milk and cream can from that era that has the farms name on it.
The property the farm is built on was also a known encampment of the Pawnee Indians. This piece of land was favoured for it's altitude and shelter and being near a river. We learned this while digging a hole to make a large burn pit. I found a "war axe" about 4' down along with some arrow heads. Research at the local library found a few news articles in the paper back then of how the Pawnee gave the towns people a sense of security regarding the Sioux who were much less social. They were for the most part friendly and traded in town at times without incident. The paper gave a description of where they camped, and a land mark was mentioned, which unmistakably is our property. We also found a article that mentions when they left, which was after a skirmish with some Sioux Indians that got bloody enough both tribes left a few dead. In our case we know the towns folks buried the battle dead from this skirmish near what today is a golf course, and was once a settlers cemetery as well in latter years.
The 4 forked cotton wood that was mentioned as the grave site of the battle dead is actually still standing about 400' from the boundary of the original settlers cemetery. Which is now hole 7 of the course in town.
The above all was largely all learned from the library/courthouse from newspaper stories and cross referencing when courthouse records were available.
The land was eventually declared railroad land and developed by the railroad as a farm. It fed the men/animals building the rail system West for years. It was then sold in 1890 to a gentleman who's family owned it until we purchased it.
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Back on topic.... We took Anvil to the big city last night. 240 miles round trip and it nailed a GPS measured 19.2mpg. As I suspected I turned down the pump a bunch, and now it's less the fuel miser.
The next project while thinking on the bumper build, is replacing the newly broken windshield. And buttoning up loose ends. We are getting it ready for the end of the month junk jaunt which will be a good test of it's durability. As we will also most likely sneak into the sand hills and do some more off road exploring.
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Had a hour and a half free this morning so I whipped this up. (I had bent up the winch plate it's self a week ago)
(http://i.imgur.com/l17HQ6h.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/NtLrqtj.jpg)
That is a Mile Marker 12K Hydraulic winch.
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Nice for a quicky. Of course you have a pto pump on it, what was I thinking!!!!!!!!
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Nice Norm!
I don't know the mile marker, but over in Iraq the Armee had them on everything
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Thanks ya all. My wife cut it all out with the gas axe and prepped it. I just stuck it together partially.
The MM Hydraulic winches are a stout piece. They are a lil slow when run off the PS pump as designed. But this one runs off a 20gpm PTO driven pump. It's a 2 speed winch so it should work out to be faster than a Warn 8274 in low, and damn quick (less than a min spool) in high gear.
So far the winch/mount weighs in at 121lbs. When I get around to it and swap the wire for plasma rope and loose the roller fair-lead for a hawse style, I should drop 35lbs off that. So the entire bumper when done should be under 150lbs.
The winch plate/mount is 5/16th bent on both ends for strength forming a channel. Winch is bolted in with 8 3/8 bolts. Then the mount is bolted to the frame with 6 1/2 grade 8. Should be plenty stout.
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The winch looks great. And I love the DOT info about the homestead. What a beautiful place you have! Gotta love that history.
My Dad's family was from IL and IA from waaayyy back (one of 7 families that settled a decent sized city in IA on his mom's side). On his Dad's side our family ended up with two farms in IL. We had our own little "government" BS when a new highway was cut from Lasalle to Bloomington that nicely landlocked 20 acres of our farm (in addition to taking almost the same amount for the da*n road. >:( We never got ours back....
Don if you do find some old burial grounds (not of settlers but Native American) you might want to keep real quiet about it. I don't know what the laws are in IL but I know that a lot of times those sites have all sorts of protections to what you can or can't do and the last thing you want is the gubmint telling you how to use your hideyhole. My Dad worked running power lines for the electric company all over NE and they spent a bloody fortune finding burial grounds and doing everything to protect them etc.
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Don if you do find some old burial grounds (not of settlers but Native American) you might want to keep real quiet about it. I don't know what the laws are in IL but I know that a lot of times those sites have all sorts of protections to what you can or can't do and the last thing you want is the gubmint telling you how to use your hideyhole. My Dad worked running power lines for the electric company all over NE and they spent a bloody fortune finding burial grounds and doing everything to protect them etc.
Noted...
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Well this past weekend was "road trip" weekend for us and Anvil. We left Sat morning very early, and beat our way to the NW part of Nebraska for the annual "junk jaunt" weekend. The "jaunt" is basically the ,coolest, most stretched out and odd garage sale event you could possibly imagine. It's not clothing and trinkets like you see in most garage sales..it's largely actual antiques,junk, with just a few "vendors" It's also a display of down home Nebraska hospitality...most sales have a pig roasting, or part of a steer, and some of the best free food you could imagine. But on to the trip report as it applies here.
My wife keeps a trip log/diary so here are the details.
114 miles from home we smelled something unpleasant and a bit unidentifiable. It seemed to be something from the truck. I noticed we had some oil residue on the rear window...we were 9 miles from a town..all gauges said systems normal, no odd noises, no smoke, I decided to just continue to town. Did I mention we brought no tools or parts?
Once in town I headed for a gas station and pulled in and we had smoke venting heavily from under the pass side of the hood, and wow did it stink bad. I popped the hood while looking away and still managed to get a face full of melting Gell cell battery smoke. My wife was already coming around the truck with the extinguisher, but I stopped her before she got a lung full as I saw no flames. Well crap.... that was my thought.
So... after some quick accessing of the situation (5 seconds) I went and bought a soda. After drinking half or so I asked a gentleman who was looking at our truck and wondering what the smoke was if there is a auto parts store in town...yes a Napa 4 blocks away, they close early today because of the junk jaunt, do we need a ride? Thanks but no thanks we are fine.
I informed my wife we were going for a walk while she expressed how nice a day it was and her happiness she had packed shorts, it was going to get warm.
The parts store was a NAPA and they were open..we walked in and I asked if they had any irrigation batteries. He said they had two left, $47 + core did I want one? My wife said yes, whipped out some cash and purchased the battery. Before she was done she had also procured the borrowed use of a battery carrier strap. We walked back to the truck discussing why we didn't pack food.
I manhandled the battery cables off which were still smoldering hot using my wife's bandanna she always carries in her purse for her hair. Then I lifted the drooping no kidding melted battery out...so small task let me tell you. A still smoldering, venting I am sure toxic gasses group 31 that is still melting is no small trick. I deposited the battery so the wind swept the smell away from us and plopped the new irrigation battery into place and hooked it up. We were running....but clearly the 220amp alt was straining. Hmmmm.....
I climbed up on the wheel and pulled the plug off the regulator killing the alternators charging and it quit straining, it then idled up 300 rpm at that point.
I opened the rear hatch, tossed the still smoking battery just inside, and left the hatch open and headed to Napa. Once arriving I shut it off and Kay ran inside and came out with a multi meter a ratchet and sockets in 2 minutes. At which point all the customers in the store and the counter guy also arrived...guess they aren't used to seeing women climbing into engine compartments. She plugged in the regulator, I started the truck and she declared to shut if off immediately. We were charging at 27.58V.... dumb truck.
They don't have a regulator in stock (imagine that) She unbolted the regulator, handed them the tools and meter back and we then thanked them, and off we went. I did look under the rear of the truck, sure enough the 14 bolt was once again dripping oil just enough to make a mess of the window, no real concern.
Her log and the GPS claim 214 miles latter we arrived at our destination. We cruised town and found a mom and pop hotel with a slight grade we could roll start the truck on if required, and got a room. $42 with tax. We had earlier decided we refused to purchase a voltage regulator..unless we found one for sale on the junk jaunt. Due to the Cummins needing almost no juice to run I was pretty confident it would start, but why waste the juice. So after a shower we roll started Anvil and went junking...No real luck on the regulator but we did find some cool junk we liked and thought we needed. I just left the truck idling the duration of our shopping. We hit according to her log, 19 sales in town.
We partook of the best pork sandwiches I have ever consumed around 7pm, and after much chatting with fellow "junkers" we talked my wife into playing her sax. Good company, a great horn, some cold beer, life is good.
6am Sunday morning we were up and ready...our goal a town 45 miles distant some friends live in. I roll started the truck and after a quick stop for ice, soda and of all things two huge pickles, we left town. Rolling West at 65mph we saw a sale in the middle of nowhere so we stopped. We were the first of the day and they basically forced on us eggs, bacon, flapjacks and orange juice...the pickle was not a good combo BTW. Kay bought a 1gallon bucket full of drill bits for $1 and we headed out.
We got to our destination and found out we missed church as they has rescheduled at 6am for the junk jaunt. We enjoyed catching up with our friends, I bought a pipe cutter from the 1800's that weighed 40lbs and we continued on our way. The rest of the day followed about the same pattern. We hit 72 sales by 4pm, still no regulator mind you. Around this time I mentioned we should find a place to stay, preferably with a hot tub, and a soft pillow. This didn't work as I desired. Turns out the stretch of road we were on between towns was about 65 miles distant when it got dark. Kay declared the towns population was 209 so the hot tub idea was likely not going to happen. What we settled for was a nice little two track dirt road about a mile off the HYW where we stopped and called it a night. But not before while attempting to back up a small incline to facilitate roll starting, I stalled the truck. Dumb truck....
We sat on the tailgate watching the moon and stars for at least a hour. We then decided we should get some sleep so we gathered up some tall prairie grass, made a little nest, and slept like babies. My last thought before I drifted off was "thanks God for a good woman who actually likes these adventures"
predictably the truck would not start in the morning. A roll start was going to be touchy, but the bigger problem...the battery was VERY low. I plugged the regulator back in wedged into the engine valve covers for a ground and we roll started just fine and I let it pour 24+V to the battery for a few minutes, then unplugged it.... and we drove the rest of the way home no problem.
I will continue this with mileage, and a performance report latter......
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GREAT road report! Your wife is a trooper and a REAL woMAN Norm! Very enjoyable read-
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Now that sounds like an adventure.
Gotta love being able to run like that sans battery!
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Love it, what a great road trip. Probably worth the jaunt from about anywhere.
Plus having a good woman to share it with and enjoys it, priceless,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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My mom and sister junk jaunt every year. I love to go when I'm able, which hasn't been very often recently. I love your pictures. It reminds me of home.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Love it Norm, miss Kay, sounds like down home America!
Wonderful story!
My Kat (Wife) and prairie grass....not going to happen!
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Love it Norm, miss Kay, sounds like down home America!
Wonderful story!
My Kat (Wife) and prairie grass....not going to happen!
Does she have a sister named Beth? (my wife=samesame)
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Love it Norm, miss Kay, sounds like down home America!
Wonderful story!
My Kat (Wife) and prairie grass....not going to happen!
Does she have a sister named Beth? (my wife=samesame)
Nope, but all of her friends are "High class" Models, business women, the successful type. Cool thing is, a lot of them are Christian which makes them pretty pleasant to be around. But outdoors...Well, that's another story...no bathrooms, lotsa bugs, dirt, you know the deal.
Now oddly enough you park that woman on a horse and she's gone! Scared the living heck out of me once. Was about 6 months pregnant with the smallest one and here she comes on her brother's horse and does a jump! A FREAKIN JUMP! PREGNANT GIRL JUMPING A FENCE ON A HORSE!!!!!!
And then there's the gun thing. Her loading a magazine up, to her, is about the same as her doing her nails. Doing a mag dump, about like putting on makeup. She has no fear of guns and gravitates toward them. Tell her to get down in the prone for an accurate long range shot, and well, you can just forget that!
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Again samessame. Wife likes horses and guns. Prone, not so much.
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Time for a quick update: It's been a while since I posted. Harvest and life sometimes make getting on the net and being E social unappealing. To compress a long story... we have had many very hefty offers to buy Anvil and it wasn't even actually for sale. We were actually waiting for a fella to withdraw some funds and bring us some cash and it was as good as sold. At the last sec on Sunday night, our middle daughter approached me with a offer I didn't see coming. So, she bought most of Anvil LoL
She made us an offer for the frame/body as well as a pair of stock 3/4ton axes and a magnum 360/518 combo. So after doing some thinking she is now the proud owner of Anvil, and will be reassembling it as a fair weather daily driver 4x4 this next spring.
So.... well that's that. Now time to build a real 4x4 8)
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Always nice to keep something like that in the family.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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In some ways nice yes.....in other ways a bit of a pain. I have all winter to work out the next project.... and it will be far more useful.
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My wife shot a picture the other day I thought I'd share.
(http://i.imgur.com/YrkqyLy.jpg)
That's our daily driven collection of Dodges. There are more but that's the daily use fleet.
Also in the picture is my wife's 2013 Powerwagon. The newest edition to the fleet.
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My favorite is the RC (By far) Followed by that cool red barn, then the Power wagon.
Caveat: I can't really see the other square Dodges so I can't really rate them in order!
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Lol Don well enjoy that's likely the last pic Anvil will be seen in. If the weather holds it will be just a frame and body in the shed by the weekend.
The "barn: is actually a 1880's grainery, complete with leg and 4 annex's. It even still functions. My wife uses it for her milling of flour and stuff. it has a roller mill, grinder and other toys.
The other two Square dodges are my beater Cummins W250 and the 1993 Club cab 360 magum truck (27k original miles)
My fav by far is the W250 Cummins truck.
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Hey Norm- is the grainery actually function as dryer too? Farm I used to live on had basically a square corn crib at the bottom and hoppers up top for the hulled grain with distribution shoots where the crib was drive through and all out of wood- cool structure - all gone now as the buildings were leveled including the brick house I lived in once developers bought it! 3 foot thick, brick walls, built on site circa 1880 with huge pocket doors separating the downstairs great rooms - two on each side of the center stairway that ran front to back porches. Was a cool place, but at the limit of restoration suitability.
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I thought anvil was bought by the daughter........????
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Yes it can dry as well as store rain.... very cool how they did that back then.
Yes our Daughter bought Anvil... as a mostly stock gas powered Ramcharger. She will be assembling it again in the spring.
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Would like to sell the NV4500/np205 out of Anvil? Or any other manual trans and transfer case pair you have lying around?
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I missed this sorry man.....been dumb busy. I have not made up my mind what I am doing with the two 5speed combos I have. I have been trying to get time to piece my daily driver together again after a tranny line failure and a slight accident involving a missing door. I have no idea if the broken line hurt the 518 or not....I was plowing snow and it stopped moving, out of fluid.
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I missed this sorry man.....been dumb busy. I have not made up my mind what I am doing with the two 5speed combos I have. I have been trying to get time to piece my daily driver together again after a tranny line failure and a slight accident involving a missing door. I have no idea if the broken line hurt the 518 or not....I was plowing snow and it stopped moving, out of fluid.
Norm,
Let me know. It may not be needed for a bit anyways, seems wife and I have decided to try and do this once and have a newish truck, which means the entire floor board of the crew has to be removed and replaced. So I'll collect parts while that is happening. And things are kind of slow right now anyways, I'm in my last two weeks of my masters program so that has owned the majority of my time.
Still have the 92 body if you or your son want it. Was thinking about Parting it out, taking what I think I'll need, and drilling out the spot welds in the floor board to use it as a one piece replacement, well almost one piece. Hope you guys are doing alright.
Turner
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