PilotHouse2500

Meh, while my hours available in the shop will decrease, the nice bump in pay makes it worth it. Ill just not be able to putz as much as I have been. All in all it was a good "bad" thing.

"Tanks" will live under the bed between the running boards and rear wheels. I approved the color so he can start final sand and get it on parts. I'm guessing 1 to 1.5 years yet till on the road. Life has changed, Cummins is exiting the hydrogen markets and my division was nuked, as was my job. I did find a new job already, but my hours won't be as kind to personal time, so things will get slower.

"Tanks" have their hinges.

Stopped out at @Danm Straight Customs (my painter guy) and cheked out stuff. Ready for color! So we poked at colors. I like the polished inner door panel color. Tried to match a standard color....closest we got. And the potential grey for the wheels and hood tip frame. Meanwhile digging up old reciepes from my files to see who they look once he programs them up.

One step closer to color

cab primed!

"FUEL tank" progress and stuff in a booth!

One side DONE!

Stopped out to check on progress last friday and drop grill bars to check fit. Cab almost done!

Cab back from blast. Exposed a few spots that I missed from my early time welding. Primed and roof being worked.

cab off to blasting today!

bits and pieces

Parts are in PRIMER!

Body now AT sandblaster.....but Tony (painter) is out of town for 2 weeks on a visit to family. Color should be close to this picture of my friends 52.

Body is now ready for sandblasting!

Stopped out yesterday to drill holes in the bed frame for the "fuel tank" mounts and D ring tie down plates. All he has left to prep before blasting is the back of the cab. Blaster is about a month out for open slots. All gaps set, doors happy for "shape", hood/front clip all prepped and actually off to the side ready to go. "Soon" can't get here fast enough :) !

Dropped off my rear bumper this weekend and talked to my guy "Tony" about what's going on. He is going to be at the stage quickly to send off for blasting. He's done a phenominal job in cleaning up the things I couldn't do (making the door skins crown properly, etc). He said I did a good job in most of what I did and that is made it easier for him in the long run compared to some other jobs he's done. So, in short, another quick trip out to drill a few holes in the bed frame here in the next 2 weeks and I should be well on the way to paint soon. I just need to pick some colors!

Main color cab will be a dark blue, accent color of black. Tilt frame for hood will be a dark gun metal as will wheels. Engine Cumins red. Its been a long wait...but now the $$ starts to flow....OUT....

Good news! Paint guy is starting work on TOOD on Monday!

Answered my own question: asked a work buddy at the engine plant and he says you CAN, but not recommended....too much going on in the 24V to make it work right.....unless someone here knows a workaround

FWIW is a 2002 engine.

Quick question: for my next project truck I have an option to get a 24V 6bt w/ a 6 speed trans....is there a way to push this back to a mechanical system and not have to have an ECM? Swap the pump for a p-pump is all that is needed, what else maybe?

Progress

Tail light buckets

Rear "bumper" work progress: fab'd and welded on mounts machined areas down for the backup camera and trailer connection pod so they "click" in place dropped tubing off at my buddies to have him part off pieces on his lathe for my tailight buckets