'46 Chevy Shorty

[cadillackid]

wow how cool!! that rear deck will actually balance you out nicely!

plus you do have a lot of weight upfront.. 750 lb motor, 400 lb transmission.. the CAC guys are all about their 4 BT's. the one in his work truck is 160 HP and he isnt running an intercooler, its been that way for years and he has no issues.. makes me wonder if you need a charge cooler with 130 ponies.. or if you could get away with one of the compact ones at least. I also found some cool closed-loop air-water inter-coolers, where you locate a remote coil with a fan on it.. super compact under the hood and since the fluid can be cooled even when you are off the go-pedal you dont need a huge remote radiator for it.. under the hood the exchanger looks like a piece of 4x4 .. perfect for tight locations....
-Christopher

[Tango]

My main reason for going to so much trouble on the CAC was a statement made by the Cummins shop here. They said the CAC would unleash an average of 10-15% better hp and mpg. And...truth be known...I have considered bumping this engine up just a little. Maybe 150? But I will drive it before pushing anything.

And I looked into the water to air systems but I am so tight on space that the plumbing would be problematic. That narrow, pointy nose looks great but sure makes for demanding under hood engineering.

[ol trunt]

Hey Tango. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you say you were not planning on towing with your bus? The reason I ask is that with our very similar buses, mine having a little more hp and torque (205 hp@ 2400/455 fp @1850) still isn't real quick with the 3000# toad in tow. Without the toad I'm well satisfied with the way the Isuzu 4HK1 intercooled TD operates as it hauls the 9820# bus around. Any idea yet what your bus will end up weighing? All that said, you may want to bump the hp a bit.

I compared the engine and tranny weights on both and your tough little 4BT Allison combo tops my 4HK1 Aisin by about 230 pounds. I also looked at B10 ratings and though they are a bit hard to get a straight answer on I gather both will go 350,000 to 375000 miles. I couldn't seem to find their B50 ratings.

Too much fun! Jack

[dredman]

I hope your frame hold up to whatever you put on that deck ( I will stay off of it ) and you do NOT attempt to put snowmobiles on it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvwT...youtu.be&t=170

[Robin97396]

I'm wondering if that bus could pop a wheelie.

[Tango]

Hey Jack --- Negative. No towing. I have enough trouble backing into a parking space as it is. And if I'm reading everything correctly (I have not made a stop at a scale yet)...I should end up below 8000 curb. And what I was told (years ago) was that the all the "B" series were rated to 500K.

Dred --- The only full time weight on the deck will be my Honda gennie. It only weighs in at 131 pounds. I MAY end up hanging a dirt bike back there but if so, it will be under 300. I figure the deck is easily good to a thousand so you are welcome on my back porch anytime Bud.

Robin --- Ya...you gotta' wonder how that rig handles.

[sdwarf36]

Dred-
Buslife-they are skoolie members. The were PMing me when that back broke. I told them to chase down who the stock car racer or rock crawlers were in town. The first one was doomed from the beginning-It was way too heavy to start with.

[dredman]

Originally Posted by sdwarf36

Dred-
Buslife-they are skoolie members. The were PMing me when that back broke. I told them to chase down who the stock car racer or rock crawlers were in town. The first one was doomed from the beginning-It was way too heavy to start with.

I am no engineer, or particularly bright, but that thing looked like a disaster - I DO understand a lever The bus is for sale

I am looking forward to hanging off the side of a canyon, drinking a beverage with Tango on his deck

something like this we could back right up to it and hang our feet off?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glMslAZAl98

[Tango]

Great footage. Watching storms roll across the desert can be pretty spectacular. And having a big, metal shell to hop into is mighty handy if there is lots of lightning involved.

[Tango]

Another short day today --- Managed to get the second stabilzer put together and mounted. Still a couple of small things to finish up though. Want to add some clips to hold the legs in place when the deck is up...and...need a couple of braces to keep it in the right "UP" position. Not biggies but will take another day or so.



Level and stable.


Not sure if you can tell here, but the legs are kicked out about 6 degrees which should help keep them in place.



ONWARD!

[Tango]

STILL working on the deck --- You may be as bored with looking at this thing as I am but it is just about ready to set aside. Lost some time (and pix) due to my camera getting stolen but I tried to catch up today.


Wrapped up some details and hung the spare tire carrier.


The tire pulls up snug against the deck using a chain hoist arrangement from the scrapyard. I made a special socket so it goes up and down without too much straining. There will be a hatch in the deck for access.


Made some braces through which a hitch pin goes to secure the deck in the upright position...then...


...added a turnbuckle to pull it tight to prevent rattles over the road. Lots of little pieces had to be fabbed.


Just need to add something to keep the stabilizers in place when up...then the decking will go on.

That won't take place for a while. The whole deck/tire thing will sit in a corner until more work is completed on the rear end.



ONWARD! (more or less)

[cadillackid]

how cool is that, i didnt realize it housed your spare also.. great idea!.. how do you take that on and off the bus? do you have a bobcat to remove the deck? looks like real heavy!..
-Christopher

[Tango]

No Bobcat...just lots of grunting from an old guy. May have to call in a buddy on this one though.

[TAOLIK]

That deck is looking fiine!

I'm stewing in envy over here.

[FlyboyHPD]

Awesome progress Tango. Everything looks first class as usual.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by Tango

No Bobcat...just lots of grunting from an old guy. May have to call in a buddy on this one though.

or hit up Harbor freight for an Engine hoist..
-Christopher

[ol trunt]

Fun to watch it all come together. As always, your workmanship is top flight.
Jack

[Robin97396]

It is fun to watch that porch come together. Good documentation as usual too.

For just a little while I thought it was going to be a large barbeque grill, but I got past that when you put the spare tire to close to where the fire goes.

[Tango]

Many thanks for the kind words --- There are parts to this whole bus project that have been sitting around for more than a few years now. Makes it hard sometimes to try and recall just what the heck the plan was way back then...and then trying to make it work with whatever is in mind today.

Kinda' reinforces the idea that adaptability is key to successful and continued evolution.


ONWARD!

[1olfart]

Tango, the fact that you can still remember where you put all your stuff, particularly after a shop relocation, reinforces the fact that "you da man."
I'm pretty sure that you have forgotten more than I, even hope to know.