'46 Chevy Shorty

[Tango]

Last couple of weeks have been a royal PITA --- First my sheetmetal guy still has not even started on either project that should have been done by now. Both the taillight brackets and my doghouse are still just sitting on paper. Ok...he may need back surgery, but hey...they are a BIG shop.

Next, I was all set to meet with my engine guru and that day my Toyota decided to crap out and needed to go to the shop. Call him to re-schedule and it will be "at least two more weeks". Good news for them as they are doubling the size of their shop and are swamped with moving and inventory. Not good news for me.

Next I meet with an "RV electrical expert". Paid well for his time but quickly concluded he doesn't really know squat if it's not a bolt on replacement or fix.

And...the Allison tech I was hoping to get with soon to cover a host of issues may not be returning to town after all.

All in all...a sucko period that has me way behind and starting over on a number of plans.

OK...rant over. At least it's Happy Hour.

Cheers All!

[FlyboyHPD]

Really sorry to hear Tango. Always speed bumps in the road. Keep your head up and moving forward amigo.

[cadillackid]

yowsers!!!!!! that totally blows!! definitely always a royal pain when you have to rely on others.. and when you $$$ them only to have them be WORTHLESS thats even worse...

in the software world the equivalent of those in the mechanical world that can only turn wrenches but not actually custom-fab anything.. are called 'script-kiddies' - guys that can just take software scriots, add a couple lineso f code and call them their own but never write or design anything.. sounds like your RV electrical guy is a 'Tinker-Toy-Kiddie'... if it comes in pretty colors in a can he can use it..

as for the allison.. well maybe we need to talk a little as im learning alot about allison in the last couple weeks

-Christopher

[Tango]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I sometimes think people building Skoolies need a full time support group. Or...maybe a 12 step program...or a therapist...or...all of the above.


ONWARD!

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by Tango

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I sometimes think people building Skoolies need a full time support group. Or...maybe a 12 step program...or a therapist...or...all of the above.


ONWARD!

and dont forget a Money tree might help
-Christopher

[CaptSquid]

Money TREE? I need an entire FOREST!

[Tango]

Well Crap...

Just discovered that GM has discontinued making/selling the driveline park brake cable bracket I need for my trans. Thanks guys. I mean they are only on about 80 different and recent model vehicles.

Sure would have been easier to order than fab. Might get lucky at a scrap yard but it will probably be quicker just to make one.

Hey Cadillac...do you have a pic of the one on your trans?

[cadillackid]

I ran into that with my park brake bracket and my shift cable anchor bracket... the one from my 545 wouldnt fit the 1000.. so I improvised and made a bracket out of the one from the 545..

I learned fro ma friend who used to riun the C5500,6500,7500, and I think 8500. GMC trucks in his fleet.. that right around the GM brankruptcy something went sideways betwrrn GM and the supplier of many of those parts.. causing headaches for anyone with those trucks.. he lost his A$$ in repairs to his fleet as he would have to park trucks for weeks at a time to locate parts.. and these were trucks that were less than 5 years old..

I tried for 3 different park brake brackets only to be turned away.. and 2 different shift brackets.. so I made that too..

here are a couple pics of the park brake bracket.. i can get more detailed ones when im over at the bus later today.

the original.. bolted off to the side of the 545 for cutting.







let me know if you need any more.. its bolted on the bus now and the drum probably coverrs part of the view but I can snag some different angles.
-Christopher

[Tango]

Many thanks Chris --- Looks like I have some cutting and welding to do unless I get lucky at a scrap yard.

Still having to wait on major pieces from the sheetmetal shop so I jumped back on the body and such.



Peeling many layers of paint off the driver side now. Most of the passenger side was done months ago. Aircraft stripper and a putty knife gets most of it then a few passes with a stripping pad on my grinder. Also throwing some rust converting primer on as I go.


The dark stripe down the side is where the upper rub rail was. The factory applied zero paint under both the upper and lower leaving it to rust pretty badly. No primer, no paint, nada. Nothing through on the upper, but the lower was so bad I had to make all new replacement panels for both sides. Thanks guys!


Also got back on the floor. Under the protective paper mats are a couple of layers of enamel with a lot of the magic pixie dust mixed in. No room for any more insulation than that but it should help limit any sweating. Hope to get the marine ply down soon.

Then there are all the electrical questions. Like...what the Hell am I doing!?

No idea myself and I can't seem to find anyone with broad based RV wiring savvy about multi input/multi function systems. I am wanting to set this thing up to maintain some house batteries through the following...

• A Progressive Dynamics Power Control System(Converter/Charge Controller/Breaker Panel)
• A Honda 3000 inverter genny
• A 250 amp alternator
• and, of course, Shore Power
• I "might" complicate it further with a small solar package later

I have not even been able to verify the correct wire gauge for the 120v. Online charts seem to wander between 14 & 10 for a 15 foot run. As near as I can tell, the loads I am looking at should be OK with 12/3, a sample of which I just acquired. It is a waterproof, outdoor rated wire that I hope will handle 15-20 amps for the microwave, a portable heater, possibly a water heater and a couple of wall outlets for miscellaneous stuff. All will be on separate circuits (wires) which are fine stranded...like this...







I have been trying to get in touch with someone a local company that builds custom Fire and EMS vehicles that have some very sophisticated but reliable systems similar to what I'd like to assemble but have had no luck getting someone to freelance on the side. Until I can get a better handle on how this should all go together, I am pretty much stuck for now...electrically speaking.




ONWARD-ISH ???

[ol trunt]

I like the fine stranded wire for DC but I'm not so sure about using it for AC--something about where the electrons travel that is different between the two.

Jack