'46 Chevy Shorty

[FlyboyHPD]

Best of luck on the move Tango, and hopefully the new digs will be better to work in .

[Tango]

Mornin' Tedd --- And thanks for the feedback. I ceramic coated my downpipe (inside & out), then wrapped it, then put a radiant shield over that and will install a blanket around the turbo. I'm hoping that will reduce the heat on the exhaust side. The pedal box will get as much insulation as possible. And given the peculiar shape/size/configuration of mine, I had no choice but to build it and the pedals. Next item will be the doghouse. It too will need to be built from scratch and insulated as best possible. Still playing with a couple of ideas there.

[Tango]

Speaking of Foot room...

I don't have much. The gas pedal, brake pedal & steering take up most of what little area there is available. I could probably save an inch in width by using a skinnier accelerator pedal, but hey...I really like the way my "Speed King" bass drum kicker worked out. SO...anyone else who wants to buy/drive this rig will just have to have feet no bigger than size 9-1/2. Too bad for the rest of you.

[M1031A1]

Tang,

I have size 8 & 1/2 double wide flippers! WoHOO!!!!! I can fit my feet in there!!!!!! LOL

[Tango]

Hey M...sounds like we both have duck feet. As wide as they are long.

And here is the current brake pedal after much heating, straightening and modding...

\

[cadillackid]

tell me more about turbo blankets and wrapping pipes.. though my turbo and downpipe are on the opposite side of my footwell.. so im not sure that helps in my case....
I do need to get that POS V-band to seal right first..

-Christopher

[Tango]

Howdy Chris --- My turbo is also on the passenger side but they put out so much heat, I wanted to bring it down as much as possible.

The pipe wrap material is the same as they use on race cars. I got mine from Summit Racing...it's call Lava Exhaust Wrap...1200 to 2000 degree rating. Can't recall where I found the turbo blanket but there are a bunch online. Just make sure to confirm the fit on your turbo make & model.

And good luck on the V-Band. There again getting the specs right is critical to the fit. Turns out there are sizes and angles that are all very close but do NOT seat correctly. And don't feel bad. There are tons of diesel "experts" over on the "4BTSwaps" forum that the same problem has driven crazy for a long time. Bunches of threads on that subject.

[Tedd]

Most people will tell you that the OTHER benefit to wrapping the turbo and exhaust is keeping the heat IN will result an increase in the efficiency of the exhaust pulling the gases out of the cylinders.

SOME (but neither many nor most) have concerns about cracking the cast iron or warping tube headers.

For me and my GMC 6.5 turbo, the reduction of heat in the engine bay is worth both the effort and risk. Tons of replacements in bone yards.

Hey Tango! Still slinging mud?

LOVE the accelerator pedal. Doing something like that for mine is on the list. My foot keeps slipping off the stock one.

[Jolly Roger]

Is that a Texas cowboy boot thing? From Texas with 8 1/2ew.
Let us know when we can test drive it down the old oil top rods for ya.

[Jolly Roger]

Sorry gentlemen just catching up on this thread?
I had a 79 Chevy truck I put a 396 into and had problems with the heat off of the headers. So I used a ceramic fibre duct wrap (scraps) used to wrap grease duct and rated to 2000. Worked well except for the foil jacket but some repair tape made for the it was nothing more than high temp duct tape.
It might be cheaper to go with the other suggestions for wrapping the exhaust with specific size products?
I was thinking of buying some fire blanket/duct wrap material I used before and covering/ wrapping the fire wall and let the motor,exhaust do its thing. Can be secured with insulation pins and tabs and blocks all of the engine bay heat instead of specific points. A blanket that is cut to fit, can line the bottom of the doghouse and if I do buy a roll it will also line my propane storage and generator bay. Normal 1 1/2 thick without being compressed .
Very thick ceramic fibre so it can deaden sound and repell heat.
Just what's in my head?

[Tango]

There are any number of excellent heat reducing products out there these days. Just be sure they don't collect moisture. Rockwool for example is a great heat reducer but will hold a ton of water that rusts everything away.

[Tango]

Sheesh! What a day today! --- In preparation for my upcoming move, I spent the entire day disassembling the 10' tall x 8' wide, 3-ton hoist I built...by myself. What a freakin chore! Had to do a major balancing act. Between the uprights and the 6" I-Beam top section it was a real bear. Took a lot of rope and several ratcheting tie downs just to keep from dropping a few hundred pounds on my head, but I eventually worked it all out. Just need some rest now.

And STILL no progress on that big bench project! It has rained every day now for the past two weeks. In fact, this was the wettest August in Texas in 150 years and tied the all time record. Climate change? Ya...but then it's always a changin' around here.

[Tedd]

Originally Posted by Tango

Took a lot of rope and several ratcheting tie downs just to keep from dropping a few hundred pounds on my head, but I eventually worked it all out. Just need some rest now.

Yep ... that's us old guys. You should have seen the rigging I had to do to build my Deuce, Henry. All I had was a Harbor Freight cherry picker, a 1.5 ton block and fall and miles of ropes, chain and cable ... and me. 3 days from start to finish.

And a LOT of rest breaks.

But, us old guys, we get it done.

[slam8457]

for your bus parts and needs try Interstate Bus Sales Inc. - WALLISVILLE TX 77597 this is a local co in wallisville tx

[Tango]

Howdy All --- Given that it has rained here every day for the last two weeks, not much has taken place on the "Big Bench" project. But I did manage to finish the last bit of welding just as another deluge came through. And it looks like the same weather pattern will hang around for another week or so. Getting pretty bored with all the wetness.

However...I have managed to get a couple of small things taken care of on the bus. Mostly been boxing stuff up for the shop move but at least I did make some small progress the last two days.


I did a few welding fixes to my inner fenders way back when and decided to go ahead and get them in shape for painting. They were pretty nasty.


Taking them down to bare metal was a monumental PITA. If I ever need to do another piece like this, I'll send it out for chemical stripping and soda blasting. Using Aircraft Stripper and a wire brush is easy enough on flat metal...but a chore on stuff with lots of kinks and bends.


I think I may finish them with truck bed coating. Not the rubber stuff that never sets hard but the other kind. I've used it in a couple of places and it seems to be pretty tough stuff. But I will likely wait till after the move to apply the final finish.

ONWARD! (well...a lit bit at least)

[Tango]

Made a little progress on the "Big Bench". It finally stopped raining for part of a day so I jumped on it, got some welding done then added the base coat of concrete. Still a lot more work to do but at least now I'm ready for round two...of three.

[FlyboyHPD]

Looking really good Tango. They obviously commissioned the right person for the job.

[cadillackid]

that bench is gonna be bad-ass!! (and so is your bus!) im assuming it never will move after you build it? that you are making it right where it will live?
-Christopher

[Tango]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

im assuming it never will move after you build it? that you are making it right where it will live?
-Christopher

LOL...I hope you are talking about the bench and not the bus!

Thanks for the kind words all. I hope to keep moving ahead on both.

[Tango]

Back on da bus --- thanks to the daily downpours I had a little bus time yesterday. Started prepping some floor areas for new sheet metal walls and did a test fit for an access hatch to my propane tank.


Aluminum diamond plate door with a stainless hinge. Should make filling a bit easier.

Meanwhile...on the other side...


...the upper hole will just get replacement sheet metal and the lower part may or may not get another piece of the diamond plate. Don't really need the access, but what the hey...IT'S SHINEY!


ONWARD!