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Having finally put my tube bender together, I started making the new
stronger running boards with skid plates for the M37. The Bender is
the Pro-Tools 105 with a the
Copperhead Fabrication Tube Bender Hydraulic Ram Bracket Kit and
Harbor Freight 8 ton air/hydraulic jack. The perimeter
tube is 1" square 11 gauge (.120" wall) steel structural tube. The
running board surface will be 11 gauge (1/8") thick Diamond Pattern Steel
Floor Plate. The skid plate will be .190" (3/16") thick 5052-H32
Aluminum Plate. The running board will mount like the stock one with
an additional front and real mounting point to the frame. I had to
repair the cracks/brake in the front running board mount and closed the
factory gap to help add strength, this was after bending it back down into
the proper location/angle. 2012-05-08 |
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Well, this taking longer than I expected. But it's coming along pretty
good. The Aluminum attachment was fabricated and completed.,
Next the aluminum was cut and it was formed to match the front frame/running
board edge. After that came the work to cut the diamond plate, it was
cut and the edges cleaned and checked for fit. Last today was the
tacking in place of the diamond plate. 2012-05-09 |
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Well, I got one done, but the other will have to wait, as I go pick up the
wood fot the '46 Power Wagon Bed Wood Tomorrow, and I've got less than a
month to get it done. 2012-05-10 |
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Honoring Memorial Day. God
Bless the USA and all the troops who have and do serve. 2012-05-28 |
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The 2012 National Dodge
Power Wagon Rally in Fairfield Iowa
Click HERE
to go to my page of the Dodge Power Wagon Rally Vintage Truck Pull Videos
Click HERE
to go to my 2012 National Dodge Power Wagon Rally in Fairfield Iowa Page
Click HERE to go to S.
Gillaspy's Video Page from the Rally
Click HERE to
go to Jay B. Good's Video Page from the Rally
WOW, what a great Rally this
year. It's the best one I've attended yet. One of the two
highlights for me was the truck pull. I entered the M and what a ride.
Everything I was competing with was either diesel powered or had bigger
engines, but I loved it. The other two v-8 powered M's were equipped
with a 360 and a 383, and the one diesel M was powered by a 4BT. A
BIG THANKS to Matt B. a fellow Dodge loving
MIJC'er who hauled my M to the Rally. If Matt hadn't
volunteered I'd had a fun time, just not as fun. Can't wait for next
year and another truck pull. 2012-06-10
The following pictures are
complements, and Thanks to Jay!
Early Bird Arrival
Mondays Pot Luck Dinner
Tuesday Afternoon at the Kerr
Farm (Dry conditions this year):
Pix 1
Pix 2
Pix 3
Pix 4
Pix 5
Pix 6
Tuesday Meet and Great Night
Thursday at the Fair Grounds |
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Post Iowa Trip Repair and Maintenance begins. First to be replaced was
the always failing Holley Throttle Position Sensor (TPS). It seems to
go out like clock work on a yearly basis. Should have replaced it
while in Iowa, but didn't. After Matt brought the truck home and I ran
it a little the TPS was getting so bad the truck wouldn't hardly run.
Having participated in my first truck pull and using the M as the ride of
choice, I knew I'd smoked the clutch some, but was worried about the rear
axle shafts. So I pulled both of them, and was pleased they were both
undamaged. Next came the clutch inspection. I pulled the cover
and was pleased to see I still had clutch material. I inspected it as
best as space permitted with out pulling it and both the fly wheel and
pressure plate were clean, shinny and smooth, so I'm not down tot he rivets,
yet. Measuring the clutch thickness as best as I could, looks like I'm
between .31 and .32 in thickness, as the clutch is .343 new, I'm not too
bad, only have used .028 of the material since 2008. Next I checked
the clutch linkage, as I'd had a problem with it last year. It was not
as loose as I'd liked, so I adjusted it a little. I'll make more
adjustments when the new clutch master cylinder arrives. The one in
the truck started leaking while trail riding earlier in the week. Next
I checked the bead lock bolts for any breakage. Had two break as I
re-checked the torque, but they didn't break as a result of the Iowa trip or
pull. The rust in the break indicates they started the failure last
year. Both were on a front wheel, just as before. I pulled out
the new (re-manufactured) power steering box out to start cleaning the
splines and get it ready to install, and found that this box had a stub
sticking out of the steering input shaft. The current and previous
boxes did not have the stub, so I'm now looking to make sure it won't
interfere, or if it can be trimmed. Other than replacing the failing
PS box, and the clutch MC everything else looks good, so for.
2012-06-11 |
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I got the clutch master cylinder replaced. I backed off on the adjusting
rod a little, but may have gone a little too for. The clutch doesn't fully
release now, but might still be a little air in line. I had problems
bleeding it, the power bleeder would not fit and the bleed screw was full of
dried mud. Will give it a little time and re-adjust as needed. I also
installed the replacement power steering box. I shortened the pin by a 1/4"
and it now clears the U-Joint just fine. I drained all the fluid and
installed a filter in the return line. At first everything was god after
refilling and working the air out, but the the belt squalled some.
Turns out in addition to the box having a problem, the belt was a little
loose. After a little testing and re-tightening the belt, the steering
is back to it's great ease. 2012-06-14 |
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Well, I got the M out for one good run with the MIJC this year, man the hot
dry summer sure did hamper my off-road runs. This was the MIJC's
Annual Halloween run at Dukes Off Road Ranch. Had a great time, and I
made every trail I tried, the only one I didn't was Widow Maker, the M's
just too wide for how narrow it's getting. It took several tries to
get up Spider Gulch, but I was one of only three who made it. I also
was the only one of two who tried to make it through the extremely deep
water hole in the creek, Dave followed me through, but didn't make it.
to give you an idea of how deep the hole is, Dave has brand new 35" tall
Boggers on his Jeep. I had the water come up over the hood and into my
floor board, and almost killed it when the air filter got wet.
Unfortunately no one that I know of got any pictures of me. All in all
another great cool mudy day in the Fall at Dukes! Thanks Steve.
2012-10-27 |
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