Project Dajiban

[dimlight65]

We installed the rest of the dash and trim pieces today...

 

 

 

 

 

 

As well as nutserted the floor to mount the footrest racecar floor thingy...

 

 

We're trying to decide what to do about actual floor covering (carpet, Rhino Liner, ???).  We'll keep you informed.

[dimlight65]

Some weeks ago, I noticed a dirt dauber, hornet, wasp... "Cunt With Wings" flying into the carburetor fuel inlet nipple.  "This will not do!" I said.  We taped it off and eventually installed a hose on there, but there has been a nagging worry in the back of my mind ever since.  "What if they made a nest inside my brand new carb?"  Well, failed attempts to fire up the donk today made me express that worry to John.  I knew I had a dozen or so carb base gaskets, so we decided to yank the carb and have a look inside...

 

 

 

 

Yes, those are totally just the photos I took to make sure I reconnected the linkages correctly and show nothing about what we're discussing.  Guess what, this next photo of me removing the jets won't either.  Deal with it!

 

 

But, what we did find was that there was, indeed, the beginning of a nest in the passage between the float bowls.  We cleaned that out and reassembled everything... and it still wouldn't start.  We're hoping that the lifters drained down in the six or more months that it has been sitting and that we're just not getting proper valve lift.  Of course, the starter crapped out while we were trying to spin up oil pressure.  New starter should be here Friday.

Edited September 2, 2023 by dimlight65

[dimlight65]

I decided that I didn't need to waste another Sunday sitting on my ass at home, so I went to the shop.  I reorganized my camping gear into the Pelican case that lives in the back and then remembered that we have a "spare" 510 dome light laying around.  I grabbed it, drilled a few mounting holes in it, made a couple wires, and screwed it to the bottom of the shelf in the rear...

 

 

and it even works!

 

 

Then I had a look at the rear door curtains.  I messed with them for a few minutes until they totally pissed me off...

 

 

Fuck you, you Chinesium piece of shit!  Then I remembered that I still had some curtain rod kit leftover from the Statutory Grape.  I installed that...

 

 

 

 

and then went looking for the curtain.  Oh yeah, the shop stray cats have been using it as a bed...

 

 

It was quite malodorous.  I hosed it out for several minutes just to get it to a point where I was willing to bring it home.  It's in the washing machine as we... type.  (Update: Nope, it still stinks to high heaven.  On to plan B.)

 

I also moved the jackstands to the frame so we can consider doing the differential cover swap, but chickened out on actually starting the process.

 

Then I cleaned the floor of the cockpit in preparation for applying the Rhino-Liner I bought on the way home.  Tomorrow we'll be tackling that.

Edited September 4, 2023 by dimlight65

[dimlight65]

In preparation for truck bed lining the floor, I glassed up a couple holes...

 

 

 

and then scrubbed everything down with some acetone...

 

 

and taped off the seat mounting studs...

 

 

before applying a couple coats of liner...

 

 

 

 

 

And while I was at the Family Dollar store buying a towel for the acetone scrub, I found another shower curtain like the one the cats ruined...

 

 

but in black!

 

 

I'm going to double (or more likely triple) it up and sew it together to make it darker and the right length.

 

The new starter and Bilstein front shocks should be here for next Saturday.

[Duncan]

Looking good!  I remember I used some POR-15 on the inside of my wagon.  I just coated the inside of the upper drip rails.  The smell was pretty strong for quite a while after it was done.

 

Is the Rhino liner the same?  

 

 

[dimlight65]

24 minutes ago, Duncan said:

Looking good!  I remember I used some POR-15 on the inside of my wagon.  I just coated the inside of the upper drip rails.  The smell was pretty strong for quite a while after it was done.

 

Is the Rhino liner the same?  

 

 

 

Oh yeah.  It's quite the stinky at the moment.  But I have the roof vent open so I'm hoping the VOCs will boil out as it bakes and cures.  I probably should have opened the rear window as well, but it didn't occur to me until I typed those words.

[Duncan]

5 hours ago, dimlight65 said:

 

Oh yeah.  It's quite the stinky at the moment.  But I have the roof vent open so I'm hoping the VOCs will boil out as it bakes and cures.  I probably should have opened the rear window as well, but it didn't occur to me until I typed those words.

 

I temporarily forgot you're in Texas 🙂 

 

That'll certainly help "de-fume" The Dajiban this time of year..

 

 

[dimlight65]

Fo shizzle!

 

I'm... I'm so sorry.  I will never say that again.

 

 

Oh, who am I kidding?  I'm not sorry, and I will totally say that again in the future!

[dimlight65]

I picked up my starter today!  Hopefully the Bilstein shocks will arrive tomorrow.  It would be a shame having to watch John crawl under the thing twice.

[dimlight65]

We have a new starter...

 

 

New Bilstein front shocks...

 

 

And some shag carpet!!!!!!

 

 

[dimlight65]

Well, it will require a double crawl after all.  I installed the starter today.  Twenty five year old, crusty assed starter...

 

 

Pretty, new hotness starter...

 

 

And all wired up...

 

 

We gave it a try and it spun the donk so much better than the old unit... I mean, it still didn't start.  But it "didn't start better" than it didn't start before.

[dimlight65]

I decided to replace the anemic incandescent bulb in the under shelf light with an LED...

 

 

Yeah, when bending the tabs on a Datsun dome light so it makes better contact, make sure the switch is off or you'll blow a fuse.

 

Anyhoo, here's the LED all light up...

 

 

Then I got to work on carpet.  I took measurements and decided that the old stuff would work up front with a little trimming...

 

 

 

Then I took the new stuff and cut it to fit the rear...

 

 

 

I'm not too happy about that seam, but the large section in front of the BOFA has to be removable to extend the bed. 

 

I'm using the "Super Karate Monkey Race Car Foot Plate" and seat to hold down the driver's section...

 

 

 

The passenger seat and probably a 1/4-20 bolt into a nutsert will secure the passenger side.  Oh, and lots of 3M Super77, of course!

 

And other than that niggle about the seam in the rear, I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out.

Edited September 10, 2023 by dimlight65

[dimlight65]

After grokking this picture...

 

 

I think I want to replace the bit of carpet marked "A" with grip tape and add a nutsert and 1/4-20 bolt at the "B" mark.

 

I also think I want to grip tape below the pedals here...

 

 

for Feng Shui.

 

But then again, I might just remove "A" and grip tape the fender humps.

 

 

 

 

 

And yes, I AM a post whore.

 

Edited September 11, 2023 by dimlight65

[dimlight65]

The annual BNSF Family Day Car Show is coming up in two weeks.  I told John  that if we couldn't get the van to start today, I was going to have to back out of attending.  So when I got to the shop, I removed the #1 spark plug and got ready for us to make sure the timing was right... and then installed the curtain on the rear window.

 

 

My sister sewed it up for me and it's awesome!  I added a strap to the hing end...

 

 

And a couple snaps to the latch end...

 

 

I also installed a nutsert in the floor to hold down the carpet under the passenger's feet...

 

 

And the pedals have been bugging me ever since we added the spring to the clutch.  The brake pedal sat too low for my liking...

 

 

So I drilled a new hole and did a cut & shut to change the angle and orientation...

 

 

A lick of paint before installing, and it sits... better now.  Not perfect, but better.

 

 

When John arrived, we checked the timing again.  Lo and behold, we were 180° out of alignment.  With the cap re-wired correctly...

 

 

That's 0° advance and 0 carb tuning.  So, we'll be tuning and attempting to drive her on Saturday.  Hopefully I can get some miles behind her before schlepping across town for the car show.

[Duncan]

Congrats on getting it running!

[EDM620]

Just looking at the carpet because shag.... is bound to unravel along the edge and can become another problem.

Consider taking the pieces to a carpet shop and have the edges bound. Who knows, maybe they can do purple...

[dimlight65]

5 hours ago, EDM620 said:

Just looking at the carpet because shag.... is bound to unravel along the edge and can become another problem.

Consider taking the pieces to a carpet shop and have the edges bound. Who knows, maybe they can do purple...

 

Yeah, I have been thinking about that as well... both the edging and purplefication.😋

[bilzbobaggins]

On 9/13/2023 at 10:10 PM, dimlight65 said:

The annual BNSF Family Day Car Show is coming up in two weeks.  I told John  that if we couldn't get the van to start today, I was going to have to back out of attending.  So when I got to the shop, I removed the #1 spark plug and got ready for us to make sure the timing was right... and then installed the curtain on the rear window.

 

 

Wait, you work for the RR???  If i wasnt already a fan.......

[dimlight65]

15 hours ago, bilzbobaggins said:

 

 

Wait, you work for the RR???  If i wasnt already a fan.......

 

I retired* from being a contractor for the BNSF corporate office back in 2016.  They keep inviting old employees to the car show because we're just so friggin' cool they can't stand to miss out on our presence!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*That word is actually pronounced "quit"

[dimlight65]

First things first.  I forgot to show y'all this...

 

 

That's the Dajiban logo John made for the glove box door.  I love it!

 

Since the red spark plug wires I ordered were delayed until Monday, of course I went and paid twice as much to get some locally.  John sized them up and installed them all pretty like...

 

 

 

 

We fired it up and reset the timing to 10° btdc (I believe) and it ran so much smoother!  But, we discovered the brass 90° elbow on the oil pressure sender was leaking.  And while it didn't break, Satisaii wins the "Prescience Award" for this statement back in April:  "I would consider remote mounting the oil pressure sender.  I have seen brass fittings break when the mass of the sender is hanging off of them."  When we removed it, we realized the sender could actually screw straight in to the block...

 

 

 

But it is very close to the manifold... ok, it's touching the manifold... ok, the manifold and sender had to clearance themselves...

 

 

With things looking good, we set it back on the ground and began test drives.  Here's the video of John's triumphant return from the first trip around the block!

 

 

With a couple loops of the block under our belts, we popped the doghouse on...

 

 

 

and took it to lunch...

 

 

 

Uh oh, do you see that ugly stain on the parking lot?  No, not John's KTM, this...

 

 

Yeah, the 25 year old rubber hose between the two filler pipes...

 

 

 

gave up and started leaking.  I bought some stuff at Lowe's that only has to resist fuel for a week so I can make the car show.  I'll replace that tomorrow, and replace that replacement when the fuel-safe hose from McMaster Carr arrives.

 

And finally, I was not as correct as I could have been when I insisted that the subway handle was too low...

 

 

and had John raise it, so...

 

 

So, I made a new strap for it and lowered it even more...

 

 

I plan to put a few more miles on it tomorrow and Wednesday (and probably Monday, and Tuesday, and Thursday).  I'm pretty chuffed.

 

Edited September 16, 2023 by dimlight65

[dimlight65]

I have been debating whether or not to mention this, I guess I will.

 

The Chinesium speedo/tach unit quit working a couple times during the lunch run (Juan would think I would learn the lesson of not buying Chinesium electronics, but Juan would be wrong).  I'm trying to decide whether or not... ok, I'm trying to decide how soon after the car show this Friday I'm going to replace the gauges. 

 

Here's the almost $1,000 set of Speedhut gauges I'd like to get...

 

 

Which would replicate what I have now, more or less.

 

But more realistically, Summit has a digital set that I'm not in hate with...

 

If they came in purple, I would have already bought them and would pick them up tomorrow.  Alas, green, red, and blue are the options.

If the red ones were in stock in Arlington, and more importantly, not $50 more than the green or blue, the decision would be easier too.

If the human eye were able to focus on blue, and the blue ones were available in Arlington, I'd also be more tempted.

 

I kinda dig the purple and green "Joker" vibe these would bring to the table, but I'm just not sure.

 

Oh, we should probably ignore the fact that there are two water temp gauges, and no volt meter in that picture as well.

Edited September 17, 2023 by dimlight65

[EDM620]

Well since you asked, you were asking? - I don't care for "digital" gauges especially like the speedo & tach where numbers are constantly changing, I find it most annoying. Sure that's OK for the temp etc where #s don't rapidly change but ...

 

IMHO, the triple gauges are better, the sweep isn't a distraction and if your peripheral vision catches any needle headed to pegging that's better.

 

Now as for purple, I've installed a full set of Glowshift gauges, though I can't report on durability as my project isn't running yet, which do feature purple lighting as a standard option. I also appreciate that my gauge sweep is identical (270 degrees I think) giving uniformity which appeals to me.

[Duncan]

Congrats on getting it driving. It looks good moving down the road.  The lowered look and the wheels are cool.  You don't see that on too many vans.

 

As far as gauges go, I say do whatever makes your pants tingle.  You're the guy that has to stare at them all the time.  I still haven't installed then yet, but I paid a pocket full of change to have a set of stock 40 Ford Deluxe gauges done to replace the modern/billet set that currently resides in my '40 now.

 

 

 

 

 

[dimlight65]

8 hours ago, EDM620 said:

Now as for purple, I've installed a full set of Glowshift gauges, though I can't report on durability as my project isn't running yet, which do feature purple lighting as a standard option.

 

Yes, I had a Glowshift speedo in here before.  It worked quite well.

[dimlight65]

As mentioned yesterday, the rubber hose between the two filler pipes on the fuel tank aged out and began to leak.  I replaced it with...

 

 

I know it isn't the right material.  Proper fuel-safe hose is on the way from McMaster Carr.  But I needed to get the van ready for the car show Friday... or so I thought.  I'll get to that in a moment.

 

After replacing the hose, I decided to see if I could figure out why the turn signals didn't work yesterday.  I narrowed it down to these three circuits...

 

 

not getting 12v for some reason... Chinesuim fuse box, perhaps? 

 

I found a socket which has switched power, and one with continuity to the hot side of those three, and made a jumper...

 

 

Now turns, high beams, and heater fan work again and I didn't burn down the van.

 

Satisfied that "everything works," I rolled it out for some test drives around the neighborhood.  It did not go well.  As I pulled out of the lot, the tach and speedo quit again.  Then, a few miles down the road, these warning lights lit up...

 

 

Disregard the fuel warning, we know there's not a lot of gas in the tank.  But, that water temp warning was new.  So either a Chinesium "Corvette" radiator was not enough for this donk, or the Chinesium gauges are giving false readings.  I erred on the side of caution and headed back to the shop.  Then the final thing happened to finish off ruining my day.  After a bit of "washboard" road, the front end began to shimmy like a fucking belly dancer.  It eventually went away with a reduction of speed, but came back again on the next bumpy section, and again as I made the 110° turn off of Wichita to Horton.  Needless to say, I won't be attempting to drive across town for the car show Friday.  I'm just about fed up with the car hobby.