Piston Count

[Jamie]

We’re minimalist:
Subaru STi 4
JGC 6
Enki’s Perkins 4-108 4
Johnson 2hp 1
Mercury 3.5hp 1
Yamaha 15hp 2

18, but I really need to clear out the leftover outboards. Dinghy/boat is gone but outboard still here.

[Panope]

That is an awesome truck for a great price.

I agree, Audrey.

That said, I have learned that these engines (5.4 three valve) have valve train problems. Mine runs like a watch but does have a slight valve tick when hot.

For my occasional use, thus will not be a problem, but it might partly explain the low price.

Steve

[Panope]

Got the new bumper ready for action.

Project started with a 4" X 8" X 1/4" wall rectangular tube.


All fittings are 1/4" except for the trailer hitch ball plate, which is 3/4".




The vertical tabs along the top of the bumper will be used to fasten/support an aluminum plate, which will be the rear of the flat-bed.

Bolts (8) are 5/8" grade 8. Bumper should not fall off.


Finish options:

-Let it rust. (This truck is too nice for rust)
-De-grease and rattle can paint. (Cheap. Shitty end product)
-Sandblast and proper paint. (Nice product but will eventually chip, rust).
-Powdercoat. (This could be very good. Pricey).
-Hot dip Galvanize. (Beautiful, permanent solution. Pricey. Must drive to Seattle (twice))

[SemiSalt]

"Flimsy" is not in your vocabulary.

[Panope]

"Flimsy" is not in your vocabulary.

I guess that is true.........now that I am done playing with airplanes.

[Panope]

I added a 2 inch receiver for "normal" towing jobs. This is mounted down at the correct height for most trailers.

Panope's trailer likes a higher hitch. Also, I much prefer a SOLID mount. Those slide-in receiver hitches are always clunking during braking, cornering and bumps.

Weather permitting, tomorrow I will have the bumper sandblasted ($50) and then paint.

Steve

[Panope]

Here is the sketch that I am working from.

Everyone agrees that the labeling is accurate.

Steve

[Audrey]

Work truck? Give it the Krylon touch, Rustoleum or the like. Many coats, and if you want to get fancy, a top coat of clear. $20-30 and done the same day.

[BeauV]

Work truck? Give it the Krylon touch, Rustoleum or the like. Many coats, and if you want to get fancy, a top coat of clear. $20-30 and done the same day.

I've used Rustoleum on heaps of iron on boats and it has held up quite well.

[JoeP]

I had my Cal 20 trailer frame powder coated. It was pricey but cheaper than a new one. I rattle canned the axle and other running gear and it didn't look too terrible.

[Jamie]

Gee - that looks truly Ostfront engineering. How much of your GVWR are you going to give up?

[Panope]

Gee - that looks truly Ostfront engineering. How much of your GVWR are you going to give up?

I reckon that bumper is close to 200 lbs. Might be a good thing (smooth the ride) until the bed goes on......

.................

Bumper finished.

I went ahead and had it blasted this morning and dumped 5 rattle cans on to it. I went with a textured "truck bed liner" paint. Possibly a mistake as that porous finish might be hard to keep clean. Then again, I'm the type that only washes his car once or twice a year.

[BeauV]

Wash a truck?? <--- What the heck does that mean. Never happen on my watch.

[Olaf Hart]

God washes my truck...

[avramd]

Wash a truck?? <--- What the heck does that mean. Never happen on my watch.

[Tigger]

Steve, if you get your lovely wife to drive that truck we can all sing ...

Well, I'm a standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flat-bed Ford
Slowin' down to take a look at me

Looks great!

[Panope]

Ross, I'll try and get a picture of that when/if it happens. Hopefully she "slows down" rather than hitting the gas!

Steve

[Ajax]

My spousal unit cannot drive a manual. She never learned. With the advent of the CVT, manual transmissions are disappearing fast so the need for her to learn is also fading fast.
She can't drive the 5-ton but she does like it and she likes to ride in it. She's got plenty of country and farm in her.

"I like the big truck and I know you can fix it" is a hell of a lot more encouraging than "Your hobbies are stupid. You need to sell that damned thing."

My cylinder count stands at 18-

- 5-ton: 6
- Outback: 4
- Forester: 4
- Universal: 3
- Lawn tractor: 1

If Musk's electric pickup truck is worth a damn, I'll trade my Outback in for one of those a few years down the road and eliminate 4 cylinders.

[LarryHoward]

At one point I had 19 in 3 cars. Now I'm down to 12 in 2. I like 12. I could've easily seen myself with way more cars than I could drive, it's been a struggle my whole life.

I read bringatrailer.com every morning. I could easily fall down the "cool car" rabbit hole if Susan wasn't here to protect me from myself.

Iv bid on several and own a BAT car. Ow I try to keep my visits to once every week or so. Too risky otherwise.