GoldRush Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) Keep an eye on the screws. My deck is welded 3/16 but the center section between frame rails is screwed and the screws keep coming loose from frame flex. Your correct the former owner did a great job. And did most of the hard work for you. Edited July 20, 2015 by GoldRush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldRush Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Looking good. Is it correct that you went from a taller ratio of 3:08 to 3:36? It must have been lugging it with the 3:08 so when you went to the 3:36 it must have gotten it into the power band more to help improve the fuel mileage. Most people would have tried gong the other way to improve mileage. Dave 3.90 to 3.36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 I'll be in Calistoga and Petaluma over Labor Day weekend for the USAC Sprint Car races. I'll try to swing by afterwards to checkout the progress. That would be a long side trip, but you are more than welcome! Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Maybe use anti-seize compound on the screw threads ?  ... said the guy from road salt country Quote "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever.  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Antiseize did cross my mind but it didn't think they would come loose either. May have to put nuts on the bottom side too. Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest THE TRAILERKING Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Maybe use anti-seize compound on the screw threads ? Â ... said the guy from road salt country That will not keep them tight..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Looking good. The solar panel will help a lot if you are running off your starting batteries for your hotel loads. Quote Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member Living on the road since 2000PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail 2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it) 2022 New Horizons 43' 5er 2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units 2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck -------------------------------------------------------------------------See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar powerwww.jackdanmayer.com Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 On the screws, blue loctite will hold. Red will require heat to remove. Kept a lot of logging saws together with blue. That is a lot of vibration also. Be sure it is clean first. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Keep an eye on the screws. My deck is welded 3/16 but the center section between frame rails is screwed and the screws keep coming loose from frame flex. Your correct the former owner did a great job. And did most of the hard work for you. Put a piece of nylon fishing line along side the screw as you install it. (Farmer's locking thread.) For bigger thread, a bit of weed eater string works well. Or shave a sliver off a nylon zip tie.  For a short term fix, a thick blade of grass or stem from a leaf will work until you can get proper supplies.  Hey, when yer stuck out in the field with limited resources, you can get pretty creative.  Glenn's correct about the blue loc-tite. And you can get it as a waxy paste now, sort of like big chap-stick. John Deere dealers carry it. Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broncohauler Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Put a piece of nylon fishing line along side the screw as you install it. (Farmer's locking thread.) For bigger thread, a bit of weed eater string works well. Or shave a sliver off a nylon zip tie. Â For a short term fix, a thick blade of grass or stem from a leaf will work until you can get proper supplies. Â Hey, when yer stuck out in the field with limited resources, you can get pretty creative. Â Glenn's correct about the blue loc-tite. And you can get it as a waxy paste now, sort of like big chap-stick. John Deere dealers carry it. Love the old farm fixes that's just cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdonlybob Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Put a piece of nylon fishing line along side the screw as you install it. (Farmer's locking thread.) For bigger thread, a bit of weed eater string works well. Or shave a sliver off a nylon zip tie. Â For a short term fix, a thick blade of grass or stem from a leaf will work until you can get proper supplies. Â Hey, when yer stuck out in the field with limited resources, you can get pretty creative. Â Glenn's correct about the blue loc-tite. And you can get it as a waxy paste now, sort of like big chap-stick. John Deere dealers carry it. Â Â Another PLUS ONE on this... it works very well. I was heavy into Ruger Handguns for ~45 years and we used this trick for years...screws never came loose. In fact Ruger now uses what they call Nylock screws that actually have a piece of nylon fixed into a groove on the threads.. Cheers, Bob Quote 1989 Safari Serengeti 34'Towing a 1952 M38A1 Military Willys Past HDT owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 All great suggestions! Probably use just locktite on final assembly as it's quick and easy. Â Still using the starting batteries for now, but I have a newer 8D AGM that I thought about about mounting when I get around to installing the Magnum MS2012 in there. Really having a had time deciding what to do with the inside. With only one single sized bunk it kind of limits me to one person for sleeping, so not really a candidate for weekend trips as a couple. Â I figure get all the mechanical stuff dialed, equipment/tool boxes installed, and just use it for a season. What mods need to happen will be obvious by then...... Having such a difficult time waiting since I have been saving stuff for years in case of this occasion! For a while I wasn't sure IF this truck thing was going to happen. Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 (edited) Picked up a few bargain goodies this week! Â IDK if any of you are familiar with the Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer, but I have been installing these on motorhomes for clients the past 20+ years. This one was offered to me by a customer who had to let his Monaco go. The cylinder is correct, but I'll have to measure the bracket... Â This one is obvious....Another used low hour score. The previous owner added a pipe extension to hook it to flex pipe as it was mounted in the front of his 5er. Â Spent the morning painting the bottom sides of the deck plates and framing. Hoping the paint will be cured and I can drop them back on and begin drilling/countersinking screw holes tomorrow. Â Anyone replaced the hood pivot bushings? Wondering how heavy the hood is and what the best procedure is as mine are toast and sometimes makes the hood rub the cab. Got the bushings today, so put that on the list! Edited July 24, 2015 by CrazyCooter Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasFlyer Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 They're usually not bad to replace. Works best to build up a makeshift platform to open the hood onto, then replace one bushing at a time. Quote John Southern Nevada 2008 Volvo 780, D13, I-Shift 2017 Keystone Fuzion 420 Toyhauler 2017 Can-Am Maverick X3-RS   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 It had crossed my mind to do it that way, but I'd probably have to pull the bumper to gain access to the bolts. Looks like I might have to press these in also. Many other models have a 2 piece bushing with a sleeve, but mine is one piece with a sleeve molded in. Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2015 (edited) Another productive day! I'm usually so busy working on client vehicles that mine take a back seat....Not this time! Â The paint was cured pretty good so dropped the plate back on the deck for the last time...... Â A local exhaust shop happened to have 5" tube and a buddy had the band clamps, so the exhaust exit got moved back 6' and added a few rubber hangers. The rest of the system is solid mounted, but figured the frame flexes more the closer you get to the rear. Might have to switch to the strait pipe tip if heat on the tire is an issue. I moved the tip out 3" past the bed side and should miss the tire, but I assume that could be considered over width. Â Built hanger brackets for the 24x60" boxes which I expected to take more time, but it went pretty fast! Â Since the steering stabilizer was going to correct the slight drift to the right, I removed the wedge above the left front spring some second rate knucklehead alignment guy installed to reduce caster on the left side......When will people figure out the axle won't twist! A quick roadtest to confirm the new steering wheel position and notice the little bit of bumpsteer I had was also gone! The Safe-T-Plus bolted right up, so score on that! Popped the wheel to center and we're ready for the races..... Â Might have time to tackle those hood bushings tomorrow afterall. Â I'm noticing with every lb. that goes back on the deck, the ride and manners are improving! The truck has been pretty rowdy the past few weeks. Need to re-calibrate the air scales too! Not like I really need it, but it's there, so might as well be functional...... Edited July 26, 2015 by CrazyCooter Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubldart Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 Looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldRush Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 Man, you'd think that those boxes were made just for this truck! Whoever set that stuff up must've of been a genius, lol! Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldRush Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 I'm so glad this truck is getting finished! Great Job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSeas Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 I thought that was part of the master plan.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 Thanks guys. I'm gonna take the rest of the week off as the weather is warming up. I think 115°by Friday!  Regroup and acquire a few more parts the next phaze! Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 Lights! Can't have too many options especially when traveling the back roads and off highway at night..... Installed a set of 5K HID's in the OE housings and a pair of 7" bars each side in the bumper. Had to open the hole up a little..... Perfect timing as I had to pull the bumper to install the hood pivot bushings. Â I don't know how much I would use an amber lens since I had planned on using the Dodge in the winter for 4x4 capabilities, but option none the less. Still have some work and adjusting to do on the brackets. Â Â Atlas II leather seats. Big Rig Chrome shop is running a deal on these right now and they felt pretty good at the local truck shop. Wanted to buy local, but funny none of the local shops seemed to want to sell me seats.....They couldn't give me a price, options, or tell me when I could get them. Click on the internet and they were here in 4 days...... Two tone Black/grey just like the OE interior. Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoonHauler Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Looking good Cooter!  115 degrees, whoa Quote Overbuilt from the Ground Up  05 RAM 3500 CTD 4x4 Q/C Laramie DRW/NV5600/3.73, B&W Gooseneck, MaxBrake, PacBrake PRXB, Brite Box Fogster, BD steering Box Brace 2014 BoonHauler 3614  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldRush Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 It's a drought dry 115*, lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted July 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 (edited) Welcome to the forum Cee (BoonHauler)! Cee is gonna want an HDT by the time he gets done building his RV.......  Might only get to 112°now...... 110°tonight so I went to see the local Peterbilt dealer for some parts, gave the truck a break, and took the wife to dinner. Edited July 30, 2015 by CrazyCooter Quote 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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