Make-A-Wish sled restoration project.

[skiroule]

So now do you cook that exhaust at about prime rib temp?

It's weird, I just didn't remember the Y-pipe springs on most of the salvage yard sleds. I'm thinking it was either a 340 thing or maybe a later model solution. Looking back on one of your original photos, the springs were just hooked the holes in the cooling shroud. Was that just a "hack" solution?

I've tried to get those vibration pads off when I was scavenging for exhaust parts. I think they build the chassis around them. They are just not meant to come off.

Really like that big silver pipe!

[snoluver1]

My recipe called for 30 minutes at 250* then let cool. 30 minutes at 400* then let cool. 30 minutes at 600* and cool. It was all going just fine till we hit the 600 mark. Then it was open all the windows in the house and get fans blowing on all the smoke detectors to get them to shut up. Apparently, the 600 mark is when you start to cook the oil out of the inside of the pipe. The wife was not happy!!
I only did the y pipe and flanges as the pipe itself wouldn't fit in the oven. That will have to be done with engine heat, but there is a procedure for that as well.


Yup, the springs where previously hacked. There is supposed to be a bracket which is bolted to the cooling shroud to keep the springs from rubbing on the shroud. Easy enough to make one up. I already "acquired" a piece of scrap steel for the job.

[timo]

this machine is coming around nicely!!

[skiroule]

Sent a different handlebar pad out today to see if Phazerpilot could do anything with it. I think it's a long shot but maybe, as a member suggested, it could just be sent along with the sled and let the new owner decide. If it's not up to the standards of the sled, I still vote "nay" on putting it on the sled.

[snoluver1]

I'll tell ya what Skiroule, I don't know where this project would be without your contributions. I was test fitting the hood today to see where the wiring harness has to be routed (another previous hack job) and I ran into a snag. The hood wasn't closing right and the latches weren't lining up properly. For the life of me I can't see any difference in this hood from the original, but I could see the hood needed to come forward about 3/4's of an inch.
Well, thanks to your foresight to send along the hinges from the machine you took the hood off, I was able to find my 3/4's of an inch. The hinges are different!

[IMG][/IMG]

[skiroule]

To use a phrase from "my generation", 3/4 inch would be "close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades" (but probably not for hinges).

If you say everything lines up, there's no doubt in my mind that it does. Glad to hear it.

[snoluver1]

Got some odds and ends done.



[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[mspease]

Man, that is looking better each time we get new pic's! It looks like it's rolling down the assembly line and is brand new. Has a final decision been made on auctioning it off vs. selling raffle tickets? I thought I read where John said an auction.

[snoluver1]

Man, that is looking better each time we get new pic's! It looks like it's rolling down the assembly line and is brand new. Has a final decision been made on auctioning it off vs. selling raffle tickets? I thought I read where John said an auction.

No definite decision as far as I know. I kinda figured I would leave that up to the man in charge.

[skiroule]

Holy Crapola!!! Odds and Ends? Not sure what would be considered "big stuff".

Awesome job on the decals! It's like the vision is really coming into focus. As some have said, it will be better than the day it rolled off the line (and you might not even speak french).

[Love4Snow]

WOW!!!! You guys have done awesome work on this sled definitely something to be proud of !!

[freezinbevr]

Great Job on the decals (and everything else) going on!! You guys have turned a project into a passion of perfection!!

Looks phenominal and will make someone a very happy owner some day!!

Everyone involved should feel some pretty amazing pride with this puppy.

CONGRATS!

[phazerpilot]

snoluver, great job on the decals, i will be out of town for the next 10 days but when i get back i will call to see if the ski's a ready for paint and look at skiroule's bar pad to see what i can do to it.

[lenny]

wow, you guys are getting close, very exciting. Kinda like watching OCC build. When you gonna fire up? Probably need a video for the big unveil!

[snoluver1]

snoluver, great job on the decals, i will be out of town for the next 10 days but when i get back i will call to see if the ski's a ready for paint and look at skiroule's bar pad to see what i can do to it.

Oh crap, I finally got the skies done last night. I got one of them done at work but it took forever in our blaster. I sent the other one off to Mfire8 and he called last night to say it was done. Was hoping to have them to you for the weekend. Oh well, it will just have to wait.


Lenny, I should be ready to fire by the weekend. I'll see if I can figure out how to post a video.

[frnash]

Oh crap, I finally got the skies [sic] done last night. I got one of them done at work but it took forever in our blaster. I sent the other one off to Mfire8 and he called last night to say it was done. Was hoping to have them to you for the weekend. Oh well, it will just have to wait.


Lenny, I should be ready to fire by the weekend. I'll see if I can figure out how to post a video.

So after the paint job you'll have "Blue Skies"? Makes for great sleddin'!

[snoluver1]

So after the paint job you'll have "Blue Skies"? Makes for great sleddin'!

11 pages and thats all ya caught me on? You could have had a field day with this thread! English speak me good!

So is it skis or ski's? The ski's aren't showing possession, so it must be skis --right?

[frnash]

11 pages and thats all ya caught me on? You could have had a field day with this thread! English speak me good!

So is it skis or ski's? The ski's aren't showing possession, so it must be skis --right?

Skis it is!

[skiroule]

Snoluver1, it's sort of a badge of distinction to be skewered by Sir Nash. I think that a good share of the time he just doesn't think it's worth the effort. Like you, most people take it in stride but some really get their undies in a bunch. Or is it undis?

Re-focusing now... A video would be cool. It would be the next best thing to being there, even if you followed the formula of most "reality" shows and just staged the "first" fire-up.

I'm sure this has occurred to you already but I suppose you could use your old skis/spindles as a mock up so you could get it on its feet and running.

I've been checking off things that you've finished and I have to believe your list is finally down to one page. This has to be a good feeling!

[snoluver1]

Its like your reading my mind from behind that computer screen Skiroule. I ain't gona let no stinken skis keep me from firing the old girl up. I am oh so close!
Its funny though, I was thinking about your "assemblethon" idea, and although it was good in theory and would have been fun getting together, I can see now where it just wouldn't have worked. There are so many small details that come up throughout the assembly process. You just don't realize how time consuming its going to be until you start bolting stuff together.

Case in point: throw in some new brake pads and bolt on the caliper---not! 2 night project between disassembly, clean up, paint and install.
I don't know if she goes just yet, but I know she'll stop!


[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[skiroule]

You're probably right about the "assemblethon" but maybe I didn't fully explain my role, that being to spearhead the beverage consumption effort. I don't believe I made any claims that I would actually speed up the process.

Looking at the whole caliper assembly, it reinforces my impression of the engineers out of Valcourt in the 70's. They liked parts. What's amazing is that when they're all put together, it all seems to make sense.

P.S. Phazerpilot out of town for 10 days - Business trip? Maybe, maybe not. Can't imagine what else he would be doing though.

[scottiking]

Awesome job!!!


Scottiking OUT

[frnash]

… throw in some new break [sic] pads and bolt on the caliper---not! …

Break pads … not? I guess not, wouldn't want 'em broken!
(That's two.)
Seriously, you're doing a fantabulous job with this project, if not with yer spellin'! )

[snoluver1]

Break pads … not? I guess not, wouldn't want 'em broken!
(That's two.)
Seriously, you're doing a fantabulous job with this project, if not with yer spellin'! )

This would be why I'm a mechanic and not a mechanical engineer-lol

[snoluver1]

I made up the Y-pipe spring bracket and got the torque stop painted and installed.

[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]



Front vent decals are on. I opted to leave the pin striping off for now. In my opinion, it is kind of gaudy, (I'm not sure on that one Nash, but goddy sure didn't look right) and I think it really takes away from phazerpilot's beautiful paint work. I will give the pin stripe kit along with the sled and let the new owner decide if they want to install it.

[IMG][/IMG]

Taillight is in.

[IMG][/IMG]


She should be puffin smoke by tomorrow afternoon!!