90's throw back....Manche build

[mcutler]

Re: Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

Be prepared, that jungle wall (that is your avatar pic, right?) looks nothing like it did a few years ago! When will you be getting to Dixie?

Yes it was.

I assume it has gotten undercut, and dished at the top. I anticipate I may have some reservations this trip on some obstacles... learning the truck and getting over that first scratch and dent...(but I could go nekked with the skins if I get an itch. )

I'll be leaving home Thursday, after my 11 year old has been at school long enough to be determined present for the day, he is my copilot this trip- he's fearless, but a real pain in the ass sometimes, lol. Probably around lunchtime, then it's 4.25 hours on the road to Sparta. Most of my group gets there on Wednesday. For years we camped in the small alleyway on the right after the bunk house, beside the maintenance shed I think. But seems Adam and the WOD gang (including JohnG the last time I saw him), figured out we had the penthouse parking, and last 2-3 years have beat us there. We've since been to the left of the bunk house up against the wall of the old track. It's a decent spot if they close the loop behind the track, but when they don't, it's dusty as hell.

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[twostep]

Re: Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

But seems Adam and the WOD gang (including JohnG the last time I saw him), figured out we had the penthouse parking,

Yup, that is the case. You'll 3 or 4 days late to get that primo parking these days. The only time I ever met with John G was that year at Dixie... good times hanging out and riding with that bunch.

My crew camps up top at the wedding chapel across from the kids playground. Look for my first gen cummins and green TJ and stop by for a cold one while I drool on this beast.

 

[mcutler]

Re: Re: Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

Yup, that is the case. You'll 3 or 4 days late to get that primo parking these days. The only time I ever met with John G was that year at Dixie... good times hanging out and riding with that bunch.

My crew camps up top at the wedding chapel across from the kids playground. Look for my first gen cummins and green TJ and stop by for a cold one while I drool on this beast.

Yes, they're all close enough to the park they can setup up previous weekend I'd bet. It's all good... I'm certainly not there for the camping experience.

Absolutely, flag me down anywhere!

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[mcutler]

Mattix says were right on schedule...[emoji27]

Matt

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[d9marko]

She bad!! I'm going hard line on everything also. I bought up a bunch of swageloc compression fittings but now I wish I had of went the same route as you and flared everything. Oh well, hind sight is 20/20. Maybe next time. Looks freakin killer man. Hope she is as badass on the trail as she looks.

 

[zeke392]

I been lurking on Hardline for some time, mostly seeing what people are doing and learning. I seen this thread when you 1st started and didn't pay it much attention til now. I just bing read the whole thing and your skill set is amazing. Being a machinist for over 30 yrs makes a person unbelievably OCD so I get everything your doing, although I might not understand why. Watching you cut up the body then build the subframe and then set the body right in place was just the start. I only have about 50 questions on how you pulled off some of the things you built / made, hopefully I'll meet you some day. Very nice job sir, absolutely top notch!!
Thanks for taking time to share it with us

 

[mcutler]

Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

She bad!! I'm going hard line on everything also. I bought up a bunch of swageloc compression fittings but now I wish I had of went the same route as you and flared everything. Oh well, hind sight is 20/20. Maybe next time. Looks freakin killer man. Hope she is as badass on the trail as she looks.

Me too, thanks!

I been lurking on Hardline for some time, mostly seeing what people are doing and learning. I seen this thread when you 1st started and didn't pay it much attention til now. I just bing read the whole thing and your skill set is amazing. Being a machinist for over 30 yrs makes a person unbelievably OCD so I get everything your doing, although I might not understand why. Watching you cut up the body then build the subframe and then set the body right in place was just the start. I only have about 50 questions on how you pulled off some of the things you built / made, hopefully I'll meet you some day. Very nice job sir, absolutely top notch!!
Thanks for taking time to share it with us

I enjoy sharing, this is how i learned, build threads through forums. I wish more builders had the time to share. It's nice to hear from others about a build, good or bad.

After this week feel free to ask me anything, lol, I don't mind a bit. I've got four days to button her up, running on 3 hrs of sleep a night, and a sinus infection/ bronchitis.

She will be in Tennessee by sunset Thursday...

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[mcutler]

Not much photo worthy progress to report. Yet, progress is being made. Lots of wiring took place yesterday, about 11 hours worth. Jason and I slung a tremendous amount of zip ties, solder, shrink wrap, built a license plate bracket, mounted some remote battery lugs, few more zip ties.

Today was purely mechanical. The entire power and drivetrain had been entirely dry fit for fabrication purposes. (I had planned to be much further along by now...) So even if the wiring had been completed last night, couldn't crank for those reasons. So, I've opened and closed/ sealed the rear axle, transfer case, and transmission today. Will get the front axle tonight and bolt the torque converter to the motor. Rear shaft in, rear springs in for good.

(Didn't realize how much this bug I've been fighting had zapped my strength until I put that transfer case back in today... kicked my ass...)

Couple pics of console ready for wiring.

Matt

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[The Luke]

Ohhh what's the big red button do?

 

[CHASMAN9]

Ohhh what's the big red button do?

Battery Kill switch. Smart and necessary.


I still compliment you Matt on your attention to detail. Heater, wipers, headlights, turn signals, but PLAN B is awesome. Detail to wiring is a lost art and you have brought it back to life in your build. Great job sir.




ADMINISTRATOR

 

[slravenel]

very nice!

I have that same Plan B winch control in mine :****: makes people laugh every time

 

[mcutler]

Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

Battery Kill switch. Smart and necessary.


I still compliment you Matt on your attention to detail. Heater, wipers, headlights, turn signals, but PLAN B is awesome. Detail to wiring is a lost art and you have brought it back to life in your build. Great job sir.




ADMINISTRATOR

Thanks Greg!

very nice!

I have that same Plan B winch control in mine :****: makes people laugh every time

8)

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[mcutler]

Wish I was able to make Dixie Run so I could see this rig in person! Can't wait to see it on the trails soon though!!

Well, I wish I was too.


Been here banging my head, running in circles, working from back to front- but barely touching the list, always finding more between the high spots of the list. This sinusitis and bronchitis is taking it's toll on me-10 days of antibiotics and steroids can only do so much; 4 hours of sleep a night-1.5 hrs of that coughing my ass off, waking the wife and mattix up....it just won't happen for this trip. I'm exhausted and to be ready I will have to half ass a bunch of stuff that just will not please me- I've worked too hard at a level of detail that I am not willing to compromise for one weekend of wheeling; versus having to go back later to redo...

I have pride in my work, and for that I choose to not junior up my skill level for a mediocre finish on this project.

I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm for my build, and I intend to keep the level of work to that expectation.

My biggest regret is that my great friends who took time from their own trip prep to come here to get me going...i feel like I wasted your time and I'm sorry. But we will be on the trail soon.


So, Dixie Run... I'll see ya next year.

Thanks,

Matt



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[slravenel]

Well, I wish I was too.


Been here banging my head, running in circles, working from back to front- but barely touching the list, always finding more between the high spots of the list. This sinusitis and bronchitis is taking it's toll on me-10 days of antibiotics and steroids can only do so much; 4 hours of sleep a night-1.5 hrs of that coughing my ass off, waking the wife and mattix up....it just won't happen for this trip. I'm exhausted and to be ready I will have to half ass a bunch of stuff that just will not please me- I've worked too hard at a level of detail that I am not willing to compromise for one weekend of wheeling; versus having to go back later to redo...

I have pride in my work, and for that I choose to not junior up my skill level for a mediocre finish on this project.

I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm for my build, and I intend to keep the level of work to that expectation.

My biggest regret is that my great friends who took time from their own trip prep to come here to get me going...i feel like I wasted your time and I'm sorry. But we will be on the trail soon.


So, Dixie Run... I'll see ya next year.

Thanks,

Matt



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been there too, and while it sucks now it will all be worth it soon. We are just now knocking on the door of riding season, you'll be out there soon enough.

And if your friends are like mine...they probably enjoyed coming out and turning wrenches on stuff that wasn't their own for once, and don't care one bit that it wont make this specific ride; knowing it will be out there shortly afterwards. Also if they are like mine, they also probably had tons of fun just coming over and drawing little sharpie marker dicks all over places where you wont see them for a long time :wtflol: :gay:

 

[mcutler]

Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

been there too, and while it sucks now it will all be worth it soon. We are just now knocking on the door of riding season, you'll be out there soon enough.

And if your friends are like mine...they probably enjoyed coming out and turning wrenches on stuff that wasn't their own for once, and don't care one bit that it wont make this specific ride; knowing it will be out there shortly afterwards. Also if they are like mine, they also probably had tons of fun just coming over and drawing little sharpie marker dicks all over places where you wont see them for a long time :wtflol: :gay:

We have the same friends... lmao.

Thanks!

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[mcutler]

Thanks everyone.

Some progress pics...

Battery at home, remote jumper lugs run from the side posts.

Front axle all sealed, limits hung, brakes, vents, fill point done - ready to party.

Rear is done from fuel cell to bumper- also ready to party.

Also practiced a little uphill tig work...

Matt


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[zayne2427]

This is one of the first things I look at every single morning. Thanks for keeping it updated. I love watching your work progress. I followed every single page of your last build as well as this one. I show all of your updates to my guys at work. I preach "attention to detail, no cutting corners even if it costs the shop money, and it's the little things that matter most to a customer." Pictures are worth a 1000 words and I use yours daily to get my point across. I wish I lived closer to be able to spend a few nights helping you (aka learning from you) in the shop.
Keep up the awesome work

 

[mcutler]

Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

This is one of the first things I look at every single morning. Thanks for keeping it updated. I love watching your work progress. I followed every single page of your last build as well as this one. I show all of your updates to my guys at work. I preach "attention to detail, no cutting corners even if it costs the shop money, and it's the little things that matter most to a customer." Pictures are worth a 1000 words and I use yours daily to get my point across. I wish I lived closer to be able to spend a few nights helping you (aka learning from you) in the shop.
Keep up the awesome work

Thanks you zayne!

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[fabricator1]

Maybe I missed it, but how was that tig welding class you talked about awhile ago?

 

[twostep]

...I've worked too hard at a level of detail that I am not willing to compromise for one weekend of wheeling...

So, Dixie Run... I'll see ya next year.

Good decision. You've done too much right to rush it now.

Riding on Monday and Tuesday morning was awesome. I climbed the jungle slab for the first time :smoke:. Rain Tuesday afternoon ruined riding for Wednesday and most of Thursday. Friday and half of Saturday was nice. Saturday at about 5 a buddy and I were about 30 feet from the top of crackhead when it decided to come a flood. Turning around and plinko'ing back down 5 was fun. Still a great Dixie Run as always. Hope to see this there next year!

 

[mcutler]

Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

Maybe I missed it, but how was that tig welding class you talked about awhile ago?

It was a very mixed bag of participants. A handful of people who had been welding of some sort for decades like myself, and as distant as a couple high school kids and their fathers who had never touched a welder of any kind. But the class was intended as a intro to tig. One full day each of steel and aluminum sheet metal, 18 ga steel and .060 aluminum- butt welds, open outside corners, t- joint filets, full penetration without pedal pulsing. There was certainly more concentration on getting good fitment. I learned many helpful tips and procedures, but mostly took notes, due to the inexperience of some classmates who didn't have a welder at home to practice on, only 8 machines on sight. Excellent opportunity and experience!

Michael Furick is a wealth of knowledge, (and he has a bad ass facility where, like myself, he works alone. Right in the back yard of NASCAR with the likes of Petty enterprises and JR Racing and Kooks Headers all right next door. )He is a very resourceful and avid study of metal working and good practices for turning out a near perfect product. Best of all, I made a new acquaintance between him, Tommy [MENTION=4777]Tommy[/MENTION]schopshop, and a couple other awesome instructors who I feel I can call on for further guidance or a direction to send and receive new work. I hope he offers more events in the future to further expand my skills.

Good decision. You've done too much right to rush it now.

Riding on Monday and Tuesday morning was awesome. I climbed the jungle slab for the first time :smoke:. Rain Tuesday afternoon ruined riding for Wednesday and most of Thursday. Friday and half of Saturday was nice. Saturday at about 5 a buddy and I were about 30 feet from the top of crackhead when it decided to come a flood. Turning around and plinko'ing back down 5 was fun. Still a great Dixie Run as always. Hope to see this there next year!

Yea, I agree. Fortunately the big push to make the trip did put a large dent in the list. I'm getting better and ready tu get back to work. Dixie for sure next year. Only missed a handful in the last 15-20 years.

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[mcutler]

Re: Re: 90's throw back....Manche build

Maybe I missed it, but how was that tig welding class you talked about awhile ago?

It was a very mixed bag of participants. A handful of people who had been welding of some sort for decades like myself, and as distant as a couple high school kids and their fathers who had never touched a welder of any kind. But the class was intended as a intro to tig. One full day each of steel and aluminum sheet metal, 18 ga steel and .060 aluminum- butt welds, open outside corners, t- joint filets, full penetration without pedal pulsing. There was certainly more concentration on getting good fitment. I learned many helpful tips and procedures, but mostly took notes, due to the inexperience of some classmates who didn't have a welder at home to practice on, only 8 machines on sight. Excellent opportunity and experience!

Michael Furick is a wealth of knowledge, (and he has a bad ass facility where, like myself, he works alone. Right in the back yard of NASCAR with the likes of Petty enterprises and JR Racing and Kooks Headers all right next door. )He is a very resourceful and avid study of metal working and good practices for turning out a near perfect product. Best of all, I made a new acquaintance between him, Tommy [MENTION=4777]Tommy[/MENTION]schopshop, and a couple other awesome instructors who I feel I can call on for further guidance or a direction to send and receive new work. I hope he offers more events in the future to further expand my skills.

Good decision. You've done too much right to rush it now.

Riding on Monday and Tuesday morning was awesome. I climbed the jungle slab for the first time :smoke:. Rain Tuesday afternoon ruined riding for Wednesday and most of Thursday. Friday and half of Saturday was nice. Saturday at about 5 a buddy and I were about 30 feet from the top of crackhead when it decided to come a flood. Turning around and plinko'ing back down 5 was fun. Still a great Dixie Run as always. Hope to see this there next year!

Yea, I agree. Fortunately the big push to make the trip did put a large dent in the list. I'm getting better and ready tu get back to work. Dixie for sure next year. Only missed a handful in the last 15-20 years.

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[mcutler]

Made a trip to SRI in Mooresville today. Looking to make a step up in safety for my passengers and myself. With having a closed cab and the engine so closely confined; fire is my biggest fear. So I decided to spend a few extra coin for a fire suppression system with 2 nozzles to do work.

Also, I didn't realize they had a used/consignment warehouse with gobs of NASCAR parts. Plumbing, brakes, carbon fiber, heat shielding, reservoirs, dry sumps, headers, rear ends, drop outs, large and small sway bars and arms of all types of (even the giant hollow 37 spline units) , you name it. If you catch an hour or two to kill, you should check it out.

I also snatched up some big money heat shielding for pennies on the dollar, they have shelves of it...

Matt

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[The Luke]

Well that’s cool. I wanna go.

 

[d9marko]

Heck yea man. That's good to know. I'm going down Charlotte in a day or so. May have to swing by and check them out.

 

[mcutler]

Teaser...

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[clemsonjeep]

That picture of your footwell makes me think of this...

 

[Beerj]

Looks like a perfect spot for a burrito cooker. :****:

 

[mcutler]

Damn those are some sexy socks...

Wiring and plumbing are 99.2% complete.

Plumbing just needs to be dropped from mounts for final welding and leak tested, and also plumb the fire suppression kit, and heater...

Left to do; make led alterations to stock front markers and signals then weatherpack, rear stock bed taillights weatherpack pigtails to new chassis harness, mount dome light, indicator lights in dash for turn, hi beam, and check engine...

Maybe 96.2%....

Damn, I'm running out of room...

All circuits are on go, except for the hazard.... haven't chased down the short yet.

Mechanical is 96.3 % done.
Mount carrier bearing, tighten driveshafts, torque converter bolts, maybe a little heat shielding...

Fabrication is down to interior, harnesses, rear firewall, plate and weld the cab A-pillars, spare driveshaft mount, mount extinguishers, hinge toolbox, install windshield, mod inner fenders for wiring clearances, mod door pins for quick removal...

**** this is getting depressing... not really


Been scuffing and oiling as I go...

Matt


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[The Luke]

Yea, but do the windshield wipers work? Hmmm?