07-06-2012, 12:00 PM
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#271 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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Day trip to Topeka went well until the alternator died at the end of the trip. Had to pick up a remanufactured one from AutoZone. Alternator temp was around 185 degrees with the ambient temps around 108 degrees. Reverted back to a 33% grill block fer now.
The access doors held up well during this trip. Need to mark the bend lines and find some time to bend the upper edge over so they aren't sticking up in the airflow. 
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07-09-2012, 05:04 PM
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#272 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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Got a chance today to bend the top of the access doors over. It's not perfect but it's a start. I used my heat gun and a piece of 1x2 wood to guide the bend. I'll post piccies when I git the chance.
One person did come up to me at the grocery store and asked questions... 
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07-10-2012, 11:23 AM
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#273 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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The access doors didn't flap at all like they did before. I've been doing some clean up on the aero cap and added in some rigid supports on the hinge. The bungee cord was pulling the aero cap sides in and creating a gap between the trailing edge of the access doors and the sides. The new added supports pushes the sides back out where they are supposed to be and closes that gap back up. Moved the swivel interior lights to the hatch main rails so they aren't obstructing the rear view as much as they were...
Got in late last night and didn't git a chance to refuel...but the Ultragauge was indicating close to 29mpg from Topeka to Wichita...but I was experimenting at 55mph cruise vs my normal 65mph cruising speed. I figure fer a 2 hour trip I wouldn't lose too much time fer such a short trip. No way would I cruise at 55mph fer the whole trip home...at least fer now. Fergot to mention that my gas mileage going to Topeka from Wichita was around 25.5mpg at 65mph.
The 33% grill block didn't cause any probs with the alternator temp (about 4°F above the engine bay temp). Might move back to my 67% grill block before I head towards home this coming weekend.
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07-10-2012, 11:34 AM
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#274 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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Had this crazy idea fer the access doors...using something similar to the recliner mechanisms as the hinge on the access doors. Motorize that and it might be pretty easy.
Time to hunt down some beat up/free recliners...
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07-10-2012, 06:14 PM
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#275 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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futons too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by BamZipPow
Had this crazy idea fer the access doors...using something similar to the recliner mechanisms as the hinge on the access doors. Motorize that and it might be pretty easy.
Time to hunt down some beat up/free recliners... |
Many college students dispose of the light metal, tube frame futon beds, which also have a pretty tasty reclining linkage mechanism.
Dumpsterdynamics!  |
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07-11-2012, 05:26 AM
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#276 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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07-14-2012, 01:50 AM
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#277 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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Came to the conclusion that the FRP access doors will not be able to hold it's current shape without some physical assistance...so I picked up some 12" long metal Simpson Tie straps from Home Depot and they should be thick enough to handle the job. I'll have to pound out the curve I need on them and then drill some holes and rivet them on the doors.
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07-16-2012, 03:44 PM
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#278 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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The reinforcement strips did their job on the trip back home. I ended up putting them on the outside. The gap cover never did pop up once on the return trip like it did a few times during this trip out to Kansas.
With the rain down here in Houston, there hasn't been any rain gitting past the gap cover seal. I think this setup is a winner!
MPG was consistently around 25mpg coming back to Houston vs around 22-24mpg during my previous trips. Sorry I didn't git a chance to see you this time around, aerohead...had to pick up a full roll of CommercialWrap Tyvek in Allen fer my cab cover trials. I'm sure you would've liked to have seen the gap cover/access doors in person.
Since the roll of Tyvek was 10' long, I had to open up the rear sliding window so I could fit it inside the truck. Amazingly...there was barely any wind noise and no backdraft of exhaust gasses were coming into the cab.
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07-17-2012, 12:32 PM
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#279 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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Piccie of the reinforcement strip...
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10-11-2012, 12:24 PM
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#280 (permalink)
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T-100 Road Warrior
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Added in some rear supports to keep the back end of the aero cap from sagging/flexing. I can unbolt the single bolt to allow fer clearance of items being loaded if needed.
Thinking about moving away from the bungee cords fer the front access doors and using a simple pin to keep the doors from flying open when driving.
I've been looking at that CJ Grille Conversion Kit thread to git some better ideas on fiberglassing...
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