The squirrels chased this CAT home!!!

[gotnitro?]

Scott - thanks ! Ours has the 2.3 turbo engine. It's very smooth and a really comfortable ride, albeit the interior space is much tighter than the condo I was driving.

We've been seeing around 23- 25 mpg so far w mixed driving 

[Petriedish]

Jeff,

Great work on this truck.

I work for Lafarge out in Western Canada.

There are several set ups here.

I want to build a twin steer tri-drives like this one day.

Will be following along to see all the progress.

 

[gotnitro?]

@Petriedish- thanks for posting the tri drive, that's an impressive work truck for sure!!!  Feel free to post a few more photos of the trucks if your allowed to , we would all love to see them. Hopefully the Cat is still around

[DrKerry]

Very kool!!!! I'll be watching!!!!!

[Engine 51]

Where are you getting the tires and wheels? I’ve been searching without much success. Guess I haven’t looked in the right place. Thanks in advance. 

[gotnitro?]

23 hours ago, DrKerry said:

Very kool!!!! I'll be watching!!!!!

Glad to have ya along Doc  ! 

 

18 hours ago, Engine 51 said:

Where are you getting the tires and wheels? I’ve been searching without much success. Guess I haven’t looked in the right place. Thanks in advance. 

I picked up the tires from gw trucks , Gary doesn't have a website but you can reach him thru his email. gwtrucks@yahoo.com 

The rear 2 hole budd wheels are from scenes unlimited.  Thanks for following 

[gotnitro?]

Small update for the wknd , added the resin cab fenders and lower filler panels. The fender  interfered w the  rear wheel   steering rod, so a quick sanding removed the offending area. I tacked on the diamond plate fenders, and fabbed up the rear cab mount . The 1/25 car brake hub spacer ended being too tall, settling for a craft stick above tire.

I'll post close ups later to show the steering details and mods to make everything fit. Next up the drivers steps 

Any feedback or comments welcome

[Mopar - D]

Nice progress Jeff! 

[gotnitro?]

One side is buttoned up, getting everything fitting tight was a huge target.  Plastruct diamond plate sheet was used throughout. The bottom step is a bit of tread plate from moluminum stock

I ended up changing the fender mounts to avoid a trip hazard around the steps,  and plan the same surgery on the opposite side.  I joined the covid club last wknd, but feeling good after a few days rest

 

[Mopar - D]

Wow Jeff those are some awesome looking steps. Did you make 2 of each piece ? 

[gotnitro?]

This side was built using a side plate, and back wall. I had to tack cab down to keep everything from shifting while cutting each piece to fit against fender. I'm getting ready to build other side now 

[gotnitro?]

Wrapped up the other side steps and started on the large pressurized water tank these trucks carried. This tank is side mounted , usually right ahead of the rear axle. The resin tank I'd planned to use was too small overall, so a replacement is underway. Heres the steps 

I asked step dad for any empty pill bottles he tosses away, and scored a suitable size for my water tank. They still need some domed ends added. 

The original saddle water tank looking puny on this frame 

The replacement tank, only slightly larger overall but exactly what I envisioned.

One domed end attached from a scrap tank, ill use Milliput for the other end. I found sticking a damp blob of Milliput on the end, then forming with a bottom of soda can makes a great shape 

[Mopar - D]

Nice progress Jeff. What’s the chrome plate and extra little box for on the steps?  Thanks for the tip on the dome end of the tank. 

[BIGTRUCK]

Really a cool project.

[gotnitro?]

The little box is the front fender mounting point I decided not to tear apart and redo like the drivers side . The chrome piece is a door latch from Don mills, figured it hides the battery box behind the step lol

19 hours ago, BIGTRUCK said:

Really a cool project.

Thanks, glad I finally had time to putter before the tiger squirrels attacked again

[gotnitro?]

I tested an idea ...scary..for making domed tank ends. The idea hit me literally after a paint can got knocked off shelf . Mixing up a small batch of 2 part resin and filling the bottom of the paint can yielded some very convenient ends. Next time I'll pay attention and not fill the can so full, these are pretty big lol

That number? Was the lot number off the can it removed lol 

[Oldmopars]

On 5/6/2022 at 7:03 AM, gotnitro? said:

I tested an idea ...scary..for making domed tank ends. The idea hit me literally after a paint can got knocked off shelf . Mixing up a small batch of 2 part resin and filling the bottom of the paint can yielded some very convenient ends. Next time I'll pay attention and not fill the can so full, these are pretty big lol

That number? Was the lot number off the can it removed lol 

Awesome idea. Next time try and draw around the intended subject and fill only a little past that line. It should save epoxy and save a lot of sanding. 

[gotnitro?]

@Oldmopars great tip ! Theres plenty of sanding ahead 

[gotnitro?]

Test fit the fuel tank and water tank today. Fabbed up straps from channel and strip, then mounts from square rod. They fit into square tube attached to frame, probably not correct but look decent. A small battery box was added and covered w diamond plate. 

I'm starting the driveline now, planning  a curbside build from day 1. I figure use a parts box engine/ trans so the driveshafts aren't flopping around. 

Stuck all the major parts on for a test..ignore my sloppy bondo work..it started cooking off before I was able to smooth it off. 

I wasn't sure about having a battery box so close to that huge water tank..but pics showed several,  so I installed it.

Last up the driveshafts going together. Since this is a mixer everything is visible between the rails 

[Warren D]

Great idea for the tanks ends!  I can see using different cans with different curves for an almost endless variety of looks.

[gotnitro?]

3 hours ago, Warren D said:

Great idea for the tanks ends!  I can see using different cans with different curves for an almost endless variety of looks.

I found those little screwdrivers used for glasses have very small curves perfect for air tanks and such too. 

[Mopar - D]

Awesome details Jeff. 

[gotnitro?]

Thanks Dan its coming together now 

Tonite I tossed a parts box engine into the frame , and built up another drive shaft. I'm not completely sure what engine this represents,  but it was yellow lol.

Now to clean up the barrel and cab, noticed there's no floor included w the cab. Ill rob more seats and floor pan from somewhere 

[Oldmopars]

29 minutes ago, gotnitro? said:

Thanks Dan its coming together now 

Tonite I tossed a parts box engine into the frame , and built up another drive shaft. I'm not completely sure what engine this represents,  but it was yellow lol.

Now to clean up the barrel and cab, noticed there's no floor included w the cab. Ill rob more seats and floor pan from somewhere 

That engine is a Cummins, NHC250 or NTC350, not sure I'd have to double check on that part, but it is the engine that comes in about half of the AMT truck kits. 

Your progress is looking great. 

[gotnitro?]

Thanks..guess a 70s era engine in 2000 generation truck invalidates its clean idle certification lol . 

Thanks for the ID