[DNF] [22 BO] diddie's Salvage

I finally got some time to work on the winch and bumper set up and got it to where i'm happy with it.

once i got to this point i realized i would have to push the winch out a bit further than i thought to clear the hood when opening and closing. but that's where the bumper comes in handy too support the other bolt mount. than i incorporated the fairlead into the bumper.


you can't see it in the pic but there is a bracket welded to the bottom of the bumper that bolts to the winch.

Looks good @diddie nice work!

Looks like a mean longhorn.   Very nice!

Not too much to report. I've been busy enjoying life with other activities and haven't had a lot of time in the shop, but i did manage to get my build moved to my lift which made it a lot easier to get up in under the rear fenders to weld in my brackets that will support my grab handles.

Very nice! Never thought of a fender brace before.

Oh yes! I’ve had this in the plans for mine for a while. Good call on the braces. Those fender pans twist like plywood.

Looking good!

I need to step up my game ! and get some progress going. I did get my grab handles built the other day.



nice and sturdy too you could hook a hoist to these and lift the whole thing if you wanted.


was planning on stripping it all down this week and get started on final welding and tie up any loose ends. but unfortunatly my 30 year old air compressor tank rotted out and is not savable so i get to go buy a new one (that wasn't on the agenda) !

Welcome back! Lol. The handles look great!

@Brianator Thanks ! yeah this time of the year i have a hard time finding time to get on this computer. i'm missing out on everyone's updates.

Got started on some body work today. Not my favorite part, but the best thing to do first is what you want to do least. for me that would be the nose piece as this needs the most attention.


unfortunatly working with bondo isn't my favorite thing ! apply bondo, over sand! apply more bondo and over sand agine ect. ect. untill i say screw it. It looks good enough LOL. shoot some primer and hope it hides as much as it can.


then not wait till it is properly dry and lightly sand and gasp because it is balling up. then just shoot it with some paint and hope for the best, then install it back on the hood to soon because you can't wait to see how it looks

That looks mean I like it!

Got busy tonight tearing it down to do final welding and paint, plus finish anything that didn't get done during the initial build. for instance the clutch, due to the fact that i completely changed the drive sys. with the chain to belt set up. here are a couple of pics. of what i came up with after struggling with it for a couple hours.



after these pics. i did have to lower the mounting bracket at the pedal assy. due to clearance issues with the floorboard. and the zip ties are for testing purposes only ! as well as the 1/2 inch belt which will be upgraded to 5/8 i still have to fab a hook up for the cable. hoping to get last few things worked out so i can move onto paint !

I got to say, you are doing an awesome job with this build.  Very rugged and well thought out.  Just my .02, I'd stick with the 1/2 belt.  Depending on your pulleys, the 1/2 may slip much less than the 5/8.  I switched red to 1/2 from 5/8 and a lot of my slipping went away.

@MightyRaze Thanks sounds like some good advice. I just assumed that a 5/8 would cover more pulley grove area therefore giving better grip. but facts don't lie.

diddie wrote:

@MightyRaze Thanks sounds like some good advice. I just assumed that a 5/8 would cover more pulley grove area therefore giving better grip. but facts don't lie.

What was told to me, "Depending on the pulley", the 1/2 fits further down in the pulley wedge.  On my daughter's ride, it's something to get used to.  It will grab and you're going.

up next i had to address a situation that i wasn't sure how i was going to deal with it. still not complete but i'm on the right track. as you will see in the pics. where i built my countershaft to go from chain to belt, i had to cut into my floorboard for access. so that needed to be covered, so i built a false floor to cover it, which still is in development but here is what i'm working on.

That would make for a good storage compartment if you made small covers for the holes you cut and then made the new floor into a door or hatch of sorts.

@Murraymountain not a bad idea but the false floor is to gain access to the adjusting bolts to tension the chain when needed and if the countershaft needs any attention like bearings needing replaced.

Got a little more work done on the false floor tonight. But who Hoo I need to get busy! that deadline is getting awful close.

I've been a bit distracted with the upgrades to the beast and it has consumed too much of my time lately. But i'm going to vow to dedicate the next two weeks to getting some progress on this build !!

Bought some paint today !! That's a good start 

Man I just read this start to finish and I am blown away with the whole thing! The chain to belt is a cool idea, and love the overall stance of is, at 52 inches it should be a hill climbing monster !

Getting ready to jump back on this tomorrow evening. but I've got to get a hold of one of my sons to help me out. For some reason when i plug my Stupid phone up to the stupid computer it won't do the pitcher thing its supposed to do, Not sure what's going on and me and computers do get along too well !

Got it stripped down to the frame and got it pressure washed.

Then got it back on the rack to finish up welding everything that was just tacked in. and painted everything 
with some Satin black. 

Good stuff @diddie!