On 12/13/2022 at 5:58 PM, kmealy said:

 Just hoping disasters don't occur in threes this time.

 ... ... 

 

12 hours ago, kmealy said:

Well, the third disaster came up today.  The truck was having some intermittent brake lock-ups in the driveway.  Had it towed to the shop and it turns our the brake parts are rusted to pieces and need to be replaced.  Going to be a whopper of a Visa bill in January.

Too late, yhpruM heard that. 

 Turns out it might not be so hard to find a transmission for Bruce's 2018 Ram ProMaster after all. 

I talked to a guy I know that rebuilds transmissions and he told me the same six speed transmission got used in 2011-2019 Caravans, Journeys,, and most any other Chrysler/Dodge/Ram/Jeep FWD product that used the 3.6L V6 engine. 

 

In betwixt all the hurly burly of everyday life, I have managed to do a few things this week.

 

The first is a massive quality of life improvement… A tool wall…  This is a major step forward in hopefully correcting the flat surface chaos problem that I have currently.

The second is a layout-tool panel to hang on said tool wall.  I think I still have a few things to find and put up there but progress has been made and I can now find all of my layout and marking tools fairly easily.

Last but certainly not least, the mortiser I ordered during the Black Friday sales last month finally showed up.  Got it all set up and it now has its own little home in the shop.  A mobile base may be in order for that at some later point in time, we will have to see.

Well, that was fast. 

Just got a call from Bruce, asked "What are you doing Monday"?

After I told Bruce what the guy I know told me. Bruce called a buddy of his that has a boneyard about 1 1/2 hrs. from here. He's got a 2014 Caravan with the 3.6L with just shy of 42K miles that he needs the motor pulled out of, and doesn't trust the one guy he's got left working to not mess it up. Asked Bruce if he'd be willing to swap some labor for a reduced price for the transmission. Bruce asked Scott if he would mind if he broght some help. Scott asked if he meant the guy with the "Long Gray Hair"?  

Bruce said he replied "Yeah why"? Scott told him "We could use the shop, and tools if we can do it Monday". 

So, Bruce asked me "How long do you think it would take to pull the motor, and transmission"? 

I asked "How did I get in this"?  

Bruce replied "Well aww, I'm not exactly sure how to do it, and aww I don't want to mess anything up. 

So I asked if we could use the air tools also. Bruce said "Yeah why"?

I said "Oh about 2-3 hours". ( I used to be able to do it in about an hour when I worked at the boneyard.) 

Bruce asked "You're sure about that"?

Can't wait to see the look on his face when I drop everything out the bottom on the engine cradle as a unit, and then dissassemble everything. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 12/15/2022 at 6:45 PM, Larry Buskirk said:

Can't wait to see the look on his face when I drop everything out the bottom on the engine cradle as a unit, and then dissassemble everything. 

 

You rock Larry!

2 hours ago, Cal said:

 

You rock Larry!

 

Having worked at an auto assembly plant I know how they got put together. 

Just a matter of reversing the assembly line procedure.

 

First time I did it that way while working at the boneyard (during a layoff at the plant) the front desk didn't believe me when I called on the intercom telling them their "Rush engine pull" was ready, and I was ready for another vehicle. About half the counter staff and the yard owners came to the back teardown area and when they saw everything pulled, tagged, and ready to be put in inventory stood for a moment before asking "How in the #&!!"

The guy in the next teardown bay told them I've never seen anything like it, he dropped everything out the bottom and then dissassembled everything.

They looked at me, then asked "Why did you do it that way"? I replied "How do you think they get put together?

Didn't make me real popular with the teardown guys in the other building when they heard what I'd done.  It was my third day there, and I did in less than two hours what they'd take all day to do. Yea, they let me know about it.

I didn't bother to let them know about the $3.00/hr raise I got that day. 

 

20 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

Having worked at an auto assembly plant I know how they got put together. 

 

This was a buddy the day we installed the engine in the Duster... best way to do it!

 

20 minutes ago, Cal said:

 

This was a buddy the day we installed the engine in the Duster... best way to do it!

 

 

Much easier than going in from the top, and less chance of damaging anything. 

Especially when doing a front wheel drive. No need to get filthy trying to get at bolts, etc., while laying flat on your back. Takes about an hour to ready the drop, and about 15-20 minutes to dissassemble everything after dropping as a unit. 

 

23 hours ago, Cal said:

This was a buddy the day we installed the engine in the Duster... best way to do it!

 

That's pretty danged cool Larry. Whenever I see images of DIYers replacing engines, they seem to always go in from the top.

8 hours ago, John Morris said:

 

That's pretty danged cool Larry. Whenever I see images of DIYers replacing engines, they seem to always go in from the top.

That's Cal's Duster John, when you drop everything on a front wheel drive the struts, steering rack, half-shafts, etc., go along for the ride. Once out it only takes a few minutes to dissassemble everything.

20 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

That's Cal's Duster John, when you drop everything on a front wheel drive the struts, steering rack, half-shafts, etc., go along for the ride. Once out it only takes a few minutes to disassemble everything.

Thanks for the correction Larry!

On 12/18/2022 at 5:18 AM, Cal said:

 

This was a buddy the day we installed the engine in the Duster... best way to do it!

 

 

Hey Cal, and @Larry Buskirk

I coincidentally stumbled onto this image, and immediately thought of Cal's Duster.

 

Test...test...this is only a test..

Now have all 4 corners dovetailed....trying to see how much a PITA this will be to glue up....WITH the panels...

Had a lot of grooves to mill, too..

Edited December 20, 20223 yr by steven newman

The son who's ramrodding the automatic gate opener we're getting for Christmas, informed me just last night he needs 15' of 2X4 concrete forms made for Friday's  job. Lack of foresight must be genetic. 

All I have on hand are 2X6s and 8s. And, since the truck is loaded with a ton of ABC, a run to HD isn't possible. Looks like Phyl and I will be doing aome ripping and scabbing this morning.