CMP restoration tools

[Jacques Reed]

Thought I would add another bit of info that worked for me.

As I don't own a truck, and hiring a large tandem trailer to take a F15A chassis to the sandblaster was going to be quite costly I looked at using a boat trailer to do the job.
The chassis is surprisingly quite light, and in fact probably less than a fully rigged 14' fishing boat and motor so weight is not a problem- just length.

Found a rough and ready one in the "Trading Post" for $120. Good enough for what I wanted. Made up a few wooden chocks to keep it in place for the 40 km round trip and secured the chassis to the trailer with threaded 5/16" rods. Prior to the sandblaster I also use it to take the chassis to a welder to have a few extraneous holes welded shut where a two speed xfer case had been fitted.
The welder had it overnight and the sandblaster had it for three days so you can imagine the cost on hired equipment if hired for 4 days.

After I finished with it a few weeks later I tidied it up a bit, put it back on the Trading Post, and got my money back with a little bit of change.

This also keeps clutter down when you live in a normal suburban home as I do and keeps wives and neighbors happy.

Cheers,

Cheers,

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Jacques

Really good solution to moving the frame around, great that you were able to buy trailer it use it and sell it and come out ahead.

Now as "This also keeps clutter down when you live in a normal suburban home as I do and keeps wives and neighbors happy." Got a real kick out of that, living out in the sticks the only way the neighbors see my Beasts is they have a helicopter, but keeping the neighbors happy is important.

Usually is solved by offering to pull them out of the mud or ditch etc. then they don't think the old military trucks are so odd.

Cheers Phil

[maple_leaf_eh]

There is a certain sanity in simple organization. I don't have a garage or secure work area, so nothing can stay outdoors.

Tonight I was repair something non-truck. I started out with the anticipated tools and supplies, then decision by decision, brought out more and more tools and supplies. As I worked, scrap bits, wrappings and tools were either returned to their proper holders or thrown into a single container. Sometimes I used a 2' diameter garden pail with rope handles or a folding top tote box, or tonight it was the big box the new parts came in.

After the job was finished and the work tested, everything came back indoors. (Wet snow and drizzle forecasted throughout the next week.) Before bed I will put everything in its place. It seems like taking twice as much time for each job, but at least I OUGHT to be able to start the next job without searching for lost tools or supplies.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

There is a certain sanity in simple organization. I don't have a garage or secure work area, so nothing can stay outdoors.

Tonight I was repair something non-truck. I started out with the anticipated tools and supplies, then decision by decision, brought out more and more tools and supplies. As I worked, scrap bits, wrappings and tools were either returned to their proper holders or thrown into a single container. Sometimes I used a 2' diameter garden pail with rope handles or a folding top tote box, or tonight it was the big box the new parts came in.

After the job was finished and the work tested, everything came back indoors. (Wet snow and drizzle forecasted throughout the next week.) Before bed I will put everything in its place. It seems like taking twice as much time for each job, but at least I OUGHT to be able to start the next job without searching for lost tools or supplies.

Putting tools etc back into their place has always worked well for me. It is only recently I have been leaving things out, 'on the job'. My truck and tools are indoors however and if I'm halfway through something, leaving tools out with the job is saving me time for the next time I'm out in the shed.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Terry and Ryan

Having the tools within easy reach and putting them back the logical thing to do, though not always practical. If the size of the shop allows having a roll around tool chest and actually moving it to the area you are working can be a real time saver.

Couple of years ago when I was swapping engines on my C60S I set up a time lapse camera and one of the things that jumped out at me when I watch the time lapse video was that I was spending a lot of my time walking back and forth across the shop to get a tools. Probably good exercise but lot of wasted time. Since then I have tried to remember to move the tool box with in reach. But like you I end up grabbing tools to work under the truck and then your tote bag or tray makes a lot more sense than just having the tools loose on the floor.

The other thing that I tried to do after spending to much time looking for special tools is to have a particular place to store them. Things like putting all the special engine tools, valve compressors, piston ring compressors all together in one box and marking all sides of the box with note engine tools.

Cheers Phil

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Phil:

The other thing that I tried to do after spending to much time looking for special tools is to have a particular place to store them. Things like putting all the special engine tools, valve compressors, piston ring compressors all together in one box and marking all sides of the box with note engine tools.

Cheers Phil

I reuse plastic windshield washer fluid bottles (1 US Gallon, 4.? litre) as catch buckets. Cut out the side and toss things in. The plastic never crumples with age or humidity, and there is a handle for convenience. For instance, the magnetic towing lights are all in one place in a bottle. A car tow rope is in a bottle. A big car emergency blanket is in a bottle. The battery jumper cables are in a bottle.

[Ryan]

For aussie MLU'ers I worked out today that Ford I6 exhaust lifter brackets found on 'Barra' and 'Orion' engines match up to sidevalve head nuts almost perfectly. Just a little widening of the bolt holes on the bracket to prevent the head bolt threads getting damaged and it lines up beaut. One can be fitted to the front and rear of the heads.
I didn't have the camera handy though.