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Seabee M38A1 Build

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by tymbom, Mar 30, 2014.

  1. Apr 15, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
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    1,998
    Great post!!! That's so cool that you found the wreckage of the same f-16... what a great trip.
     
  2. Apr 15, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    We had a blast! There's a bunch of stuff we did that I didn't include, but it was all out in the desert, we stayed out of the big cities and had a great time camping.

    So, of course the brake lines arrived while we were on our trip. So after getting home I couldn't wait to tackle them. First up I needed to bleed the master cylinder.

    [​IMG]

    I bet a couple scraps and bled the master while it was still on the booster. I attached the brake lines and began bleeding the system. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get fluid to the rear brakes. I thought there was something I needed to do with the adjustable proportioning valve, but that wasn't the problem... The push rod from the booster was about a half inch too long. I wasn't getting full travel of the piston inside the master cylinder. Luckily the pushrod had a threaded end with a tip that was threaded. I shortened the rod and threaded the tip back in. That was all it took to get fluid to the rear brakes... There was some fittings that needed to be tightened up, but my biggest problem was this little short line to the left of the T junction.

    [​IMG]

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    It looks like the third try was a winner. The first one leaked enough to strip the paint from the axle... Grrrr
    So now I have brakes and a clutch... I've ran into a fuel delivery problem. All of a sudden the fuel pump is pushing out over 100 psi. I'm not sure why, but I have another pump on the way...
     
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  3. Apr 16, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627

    Great trip! I love the 395, the Nevada Deserts, and Death Valley. Such beautiful country. Bodie near mono lake is another ghost town worth seeing if you haven't already.
     
    tymbom likes this.
  4. Apr 16, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    "Bodie near mono lake is another ghost town worth seeing if you haven't already."

    I haven't made it to Bodie yet. One of these days...
     
  5. May 2, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    So after I made two more of those short brake lines I think I have the brake lines sorted. Brakes are bled. Then I got pneumonia. That put me down for a couple weeks. The fueling problem I was talking about in an earlier post I believe is too much fuel pressure. I don't think the internal fuel pressure regulator in the throttle body is capable of more than a couple psi over what is required. So in an attempt to get that under control I have a Holley fuel pressure regulator and gauge on the way. Hopefully I can splice it into the fuel lines in the engine compartment without too much trouble.

    [​IMG]

    In the meantime I'm trying to button up as much of the little things I need to get done as I can. My friends are planning a wheeling day on the 22nd of this month, so I'm hoping to get this out there. I've got the seat belts in for the front seats. I'll be ordering the front driveshaft on Monday, along with some other stuff... Thanks for checking it out.
     
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  6. May 7, 2021
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,450
    pneumonia!!! Wow that's no good. Glad you are doing well again.
     
    tymbom likes this.
  7. May 10, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    [​IMG]

    Doing stuff... Closed off the big hole in the firewall. I still need to finalize the wiring for the lights and horn, then I will wrap the loom with some Powerbraid. I figured out the fuel pressure issues that have been troubling me since the first start. Turns out the fuel filter I used was too restrictive for my application. I made sure it was EFI compatible, but I guess it didn't want to work for me. I decided to bypass it last night and the engine purred nicely...

    [​IMG]

    Front driveshaft is installed. Here is the clearance at full bump. I can almost slide my finger between the shaft and the infamous reverse gear bulge on the SM420. I have to install the bumpstops up front so it won't flex this far anyways.

    [​IMG]

    Of course with the engine finally running right, and brakes are working, I took my daughter, niece, and nephew for a ride around in the field. It felt so good to drive up and down the road.

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    My sister hopped in for a ride too...

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    I let my dad and brother in law take a few laps too...

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    My cheeks hurt I've been smiling so much today...

    Then the slave cylinder took a dump. It's puking fluid pretty bad. Hopefully it just because of dried up seals or something. I'll get a rebuild kit from Novak and see. There's still plenty of stuff to do, but at least I have a running, driving Jeep! Thanks for checking it out, laters
     
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  8. May 10, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Feb 9, 2018
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    5,627
    That is a seriously cool rig. I like how low you've kept it for the tire size.
     
    tymbom likes this.
  9. May 10, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
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    814
    Thanks! When I started the build I knew I needed to keep it low since my wife is 5'2" tall... But really so it's more stable off-road. The big tires are also great in the snow where bigger is always better. My big green truck on 37s does pretty good in the snow, so this should do much better since the tires are bigger, less weight, locked front and rear, and better gearing... I can't wait!
     
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  10. May 10, 2021
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2007
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    3,559
    I don't remember seeing how you cut/finished the wheel openings in the body. I'm going to need to do this on my 3B. Do you have those details posted somewhere?
     
  11. May 10, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
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    I don't think I posted the details anywhere... Basically I had a big piece of cardboard and I traced an arc that had about a 38in diameter on the cardboard. Then I held it up to the fender as high and as far back as it could go. Marked the line and cut a half inch inside of the line. Then I cut into the fender at a 90 degree angle towards the line. Then I gently bent those small pieces under to make the lip. When I set up the leaf spring hangers on the frame I tacked them on and flexed the suspension and made sure everything fit...

    [​IMG]

    Here's an old picture from when I still had the Dana 44, 37s and some spacers.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  12. May 10, 2021
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
    Joined:
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    That seems easy enough. How much space between the relief cuts? I guess you end up with a pretty jagged edge inside the fender well? Did you weld those small sections together?
     
  13. May 10, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    The cuts need to be pretty close together otherwise your curve isn't very smooth... I think half inch or less. I haven't finished the bodywork and paint yet. I'm thinking about adding some armor on the quarter panels. I might add a piece of solid round rod if I don't add some armor.
     
  14. May 15, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    [​IMG]

    I getting stuff put back together...

    [​IMG]

    I even made a list like the big celebrity car builder magazine personalities... I've already knocked a bunch of the easy stuff off like the winch. That was just hooking the cables to the battery.

    [​IMG]

    I made a simple mount for the power steering reservoir. I need a couple big stainless hose clamps to the reservoir on...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I also found these relays on amazon. They're supposed to be waterproof and they have a green led that is supposed to light up when they have power. We'll see, I threw them in the tool box for spares...

    [​IMG]
     
  15. May 20, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
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    814
    [​IMG]
    Thats a good sign...
    I got all the list did... Plus a couple other little things... That means I get to go wheeling on Saturday.

    [​IMG]
    The jeep passed inspection from Iron Tail the cat...

    [​IMG]
    Here she sits all ready to go. There's still plenty to do to get out on the road. The headlights, brake, and turn signals need to be wired up. So far the Unimog turn signal has been kind of a pain. I've found a wiring diagram online, but it's not exactly the same year as the switch. We'll see. Hopefully this weekend I can be posting some wheeling pics!
     
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  16. May 22, 2021
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    [​IMG]
    We had a very good day wheeling this afternoon. The weather was perfect. Not too cold, just enough clouds. I was the last one to arrive at the spot. Some friends have access to some private property that has tons of cool rock formations and trails all over. I've had the big green truck up here a few times and it always does well, but it's so big that I don't always get to pick my line. Wheeling the jeep there for the first time was so cool. This jeep is everything the big green will never be. Better motor, gearing, brakes, tires, suspension, size. Everything. The jeep was basically point and shoot all day long. Everything I tried to climb was done. There was one ledge I climbed that I kinda work a little, but it got up eventually.
    [​IMG]
    My buddy Kenny brought his flattie out too. He has Wagoneer Dana 44s, Ox lockers, 302, T19 and 35s. It's nice and low too. We had fun pushing each other to try different obstacles.

    [​IMG]
    I'm so pleased with everything. I used a mesh tarp and made a bikini top on the roll cage to keep the sun off. I just tied it on with some paracord and zip ties. Simple and easy.
    [​IMG]
    My daughter and my dad came with me. They took turns riding with me over obstacles and stuff. The trails wind around and the pace is so slow it's easy to walk along and take pictures.

    [​IMG]
    This was towards the end of the day when 3 or 4 Jeeps had left already.

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    Brought it home with only a couple scratches and some dust.

    [​IMG]
    Luckily I passed the post wheeling inspection from Iron Tail... Overall I'm very happy with how everything went. There's a couple little things I need to address, but nothing major. I drove home under my own power... Hopefully in the next few days I'll get more pics from my friends to share.

    I just want to say Thank you to all you guys that have been reading my rambling and the ones that have given me advice. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. It really makes a difference knowing that someone out there likes what you're doing and wants to see it finished. Thanks again. I hope that I can make it to some of the trail rides like the Tillamook Run and the Rubicon. Maybe next year. Thanks for checking it out! Hopefully I'll see ya on the trail! Laters
     
  17. May 23, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    :clap::clap::clap:

    That’s gotta feel good!
     
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  18. May 23, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Congrats man! Job well done!
     
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  19. May 23, 2021
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
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    May 30, 2008
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    So awesome!!
     
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  20. May 23, 2021
    Muzikp

    Muzikp Active Member

    Sacramento Ca.
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    Sep 27, 2016
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    Hell yeah brother!!!
     
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