Adventures of the Deathmobile (II)

[MtnGoat]

After I get around to checking the valve lash, I may try that. I checked the line on the U20 in the roadster and I think it's the next step up in size.

[MtnGoat]

Crap. Now I've got much bigger problems...I'm glad I looked for the weird sound up front when I got home.
Years of rough roads, probably exacerbated by a new and tight steering and front suspension....

The TC rod mount is ripping out of the bottom of the frame rail up there. Now what the hell do I do?

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[Byron510]

Time to pull out the welder!

I had a wagon for a few years that rotted out in just this corner only - rest of the car was good - wondered if it was a drainage issue.

Anyways, time to find something structural to tie to and rebuild the corner. Pretty common on all-weather 510's to rot out here. But the repair is fairly strait forward. Just mock up the original panels and recreate the sheet metal. Nothing too fancy on a 510 in this area.

Byron

[MtnGoat]

It's back at my fav shop right now, they made space for me on the spur of the moment and fit me in, in spite of being booked up. I think they get a kick out of this car, that's handy!

I told them to do whatever they needed to weld the shit out of it, and when they were done, buzz the seams on the other side down to bare metal and weld the shit out of that one too.

He was poking around cleaning stuff off and said holy crap, this bracket/mounting point looks like 2/3rds of the welds are spot welds, the places you drive this thing I'm surprised it didn't come apart years ago!

[MtnGoat]

Done. $50 and a lot of welds.

[Byron510]

Done. $50 and a lot of welds.

Screaming Deal at any shop to even put it on the hoist for $50 - how's the work they completed? Do you figure it'll hold up?

Concerning spot welds - if done correctly - which 510's are - they are as strong as the material joining them. Spot welds are usually sufficient for most applications in a car. A full seam weld is better. However I, like you, have abused enough rusty 510's to admire and trust the spots welds that generally hold most production cars together.

Byron

[James]

$50. Amazing. Like Byron said - that they put it on the lift for that.
In so cal - its typically $65 for an assessment, and goes from there.

As per usual - I love reading about your trips in that car - probably good for another 40K mi. now!

[two_68_510s]

Done. $50 and a lot of welds.

Time Warp! Dude, that is really a trip how cheap that was! They must really love that wagon.

[James]

Pics!

[MtnGoat]

Got out to Bald Butte for camping last weekend. The road remains absolutely brutal, near the limits for the Deathmobile. Still, didn't touch bottom once and the serpentine, tight, rooty, rocky route including brush tunnel was no match for it.

All it's glory

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Shooting the goalposts

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A hawk is very interested in the 3m Acacia I'm driving

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[MtnGoat]

The view upon arrival

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Airplanes

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My latest surreal creation

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[MtnGoat]

Getting ready to throw

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Launch it!

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Suweet!

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[MtnGoat]

Close and low

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Back out into the void

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Cooking along in front of Mt Hood.

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[MtnGoat]

heads up...reman front calipers and new rotors are back in stock at rock auto. just ordered a set of each.

[Byron510]

heads up...reman front calipers and new rotors are back in stock at rock auto. just ordered a set of each.

Damn - were they out of stock in a day? None listed now.

But I now see the pistons and the seal kits are available - better than 2 years ago for the stock stuff.

Byron