barrman : Green Weekend (7 pictures)

Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by barrman on Sept 18, 2006, 8:42am

I wanted my truck to be at least 1/2 green by the Texas FE in a few weeks. I also knew I needed to have specific other things done before I painted the inside of the cab. Battery relocation, 3lever switch installed and working, spare steering column painted and rebuilt, replacement seats available, FSJ heater system painted and test fitted and a few other things. All those items got done, so this was the weekend to do it.

I forgot to take any pictures before I started prepping Friday night after I drove the M715 home from work. Here is a picture before I shot the paint for Phase 1.
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6...bpaint1ue3.jpg
Phase 1 was supposed to be the dash, foot wells and around the shifters. I mixed enough paint to do that only to discover that my paint gun wouldn't fit under the dash to get the foot wells. So, I threw as much paint at the not accesible areas I could and did a little more of the floor.
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3...bpaint2cx3.jpg

I love the way the Auto Meter gauges turned out. I taped up the lenses, but not the surrounding gray. I couldn't get a picture with or without flash that really showed how good the gauges look, but this is the next best.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/531...bpaint3og6.jpg

Phase 2 included removing the seats, battery, all switches from my center console, speakers, gun rack, sanding inside and out, removing the doors and taping around the engine so I could get the firewall under where the heater is going to go. Between doing all that, a soccer game for Colton and 6 hours for a trip to get more stuff from Sermis, I didn't get to paint again until Sunday morning.

It turned out good though.
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/571...bpaint4vj7.jpg

Then I started putting it all back together again. Including the new matching seats from some kind of big military truck.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9...bpaint5vj4.jpg
I don't have as much room for my leg to get between the seat and steering wheel when getting in and out, but they look right. I would also suggest that if you are in the planning stage, make your switch panel removable. Mine isn't and I spent over an hour taking it apart and then another hour putting them all back in again. But, I finally got it all back together and ready to drive to work today about 2000 Sunday evening.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5...bpaint6hq6.jpg

I also spent a lot of time helping and doing some painting for Colton on his Trail 50 frame and parts. Here he is prepping his parts.
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5...bpaint1qz1.jpg

The only troubles I had besides the time spent on switches was the new steering column. I had it assembled finger tight in a vise and it turned good and the horn switch actually did what it was supposed to. I installed the column, hooked everything up and then tightened the wheel down. I heard a crunch and the wheel would barely turn. We had 3" of rain last night and this morning (yippie!) so I couldn't run this morning. I took the steering wheel off. I will post pictures tomorrow, but basically the ring the wire connects to is all twisted up and the plastic is busted some and the little contact that touches the ring is twisted. I bought the entire column in March from Barry to get just those parts. Now I ruined them. Anybody have any or a source?

Phase 3 was supposed to be the tailgate and rear frame area. I never got to it. Maybe this weekend I can do the entire bed exterior. I have to do a lot of welding and grinding to get it ready though. By the way. I bought 4 gallons of paint in March. I finished the 2nd gallon off doing the last little bit on the cab and the motorcylce. So I guess I am 1/2 way done now.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by compexp on Sept 18, 2006, 8:45am

looks great!

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by binfordm715 on Sept 18, 2006, 9:47am

I love that color! Looking great, Tim! And I really like those seats. You don't know what they're out of?

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by kwai on Sept 18, 2006, 9:57am

Is that the horn contact ring you need?

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by barrman on Sept 18, 2006, 10:07am

The ring that goes between the steering wheel and the column and the little contact that screws into the bottom of the wheel. I have good stuff for the drivers side of the wheel.

I "think" the seats are from a 5 ton, but I am not sure. They have the springs to help raise and lower the highth, but not to cusion the ride.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by brute4c on Sept 18, 2006, 10:11am

Which piece?

http://www.m715zone.com/manuals/34parts/fig88.jpg

http://www.m715zone.com/manuals/34parts/fig54.jpg

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by beast on Sept 18, 2006, 10:22am

The seats look like the new style hi-backs out of a humvee? I know someone here on the Zone had used them before.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by thetroublemaster on Sept 18, 2006, 10:46am

Looks really sharp Tim!! You are fast. It would take me a week just to paint one pedal arm...:^))

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by fisherman on Sept 18, 2006, 10:58am

Great Job Tim, remember to post some pics of your hitch would you please. I will be starting on mine after next weekends PacNWFE.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by kwai on Sept 18, 2006, 11:38am

I have one of those rings. You should be able to swap it out at the FE unless you want it sooner.

I don't want much in return. Just for you to paint my truck. I will even provide the paint.

Deal or no deal?

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by barrman on Sept 18, 2006, 11:55am

#2 in the middle drawing of hte steering wheel. # 6 is also torn up. Looking at the picture, I think what happened is #7 didn't push back into the spring which caused too much pressure on the plastic under neath #2. Which ruined # 2 and the plastic.

Kwai,
The last I knew, you had 5 of these things. If I started painting on one of them, it would never end. You would probably try to tell me your Mule was just a M715 frame too.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by porkchop on Sept 18, 2006, 2:26pm

Looking good. Nice to see another getting the USMC green. I only used 2 gallons of paint on the whole truck. That is putting up to 5 coats on some areas with the truck completely dissassemblied.

Also do you happen to have a stock steering wheel from your old colum?

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by barrman on Sept 18, 2006, 3:03pm

I have painted besides the truck: 5 Rims, 4 brake drums, 2 extra tie rods, 8 M715 b/o light assemblies, 11 M35 b/o light assemblies, 2 b/o spot lights, 2 air horns, 2 complete heater set ups, Ramsey winch, winch frame, 2 complete a/c housings, 5 trailer rims, part of my trailer, engine upper end, engine accesories, engine air cleaner, all OBA parts visible under hood, a 6' x 3' metal work bench, motorcycle parts and I'm sure other stuff I can't remember. I basically think I could have done the entire truck with the amount of paint already sprayed.

I do have a spare steering wheel as of yesterday. But, it is in really good condition compared to the one I installed. I plan to clean it up and paint it and then swap it out at a later date. After swapping columns out over the weekend, I think I am going to build my spare up and keep it. It is a lot easier to swap columns than to mess with the problems at either end I have learned.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by kwai on Sept 18, 2006, 5:43pm

The part I have is the contact ring that you can remove without removing the steering wheel.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by k8icu on Sept 18, 2006, 9:10pm

The seat looks like the drivers seat out of the M35A3.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by agengr on Sept 18, 2006, 9:45pm

how about some pics of the trail 50 painted?

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by binfordm715 on Sept 18, 2006, 10:50pm

Since Nick met Colton, I keep him up to date on stuff I learn Colton is doing. I like the idea of Colton getting involved in work on his own wheels and am sort of doing that with Nick as well. Now that he learns Colton is painting his trail rider USMC green, guess what Nick wants to do with his go-cart!

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by barrman on Sept 19, 2006, 8:10am

Kwai,
I have already have a spare ring that comes off with the three little slotted screws under the horn cap. Thanks for the offer though.

Colton had soccer practice last night and has a game tonight. Hopefully, we will get him painting the "show" or more visible when assembled side Wednesday evening. We ordered all the parts needed for it last Monday. I called yesterday to check on the progress of the order and they had no record of it. They had billed me for it though. I don't want a double billing, so once my bank shows them as refunding that money, I will try the process again. That means there really isn't anyway the Trail 50 is going to make the FE. Which once I think about it is probably the best. I would rather he learn some more at home before he is around other people.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by porkchop on Sept 19, 2006, 8:36am

I will be bringing my buggy to the FE so the kids can play around on that.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by barrman on Sept 19, 2006, 9:03am

You fix your e-brake yet? It might be needed after seeing those pictures.

Re: Green Weekend (7 pictures)
Post by porkchop on Sept 19, 2006, 9:09am

Not yet. I will play with it this week. If I can't fix it here then I will fix it there. It is just an adjustment that is needed, but the hardest thing is finding the time. Hunting this weekend and a gun show to go to.