Bought an old BTF U4 buggy

NCJeeplover said:
I still say this is the best way by far. Maybe upsizing would work? Alot of big HP heavy equipment have this style filter.
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The problem is packaging, to get the required CFM without robbing power would require two 8-10" diameter canisters. One issue I have with UMP & PRC is they don't list CFM specs (I highly doubt they've done the testing). I absolutely love Donaldson systems but here again they are large to get the required CFM, was just looking at their specs a few min ago LOL. As always, I'm over thinking shit.....
 
Engine wrapped up and ready to be wired. Not sure if I want to route the wiring under the intake for a clean look or along side of valve covers, TBD later. Trans shipped yesterday and should be here mid week so hopefully I'll be ready to drop everything back in the in buggy next weekend.

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Going to start on making the new headers today and see how far I get.....
 
Maybe it's just me but when you buy premium parts from a reputable company I expect a certain amount of quality. I wanted to run larger primaries and not make it too tight for easy access to the header bolts. The Ford Z2 heads use the OEM 2" bolt pattern which makes big tubes tight around the bolts. So I choose SSW OEM to TFS 2-3/4" adapters and Looks 1-7/8" flanges. I had to spend ~4 hours grinding, drilling, and deburring to get them to fit. Both companies took them straight off the laser table and boxed them up 😡

Anyway, got the adapters and flanges bolted up. Mocked up the collectors with the existing mufflers and turn outs. Cut down the collectors and mufflers a bit and tacked on new V-band flanges. Collectors and mufflers set where the need to go. Now the fun part of making tubes.....after lunch and a Sunday afternoon nap 😴 😁

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Fritz Performance transmission & BTE converter showed up. Pan is too deep for the chassis so I'll swap it out for a TCI pan.

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One side ready for final welding.
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Going to have to put the other side on hold until first of the week. Buddy and his wife coming to hang out this weekend. We're going to drop the new engine and transmission in while the wifey units go play at the beach.
 
Heat exchanger flushed out and new o-rings installed on the ORB fittings. Also installed 16AN adapters on the coolant side.
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Reminder if you have ORB fittings you need to check and replace the o-rings periodically. These were overdue to be replaced.

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I found a couple of hoses with some chafing and since most were 15+ years old I decided to make all new hoses. All hoses done and ready to come back off, cleaned out, and reinstalled with clamps. I'll do new hydraulic lines later.
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Decided to replace the CVF remote filter with a Peterson primer remote filter. Cool thing is it allows you to prime the engine with a drill. Comes in handy when it's been sitting for long periods. It draws oil from the pan through a 10AN line when priming. I planned on using the front oil pan drain but that turned into a small challenge. I wanted to keep the fitting and hose tight to the pan and away from possible damage. The original drain plug was inset .180" and used 1/2" ORB threads. With it inset that far no off the shelf fitting would work. After a few various configurations I came up with the idea to use a 1/2" ORB x 3/8npt elbow. Chucked up the fitting in the lathe and prepared to do some sketchy shit 😂 turned down the OD too .870" and .180 deep. Turned out pretty trick but made another problem. Now the nut was too thin to turn with a standard wrench. Enter the cheap Chinese spare wrench which got matched down to work 😂
Before and after
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Now I get to take all that shit back off and make the driver's side header. Then reassemble, install the Terminator X and fix some wiring. Hope to fire her up by next weekend. We have a trip to Hot Springs the first week of June and I'm running out of time 😔
 
It lives, fired it up for the first time tonight and it sounds wicked. Let it run just enough to hear it, tomorrow I'll put coolant in and run it through a s few heat cycles. Had to push the dyno appointment back until the 9th. Going to miss my trip but shit happens.

 
Joe_U4 said:
Need to address a few small things
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One of them being a slight coolant leak. I originally thought on of the fittings was leaking but upon closer inspection the radiator has a small hole. I tried some K-Seal this morning and no worky, still leaking. So I called a local radiator shop I've used in the past and their guy who repairs aluminum radiators retired and they don't fix them anymore. It's a custom Ron Davis aluminum radiator so options are few for replacement. I called and talked to Ron and he told me to pull it out and look for a MFG number he engraves on all his radiators. Based on the number he still had the original drawings from when he made it in '08. So he is making me a new one exactly like it so it will drop right in place, great news. Bad news $1495 + $300 to expedite it and get it shipped by next Friday. :dumbass:
 
Joe_U4 said:
One of them being a slight coolant leak. I originally thought on of the fittings was leaking but upon closer inspection the radiator has a small hole. I tried some K-Seal this morning and no worky, still leaking. So I called a local radiator shop I've used in the past and their guy who repairs aluminum radiators retired and they don't fix them anymore. It's a custom Ron Davis aluminum radiator so options are few for replacement. I called and talked to Ron and he told me to pull it out and look for a MFG number he engraves on all his radiators. Based on the number he still had the original drawings from when he made it in '08. So he is making me a new one exactly like it so it will drop right in place, great news. Bad news $1495 + $300 to expedite it and get it shipped by next Friday. :dumbass:
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That price hurts but try getting that kind of service in XYZ number of other areas of anything anymore. Honestly it’s pretty impressive. (Checks bank acct to verify that I’m
not paying for it lol)
 
Joe_U4 said:
One of them being a slight coolant leak. I originally thought on of the fittings was leaking but upon closer inspection the radiator has a small hole. I tried some K-Seal this morning and no worky, still leaking. So I called a local radiator shop I've used in the past and their guy who repairs aluminum radiators retired and they don't fix them anymore. It's a custom Ron Davis aluminum radiator so options are few for replacement. I called and talked to Ron and he told me to pull it out and look for a MFG number he engraves on all his radiators. Based on the number he still had the original drawings from when he made it in '08. So he is making me a new one exactly like it so it will drop right in place, great news. Bad news $1495 + $300 to expedite it and get it shipped
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I used Bondo on a radiator in Harlan back in 2005. The last time I wheeled with the dude. The radiator was still in his Jeep and the Bondo was still there.
Obviously I know this is a higher end build, but maybe something like that can save you the expedition cost
 
Jody Treadway said:
I used Bondo on a radiator in Harlan back in 2005. The last time I wheeled with the dude. The radiator was still in his Jeep and the Bondo was still there.
Obviously I know this is a higher end build, but maybe something like that can save you the expedition cost
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Figured I try to find the leak and use some epoxy to fix it. As old as it is the aluminum is it's fatigued and already been repaired twice so it was time for a replacement. It will make a good paperweight as a backup 😂
 
skyhighZJ said:
That price hurts but try getting that kind of service in XYZ number of other areas of anything anymore. Honestly it’s pretty impressive. (Checks bank acct to verify that I’m
not paying for it lol)
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Absolutely top notch company and got the man himself to help me, very impressed 👍 Not to mention they are in the middle of Pikes Peak Hill climb season and swamped with orders and still took care of me.
 
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