ah.b.normal
Goblin Guru
Ahhh if only it was that easy! and I have a 2 for one coupon! 
Ah. B. Normal: GOB-BALT build has Started!
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ah.b.normal
Goblin Guru
In other news, this might interest MarkM and some others. I was casting about for ideas on what to build my bulkhead out of. Several ideas later I may have my best materiel yet: used, molded plastic bed liner, mainly the floor. I had considered truck bed floor or bent Cobalt hoods, but set them aside due to problems of cost, I can't weld and likely weight. The corrugated floor of a used bed liner cuts easy with a saws all and usually yards will let damaged ones go for $20 or so. Brand is unimportant in this application...... On top of all of that, my Father, whose career at DuPont Plastics had worked hard trying to get one or more of "the Big Three" to build their trucks with at least Polyethylene plastic bed floors. They all balked but he did find a company that wanted to build Polyethylene fuel tanks. He helped Ford design the cheap but effective cure, a strap on, molded shield of Polyethylene that covered the front of the Pinto fuel tank.(Ford engineers wanted to use a pressed steel shield but found steel diff rubbing on steel shield on steel fuel tank had the same result as no shield!) In crash tests the plastic shield kept the steel tank from being ruptured by the diff. And cheaper and faster to install than a slightly lower capacity plastic tank. I'm not sure if Pinto production after the fix changed production to the plastic tank?, but if you look under your DD vehicle you'll probably find a plastic tank.
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
Or added this to the trunk/hatch lid:
ah.b.normal
Goblin Guru
Silly DS! People in the US can't read! Especially not in English; that relic of Oppression, the Patriarchy and Western Civ. in general.
ah.b.normal
Goblin Guru
Sorry, I was feeling extra sarcastic what with LA burning again and having to press a button for English. I know I am not in it, but the witnessing the spectacle is enough some days............................. As to GOB-BALT's current status: I'm in "Runs three seconds and dies, purgatory". I need to unplug MAF sensor and see what I get? I am pretty sure the computer is shutting off the fuel because I am starting the engine by using a starter bump switch. Key switch is not cooperating just now.(06 computer) Then hot wiring the fuel pump to get it mobile so it can visit a computer(tec2 or others).
I was feeling extra sarcastic what with LA burning again and having to press a button for English. I know I am not in it, but the witnessing the spectacle is enough some days............................. As to GOB-BALT's current status: I'm in "Runs three seconds and dies, purgatory". I need to unplug MAF sensor and see what I get? I am pretty sure the computer is shutting off the fuel because I am starting the engine by using a starter bump switch. Key switch is not cooperating just now.(06 computer) Then hot wiring the fuel pump to get it mobile so it can visit a computer(tec2 or others).
ah.b.normal
Goblin Guru
Ross, I can't ID what computer it is using but your stories(I believe) lead me to get this far today.(I'm still using start bump switch remote) I am out of Purgatory but not yet in the Promised Land of correct function with the key........... This is an 06 2.2 N/A. I believe all S/C or T/C used a different(Bosch?) computer than their base cousins? I have been away from my car for about a year. At this time I am also trying to get several buildings built on our new to us property. So GOB-BALT tinkering has been strictly curtailed! Much of my tinkering time has been consumed just remembering what I had done up to my departure last June!........... I had dumped the ABS module and put a standard Cobalt prop valve in it's place. Yesterday I was under the hood and as usual I was ignoring that huge plug that goes on the ABS computer, now just lyin' there. Last night it dawned on me, no ABS computer, no H/S LAN. I located that(nearly cast off) computer today and Viola! It no longer stops running after 3 seconds.(I believe if I jumper{solder and insulate} the brown wire pairs to their mates that will properly by-pass that computer on the H/S LAN and I can leave that computer in the scrap pile.)......... It still must be cranked with my starter bump switch, BUT it stays running until I turn the key off or I manage to stall it........... Shifter needs further fettling to zero in on proper function. Fortunately I built in plenty of adjustment........I have constructed the coolant transfer pipes, they now run in the tunnel where exhaust formerly ran. I am digging through my castoff rad hoses from Cobalts and 1500 trucks. The upper hose from a 1500 V8 is a long snakey thing with a near U turn, very handy! I am hoping that if all my donor hoses came from just a few sources replacing them will be a little easier......... Next, to solo bleed brakes and clutch. Rear brake lines are currently plugged closed. I get actual clutch release but it is near the floor. I was bleeding it using a broom handle duct taped to the clutch pedal to push with my left hand as I operated the bleed screw. I am pleased I got any function at all. (A Sasqwatch or a Wookie probably could have reclined the seat all the way back and operated the pedal and bleed screw solo. I found I am lacking about 10" in overall length + reach for that job.)............All rear lighting is still just a jumble of cut ends, many splices to do. And a couple of grounds as well! On the front I show no lights yet, but test lamp probing will tell........I still have some work to do to secure the fuel tank to the mounting frame I created out of 1" square stock under the hood. and must construct a filler neck too! Getting Closer!
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