End of an Era - the passing of Little Devil
- Read more about End of an Era - the passing of Little Devil
- Log in to post comments
It all started innocently enough at RMIHR 1998 with John and Pansy Comer. By August of 1998 I was building a racer.
I started with two Scouts donated from Senior Bob Bradley - one that was rolled, one that was Blair Howze's worn-out racer.
I spent 9 months preparing the two Scouts - dismantling and disposing of one, getting the other ready, and in the span of a week mostly put it together.
On July 4th, 1999 I took Little Devil to Cascade, Montana for the first race.
I pulled in, flat-towing, and handed Blair the front driveshaft and a box of U-joints that needed installed.
I had a used 304, rebuilt 727, full width 4.88 Dana 44s, a rollcage, a plastic bucket seat, a flex-fan, and 235/75-15 snow tires.
I started with two Scouts donated from Senior Bob Bradley - one that was rolled, one that was Blair Howze's worn-out racer.
I spent 9 months preparing the two Scouts - dismantling and disposing of one, getting the other ready, and in the span of a week mostly put it together.
On July 4th, 1999 I took Little Devil to Cascade, Montana for the first race.
I pulled in, flat-towing, and handed Blair the front driveshaft and a box of U-joints that needed installed.
I had a used 304, rebuilt 727, full width 4.88 Dana 44s, a rollcage, a plastic bucket seat, a flex-fan, and 235/75-15 snow tires.
Electric Lawn Tractor Conversion
- Read more about Electric Lawn Tractor Conversion
- Log in to post comments
A few years back, a friend asked if I wanted a derelict riding lawn mower. His parents had blown a hole in the side of the block, and it needed to go away.
I had just finished reading a few fun articles about building a "go-kart" from one, along with an interest in electric cars.. so sure, drop it off.
It sat for a while.
I've finally tackled the project with good results.
Can you see the problem?
I had just finished reading a few fun articles about building a "go-kart" from one, along with an interest in electric cars.. so sure, drop it off.
It sat for a while.
I've finally tackled the project with good results.
Can you see the problem?
New Racer back from Sand Blast
- Read more about New Racer back from Sand Blast
- Log in to post comments
Backstory 1 and Backstory 2 and Backstory 3
Finally, I have the new racer in the shop, and the rust has all been cleaned up thanks to Doug Abelin and $350 in sand blasting expenses.
Last weekend, my daughters helped me rag and duct-tape the sensitive parts before we flat-towed the racer the 1/4 mile to Doug's place.
Finally, I have the new racer in the shop, and the rust has all been cleaned up thanks to Doug Abelin and $350 in sand blasting expenses.
Last weekend, my daughters helped me rag and duct-tape the sensitive parts before we flat-towed the racer the 1/4 mile to Doug's place.
Gooseneck Hitch 5/2008
- Read more about Gooseneck Hitch 5/2008
- Log in to post comments
Robert "JetFxr" Searles of Montana GSE sold me a 20' steel gooseneck trailer, and threw in a gooseneck hitch from a 90s F250.
Naturally, it didn't just bolt into my 1974 International Travelette.
Fortunately, installation was still possible with a little customization.
Naturally, it didn't just bolt into my 1974 International Travelette.
Fortunately, installation was still possible with a little customization.
February 2010 Winter Baja Prep
- Read more about February 2010 Winter Baja Prep
- Log in to post comments
I had been having some cooling problems during the last few races, thanks to some mud caked into the radiator.
I didn't want a repeat problem, so I thought I'd address the mud issue.
To get the radiator out, I had to pull the front clip.
Joleigh provided some assistance.
I didn't want a repeat problem, so I thought I'd address the mud issue.
To get the radiator out, I had to pull the front clip.
Joleigh provided some assistance.
Damage from the 3/2008 St Patrick Baja 4/2008
- Read more about Damage from the 3/2008 St Patrick Baja 4/2008
- Log in to post comments
The new ladder bar failed..
And the whole thing needed a bath, so it went on the RTI ramp for a pressure-washing.
![]()
And the whole thing needed a bath, so it went on the RTI ramp for a pressure-washing.
Re-attaching the rocker (for now) October 2009
- Read more about Re-attaching the rocker (for now) October 2009
- Log in to post comments
During the trip through Carcass Canyon during Divide Ride 2008, I smacked the passenger rocker on a rock again and bent it like a boomerang - and it finally let go from the B pillar.
Michelle doesn't appreciate it when she goes to climb in and the floor falls away, so I took a little time to make a fix - for now.
Michelle doesn't appreciate it when she goes to climb in and the floor falls away, so I took a little time to make a fix - for now.
Re-attaching the rocker (for now) October 2009
- Read more about Re-attaching the rocker (for now) October 2009
- Log in to post comments
During the trip through Carcass Canyon during Divide Ride 2008, I smacked the passenger rocker on a rock again and bent it like a boomerang - and it finally let go from the B pillar.
Michelle doesn't appreciate it when she goes to climb in and the floor falls away, so I took a little time to make a fix - for now.
Radio Installs February 2010
- Read more about Radio Installs February 2010
- Log in to post comments
Since getting my ham ticket (KE7VUX) in September of 2008, I had wanted to put a better radio in Tigger.
The old Cobra 19 no longer had any working LEDs, so when you started the rig, you could rely on the radio defaulting to Channel 9, and then counting the beeps as you changed channel. This was fine, except sometimes during lunch the radio would reset to Channel 9 - and sometimes it wouldn't.
At the Glacier Waterton Hamfest in 2009 I picked up a pile of good CBs, including single-side-band (SSB) units which I had long lusted for, but now have no need for. Hams seem to sell these good old CBs for a song, since of course they have access to so much better technology and have moved on from 4w Chicken Band radios.
I also found that HRO was running a sale on close-out FT2800s, a 65w 2m mobiles with no fan. I wanted a dual band, and ideally, dual VFO radio, but for the low cost, no-fan, and ruggedness of the FT-2800, I figured I could always find at least one spot in one of my rigs where a 2m-only radio would be useful.
So then it was time to get the radios installed, and new antennas.
I've grown tired of the mag-mount CB antennas - always getting knocked off, and the coax gets destroyed by feeding through the door jam.
Time for new technology - namely, NMO.
You can pick up an NMO mount for $10-$15. It requires you to drill anywhere from a 3/8 to a 3/4" hole in your roof, then you install the NMO mount with O-ring, run the feedline (coax) to your desired location, and install a PL-259 connector.
You can then buy various antennas that use the NMO mount (even changing them out from time to time as needs change).
You can get cell phone, GPS, CB, 2M, 70cm, dual band, HF, and so on antennas all for an NMO mount.
So.. pick a spot, make your hole, and feed the NMO bit in place. I found a good use for a big triangle magnet to help me out since my arm wasn't long enough.
This is what it looks like top-side. I offset the CB antenna slightly from center, to get it away from the rib.
Ideally, you want about 8.5' of metal all around the CB whip, but that's not possible, so try to center it as much as you can.
You can see a small 2meter (144mhz, about 19" long) NMO antenna in the background, lying on it's side.
I also wanted to put an HF radio in, and decided to go with the gumdrop 3/8" stud style mount for strength when smacking trees with the antenna.
You can see the NMO mount for the CB antenna in the middle, and the gumdrop 3/8 mount for the hamstick in the right corner (driver's front corner of the roof).
While not an RF ideal spot (there isn't one, really) I chose this location so I can put a tilt-over mount on the antenna and lay it down along the roof, hanging off the rear slightly, but well out of trees' harm's way when folded down.
This will make the antenna work better to the passenger rear direction, thanks to more metal in that direction.
And with the CB NMO whip installed.
And from outside with the CB and 2m whips installed, but not the HF antenna.
I installed the 2m antenna at the rear, keeping it 19" from any edge, and as far away from the CB and HF antennas as I could.
And, of course, I mounted the radios.
Cobra 29 Classic on the left, FT-2800 over to the right.
The HF radio will go under the steering column, then use a microphone extension to keep the mic cord out of the steering wheel.
The old Cobra 19 no longer had any working LEDs, so when you started the rig, you could rely on the radio defaulting to Channel 9, and then counting the beeps as you changed channel. This was fine, except sometimes during lunch the radio would reset to Channel 9 - and sometimes it wouldn't.
At the Glacier Waterton Hamfest in 2009 I picked up a pile of good CBs, including single-side-band (SSB) units which I had long lusted for, but now have no need for. Hams seem to sell these good old CBs for a song, since of course they have access to so much better technology and have moved on from 4w Chicken Band radios.
I also found that HRO was running a sale on close-out FT2800s, a 65w 2m mobiles with no fan. I wanted a dual band, and ideally, dual VFO radio, but for the low cost, no-fan, and ruggedness of the FT-2800, I figured I could always find at least one spot in one of my rigs where a 2m-only radio would be useful.
So then it was time to get the radios installed, and new antennas.
I've grown tired of the mag-mount CB antennas - always getting knocked off, and the coax gets destroyed by feeding through the door jam.
Time for new technology - namely, NMO.
You can pick up an NMO mount for $10-$15. It requires you to drill anywhere from a 3/8 to a 3/4" hole in your roof, then you install the NMO mount with O-ring, run the feedline (coax) to your desired location, and install a PL-259 connector.
You can then buy various antennas that use the NMO mount (even changing them out from time to time as needs change).
You can get cell phone, GPS, CB, 2M, 70cm, dual band, HF, and so on antennas all for an NMO mount.
So.. pick a spot, make your hole, and feed the NMO bit in place. I found a good use for a big triangle magnet to help me out since my arm wasn't long enough.
This is what it looks like top-side. I offset the CB antenna slightly from center, to get it away from the rib.
Ideally, you want about 8.5' of metal all around the CB whip, but that's not possible, so try to center it as much as you can.
You can see a small 2meter (144mhz, about 19" long) NMO antenna in the background, lying on it's side.
I also wanted to put an HF radio in, and decided to go with the gumdrop 3/8" stud style mount for strength when smacking trees with the antenna.
You can see the NMO mount for the CB antenna in the middle, and the gumdrop 3/8 mount for the hamstick in the right corner (driver's front corner of the roof).
While not an RF ideal spot (there isn't one, really) I chose this location so I can put a tilt-over mount on the antenna and lay it down along the roof, hanging off the rear slightly, but well out of trees' harm's way when folded down.
This will make the antenna work better to the passenger rear direction, thanks to more metal in that direction.
And with the CB NMO whip installed.
And from outside with the CB and 2m whips installed, but not the HF antenna.
I installed the 2m antenna at the rear, keeping it 19" from any edge, and as far away from the CB and HF antennas as I could.
And, of course, I mounted the radios.
Cobra 29 Classic on the left, FT-2800 over to the right.
The HF radio will go under the steering column, then use a microphone extension to keep the mic cord out of the steering wheel.
Winter Baja 2/13/2010 - 2nd place
- Read more about Winter Baja 2/13/2010 - 2nd place
- Log in to post comments
Cascade County 4-Wheelers held their annual Winter Baja on 2/13/2010 in Cascade.
It was a warm day, so the road in got a little soft and the course was soft and muddy and snowy. Lots of goo.
It was a warm day, so the road in got a little soft and the course was soft and muddy and snowy. Lots of goo.