Alley Cat 151

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m3a1
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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 16th, 2014, 9:11 pm

Finally excised that rust-riddled center panel while being careful to protect the brake line and wiring under there. On the Alley Cat, they run along the interior of the longitudinal rail (arrow).

I eventually took out more metal than the picture shows. Template for the replacement panel was cut this evening in preparation for tomorrow.

Still considering the installation of mounting points for the MG pedestal.

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 17th, 2014, 8:56 pm

Well, I'm still heading in the right direction (I think).

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Lots of prep, making everything fit just right..

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 17th, 2014, 9:01 pm

And it's time to start thinking about subfloor supports for the MG pedestal. This M5 pedestal is obviously not correct for a M151 of any stripe but my original pedestal is being held in reserve for my A2. Obviously this is 90 degrees off and it interferes with the locker box lid.

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This is more like it but I really don't want to bolt through the crossmember either.

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Behind the crossmember perhaps?

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 17th, 2014, 10:51 pm

Here's what the pedestal should look like when properly mounted. I have the brackets but they're in terrible shape. Will have to construct new ones.

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by rickf » October 18th, 2014, 9:48 am

Before you weld in that floor section make up a heat shield like the 151 uses for the muffler. It does not stop all the heat but it helps.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 18th, 2014, 11:05 am

The heat has clearly had an effect on the wiring harness nearby (which also had a brake line running along with it)....not that the wiring has melted it but it is particularly bad in this area but not nearly that bad in others. I'm sure that's a very long term effect but kit needs attention.

I considered commercial heat shielding that the racers use but that will only serve to insulate the floor and will do nothing to shield the wiring and brake line.

Then I considered header-wrap but discussion in other forums for racers and custom cars keep coming back to the idea that trapping the heat with header wrap is hard on the exhaust parts.

So I'm back to the idea of constructing shielding. Luckily, the first piece of metal I tried to bend with my home-made bender is still around and I think it may be just about right for this after some trimming. What I do not want is something that ends up rattling or coming loose.

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 18th, 2014, 1:08 pm

I think this falls into the category of - "When you're up to your ass in alligators, it's sometimes difficult to remind yourself the initial objective was to drain the swamp."

The real issue at the moment is how to protect the brake line from heat and abrasion and how best to protect the wiring harness from heat.

As you can plainly see in the following photos, the brake line is not protected as it passes through the transverse member. I think there may have been a grommet there at one time.

The passage through the transverse crossmember should have been located off-center so as to create more distance from the exhaust pipe.

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Rear view -

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Last edited by m3a1 on October 18th, 2014, 6:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by halftracknut » October 18th, 2014, 4:10 pm

yes that needs relocated
slowest mutt east of the missippi..

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 18th, 2014, 6:27 pm

Got busy and dropped the drive shaft and removed the brake line and bisected the wiring harness, removing it from the crossmember.

Pulled the old grommets and got a look at all the lovely crap that had found it's way into the crossmember. Clearly, their trust in grommets was misplaced.

Then it occurred to me to create a pipe-chase through the crossmember. I created a hole for the new pipe-chase as far removed as I felt was weldable with my wire-feed and though it's not pretty, tight hole, I'll get it welded up tight. Isn't structural and once done, I won't have to look at it. What I cannot get to on the back side with the welder, I'll dope up with JB Weld.

Elected to put a second piece of pipe through the first hole and do the same with it just because it'll be easier than patching it. I will have to run the brake line with a rubber sleeve through the chase along with the electrical (there is sufficient room for that) and I may yet have to install something of a heat shield but the distance from wires to exhaust is much, much better. So here it is...my motor pool solution to a very foolish manufacturing defect.

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 18th, 2014, 8:14 pm

I'll continue this in the weapons section if I continue it at all but here are my FUBAR brackets for the MG pedestal. Only one is good...and they're aluminum *sigh*. I'm betting a forklift was involved in their damage. What a shame. :(

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by rickf » October 18th, 2014, 8:30 pm

Wrapping the exhaust with header wrap is not really hard on the exhaust as long as it is run long enough to dry out the condensation that forms when you start it. Sane goes for fording with it. You could also put a couple wraps on your new pipes instead. It will insulate heat out as well as in.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 18th, 2014, 9:15 pm

Heat shield is still part of my present plan but the immediate problem has been solved with the reroute. That rust there was caused primarily because there was a plate bolted over this panel that was part of some guy's rifle rack and the thing sat out in the weather so the gap held dirt and moisture. It rusted from the top down. Still toying the idea of how to construct the shield assembly.

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by rickf » October 19th, 2014, 9:02 am

Whatever you build for a shield paint it silver to reflect the heat. That will make a big difference.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by m3a1 » October 19th, 2014, 8:50 pm

Not the prettiest welds in the world (it's close quarters in there!) but they're solid and everything is dressed on both ends with JB Weld. I should have chamfered the interior edges of the pipes before I installed them! Duh.

I'm getting sick and tired of crawling under this truck.

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Re: Alley Cat 151

Unread post by Hambone » October 29th, 2014, 9:10 pm

M3a1,
I may have bought an Alley Cat. :lol: :lol:
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