CuzCumminsGuy
New member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2017
- Messages
- 20
- Location
- Jesup, Georgia
- Tractor
- Mitsubishi D1500, 1998-1/2 Dodge D2500 w/ Compound Turbo's
I was told I needed to introduce myself, as I'm located in Southeast Georgia just out from a small town called Jesup. Was once a certified TIG welder, as I traveled the country for work on various welding jobs. Am retired from welding on the road, although I still do a little at home, both TIG and MIG, as well as some electrical and fabrication. Have been working on a Mitsubishi D1500 tractor for about 6 months. When I got it, the previous owner hadn't taken very good care of it. The radiator was set in place and was held in place with 4 pieces of electric fence wire, no fan shroud and water was leaking from the lower radiator hose. The air filter was a radiator hose with a sock over the end with a 1 inch hole in it! Since then, I found a new radiator for it, fabricated a steel fan shroud and built mounts that are welded into the frame rails fir it to fasten to, so the radiator can be mounted to the front and a 9 inch electric pusher fan with a thermostat can be mounted in front, as it now has an overflow tank as well. The fuel filter had been bypassed and was hanging off to the side on a long hose, so I fabricated a couple of mounts from the frame and installed some 3/8" stainless steel tubing bent with tubing benders going into a Swagelok fitting, then into a quarter turn valve, then into a coupling for the mount, then into a clear replaceable fuel filter, then into another piece of stainless tubing and into the banjo fitting at the injector pump. Replaced the bolts that hold the front cover in place where it pivots with a single long rod running through the frame with a pin on both sides, so it is easy to pull the pin, slide the rod out and remove the cover, but also installed waterproof wiring connectors going to an air horn and the front LED lights, so I can unplug them when the cover is removed. It had a grille from an old refrigerator, so I fabricated one from a piece of expanded metal and bolted it in place, welded up the holes for the original headlights and fabricated headlight mounts in front for 2 LED lights to mount, so I can angle them slightly for a better view at night. Have installed an 8 space blade type fuse panel and 4 heavy duty relays for the cooling fan, the LED lights and the horn, replaced the water pump with a new unit, had the alternator rebuilt, extended the front rails out so the battery can be mounted in a battery box with the bumper in front of that, replaced all of the wiring, discarded wiring that is no longer used such as for turn signals, replaced the glow plugs, the glow plug indicator and switch and wiring and all new battery cables with marine type cables and ends that are crimped on and heat shrunk. Couldn't locate new radiator hoses, so I ordered silicone hoses and clamps with aluminum ID tubing and built my own hoses. Had an aFe air filter made for it with a Filter Wears pre-filter custom made for it, then used a piece of silicone hose and mounted it over and in front of the radiator, which is held in place by using a muffler clamp. Am about to build a frame to mount to the top of both fenders using 1X2 inch rectangular steel tubing, then fabricate a roll-bar with an LED light bar which will look to the rear, then to use the same rectangular tubing to build angled bars on both sides that will go from this roll-bar to the front bumper, to keep low hanging tree limbs from trying to knock me off when I am using the bush hog, plus will be able to put a cover over the top in case it starts raining.
I drive a 1998.5 Dodge Cummins diesel pickup with compound turbo's, around 458 rear wheel horsepower when needed. Gets around 23 to 24 mpg when I keep my foot out of it. Replaced the stock tank with a custom 3/16 inch thick aluminum 85 gallon tank, it has a capper top on back and a Newton Billet aluminum lockable flush mount fuel filler neck, so it can be filled from the outside. Had a new 5.9 Cummins installed in January of 2017 and had both turbo's rebuilt. When I finish the Mitsubishi tractor, will continue building the front bumper, installing a Rigid 30 inch light bar, as it is now rusted so the POR-15 paint will be able to adhere to it, then will come the rear bumper, the fender flares, an overhead console and some work on the dash bezel using 2 part epoxy. Will build a bender to be able to bend and form ABS plastic, then to finish building an area under the dash to hold rocker switches, relays, fuse blocks, cables and wiring and the such, and will relocate the yellow top Optima gel batteries to the bed of the truck, along with an air receiver tank for a Nathan Air Chime train horn, then maybe build a rack for the top to install a solar panel or two. I always have at least 2 or 3 projects I am planning for in the future, as I love to build and to fabricate!
I drive a 1998.5 Dodge Cummins diesel pickup with compound turbo's, around 458 rear wheel horsepower when needed. Gets around 23 to 24 mpg when I keep my foot out of it. Replaced the stock tank with a custom 3/16 inch thick aluminum 85 gallon tank, it has a capper top on back and a Newton Billet aluminum lockable flush mount fuel filler neck, so it can be filled from the outside. Had a new 5.9 Cummins installed in January of 2017 and had both turbo's rebuilt. When I finish the Mitsubishi tractor, will continue building the front bumper, installing a Rigid 30 inch light bar, as it is now rusted so the POR-15 paint will be able to adhere to it, then will come the rear bumper, the fender flares, an overhead console and some work on the dash bezel using 2 part epoxy. Will build a bender to be able to bend and form ABS plastic, then to finish building an area under the dash to hold rocker switches, relays, fuse blocks, cables and wiring and the such, and will relocate the yellow top Optima gel batteries to the bed of the truck, along with an air receiver tank for a Nathan Air Chime train horn, then maybe build a rack for the top to install a solar panel or two. I always have at least 2 or 3 projects I am planning for in the future, as I love to build and to fabricate!
