Northern Tracks Forum

General Forums => Metal Bombardiers => Topic started by: Walrus on April 11, 2013, 03:37:08 pm

Title: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 11, 2013, 03:37:08 pm
I have thread in the general discussion area, thought I'd start one in here. Got a 1952 R-12, came from New Brunswick, where my Mom in law has a camp on the Upsalquitch River. Great area BTW. Its been sitting a long time but was registered in 2004. Its been back yarded to keep it running, the guy who owned it had no money and lived 30 miles or so from the nearest parts store, so get it going the best you can. Anyway, I have it running but have some questions. I assumed there would be an access hole in the belly pan for changing the oil, don't see one, is it on the side?,  Do you vac the oil out? I doubt that.

Skis, took them off so I could put the tires on, looks like rotten wood under a flat plate and then the skag sits on the flat plate, anyone have a pic of what it looks like when correct. I have some red Oak I can use but what size is it?

I just ordered the windshield rubber as this one is held in by nothing at this point. Shavers is sending it to me UPS aong with a current price list of stuff they stock. I need to recover the front sprockets so I'm sure I'll be ordering some more stuff from Shavers.

Video after alternator was installed
http://youtu.be/ZdOaBnphwiw

Any help would be greatly appreciated
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: the old trucker on April 11, 2013, 03:49:43 pm

  Just put this pic here to show folks what you started with.. It's going to be a long ungoing process, but I'm sure you can do it...

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m366/theoldtrucker/IMG_1093.jpg (http://s333.photobucket.com/user/theoldtrucker/media/IMG_1093.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: the old trucker on April 12, 2013, 05:02:28 am

  I think there is a hole located in the floor pan that was used by the 251. It should be right under the oil drain plug. If you look up wooden bombardiers & go to "VARNISHED MACHINE" , reply # 11, third pic down, you'll see it.                                                             

                                                                 OT.        
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 12, 2013, 05:37:22 am

  I think there is a hole located in the floor pan that was used by the 251. It should be right under the oil drain plug. If you look up wooden bombardiers & go to "VARNISHED MACHINE" , reply # 11, third pic down, you'll see it.                                                             

                                                                 OT.        
Maybe I didn't look close enough, need to get oil and filter changed today, supposed to snow tonight, if I get track on left side tighter maybe I'll have some pics of it out in the snow tomorrow ;D
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 12, 2013, 03:29:15 pm
I can't find any access hole for the drain plug, there is one for the tranny and someone torched one in for the rear end but nothing for the engine. Can't understand that. Where is the drain on the oil pan? I can see the oil pan sump but can't feel anything with my hand as the belly pan and oil pan are pretty close together. Is it in the middle of the sump, on the front end or back end, I'll cut a hole if I know where it is? Probably put a drill bit right thru the oil pan ;D
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: the old trucker on April 12, 2013, 06:26:46 pm

  This is Oldsledz's woody. you can see the hole just behind of the second axle from the rear. I think there is another hole just ahead of that one for the transmission. Be careful with the drill as Mike's ( 57 rebuild )
said the drain plug in his is almost flush to the floor. I hope this helps a little... There may be a plate laid on top of the hole.. OT.
 http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m366/theoldtrucker/basepan_zps093088f1.jpg (http://s333.photobucket.com/user/theoldtrucker/media/basepan_zps093088f1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 13, 2013, 05:54:27 am
OT
Thanks for that pick, its hard to tell how far up that hole is from motor mounts but it gives some indication where the drain plug might be. The oil will get drained today if I have to cut a huge hole and weld it back in, kind of scared to weld it also as its kind of greasy in the belly pan but.

The more I dig into this thing the worse and worse it looks, going to take a lot of effort to get this thing running again so my Mom In Law can have a ride in the snow. I will say lots of folks have old trucks or cars but no one but you guys have one of these and thats whats makes it appealing to me.

Where can I get Motor Mount rubbers, the 2 shown in the pics? Is that something Shavers might have? Both of mine are deteriorated and one has been backyarded if you know what I mean ;D
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 13, 2013, 10:30:17 am
Feel like a dummy, the drain hole was cut into the belly pan but was further under the machine than I thought. I jacked it way up so I could get under it and found area  that had been cut with a torch and what looks to be a cold chisel, then it was covered over to keep the  sheet metal from digging into the snow, makes me want to cut the area out and fix it but you can get at the drain plug with a little fooling around. Now I can't find an oil filter, the 2 I have aren't right. The canister cover says replace with AC C-204 which I can't seem to cross reference.

Greased all the fittings on the swing arms, had to replace a couple of broken off fittings, thank god for left hand twist drill bits.

 The canisters hooked by chains to the swing arms. Shock absorbers of some kind? one appears to be leaking, how do you fix one of those?
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: dpaulson on April 13, 2013, 12:17:27 pm
That canister just contains a heavy  spring.  Anything leaking would just be water.
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: the old trucker on April 13, 2013, 02:49:39 pm

    If Shavers don't have them look up Vintage power wagon. I think Oldsledz got his there. Under General Discussions look up "NEW PARTS SUPPLIERS LIST". There are a few places there to call.
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 13, 2013, 03:18:10 pm
Since I already converted to 12v I wondering about oil pressure the only gauge still working. Seemed to have good oil pressure until I changed the oil, then it was low. I had a mechanical gauge I used for diagnosis so I screwed that in, its not bad, little over 20 at an idle, ramps up when revved up.

The radiator is pretty scarred up but the cap holds no pressure, I don't see any leaks and if you take the cap off their certainly is coolant flowing. Not sure what to do with it, I doubt their is anything new around? I do have a couple of good radiator shops in the area, I suppose they could recore, wonder what that would cost?
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: dpaulson on April 13, 2013, 03:39:49 pm
I purchased a   ALUMINUM RADIATOR 1947-1954 CHEVY TRUCK 4 ROW on ebay that needed some minor modifications, which fit really good. Price was about 350.00. It also has ports for transmission cooler if you ever installed a different motor with an automatic.
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 13, 2013, 03:46:41 pm
Few pics, notice how the old owner kept the windshield in after the rubber let go



http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u43/walrus_07/IMG_1154_zpsdb6400cb.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/walrus_07/media/IMG_1154_zpsdb6400cb.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u43/walrus_07/IMG_1155_zps5be9877f.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/walrus_07/media/IMG_1155_zps5be9877f.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u43/walrus_07/IMG_1158_zpse7fbc39b.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/walrus_07/media/IMG_1158_zpse7fbc39b.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 13, 2013, 03:56:09 pm
I purchased a   ALUMINUM RADIATOR 1947-1954 CHEVY TRUCK 4 ROW on ebay that needed some minor modifications, which fit really good. Price was about 350.00. It also has ports for transmission cooler if you ever installed a different motor with an automatic.

Like this one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-4-ROW-ALL-ALUMINUM-RADIATOR-47-48-49-50-51-52-53-54-CHEVY-TRUCK-1-SERVICE-/290850986580?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43b811da54&vxp=mtr
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: dpaulson on April 13, 2013, 04:49:30 pm
Yup, same guy too.  The rad cap is 1.8#.  It was fine for my 318, but may be too high for a 251.  You'll need to check with some 'oldtimers'. ;).  I think just the mounting flanges are a bit wide that they'll need to be trimmed a bit.  Also the mounting flanges are welded on a bit of an angle compared to being welded straight like the original.   I think I cut mine off and rewelded them straight only because I've got the equipment to do it.  It probably wouldn't matter if the rad was at a bit of an angle, or you may be able to do some shimming to keep the rad upright.
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 13, 2013, 05:06:13 pm
Yup, same guy too.  The rad cap is 1.8#.  It was fine for my 318, but may be too high for a 251.  You'll need to check with some 'oldtimers'. ;).  I think just the mounting flanges are a bit wide that they'll need to be trimmed a bit.  Also the mounting flanges are welded on a bit of an angle compared to being welded straight like the original.   I think I cut mine off and rewelded them straight only because I've got the equipment to do it.  It probably wouldn't matter if the rad was at a bit of an angle, or you may be able to do some shimming to keep the rad upright.

I've got a mig, give me an excuse to buy a spool gun for it ;D
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 14, 2013, 04:20:46 pm
So today I too the windshield thinking I just need a new molding to get it installed correctly, Get some of the plywood on the sides off and I see a VW logo, what the heck? I guess he found something close and made it work, that sucks, now I need a windshield. Have to get it cut, megabucks I'm sure.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u43/walrus_07/IMG_1170_zpsce38cd7b.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/walrus_07/media/IMG_1170_zpsce38cd7b.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u43/walrus_07/IMG_1164_zpsc397b52e.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/walrus_07/media/IMG_1164_zpsc397b52e.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: dpaulson on April 14, 2013, 05:13:28 pm
When I rebuilt mine, I broke the first windshield as it was cut too big and was tight, but I got over it and purchased another.  That just the way it goes. :)
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on April 15, 2013, 10:34:46 am
Called about getting a windshield cut, 100 bucks, not that bad. Waiting on the molding from Shavers and then I'll get one cut. This thing is going to be expensive. Are wheel bearings available for it? what about the seals/ I notice I have no brakes to be honest I don't even know how the brake works, I assume its on the rear end or tranny but haven't really looked. I know that it doesn't stop the thing ;D

another video, a test drive
http://youtu.be/fj-V0spERDA
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on May 04, 2013, 05:52:40 pm
Got my new windshield installed today, cut and installed for 90 bucks, very nice. Welded a few holes shut and painted with POR15 before the new glass went in. Should hold it until I decide how far I go on this thing.  Wish it would have been installed years ago as I figure the floor would be in much better shape if water hadn't been pouring in all these years.

Next is recovering the sprockets, checking wheel bearings, replace as needed, grease. Not sure when I'll have time to do that though?
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Walrus on August 29, 2018, 04:43:37 am
So my project has been on hold as my 251 blew up, actually I think it spun a bearing and is stuck but blew up sounds more interesting :)

I actually found another 251 ind local to me but its in a jitterbug, for those not knowing a jitterbug is a vehicle built to go into woods and drag out tress, wood etc. Its an old military vehicle. I have a friend who knows who built it and said it ran great but its been sitting for awhile. It was sold to someone who wants to put a different drivetrain in it. I've seen it, turned the engine over by hand so it isn't stuck. Trouble is the guy says he will get engine out but hasn't done it. Been a few months. So Not sure if I'll ever get it???
Title: Re: My 1952 R-12 build, lots of questions for guys who have been there, done that
Post by: Snowbusman on December 30, 2018, 04:11:36 pm
I have been going back looking at old post and this one really caught my eye!
 There is a picture of the original pin stripping that was applied when the machines were delivered---Amazing!
I feel this machine was worth saving and I don't think not too much money. Is the project still alive? Snowbusman