Just checking in again

Hey Folks,

It has been a while since I have posted. It has a lot to do with being busy with work even though we can't actually DO any work. I have had a series of break downs that have killed finances and clouded my mind. The last few weeks have been spent searching for parts and making repairs to the Caterpillar. I fixed the trans charge pump for the second time and that didn't help. I fixed the valve stack in the transmission and that worked great. A day and a half later the transfer case tore up. AHHHHHHH! I give up! I sold the old thing and took the money to find a nice engine to go in my OTHER skidder which has been down for 11 months as I waited to find a good affordable engine that will swap with mine directly. That never happened.

So, I found an engine out of a Ford Coca-Cola semi. Ford can't leave well enough alone. They made ridiculous changes to the very simple design which makes life hell for anyone who wants to save money by buying a used engine out of one of their trucks. As a result I had to have a friend cut a billet into an intake plenum for the air to air swap with my intercooler. I also had to order custom injector lines to make up for the big difference in the intakes ($400). I had to bend the lines to move around the various components. Those injector lines hold some 2500 to 4500 pounds of pressure each. It may have been the toughest part of the engine swap. Other outrageously tough things to get done include swapping exhaust manifolds, turbos oil and water lines, charge pumps and compressors, and making the different style of pump work with the old set up.....geez. It's almost done. I think by this time tomorrow we will be ready to crank the thing up assuming the Cummins diesel specialists have any idea what they are doing when clocking the turbo. I may do that myself even though I don't have the right tools.

I am grateful that this is the bulk of what I have to complain about in my personal life. Just don't get me started on politics. Y'all have a nice rest of the day and God Bless. I am about to go out and roast marshmallows with the kids and their guests.