Project Fuggly - No Longer Fuggly And Splashed!!!!!!

[archbuilder]

Wood, two long bunks on the sides to support the sponsons, and a short one to support the center pod below the motor. Also I'm adding 2x6 guide rails on the sides, no rollers after the overhaul.

Here is a shot of one of the brackets I replaced where the original ones had been torched,



Here is the completed bunk bracket:



I just need to put the bunks on, drill them and the brackets....and other than the carpet they will be done. Here is the overall trailer.



I started with the cold galvanizing, but it was starting to make a mess. I'll pull it out later and finish up the other brackets.
I'm going to pull the hubs while I have a chance, repack and change the seals. It has bearing buddies, so hopefully I can just clean them up. It wouldn't hurt to sand the rusty axle and paint it also.

 

[gm280]

Okay archbuilder, I know exactly what you are going through with your trailer. I basically did the exact same thing with my project boat, engine and trailer package. If you care to look, click on the trailer link below and see. I stripped off cracked metal and rebuilt the entire trailer to fix my boat with new brackets and bunks and well...most everything. Lots of crappy welds that had to be redone. And the grinding and sanding took a while. But the final outcome looked amazing. I see yours turning out great as well... :thumb:

 

[archbuilder]

Hey GM, its kind of funny that you pointed out your link. I went out for dinner and the longer I thought about it, the more I thought I would just cut off the forward cross member, replace it with a nicely fit tube.....then toss the round pipe that makes up the current tongue....replace it with a new tube that would receive the really nice bulldog hitch I have sitting on a shelf....I laughed when I saw what you did! You know what they say about great minds! I also hated the winch mount and really everything about the tongue Assembly, so off to the steel yard!

The original trailer is really very well built other than that forward cross member. I'm wondering if the fitter cut that one out about 10 minutes before beer thirty on Friday......and the welder said "close enough".

Anyhow, I think all this brings up a point I was thinking about yesterday, everyone on here stresses out about every detail on their transom...deck ect. But, a lot of people don't pay a lot of attention to the chariot for their prized rebuilt boat. Can you imagine if that weld came apart at 70 on the highway? I hadn't noticed it till I started the trailer overhaul....glad I decided to take the time to give the trailer the once over! Naturally this is growing bigger than I thought....but what is new right?

 

[archbuilder]

By the way GM, congrats on the work on the trailer, very nice. I added steps, like you did, to Miss Morgan.....very glad I did!

I don't think I will with this girl, the flat top fender galvanized seems to work nicely....but then I was thinking tonight.....hmm maybe I should just paint the trailer...and 14" wheels would be nice....maybe leave part of it galvanized and paint part..........stop the madness!

 

[gm280]

archbuilter, post the progress pictures. I'm interested in how it turns out... :thumb:

 

[WOEISMEIGOTTA470]

Nice looking welds! I don't know anything about cold galvanizing, do you just brush the stuff on? How does it work?

 

[archbuilder]

I don't know if you can get brush on, but I use a spray can you get at home depot, its 93% zinc. Works pretty good, I use it on my dock in a few spots where I have welded. It isn't as durable as hot dipped, but works pretty well.

 

[Corjen1]

Arch, like you said every princess need a proper chariot.... of course it needs paint....did my whole trailer in a weekend. I wish I had put steps on it though.

 

[archbuilder]

Lol Cor the steps are nice on the low slung boats for sure. Fuggly needs more like a step ladder! I ordered a 100$ tube for Fugglys chariot today....they don't stock a 3x4 3/16 tube, should be here Monday....but it maybe late next week before I can pick it up, still paying for vacation time! I am doing some spring cleaning this weekend, giving a semi load of stuff to Habitat that i need to get out of the hanger and ready to go......hopefully that will free up some space.....stuff seems to expand to fill the space!

 

[Willyclay]

.....stuff seems to expand to fill the space!

All these years and I thought it was just me!

 

[archbuilder]

Its not just you Willy!

So right now I am fuming at UPS. Woe had a drive with the correct ratio for the inline 6. The gears that determine the ratio are in the upper half of the drive. The one he had was the correct ratio, but the drive was pretty nasty looking. however the important part was the gear ratio, and good cleaning and painting would put it back in the game. Despite the condition, the entire unit pressure checked, So my plan was to take the upper half and mate it to my cleaner lower unit.....rebuilding it in the process. Now thanks to UPS's poor service, that won't be happening.



You will notice they managed to break off the front fin of the housing, the upper half that I needed!

The box arrived looking like most we get at the office. We actually bet on how many pieces the tile will be broken into when they deliver a tile sample to us. Its almost like they get a UPS C130 down to 500' and kick everything out the back to hit the runway! REALLY guys don't you take any pride in your work? The drive shaft and the propeller shaft were shoved through the side of the box. They basically totaled a 45 year old, not made anymore drive housing because of their typical "I don't give a S^^T attitude. Its pathetic, both UPS and FEDEX need to start firing people and get their act together. I would not ever tolerate that of myself or my employees.

Enough of the rant. I'm not sure what I am going to do. Swapping the gears is a delicate process, and if they are misaligned in the least bit they will grind each other down to nothing. I think I am going to start by taking both of the drives to my friend Don's shop. I have seen him build model T rear ends starting with a couple of 400 lb blocks of steel. If he is comfortable with it, and the gears are good, I'm hoping he can help me swap them up and get the lash set correctly. This is really frustrating. I would have just bought the gear set for $500 if I had know the UPS idiots were going to toss the drive out of the back of a 747 at 500 knots.

 

[nurseman]

That sucks!!!

 

[sphelps]

Yea you would think they would be more careful with other peoples stuff .. How hard could it be ?
Can it be welded back on ?

 

[dozerII]

That really sucks Arch, but that could be tig welded back on real easy.

 

[gm280]

Arch, I too understand your frustration. But that broken off piece can easily be welded back and feathered out and once primed and painted, look like brand new. I've actually done that before myself. So yes it is frustration, but it still can work... Seems like the housing needs cleaned up anyways and primed to stop the obvious corrosion both inside and out. I know you can make it work and look good... :thumb:

 

[archbuilder]

Thanks guys, I was a little fumed about it last night. This morning I have been pondering trying to get it welded on. I don't have a TIG, but my friend Don does.

 

[gm280]

Thanks guys, I was a little fumed about it last night. This morning I have been pondering trying to get it welded on. I don't have a TIG, but my friend Don does.

I have to ask, did you file a claims against them? It was probably insured and obviously broken before you took possession of the box. So they could be sending you some money... And that could pay for the repairs... :noidea:

 

[archbuilder]

It was delivered while I was on vacation, I just pulled it out of the box yesterday, a week and a half later. Not sure if it was insured or not, I'll have to check on that. If welding fixes it, that should be free.

 

[Teamster]

Good luck collecting claims against any carrier,....

They all fall back on "improper packaging" and denied,..................

 

[archbuilder]

yeah not getting my hopes up on that.....