Inspiration is a funny thing. You just never know what will inspire you. Unfortunately, sometimes its timing is terrible.
Case in point: A few days ago Patterson wouldn’t start. I checked all the usual suspects and finally decided it was the fuel pump. I shall not bore you with the machinations I went through testing the original fuel pump and two others I have. I hand tested them, then installed them and they’d fail. Then I’d remove them, manually test them, and they’d work again. It was bizarre.
I concluded that somehow it was the cam on the inside of the engine; that wasn’t an easy fix. With time working against me, Craig Brockhaus of theFCConnection.com recommended I get the same electric pump he has on his Tour Jeep. It was a good price and available on Amazon and I’d get 2 day delivery for free. Done deal.
For two days I worked on other things, waiting for that fuel pump to arrive. When it finally did, I took it out of the box, climbed under the jeep, and sized up possible installation options. I decided that since the gas filter had to precede the electric pump, I needed to bring that under the jeep with me. I got up and found the gas filter. Attached to it I’d left a 4″ piece of connector hose that originally connected the filter to the pump. As I looked more closely at the hose on the pump I realized that it looked roughed up by the clamp.
And then it dawned on me. Inspiration struck! What if there’s a small hole in that short piece of hose. When I had hand tested the fuel pump, I didn’t have the filter or 4″ hose attached. So, I held up the hose to my mouth, plugged the rear hole, and blew. I could feel the air rushing out a hole on the tube.
I quickly reinstalled the original pump, Then, installed a new short piece of hose. With everything tight, I turned the key a few times and before I knew it Patterson fired right up! It was a hole in the hose the hole time.
The question I have is, why couldn’t I have been inspired before I bought the electric pump? Life is a mystery!
As of this evening the engine is running smoothly and feeling peppy! I also had time to find a solution for installing a CB Radio. I didn’t want to drill new holes if possible and I wanted it easy to remove. So, I decided to build a small pedestal on top of the transfer case lever plate. It is something I can easily swap out for whatever reason.
You can see the square tube welded to the transfer case lever plate. The tube is cut at an angle and a plate is welded atop that. A CB holder bracket is bolted to the plate.
This shows the radio installed. You’ll note that just above the radio there is now a cigarette lighter for phone charging.
Tomorrow I install a tow bumper:
My 3 steps to chase fuel problem…#1. satellite tank (gravity feed) direct to carb, if that works ok…#2. satellite tank to fuel pump, if that works ok…#3. regular tank to fuel pump…this isolates the problem for you…
I thought them things only happened to me. I can feel your relief at something being so simple.
at least you bought it on Amazon! Return it!
Great, by now you should have enough small parts, along with a voltmeter, to pack up for the trip. I would keep the electric fuel pump with some measured rubber fuel line to pack for the trip. Besides Amazon will still let you return it when you get home. Oh and I’d pack those good spare manual fuel pumps too. I like your CB setup. I’ve had a Cobra 2000 for years, when I bought it I took it to a family friend and he tweaked it for me. With a small 100W cigarette sized amp I could talk around the world on the upper and lower side bands. You might want to get a short bungee cord to help eliminate vibrations. Just some thoughts. Good work and enjoy the learning experience. We must laugh at ourselves every now and then!
Brilliant Honey 😉
Love,
The Wife.
Inspiring :-). I like Barry’s advice. Definitely good to bring spares along, which I’m sure you’re already thinking about. It would be great to read what you end up bringing for tools and spares if you get a chance to write that up for us. I always carry an extra condensor, jumper cables, tow strap, screwdrivers, needle nose (sometimes the vice grip one), and crescent/adjustable wrench. My jack was stolen, but that’d be important.
I would highly recommend a big external speaker for that CB so you can actually hear it while driving. Maybe behind the seat on top of the fender. I hope you are installing the CB to talk to others on the trip because you will not find anybody on the CB once you hit Canada as they are all on VHF.
In 1975 I met my wife because I was talking to her brother on the CB. This year her brother and wife in their trailer and us in our trailer are driving across Canada to celebrate Canada’s 150 birthday. We have dug out the old CBs and a few newer ones and are going to use them to communicate on the trip. As a test I have had one turned on most days for the last 6 months here in Kelowna BC and only heard one person…and yes they have been tested and work.
Hope you have a good antenna…the big whip works the best. Keep in mind the the antenna is only half of the transmitting system the other half is the vehicle body that acts as a ground plane to transmit off of.
Example if you are going to be the lead vehicle you want to mount the antenna out front so it uses the body mass to transmit the signal to the rear. If your the tail vehicle you want to have the antenna on the rear. For all around 360 coverage you want the antenna center vehicle…typically requiring a short antenna that can compromise the distance. If mounting whip antenna low on the vehicle…say the bumper keep it away as much as possible from the vertical body surface. It is best to mount at the top of the tub off the top of the front grill or on top of the rear fender if you have a soft top and let the whip sneak out the zipper.
Good Luck…any questions just email me…radio communications is my first life.
Excellent work! I had the same problem with a rubber gas line chewed up by the clamp
on my 58 CJ5.
What kind of tranny / transfer case set up do you have on Patterson?
Good looking rig !
Joe: Good idea for a post. We’ll see if I get that organized, lol.
Ed: The CBs are only meant to communicate between the rigs. Some (most?) already had CBs. The PNW guys use they anytime they are in the trails. I’m no radio pro, so if I need some advice, I’ll drop you and email.
Chris: I do dumb things all the time!
Craig: Yeah, I thought I’d isolated the problem. Refer to my comment to Chris, lol.
Mike: I’ll bring it with just in case. I can always use it on Biscuit.
John: It’s a 2WD DJ-3A, so no transfer case. The transmission is a T-96; same tranny used on Studebakers as I understand it. Also used on 2WD wagons, jeepsters, and a few DJ-5s and DJ-6s if I’m correct.