Kristi KT7 restoration pictures

[BigAl]

ok... First off ... No Pictures I know what I said in the last post ,but I lied . You all should know me well enough by now to know I never tell lies, unless it is to help me look like I am telling the truth or get the really cute babes . Glad that is settled

Here's what happened today :

Front seat would not bolt in place after adding upholstery and carpet . After 3 hours getting pissed off , I finally took it back off and cut the seat support down 1/2" . Now it fits . I ended up having to have 2 Dr. Rums ...ur.ahh .. I mean take a double dose of my medience to calm me down

Finished lining the front end cab with fleece and all that is left to do is carpet the floor .

My brother found me a steel supplier in Reno that can get me the 1 1/4" steel channel I wanted for the tracks . It's ordered and will be here on Tuesday .

The window tint guy will be here on Monday to install the tinting on the windows . Boomer ... I did check with him about the tint material turning purple and he told me the better quality tint film does not do that .

Had to head to Pop's to lend a hand for awhile .

It seems like it is all the little things at is taking the most time now on the KT7 . So I have no idea when I will be done and ready to build the tracks . Maybe in July or August of 2009

I'll go back out there tomorrow and give it hell again !!!!

 

[mbsieg]

Hey Big Al I am expecting to see ol Yetti at the shootout in a month!!! I think you can do it if you set your mind to it!!!! Insert famous train motto here (I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN)!!!!!!

 

[BigAl]

Insert famous train motto here (I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN)!!!!!!

I think I can ...... What ???? I can't think for sh#t right now . I think I may have overdose on my medience . And why is my shirt inside out

Ole Yetti will be ready by then ,but I may not be

 

[mlang2005]

yetti almost done? I hope those employees at the napa have another job lined up, I'd hate to see layoffs.

 

[BigAl]

yetti almost done? I hope those employees at the napa have another job lined up, I'd hate to see layoffs.

You know ???? .... There may be a lot of turth in that statment you made .
Napa now has a huge store in town ,since I stated this thing .

Maybe I should ask you guys a question . Does everyone else have their own reserve parking spot at their local auto parts too ??

The clerks all know me well .Especially that 13 year old kid that sold me those "snap ring pliers" made by "Nuckle Buster Manufacturing". I still chase him around a few aisles whenever I stop by each day . That pimple faced kid is fast and should be able to make the local high school track team this year ......thanks to me .

The clerks are also very considerate and always ask when I will be starting my KT4 project .The newest clerk actually started crying when I told them I would be taking a small break when I finished the KT7 .I guess he really likes seeing the old cats restored . He was overcome with happiness and starting talking in broken sentences about never wanting to go back to McDonalds again. I do not know what eating at McDonalds has to do with me taking a break and since the kid was crying ,I just nodded and walked off .....

The store owner always rubs his hands together and gets this silly look on his face , whenever I come in . I guess he is very cold blooded or something .

Anyway I got to head to town . Anybody need anything at NAPA auto parts ????? I am going that way ....

Coffees hot , doors open
Good Morning

 

[bczoom]

The window tint guy will be here on Monday to install the tinting on the windows . Boomer ... I did check with him about the tint material turning purple and he told me the better quality tint film does not do that

That's what I thought. Don't have time to hread the history but I recall something about a quote for around $400 and another for under $200. I just wanted to make sure you're getting the better quality stuff that won't turn purple on you.

 

[BigAl]

Well ..... After putting in 9 hard hours on the wiring of the KT7 ,I am very close to being done . The front overhead console is all wired with quick disconnects and ready to be put in place . I even installed a 2nd fuse panel with a sliding cover .

Tomorrow I am going to clean up the 6 windows ,install the new trim rubber sash molding and get them ready for the tint ,which is to be done on Monday morning .

Afterwards, I will go back to the wiring project that is left and finish it up . That should take about 2 or 3 more hours . If time allows I will also install the intercom system , but it may end up being Monday before that is finished .

The front door will be reinstalled after that and then it is time to do a walk around to see what I have missed .

No pictures tonight ......... but I should have quite a few by tomorrow night .

 

[BigAl]

Evening folks ,

Well .. I broke the Rear window when I was changing out the trim . The windows are a mess so I ended up taking them completely apart to clean and repair . I am still not sure when I broke it but noticed a crack in the corner as I was finishing up !!! .

The front console is installed and turned out quite nice .

The front entry door is installed also .

So breaking the window has set me back a few days while I get a new piece cut .
Here are some pictures of what I have done:


.

 

[BigAl]

More

 

[DaveNay]

Ummmm...is the drivers seat higher on purpose?

 

[BigAl]

last ones

 

[BigAl]

Ummmm...is the drivers seat higher on purpose?

It has a slide adjustment . The other seats do not . So the operators seat is about 1 " higher than the passenger .

 

[BigAl]

Evenin Folks,
I don't know how many of you have ever worked on RV style sliding windows ,but I can now tell you that they are a major pain in the butt to work on .

I have spent the whole day completely disassembling , inculding the aluminum frame ,all the windows for cleaning, new trim mold, new felt weather stripping , repair broken latches and so forth . I can easily say that this is the worst job I have encountered on the whole KT7 restoration . Who ever worked on these windows in the past ,must have owned a Silicone company . That crap is everywhere . ON the glass, on the frames, in the latches .

I very well might be taking the first window apart again tomorrow . The rubber molding is a real pain to work with . It has to be warm when you install it and we have been in the 30's here . I very well might move the whole operation to the kitchen table tomorrow !!!

I also found another 1/2" crack in a window that has been broke for some time ,so maybe the broken window from yesterday was a old crack I did not see .

I have 2 windows yet to break down , repair and clean . I'll snap a picture of a repaired one and one of the originals tomorrow . They do not even look like the same windows after being repaired .

 

[wilkinsn1]

Welcome back Gary, I've got a question for you about the starter. One of our Snow Trac members is having all sorts of problems with his starter and had it rebuilt twice. Is your KT3 engine an industrial engine or was it replaced with a regualr engine? The reason I ask is because there is apparently a difference in the starters?!? Is your starter new or did you have it rebuilt? Where did you find a starter for a VW industrial engine?

Bob,
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner on this. Been busy and haven't been keeping up with the FF lately.
Our KT3 engine is a replacement 1600cc VW engine for the old Porsche Industrial engine. The starter replacement I got was a Bosch starter assembly (P/N 996205IPC), which I obtained from a local import parts distributor for $77.56. After getting it, the pilot bearing was not the correct size and had to get an adapter bearing (carried by the distributor) which, I think, was for coversion of a 12V starter to a 6V engine. Since I already discarded the packaging for the bearing, I can't give you the part number, but apparently it is a common part carried by the import parts distributor.
I do remember when we replaced the engine, we found that it had a flywheel for a 6V starter and had to replace the flywheel for a 12V starter. Difference in teeth spacing. Hope this helps, and sorry again for the delay.

Gary

 

[BigAl]

OH !!!! I found out about why all the silicone was used all over my cat . A former ownerof the KT7 was a plastic surgeon and did a lot of boob jobs . I guess he wasn't much of a doctor ........

 

[Melensdad]

Hi Gary, thanks for the answer, I will pass it on.

 

[BigAl]

Ok ... Got up this morning ,walked to the shop and took another look at the KT7 windows . They did not look any better than late last night ! No "window fairys" came to make them look better during the night .

So ... I took them all apart again and started over . I now have 3 done and they look brand spankin new . Tomorrow should see me finish the windows unless I am short on new trim molding ,since I had to throw some of it away that I had used yesterday .
Going to try for Thursday on Tinting now .

Also my carpet I shorted myself on showed up , so I can now finish out the front floor carpet .

 

[BigAl]

Ok ... I am a little ticked off !!! No I am mad as hell . You can do any thing you want to me , just do not ever lie to me .

I go down yesterday to pick up my repaired window and the installer tells me my black molding would not fit so he used some of his white molding and painted it gloss black . It looks like poopoo . I tell him I already have two windows repaired using my black molding and it does fit . He goes off and tells me "He knows what he is doing and it does not fit and he has been doing this for years !" I ask him if they really used 3/16 " glass or just tried to use the 1/4" they cut by mistake the day before . He assures me its 3/16 " . I can't tell because he has this ugly white molding painted black hiding the thickness .
I also drop off another small panel of glass where I have found another crack . They tell me it will be ready for pickup later .The owner had told me they would have order a little extra because they needed to buy a whole sheet of 3/16" glass .
So I leave and tell him I will bring his ugly painted molding back later after I replace it with the correct black stuff .
As I remove the molding ,when I get home ,it is pretty obvious that the glass is 1/4" thick . I take my trim the installer told me would not fit and am able to get it "in place" just fine in about 5 or 10 minutes . The whole trick is how you start pushing it in place .
Now I go back to the store to get my other pane of glass and they tell me the new piece broke and they need to cut another piece and to not come back intill 12oclock today .
I now think they never had the 3/16" glass at all and were just trying to salvage the piece of 1/4 " they cut by mistake .By me bringing in a piece of 3/16" glass by it self ,I will be able to immediately see the difference before installing it .The new glass orders usually come in around 10 oclock and thats why I beleive they told me to come back at 12 . Just seems like it would have been a lot easier to tell me they did not have 3/16 and did not want to order any, for such a small project since it is not called for much . I can and would understand that .
Instead they have pissed me off at a business I have shopped at for 40 years .
When I dropped off the their "painted black molding" the "hot shot" expert installer was no where to be found ....

 

[Vance]

Al,

I have a glass shop in Auburn that is working VERY well with me and really wants to do the job right. I had the windshield done (easy) and now we are in the middle of the doors. We are replacing the plexiglas with tempered glass sliders (had to be 1/8 to fit the track space). They'd be done now but I took the doors back so I could paint them first. I realized it would work much better that way.

Good luck!!! Aren't surprises fun...

Vance

P.S. Let me know if you need a contact.

P.P.S. That reminds me of a question I had regarding your windows. Why are you going with film vs. replacing the windows with tinted laminate/tempered? I realize the cost would be higher but now you've replace several already... You're going to have to be gentle with that film and make sure noone scrapes ice off the inside windows!!

 

[BigAl]

Al,

I have a glass shop in Auburn that is working VERY well with me and really wants to do the job right. I had the windshield done (easy) and now we are in the middle of the doors. We are replacing the plexiglas with tempered glass sliders (had to be 1/8 to fit the track space). They'd be done now but I took the doors back so I could paint them first. I realized it would work much better that way.

Good luck!!! Aren't surprises fun...

Vance

P.S. Let me know if you need a contact.

P.P.S. That reminds me of a question I had regarding your windows. Why are you going with film vs. replacing the windows with tinted laminate/tempered? I realize the cost would be higher but now you've replace several already... You're going to have to be gentle with that film and make sure noone scrapes ice off the inside windows!!

Thanks Vance .

I will keep that in mind .
When I took the glass in I did not know I had another one that was also cracked .

It ended up costing me $115 for cutting 2 pieces of laminate glass . That seems really high . I can't imagine what 6 dark tinted pieces would have cost . Thats ok though , because I won't be going back again for anything . They lost my business .

Your right about being careful with the finish. I will keep that in mind . I have 3 heater fans in Yetti so hopefully her defrost will work well .

OK .... 5 windows are now rebuilt and ready for tinting . They look great!

Lots of goodies came in UPS shipment today so I can be happy installing all kinds of new stuff tomorrow

My new HDPE plastic showed up . It looks like redwood 2x2's . They are solid plastic and colored in a redwood color . I sure hope they work !!!

Here's a few pictures:

 

[BigAl]

Evening Folks,

The man who does window tinting will be here in the morning . All the windows are now rebuilt and ready .

I have ran into a small problem and am having a tough time trying to find a solution . I have upholstered the interior of the KT7 which never had any in the past . I had just assumed I would use a nice vinyl edge molding around the door opening lip to finish off the raw edge of the fabic . NO Go !!! With the molding in place the door binds on the edge . I am thinking of trying a adhesive backed cloth tape to finish the edge now . It needs something to give it a finished look and this is the only thing I can come up with . The door itself will have a foam rubber seal in the groove so it will serve two purposes of providing a airtight seal and finishing the edge of the door fabic . Anybody got any other idea of what might work

 

[Melensdad]

Silly question, but can you install the vinyl edging as planned and then simply space out the door (and probably the locking mechanism) with an extra washer to add just enough gap to allow for the edging?

 

[BigAl]

Silly question, but can you install the vinyl edging as planned and then simply space out the door (and probably the locking mechanism) with an extra washer to add just enough gap to allow for the edging?

Already tried that . The door is just too tight all the way around . Geez! The vinyl molding is only 1/16" thick for crying out loud !!

 

[BigAl]

Ok .... I think I found a solution for the finsh edge molding . A adhesive cloth tape made to finish edges . I'll try it tomorrow .

The windows are tinted and look great !They will get installed next week .

I been working a few kinks out of the wiring system . I got a couple crossed wires . When I turn on the wipers the popcorn machine comes on and the heater switch seems to control the horn and beer tap at the same time ???I may leave that alone as it tells me if someone is stealing beer . The Lava Lamp won't work at all ... But I'll get there .......

BUT!!!! The stereo works like a charm and the ole shop was rattlin some windows this afternoon !!! A little CCR , Nitty Grity Dirt Band. and Leonard Skynard CD's and I was rockin !!! That little KT7 is just like a BOOM BOX now !!! I may break down somewhere ,but the music is going to be great until the battery dies .

The remote control spot is without a doubt the greatest thing I have ever seen . Wow! Is that puppy bright !

I did not take any pictures today because all you would see is a mess of wires .

 

[BigAl]

Evening Folks ,

Well the KT7 "Yetti" main electrical system is complete . It works great .
I ended up with 2 fuse panels ,1- 6 switch lighted console , 4 relays, 2 fan switches , 4- adjustable dome lights , 1- engine compartment area light , 1 horn buttom , a racing starting system , 1- AM/FM CD stereo unit , 1-GPS unit ,1-remote controlled spot light , 1 cell phone , 1- 12V adapter plugin , a alternating flasher light control unit and a exterior temp gauge .

There are 2-Rear halogen flood lights , 2-front halogen fogs lights , 1- "remote controlled" front spot light that will spin 370 degree circle and travel 135 degrees up and down with a optional hand held remote that will work up to 150 feet from the unit , 2-halogen head lights and 4 LED stop lights on the rear . I should have plenty of light !!

I still have the intercom system to install which may happen tomorrow .

The adhesive upholstery tape worked wonders around the rear door . It looks finished now .

I also added two overhead ocsillating 2 speed fans to act as defrosters in the front and rear along with the main heater that has been relocated to the middle of the interior compartment .

Getting a little closer each day now !!!


Pictures maybe tomorrow

 

[BigAl]

Ok ,
First off , No Pictures !!! Secondly, has anyone seen my camera ?

I spent the whole day reading and trying to figure out this 4 passenger intercom system . There are about 35 wires going everywhere .

I finally figured out what I was doing wrong and about scared the crap outta myself when the headphones came on full blast ! I looked like I was trying to make up some new kind of "break dance" routine .

After I took some heart medience and calmed down I started placing the headset plugins by each seat . The back is now done and I will finish the front seat plugins tomorrow . The Company I purchased the intercom system through told me to figure 4 to 8 hours to set it all up . I figure it will be about 8 hours on this one and 4 on the next KT4 restoration ,now that I kinda know what to do .

They sure work well though and really cut down on outside noise .It sure is nice to talk in a normal voice and hear each other . The headsets are gel filled so it is real comfortable to wear . Each has its own volume control and full mike adjustment . I looked at intercom systems that were as high as $1800 bucks for a 4 place system !!! This complete setup cost under $500 and is made to be used in private aircraft too .

If anyone needs a set let me know . After I told the guy what I was using them in , he asked it I wanted to be a dealer .He told me they had never sold any for snowcat use . So I can get it for you at my wholesale price.

Cheers

 

[bczoom]

The headsets are gel filled so it is real comfortable to wear

Poobah,

At what temp does that gel freeze? Just wondering if they need to be kept in a relatively warm place before heading out for a ride. If the Yetti and its contents are below freezing, those gel-filled headsets may be uncomfortable (cold on the head/ears) until they reach room or body temperature.

 

[BigAl]

Poobah,

At what temp does that gel freeze? Just wondering if they need to be kept in a relatively warm place before heading out for a ride. If the Yetti and its contents are below freezing, those gel-filled headsets may be uncomfortable (cold on the head/ears) until they reach room or body temperature.

Good Morning Boomer ,
Dang ,I never thought of that . That is a good question .I guess that's why you got to ride the long bus to school and I rode the short one .

I guess ,since they are aircraft headsets, I could unplug them and keep them in the house . I should finish this morning on installation .


Hey!!
Coffee's on , Door's open ,it's Monday and I really feel like insulting a few Snot Trac owners !!!! Who's first ???

 

[Melensdad]

Hey!!
Coffee's on , Door's open ,it's Monday and I really feel like insulting a few Snot Trac owners !!!! Who's first ???

Hey Al, since you are getting close to being done with the Krusty I figure that you might be starting to search for some safety gear. Afterall, if that thing actually gets out of your garage and makes it to snow, it probably won't be able to return under its own power.

You'll need a good pair of snow shoes to hike the 37 feet the Krusty slipped (downhill) to get back up to the parking lot. Thought you'd like these

 

[BigAl]

Gee Bob ,
Those look great ! Do they come in a size 13W , cause that is the size I need when I plant one up your As#!!!!!

Ok !!!The headsets intercom is installed . I'm taking a short break to insult Snot Trac Owners and eat lunch before going out and wrapping all the wires into a loom .

I also made up some name plates designs that I will be using . Before I head down to the sign shop to have them made up ,take a look and give me your input . The first two will be on black plastic plates with white engaved lettering except "Track steering Control" which will be in "Red lettering on the left" track and "Green lettering on the right"

The last picture shows the name plate design that I will have made out of silver to be mounted on the interior console .