• Notice for iPhone users: DO NOT use the image size reduction option when uploading photos to the forum. This causes portrait images to post as landscape. We have added a warning to the image insert pop-up as well.

bigwalton's Postal Stroker

I still have updates to make on this thread, work has been utterly insane lately.

BUT… today I got all hot and bothered over one small thing for the Postal. Using the Compushift controller for the AW4 means I have an Up/Down manual option for control. This is like the evolution of what I had before and I gain full customization of the shift points in auto mode.

For the up/down shifting I just needed momentary switches for each one that connect the up/down feed to a common wire.

I LOVED my little shifter that I had and I didn’t want pushbuttons for this that I had to look at to locate and use, so a toggle was my obvious answer. But finding a momentary 2-position toggle with a decently long handle was much harder than I ever thought it would be. I finally found a good candidate and bought three hoping that the “feel” was good. Solid but not too hard. With firm enough action that it couldn’t accidentally shift.

They finally got here today and I am THRILLED!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ClBt_zD58mY1QQRMIQiJgbr9LSDTGEKw/view?usp=drivesdk

To make it more “shifter like” the realization hit me that a valve stem cap might be close to perfect size for the end of this… so I ordered a set of these. I was going to glue it on but I realized I could cut the end off a stem and glue the threads on. Then I’ll have the ability to swap it out on a whim! So that’s the plan.

I had to get an idea what it would look like, so I fit up a short boot I ordered and jammed the cap on with some paper to wedge it on…

IMG_3478.MOV

drive.google.com drive.google.com

Hope those links work…

This one little thing has me absolutely GEEKED OUT!!!! :bacon:
 
Well, time to fess up, I have done almost nothing on this all fall/winter. While it was great that @dmorolli loaned me wheel dollies for the postal, my plan to pull it out to work on it and push it back to keep one garage spot available for the wife just wasn't terribly practical. I also have found out EXACTLY what "paralysis by analysis" means. Every time I would think about working on anyting, I'd think about the 6 related things that are tied to whatver that thing was. I'd also look at wherever I would be working and think "man, I really need to completely clean this first."

I'd end up debating/hemming/hawing/attempting to clean something and get frustrated.

Then my lack of progress and the GIANT pile of boxes/parts in my office staring at me everyday got depressing and it started a spiral... I finally moved the boxes into the living room we never use so I don't have them constantly in view, mocking me. The freakishly cold winter this year didn't help my motivation to get out there at all either.

Last weekend, I moved Kate's Jeep over to the single garage spot (not her favorite, but at least it's inside) and pulled the postal over where I can actually get to it. Now I've either added to my stress because Kate's will be kicked into the driveway when Mater comes out of storage or I'll finally get my ass in gear.

I've come to the realization that good enough is going to have to be good enough and I can't optimize everything in all the ways I was hoping because nothing's ever getting done.

After I pulled it out I HAD to do something productive in the little time I had, so I pulled out all the leaky OBA hose that I installed that was supposed to be temporary when I did it years ago. I wanted to put in the new, proper line and fittings I have along with new air chucks for both bumpers, but I started thinking about what else I would need to run along with those lines... so I stopped.

Let's see if I can get my lame ass in gear finally... I figure it'll be next year to get it going at this point but this needs to progress. :banghead:
 
bigwalton said:
Well, time to fess up, I have done almost nothing on this all fall/winter. While it was great that @dmorolli loaned me wheel dollies for the postal, my plan to pull it out to work on it and push it back to keep one garage spot available for the wife just wasn't terribly practical. I also have found out EXACTLY what "paralysis by analysis" means. Every time I would think about working on anyting, I'd think about the 6 related things that are tied to whatver that thing was. I'd also look at wherever I would be working and think "man, I really need to completely clean this first."

I'd end up debating/hemming/hawing/attempting to clean something and get frustrated.

Then my lack of progress and the GIANT pile of boxes/parts in my office staring at me everyday got depressing and it started a spiral... I finally moved the boxes into the living room we never use so I don't have them constantly in view, mocking me. The freakishly cold winter this year didn't help my motivation to get out there at all either.

Last weekend, I moved Kate's Jeep over to the single garage spot (not her favorite, but at least it's inside) and pulled the postal over where I can actually get to it. Now I've either added to my stress because Kate's will be kicked into the driveway when Mater comes out of storage or I'll finally get my ass in gear.

I've come to the realization that good enough is going to have to be good enough and I can't optimize everything in all the ways I was hoping because nothing's ever getting done.

After I pulled it out I HAD to do something productive in the little time I had, so I pulled out all the leaky OBA hose that I installed that was supposed to be temporary when I did it years ago. I wanted to put in the new, proper line and fittings I have along with new air chucks for both bumpers, but I started thinking about what else I would need to run along with those lines... so I stopped.

Let's see if I can get my lame ass in gear finally... I figure it'll be next year to get it going at this point but this needs to progress. :banghead:
Click to expand...
I have to 2nd the freak winter... the cold/snow has been quite impressive. Been 10 years since it has been like this. Spent 3 hours last night digging out from the blizzard of `26 (still more to go).

I am finding the paralysis as well. It is as "simple" as breaking down into small tasks and accomplishing one at a time and onto the next one. However, in practice, that is rarely the case, especially when there is life going on all around.

cb
 
certifiablejeep said:
I have to 2nd the freak winter... the cold/snow has been quite impressive. Been 10 years since it has been like this. Spent 3 hours last night digging out from the blizzard of `26 (still more to go).

I am finding the paralysis as well. It is as "simple" as breaking down into small tasks and accomplishing one at a time and onto the next one. However, in practice, that is rarely the case, especially when there is life going on all around.

cb
Click to expand...
Simple like putting in new OBA lines... but they were running from the tank under the bed to the front and rear tied up with the auxillary wiring I added to make the postal top lights I added for SEMA... maybe I should pull all of that out to do it right... well, it's highly unlikely that I'll ever use the top like that again, so no real need for those lights... should I just pull all that wiring and relays out? But I actually did that kind of nicely for as fast as I did it... but it really adds a ton of wires in the engine bay where it's all picking up power... and the relay box is taking up bed space since I never mounted it exactly the way I'd intended... maybe I should mount it right and leave it... if I pull it all, how should I mount the OBA lines better... maybe I should get those nice clamps and drill/tap holes in the frame, but how many things total would I want clamped in there to know what to buy...

yeah, pretty much like that about 100 different things with this.
 
Been there - and still am on a lot of projects. (Willys Wagon project - lost count of the years in the garage, maybe 26 now? Swapped in a 4.0L from a 1996 XJ when it was still fairly modern! But I try to do something on it at least once a year and it is now drivable!) Maybe it's a sign of too many project Jeeps?

My time seems to be so limited anymore and when I have time, it seems I so exhausted it's hard to get going on a big project that I know I cannot finish in a weekend or whatever. I find sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet, make compromises and focus on the immediate project/goal/problem. If it's convenient to piggyback something(s) small along the way w/o going too far out of the way of the immediate project I'll include them, but if those something(s) are going to derail the project, I am "learning" to compromise and save them for another time. It sucks, but sometimes you have to draw the line and just know you will be back in there again in the future.

Hang in there and pick away at it. Even if you can find an hour here and there it can feel like progress if you set your "daily" goal small enough to accomplish. Good Luck, hope this rambling helps.
 
That’s what I’ve started trying to do. Picked the new fuel tank and access hatch next.

Going to spend a day out there on Thursday with a pair of extra hands through!
 
Lol. I relate to this. I haven't touched a thing on my Jeeps all winter. I wish I could blame the indoor baseball practices, but in reality I did have a little time. It's really hard to find motivation when everything is cramped in the garage for the winter. Not much room to do anything.
 
Didn’t get out there on Thursday after all and now the kid’s XJ needs injectors. Good times!
 
It's like I tell my guys - you gotta start to finish. And as soon as I start I say if it ain't one thing it's another. Keep plugging away. We'll keep you motivated!
 
bigwalton said:
Didn’t get out there on Thursday after all and now the kid’s XJ needs injectors. Good times!
Click to expand...
As noted, just keep plugging... Finally got the powertrain back in our Corvair and running. Been out since Oct. Had a few issues along the way, but just kept at it. Would be nice to see the old Postal in July, but if not, at least make progress on getting it there...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top