didunoahme
Got Wood.
- Joined
- May 17, 2017
- Location
- So ILL
dadgum that is mighty fine. I think an airbrushed pinup girl holding bbq on the warmer box would match perfect with that wheel and tire combo
Shirley Fab rehab
- Thread starter sudsandswine
- Start date
sudsandswine
Quintessential Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2012
- Location
- Kansas City
Finally, the right kind of weather intersected with free time and we were able to get this thing painted. It sat longer than I'd have liked after the sandblasting and started to develop light surface rust, so I sprayed down the interior with avocado oil so that it wouldn't progress. Some of that oil seemed to seep through or around the metal edges, so before we could paint we had to degrease the exterior. Ideally I'd have been able to get it painted right after sandblasting, but such is life. Instead, we spent a couple hours prepping the exterior.
I removed a couple of the "baskets" so that the underside of the cook chamber was more accessible for painting.
Up on jack stands ready to go
There was a light breeze, but the weather cooperated overall.
Was looking forward to getting the new wheels and tires on
The side facing the direct sun dried to the touch much faster, the more shaded side (cook chamber doors) was still a little tacky in comparison.
One of the hinges on the firebox door sheered at some point and was hanging extra weight on the remaining bottom hinge, which probably damaged it too. I'm going to take it somewhere and have a couple new hinges welded on then touch up the paint afterwards. I think the rest of the hinges are fine, but that was one of my concerns with how long it sat. I greased up the others, hopefully they hold up fine.
When I had it sandblasted, they cleaned everything, including the spring door handles and the Shirley Fabrication logo plate. I figured we'd just go ahead and paint those black too, and if I wanted to change it up in the future, I would.
I still need to re-wire the trailer and install the new lights. The wiring was pretty brittle and didn't withstand the sandblasting, which was expected. I have three 5" Tel-Tru glow in the dark thermometers to install on the doors, then this project will be done and I can start cooking on it. Hopefully in the next month or so.
I removed a couple of the "baskets" so that the underside of the cook chamber was more accessible for painting.
Up on jack stands ready to go
There was a light breeze, but the weather cooperated overall.
Was looking forward to getting the new wheels and tires on
The side facing the direct sun dried to the touch much faster, the more shaded side (cook chamber doors) was still a little tacky in comparison.
One of the hinges on the firebox door sheered at some point and was hanging extra weight on the remaining bottom hinge, which probably damaged it too. I'm going to take it somewhere and have a couple new hinges welded on then touch up the paint afterwards. I think the rest of the hinges are fine, but that was one of my concerns with how long it sat. I greased up the others, hopefully they hold up fine.
When I had it sandblasted, they cleaned everything, including the spring door handles and the Shirley Fabrication logo plate. I figured we'd just go ahead and paint those black too, and if I wanted to change it up in the future, I would.
I still need to re-wire the trailer and install the new lights. The wiring was pretty brittle and didn't withstand the sandblasting, which was expected. I have three 5" Tel-Tru glow in the dark thermometers to install on the doors, then this project will be done and I can start cooking on it. Hopefully in the next month or so.
Last edited:
Inthewoods
Quintessential Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2016
- Location
- Idaho, USA
Looking great!
How long does it take fer ya ta mow that lawn?
-D
How long does it take fer ya ta mow that lawn?
-D
sudsandswine
Quintessential Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2012
- Location
- Kansas City
0 minutes, cuz it ain’t mine :becky:
Inthewoods
Quintessential Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2016
- Location
- Idaho, USA
It looks well kept.
That's a brand new cooker! Congrats.
-D
That's a brand new cooker! Congrats.
-D
MustGoFast
Knows what a fatty is.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2009
- Location
- Pewaukee...
Great looking project next question is what's being cooked first
Fantabulous!
I like the photo with our flag in the background, nice framing. Beautiful rig!
Speeed
Take a breath!
Awesome job. Love seeing new life breathed into something that someone else neglected or lost interest in.
Your smoker looks fantastic. Nicely done!
Your smoker looks fantastic. Nicely done!
Pitmaster T
Babbling Farker
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2011
- Location
- Texas
Got her back from the sandblaster today, they did a great job. I was pleased with what was underneath the surface rust and gunk inside - it looks like a new cooker.
Just a thought.
Attachments
jkief
is one Smokin' Farker
That thing looks amazing…Great restoration!!
sudsandswine
Quintessential Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2012
- Location
- Kansas City
Thanks, it turned out just like I envisioned. Now I just need to re-wire it and put the new lights on. The finishing touch will be those 5” glow in the dark Tel-Tru’s.
As far as first cook goes…probably brisket and something else. Been missing stick burner brisket.
sudsandswine
Quintessential Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2012
- Location
- Kansas City
Yesterday, I dropped the trailer off to have the firebox to warmer divider worked on. At some point a square was cut out of the roof of the firebox/bottom of the warmer and it was turned into a removable plate type deal. I also had the hinges on the firebox replaced, as the top one sheared when we were painting and the weight of the door put stress on the bottom hinge. These hinges are a little bigger and will allow me to lift off the firebox door to access the hinge pins.
The warmer plate deal seemed sufficient for blocking off the heat and was easily removable for a vertical style cooking method, but I wanted to return it to a more “original” config. It has the baffle between the cook chamber and warmer, but there was never one originally for the firebox to warmer. @TuscaloosaQ was kind enough to put the parts necessary to have a Shirley style baffle in my hands so I could install an authentic Shirley two-baffle setup. Thanks to Paul for that!
I should have it back tomorrow and then I can finally cook in it. I do still need to rewire the trailer and install the running and brake lights but that won’t prevent me from firing it up. I’ve been using the magnetic style brake light setup when I need to hit the road with it and that’s worked fine.
The warmer plate deal seemed sufficient for blocking off the heat and was easily removable for a vertical style cooking method, but I wanted to return it to a more “original” config. It has the baffle between the cook chamber and warmer, but there was never one originally for the firebox to warmer. @TuscaloosaQ was kind enough to put the parts necessary to have a Shirley style baffle in my hands so I could install an authentic Shirley two-baffle setup. Thanks to Paul for that!
I should have it back tomorrow and then I can finally cook in it. I do still need to rewire the trailer and install the running and brake lights but that won’t prevent me from firing it up. I’ve been using the magnetic style brake light setup when I need to hit the road with it and that’s worked fine.
Last edited:
sudsandswine
Quintessential Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2012
- Location
- Kansas City
I had these wheels on my last Shirley, and while I think they were a great fit for THAT trailer, that sort of style would look out of place on this new one. I just thought the old school looking wheels with whitewall tires were exactly what it needed.
Just let me know when the brisket goes on. I'll bring the bourbon and cigars.
