When I installed the new drinker cups on the water lines in the Mustang Chicken Coupe I still had the problem with the water pressure being too high for the units. Some wouldn't function as designed while others flat out popped apart after a while. I had to get the pressure down. Luckily when I ordered the new drinker cups I also ordered a pressure regulator to install on the line in case the new drinker cups still couldn't handle the water pressure.
The regulator finally came in so the first thing I did was install that. I had to install a 1/2" male thread to female smooth adapter bushing on both sides of the regulator. Afterward I cut the PVC line just after the valve right when the pipe comes up through the floor and trimmed enough pipe so when I installed the regulator the water valve and hose adapter section of PVC was flush against the bottom of the car. I adjusted the regulator valve to a point where the pressure should be damn near zero. I turned the water on then tweaked the regulator valve so that water came out of the drinker cups at a reasonable rate that shows that the pressure was low enough to keep the system from exploding like before. The next thing on the list was welding a metal lip above the firewall to serve as a diverter for any water that manages to run down past the hood during any rains. Since the hood is not really able to seal from water around the edges I figured I had to put some kind of lip across the top of the firewall to divert the water to the edges so it can run down harmlessly to the ground at the corners of the back of the floor. This is very necessary since the outlet and lights are mounted on the firewall and water is not a good mix for these items. I used some scrap metal cut to a couple of inches in width and welded it all in place across the top. It's in a kind of irregular pattern but it doesn't have to be neat, it just needs to be able to divert water, plain and simple. The next thing on the agenda is covering up the missing window over the driver's door. Since the window is gone, something has to cover this opening. My plan was to use some sheet metal to cover the opening. I had to make a frame to the same contours of the window frame to serve as an anchor point for the sheet metal. This was to be done with conduit. I cut two pieces of pipe, one for a vertical piece at the back of the door and the other to be bent to match the obtuse angle of the top and angled down sides of the window opening. I welded everything up at those three points to make the framework for the door window panel. At first I was going to use one of the large pieces of sheet metal I had in stock from a washer to cut out the "window" for the door but then I saw a piece of corrugated sheet metal that was too small to be used for any roofing application but was just right for this application. I took it and drew a rough outline of the window opening, also taking into account adding an extra lip at the bottom to serve as a better anchor point for the panel. To secure the panel I used the same concept I did for the door hinges: spot welding. Except I had to drill a series of holes around the edges of the panel to serve as spot welding points all around the panel. After welding the panel in place I looked at the whole setup and thought about the idea of maybe welding some extra metal around the inside of the window frame to make the whole works more rigid. Luckily I already closed the door so I didn't have to fight the shitty door hinges or door latch mechanisms to ensure that the door was fully latched in place. With the driver's door taken care of the next move will be the passenger door. I plan on doing the same thing as far as making a window frame for that door but instead of sheet metal I plan on attaching some chicken wire or some type of small mesh fencing to allow for the open side that would make the chicken coupe "open" to the outside while still being enclosed for the most part. I will have to put some type of ventilation fan or fans in the car in order to move air around when the outside temps go north of 90 degrees. The combination of heat and chicken shit and piss inside is not a good combination that is conducive to the chickens' longevity so I will need ventilation when everything else is done. But that's for a later date.
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