OKJ Longhorn RF Mods

[golfpro2301]

As I posted in other threads I purchased an OKJ Longhorn for upcoming hog cook and began modifying with the usual and not so usual mods have seen in past. Have a few more days to finish it up but below are updates thus far.
FYI I am not welder by trade and have a crappy ironton 125 FC that runs on AC


Typical gasket and latches.

lavalock RF plate

welded in strip of 1/2” plate at top and angle at bottom to prevent FB from sagging. This gave a lot of support

Lined bottom of FB with 1/4” thick steel strips to

silicone face mold on side for probes

extended 3” exhaust. Bought a spare one from charbroil and cutoff elbow. Used angle grinder and cut wasnt square so exhaust tilts slightly

making FB side loader and got a replacement door from Yoder. Since their Airflow is awful I modified bottom vent to be twice as big and also making top vent independent of bottom.

Original door/vent on side gone. This will be only opening to the FB

new door damper. I cut butterfly in two and welded into half circle. Still need take flapper wheel to weld

next few days are sealing up FB top lod and wrapping with insulation. Using 55gal drum as outer shell. Still need make V shapedcharco basket. Also some little odds and ends like new door handles etc.

 

[smokin peachey]

Looks good. Hopefully you are pleased with the results. How big of a pig are you cooking?

 

[golfpro2301]

Hopefully 80-90lbs the. Take off head and feet. Probably will have to do it racer style

 

[golfpro2301]

Got a little work done today

marked door on drum and got it cut out. Test fit worked pretty well. Going to un a 1” band of 1/8” steel around inside to have something to weld against. Welding barrel prob burn through

still need run other straps on door to seal. Had to enclose center damper as the bottom is so large it would interfere with this opening.

my 1/4” door warped from enclosing the top damper. Now straps dont seal perfectly so have to run rope gasket and elevate the hinges on some 3/16” strap to close properly. Wont look as nice but will function well

 

[golfpro2301]

Got door finished up and damper installed. Also got insulation wrapped and drum into best position can get to. With insulation compacting it was a PIA get it that far on. Going run a 1” band around crack to seal up

also forgot to clean out barrel before installing. It housed spray foam liquid so going to have to run it hot for first few burns to heat up edges and hopefully burn it off

 

[fxsales1959]

that's a boatload of mods! I'll never get that ambitious. down here in Miami it's challenge enough finding wood. probably burn $100 of box store wood to smoke a pig. A small point brisket is challenge enough for me. I still use my MB electric for bacon and small stuff like yardbird. With all those mods, does it still take an hour to get a steady 225?

 

[golfpro2301]

that's a boatload of mods! I'll never get that ambitious. down here in Miami it's challenge enough finding wood. probably burn $100 of box store wood to smoke a pig. A small point brisket is challenge enough for me. I still use my MB electric for bacon and small stuff like yardbird. With all those mods, does it still take an hour to get a steady 225?

I usually run at 275 and it takes a good 45 min to get everything heated up. Once at temp though she runs much smoother than stock. I am very happy with the outcome. One thing you can do that is easy is drape a weld blanket over firebox to keep some of the heat in. the 1/8" steel loses way too much heat and I had to burn massive fire to keep temps up. Also resulted in massive swings. I now maintain constant temps all day

Look for wood on facebook marketplace. That is where I found my guy and its relatively cheap. Searching in Miami there is someone within 50 miles that has Pecan and cherry for $40 full wheel barrow. I run thin splits cut in half on mine now due to insulated box. If I put a full split in it will run too hot.

 

[fxsales1959]

I usually run at 275 and it takes a good 45 min to get everything heated up. Once at temp though she runs much smoother than stock. I am very happy with the outcome. One thing you can do that is easy is drape a weld blanket over firebox to keep some of the heat in. the 1/8" steel loses way too much heat and I had to burn massive fire to keep temps up. Also resulted in massive swings. I now maintain constant temps all day

Look for wood on facebook marketplace. That is where I found my guy and its relatively cheap. Searching in Miami there is someone within 50 miles that has Pecan and cherry for $40 full wheel barrow. I run thin splits cut in half on mine now due to insulated box. If I put a full split in it will run too hot.

rthanks for the marfketplace tip. There's some real kooks out there. Found some hickory nearby for the bargain price of $5/split. i'll keep looking. My sales teritory is the whole S.E. US. I try not to put miles on my F-150 but might start driving it for my calls up in N FL to look for wood.
thanks again
john

 

[golfpro2301]

rthanks for the marfketplace tip. There's some real kooks out there. Found some hickory nearby for the bargain price of $5/split. i'll keep looking. My sales teritory is the whole S.E. US. I try not to put miles on my F-150 but might start driving it for my calls up in N FL to look for wood.
thanks again
john

Make your way up to central/north florida. For probably $150 you can fill up your whole truckbed. Offer up, craigslist, and marketplace have a bunch of ads in these locations