Oklahoma Joe's Reverse Longhorn Smoker (Firebox Inside Oven Mod)
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Smoker (Dirty Bird Mod)
By Dana Mattocks, 04/2021
I originally converted my Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn (Reverse) Smoker to a propane gas setup within the firebox using a "Tejas Smokers" 40,000 BTU Low Pressure Burner. I am also using a self-made stainless-steel Smoke Generator that my twin brother and I built and developed to burn wood pellets. It will run continuously for 14-16 hours with minimal effort.
I recently completed what I am calling the ‘Dirty Bird Mod’. I just thought it sounded interesting but this design allows the burner to successfully operate indefinitely (INSIDE) of the oven by utilizing a thick steel plate heat shield which is simply set in place and removable. I included a picture of the heat shield measurements. This allowed me to completely remove the firebox and discard it. I retained the entire huge interior cooking space without compromise. The ‘Longhorn Oven’ is advertised as 751 square inches
of cooking space, but now only the outside has become much smaller.
I first removed the side bolt-on firebox. It is quite heavy and with this weight gone there is no counter balance. This causes difficulty to pick up the other end. I ordered a set of ‘Short Legs’ from the Oklahoma Joe’s Website with matching steel wheels to replace the front ‘Long Legs’. The entire Smoker rolls with little effort and I am pleased with its more compact appearance. From the same website I ordered the Oklahoma Joe’s (Metal Access Door) found by referencing to "The Judge Charcoal Grill".
Finally, I created a damper door installed just below the Metal Access Door. I used a 3/16†Thick (2†x 12â€) Stainless Steel flat bar purchased from a Metal Supply. The Stainless selection over regular steel is not necessary, it’s just what I used. I drilled a slightly loose 3/8†hole on one end which allows for a bolt, washers, lock-nut and heavy spring assembly to tension the door closed. The other side is just a bolt to adjust pushing the door open. The damper door alignment is held in place as it rides lightly on the pipe feeding the gas burner.
There is a copper pipe extending over the Smoke Generator pipe and into a collection can. Any tiny bits of ash are now suppressed. The ‘Dirty Bird Mod’ Smoker maintains constant and consistent temperatures indefinitely from a low 180 degrees all the way up to 350 degrees with only a 5-8 degrees difference between lid mounted thermometers. You may notice the pilot light burning a little brighter near the burner. If the low flames were ever blown out from a brisk windy day, the pilot flame will quickly reignite the burner.
The included video and pictures should completely explain my designs and I am extremely happy with the performance.
Youtube Video
https://youtu.be/fMIgHQvu8_E
By Dana Mattocks, 04/2021
I originally converted my Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn (Reverse) Smoker to a propane gas setup within the firebox using a "Tejas Smokers" 40,000 BTU Low Pressure Burner. I am also using a self-made stainless-steel Smoke Generator that my twin brother and I built and developed to burn wood pellets. It will run continuously for 14-16 hours with minimal effort.
I recently completed what I am calling the ‘Dirty Bird Mod’. I just thought it sounded interesting but this design allows the burner to successfully operate indefinitely (INSIDE) of the oven by utilizing a thick steel plate heat shield which is simply set in place and removable. I included a picture of the heat shield measurements. This allowed me to completely remove the firebox and discard it. I retained the entire huge interior cooking space without compromise. The ‘Longhorn Oven’ is advertised as 751 square inches
of cooking space, but now only the outside has become much smaller.
I first removed the side bolt-on firebox. It is quite heavy and with this weight gone there is no counter balance. This causes difficulty to pick up the other end. I ordered a set of ‘Short Legs’ from the Oklahoma Joe’s Website with matching steel wheels to replace the front ‘Long Legs’. The entire Smoker rolls with little effort and I am pleased with its more compact appearance. From the same website I ordered the Oklahoma Joe’s (Metal Access Door) found by referencing to "The Judge Charcoal Grill".
Finally, I created a damper door installed just below the Metal Access Door. I used a 3/16†Thick (2†x 12â€) Stainless Steel flat bar purchased from a Metal Supply. The Stainless selection over regular steel is not necessary, it’s just what I used. I drilled a slightly loose 3/8†hole on one end which allows for a bolt, washers, lock-nut and heavy spring assembly to tension the door closed. The other side is just a bolt to adjust pushing the door open. The damper door alignment is held in place as it rides lightly on the pipe feeding the gas burner.
There is a copper pipe extending over the Smoke Generator pipe and into a collection can. Any tiny bits of ash are now suppressed. The ‘Dirty Bird Mod’ Smoker maintains constant and consistent temperatures indefinitely from a low 180 degrees all the way up to 350 degrees with only a 5-8 degrees difference between lid mounted thermometers. You may notice the pilot light burning a little brighter near the burner. If the low flames were ever blown out from a brisk windy day, the pilot flame will quickly reignite the burner.
The included video and pictures should completely explain my designs and I am extremely happy with the performance.
Youtube Video
https://youtu.be/fMIgHQvu8_E
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