Josh40601's Build Thread. (D-ranged)

[Josh40601]

well, while the T-Case is at the shop being welded up, I went and worked on D doing a lot of the little things that i have been trying to not pay attention to. With me turning this one back into a DD after the Rubicon, I want to get as much knocked out as possible.

First, the A/C. The A/C hasn't worked for almost 2 years, so i replaced everything in the system other than the condensor. Heater Core, compressor, lines, and acumulator. Now it works like a charm.

Second was the rough running.... I had no idea what this was. I assumed the new top end had smoked the bottom end of the engine and i would just have to limp it until KY. I was wrong. When i pulled off my gangster-ass Autozone intake tube, i noticed that the radiator hose clamp had cut a hole in the tube. So i figured, this might not help, but it sure couldn't hurt to cover up that little hole. Slapped some electrical tape on, WAH-LAH!! Runs better now than EVER.

3. Jeep thingy. The one I snagged at the JY was plastic, and my buddy Mike from KY sent me one that he had that was alluminum. I like it better, so i took the old one out, put the new filler neck in, and painted the alluminum Jeep Thingy hammered black. Mounted everything up and very pleased with how much better it looks.

4. Passenger Window Motor. The passenger side window motor went out, so i had to replace it. After getting the new one in, I realized the old one was held in with rivets. So i ground them done, knocked them out, and installed the new motor. When i was installing the glass, i over tightened one of the bolts i used to put it all back together and shattered the glass. Dumbass. So i had to go to the border and get a window, then get it installed.

5. Header Panel. When i took the truck to Maaco, they didn't remove the grille to paint the header panel, so it was still red. Which is ugly and annoyed me, so i took the grille out, used my "close enough Yellow" spray paint and gave the header panel a fresh coat.

After the header panel dried, I decided to put my FX4 grille back on instead of the chrome one. I like it. All black and yellow now, minus the lights, which i will do one of these days.


Drove the truck to work today, and it runs so much better than before. Hopefully i will pull better than 14.6 MPG now....

Here are some pics of the finished product....

 

[wahlstrom1]

Nice work, it's funny how the lil things can pile up and make a vehicle miserable to drive eh?

 

[Josh40601]

oh man, i hated it. It had no power, no A/C, the steering makes all kinds of noise, the seat wouldn't move, the window wouldn't go up and down, and it leaks like a 9 month old pregnant lady's snatch.

At least i have everything but the leak and the steering fixed now. SOOOOO much better to drive.

 

[escort_gts]

Confused on the tube you taped. What is it? I am having idle problems and it is annoying.

 

[Josh40601]

the big black one with a filter on the end of it

 

[escort_gts]

Oh, never mind I just reread it and didn't see where it said intake tube. I must be tired......

 

[Josh40601]

lol

 

[Josh40601]

Worked on the truck last night for ENTIRELY too long. Took some 3/16" hot rolled and cut it down to match the frame. This is entirely too thick for what i needed, 1/16" would have sufficed. Whatever. Anyway, with the fuel lines and wiring running along that side, i wanted to be sure i didn't burn into them, so i kept a spray bottle close and soaked everything with water. The welder did not like this. As you can see below, my welds look like shit (what else is new) but they penetrated good enough.

Anyway, i mounted the air tank on the frame. I type too fawking much:shaking:

Pictures.

My gangster welds

side shot

Then i took some sheet metal and mounted the air chuck or whatever its called.

 

[XionicWaste]

Im loving the air chuck mounting location!

 

[Josh40601]

thanks dude. I figured since the tank is in the back now, and i don't want to do any body to this bed as it is toast once i get back, this was a perfect place for it.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

3/16" was too much but 1/4" would have sufficed? 1/4" is thicker than 3/16" last time I checked... lol

 

[Josh40601]

whoops.... I meant 1/16" Thanks for the catch

Edit:

There, i just fixed it. lol

 

[3.0ranger1227]

whoops.... I meant 1/16" Thanks for the catch

Edit:

There, i just fixed it. lol

Haha that makes more sense.

I can't wait to see the V8 swap in this thing. When is the ETA on that?

 

[Josh40601]

after i get home. I am hoping to get it done in the spring as it will be driven all winter. Spring time i can drive the hot rod, so this one can go down for a little while. So probably March. That gives me time to get everything together. You seen that i am not keeping this as my crawler right?

 

[3.0ranger1227]

after i get home. I am hoping to get it done in the spring as it will be driven all winter. Spring time i can drive the hot rod, so this one can go down for a little while. So probably March. That gives me time to get everything together. You seen that i am not keeping this as my crawler right?

Yeah. Gonna be your solid axle V8 DD. lol.