Project Life Support.

[koda6966]

Almost mounted my center crossmember upside down. That would have been an pain in the ass.

 

[koda6966]

Crossmembers, spring mounts, new tank, bolted in. Just need to mount the skid plate and buy my springs and we're golden!

I'm going to try for springs on friday, there's a 4 pack on a newer ranger at the JY I have my eye on. Only problem is axles are on sale this weekend, and I'm worried someone might either A) Take the springs too, or B) Damage the springs.

 

[koda6966]

I can't seem to remember what the truck that had the springs looked like. Here's to hoping it's a 2wd supercab! I could use a driveshaft upgrade. Muahahahaha.

 

[koda6966]

Oh, and on another note. DONT buy spectra gas tank straps. They're too short, and don't work. As you can see I had to use longer bolts with a spacer in order to mount them. It's solid.

I know it's not a tank issue, because my skid plate mounts fine and has more then enough room.

 

[koda6966]

Couldn't get the bastards off and I was in a hurry, so I tossed the yard man 20 bucks to torch them off for me. None of the newer trucks were x-cabs so I couldn't get a driveshaft. Good thing though because I'm low on cash again.

Just have to pop the bolts and bushings out and I'm golden. Then I need to get the following:

1)Belltech 6400 Shackles
2)Brake hardware
3)Brake Shoes
4)Brake Lines/Cables
5)New Bushings
6)Driveshaft

It's gonna be like a new truck, from the cab back anyway.

I'm assuming I'll need different shocks, I'll have to wait and see though.

The gas-matics work fine, I'll have to "donate" them to a friend in need.

 

[4.0B2]

you should really get this thing back to DD status

 

[koda6966]

I know, but I don't want to drive it in winter anymore.

I'm in the rust belt. >.<

 

[Boggin]

Good work koda. what ya gonna do about lifting the front to match the belltechs?

 

[koda6966]

I've had some coils "donated" to my cause. I'm debating whether to throw them on and buy the rest of the parts, or if I want to SAS with jeep parts.

Main reason why I wish I still had my Jeep. Might look into a group buy on a cherokee, I have a few friends with them that need different parts from me.

 

[koda6966]

Change of pace until I get my shackles, I'm starting back on my interior.

I pulled the dash panel and cluster today, started tearing down the cluster. I'm going to put my speedo system into the cluster from my parts truck. While I'm doing that I'm going to scrape off the green film and replace the illumination bulbs with red LED's. I'm not going to touch the other bulbs, they can stay their natural colors.

This way, I will get the colors I want AND have an RPM gauge. Sweeeeeet.

Then I'm going to line up the axle and mount it to the shocks so it's ready when I go to put my springs on. I'm sick of moving it around anyway.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

nice to see its slowly going back to its glory.

 

[koda6966]

Yeah, key word there is slowly.

By next year I should have a garage, which will DEFINITELY speed the projects up.

I'll wait on the SAS and the engine swap until then. I'm sick of this cold rainy weather and all the bugs. Those two shouldn't go togeather!

Bahumbug.

 

[4.0B2]

this thread needs more pics!! lol.

sucks to be in the rust belt, idk what that's like... we have 70's truck w/ no rust around here.

 

[koda6966]

Ah. Pics. I remember what it was like to take lots of those!

I used to have my own camera, now I have to borrow my moms or take crappy cell phone pics.

Anyway, here's that cluster.. in bits and pieces. I'm using the speedo, faceplate, and gear display from my ranger. The housing, bezel, and assorted other components are from the parts truck.

Swapping the entire speedometer DEFINITELY beats changing the numbers with a drill, lmao.

If anyone wants parts from the old cluster, let me know. Only thing I can't sell you is the chip on the side (someone has dibs) and the gear display which is broken.

 

[koda6966]

Threw the gauges in to make sure they work, the temp, battery, and rpm definitely work. I can't say anything for the rest of them. I don't have a rear axle on the truck so it's not like I can move it, and I only have maybe a gallon of gas in the tank.

While I was warming it up I noticed exceptionally dark smoke coming from the exhaust. Usually when it's cold it will puff out some white stuff until it warms up a bit. So I hop on in the truck and rev up to 3000RPM, notice some little chunks coming out. So I rev a little more.. and a little more.. now it kind of sounds muffled. Then POW out goes a flaming mouse next. Gonna be fun cleaning that up. I think they were still in it too.