The "Donkey" build/rebuild

[Bracket racer]

Well, rebuild the whole drivers A pillar and floor/wall by the clutch pedal, got the door back on and went for a ride.
All good, locked the hubs and drove around a bit. 2nd gear, stab the throttle and Clanggggg!
I’ll finish this in the axle thread.

 

[Curious Hound]

Well, rebuild the whole drivers A pillar and floor/wall by the clutch pedal, got the door back on and went for a ride.
All good, locked the hubs and drove around a bit. 2nd gear, stab the throttle and Clanggggg!
I’ll finish this in the axle thread.

Oh, no!

 

[Bracket racer]

Oh yeah... I started out by welding a tab on the drivers seat that let go when I went up over a bank and caught air, slamming the seat and snapping it. Welded that and noticed the floor is full of holes in front of the panels I laid in last year, so, welded in new floor metal. Since the welders out and the drivers door had started sagging, looked and found the bottom of the A pillar is rotted off which allowed the bottom hinge to push in and sag the door. Took the door off, welded in new metal to mount the bottom hinge, new side on the footwell, new firewall down to behind the pedals And a few other holes. Wife was gone until the next day so worked from about 11am until 1:15am the next morning. Only stopped because I ran out of mig wire, saw the time and said “shit”!! Cleaned up the shop a bit, went in and had a shower and was in bed by 3:30am after a snack.
I tend to get carried away, focus on the project and forget everything else. Lol.
Anyway, as far as the axle, I wrote it up in the axle thread I started called “D35 compared to 44 strength “

 

[Bracket racer]

Well....rolled it again.......

Covered it in the axle thread but suffice to say, jumping 8-10ft with prodigious application of the right pedal was, in hindsight, an error!
Chainsaw got me on the way by and got a chunk of my right ear and whacked me in the head.
Sore left quadricep, very stiff neck, chunk out of ear and a 3” welt on my head. Dumbass had a roll bar but wasn’t wearing a seatbelt...duh!

Anyway, pics:

 

[Bracket racer]

So, put it back on its feet, locked in the hubs and drove it out of the hole. Added a litre of oil and drove it home.
Haven’t looked at it this morning but I know I lost both back windows and the windshield is hanging out. It was already broke, not sure if it’s worse.
Buddies dodge that flipped me back over was sitting there idling then made a big screech and stalled. The idler pulley was seized and blew the belt off. Wife towed him home with Dora the explorer (her truck)

What a night! This all started because we came across a tree down across the trail. 16” diameter and straight A’s an arrow. Took the saw, cut it and pulled it off the trail then continued on our way. Then I got a little “hey watch this” and launched the donkey off a big bank. That was fun, did it a bunch more and then found out sometimes faster is not always better.

 

[Bracket racer]

Oh, and I didn’t break the axle!!!

 

[Curious Hound]

Good thing the chainsaw wasn’t running.

 

[Bracket racer]

Chinese junk has a hard getting going at the best of times! Lol!

Never even went outside today, laying low and licking the wounds. Going in the hot tub in a few minutes, see if that helps.

 

[Bgunner]

Proof Donkey's should not fly?

 

[Bracket racer]

Put the donkey in the garage and emptied it out.
Found out why it was running weird, it wasn’t out of gas, the oil soaked the air filter and mass air sensor as well as the rest of the intake tubing.
Really at a crossroad now. Got way to much time invested to walk away but the cab is pretty beat. If I change cabs, why go with a two seater ranger when an escape body will fit on. If I’m using an escape, why not put it on a one ton chassis instead of the ranger frame.......and that will really take me off the ranger forum

 

[MikeG]

5 point safety harnesses and the HANS system might be considerations, too..... just sayin' .....

 

[Bracket racer]

Wife just mentioned about a 5point harness for Christmas! Lol!

I have some belts I can install, currently the original buckle is missing because I welded in new metal to the floor and never made a solid spot to mount it. But the retractable belt is still mounted to the B pillar.
Definitely an idea though.

Still pondering the direction I should go.

 

[Bracket racer]

Well after getting a good deal on a 08 escape as a “donor” body to put on the donkey frame, mama freaked out.
So, going to fix the donkey...again...
Went to my old shop today and borrowed the 4ton Hydraulic frame straightening kit because the front right a pillar is laid back 2” or so. That’s why the windshield popped out.
More to follow when I actually get into it.

 

[Bracket racer]

Well, a new direction... guy rolls in with a mint (and I mean MINT) 91 ranger ext cab, 5spd/4L that he just picked up. Beautiful truck. (Who knew they were so small with original tires and no lift?? Lol)
Diagnosed a couple issues, idler pulley, plugged fuel filter/weak pump (key on off 3-4 times it fires right up, otherwise it cranks and cranks until it gets fuel pressure) told him pumping the gas 8 times before cranking does nothing even though he was convinced it helped, lol.
Anyway, for the help and a flat of beer, he gave me this!

 

[Bracket racer]

It’s a 92 with no box and no transmission. (5spd man)

Have to pick it up in a couple days..we’ll, after Christmas I guess now.

I see the sla front end it weaker than the ttb and harder to lift.. talk about going backwards...but for a flat of beer...