SilverGhost Rises

So since I'm waiting on tube to be bent for my bed cage. I decided to move foward with the engine mount gussets. So glad its over with. I added 1/4" plate through out the whole inside of the existing mounts.


I did end up grinding down those drips. dam stick welding overhead isn't easy.


The reason for the hole is to let water drain.



This is the passenger side. The driver was done the same way.

 

Hot diggity!!

 

Nothing special. I just made some jack stands from scrap. Staying busy while I wait.....











Oh yeah I picked up some dot 3 and some transmission fluid from toyota to flush the brake lines and transmission this weekend.

 

Needs more taller
JK, looks great I have jack stand envy.

 

Those jack stands are nice Ray!!!

 

Yeah I didn't expect them to be as tall as they are.

Thanks, they came out better then I expected. I was just trying to copy a set that I already had.

 

You know it's going to be a good build when you need jack stand that tall

 

So I went ahead and did my brake line and transmission flush this morning.

I made this bottle for the brakes. It's just a large gatorade bottle. I drilled two holes in it. One hole was 3/8" for the hose and another smaller hole to let air out. I also have a small hose clamp to hold it in place.



I first open the brake reservoir and pulled the screen out and cleaned it. Then I got a turkey baster and removed as much as the old fluid out and put it into the gatorade bottle. I put back the screen and top off the brake fluid with dot 3.

When doing the brake fluid flush start with the passenger rear, then move to driver rear, then passenger front, then driver front.

I made sure the hose was vertical from the bleeder to make sure no air travels into the brake line. Also make sure that the other end of the hose that is in the bottle is in the brake fluid so you don't suck air back into the line. Then I open it up to let out the brake fluid out. Then I went into the truck turned on the key. You don't have to turn the truck on just the key. Pumped it a few times and keep checking to make sure the brake reservoir was always full.








Just keep pumping and refilling the reservoir until the fluid is clear. Once it's clear close the bleeder (whatever it's called) and repeat on all 4 wheels.




I used just over 32 OZ of brake fluid. I'm pretty sure you could get it done with just 32 OZ. I just wanted to make sure I had all new fluid thought out the lines.



So with the transmission flush. I have the A340E transmission. This is how I did it by myself. It would be help full if you had another person but it's possible with one person. Any ways I first drained the transmission and then disconnected the hose that pumps the fluid into the radiator. For me it was the driver side hose that connects to the radiator. To figure it out if you have an 2wd auto then you will see three lines running into you transmission. The lowest one that comes into the pan is the dipstick. You have one that runs to the rear of the transmission and you have one that runs to the front of the transmission and the sensor is next to it. So the rear line is your return line. The line in the front next to the sensor is what forces the fluid to the radiator. Back to the flush. I disconnected the hose and I didn't see much fluid come out of there, but I would still put a drip pan under it when you disconnect it.


You can see the hard line on the radiator in the pic. So I ran some air threw the radiator to push whatever fluid out of the radiator into the transmission and out the drain plug. I didn't see much come out. You don't need a lot of air pressure just enough to clear the line the best you could. I got out a just over 3 quarts from that draining.


After I cleared as much fluid as I can I put the drain plug back onto the transmission pan and put in 4 quarts of fluid. Then I moved on to the flush part. I put my drip pan under the hose hanging next to the radiator and put the parking brake on then turn the key on the truck and put the truck into neutral. Turn on the truck step outside and watch the fluid for a few seconds come out of the hose then turn the truck off. You need to pay attention here and estimate how much fluid is coming out because you don't want to accidentally run it dry. I keep adding fluid into the dipstick section on the transmission to keep the fluid where it needs to be. I only had the truck on enough to run 1 to 2 quarts threw then turned it off. By the time I was done I emptied 7 quarts total and replaced 7 quarts total. It is very simple. As long as you keep the same amount of fluid going in as whats coming out you should be fine. I did drive the truck after and double checked my fluids to make sure they are where they need to be. So far everything runs great. This was my first time doing this and I was nervous but happy with the out come.

 

Was your brake fluid as nasty as the pictures make it look?

That's kind of scary

 

yes it's been a while. Good thing I did it. It did have some green tint to it that didn't help make it look any better.

 

This came in the mail today. So I threw it on and also finished welding the 2nd jack stand.

 

Got my supports/gussets for the cam bolts tabs in. I pick up 3' of 5/16" for .50 cents to make these. I cut them all about 1 1/2" long. I welded them to the original tabs and to the frame. Cleaned them up and painted them. I did 12 out of 16 because of the steering rack. I do those when i put the suspension in. Hopefully these hold well. If not then i'll remove them and fab up full gussets for those sections.







On this one I just ran a few beads along side of it. I'll see how it does. If it doesn't work then i'll just make something else to go there.

 

Those aren't going anywhere. Nice work Ray!

 

x2!

 

So when I went to start the front bumper my Harbor freight tube notcher couldn't cut it I know, stupid joke.... anyways I couldn't get the angles that I needed so I started to look for better tube notchers and saw this one. 600.00 no way So I figure i'll try and make one.


Started with this.


Ended with this.

 

Nice! That's cool.

 

Damn Ray you are one talented and resourceful guy....

 

Thanks Rebecca. And welcome.

 

Thank you, looking forward to more of your projects..