The Frankenstein Build! LT/Expo/Trail rig..and BS

More like garage art.

 

Single cab build!

 

If I ever have more money. I have a turbo kit sitting on the floor for my single cab.

 

I have a pretty badass tundra and mr2 too…..




01 is slowly being worked on. I’m just terrible at updating on it since it’s painfully slow progress

 

We all love your write ups whenever time allows for them.

 

What happened to make it this way? I looked back thru posts, but did not see anything.

 

Oh just got run too hard and not maintained during college. Basically, after I went to school in St Louis I didn't really work on Frank that much. Then would come home for summer, beat on him, work on him a bit(but not enough) and just over time became unreliable. Got to the point where I need to do a lot of work to get him road worthy. Short list is:

-New Spindle on the pass side
-New LBJ
-New PS pump or rebuild
-New Clutch
-New rear shocks(really whole rear end need a go through and upgrade)
-new tires, probably wheels too
-New front brakes

Then other stuff to get him where I want:

-Reinforce coil buckers or even replace them with new ones as Im fairly certain one is bent given previous alignments
-Spindle gussets of fabbed spindles(probably just gussets due to cost)
-Upgrade motor perches on frame(mounts are already done with Bozen Mounts)
-build coilbucket brace bar(Dirt designs kit)
-rear 2.5'' shocks outboard frame(have an archive garage kit that potentially could fit bypasses which would be ideal)
-T100 axle install
-Figure out wtf I want to do for leaf spring or fuck it links?
-redo the entire interior with sound deadening and rip the massive stereo out to build storage in back or dog spot. This will be interesting as it's unlikely Devin(my wife) will ever ride in Frank when I take him on a trip. Igor will be used if Devin comes and dogs(more room). So could pull the passenger seat just to have room for 1 dog and other stuff.
-redo air locker setup(currently CO2 off paint ball bottles)
-Fiberglass replacement(have new fronts and have rears!)
-Upgrade steering to Heim steering and add rack saver/slider
-build a new pop up bed rack based off improvements from old design. Or build a bed rack for tent thats kind of a tonneau like cover
-Haltech to get the SC to run right




Sooo....yeah a lot!



I've been toying with the idea of live streaming garage time while I'm working on him. Think it could be a fun way to interact with everyone while I'm doing the build and also would mean no "post" work for me like editing video or photos and writing. Which I do like doing the photos and writing, but it's very time consuming and I just don't seem to have that time as much. I mean I'm only like 5 years or something behind on trip reports

But will see. I'm not sure about that yet.

 

1st Gen watch party!

 

Yeah idk seems like it could be fun. I'll probably try it at least see how it goes.

 

so when do you want to fly me out to help? im good at finishing other people projects.
LOL

 

well thats fair. Will see! Im sure some shop days with friends will happen. Know I'll have to have @Speedytech7 out once for sure.

 

There's a guy on YouTube (Sampson boat company) who's rebuilding an old yacht. He gets a lot of funding from viewers, and quite a bit of free help from people who just want to help on the project. You could probably get a good bit of help from the forum, a lot of us have an emotional investment in Frank at this point.

 

I would say most of us here were heavy inspired by your build of Frank, hell even Igor. And of course the killer writeups that have encouraged everyone to get out and explore.
So getting to see the progress of the truck that kinda started it all come back would be awesome.

 

Yeah the people that make money doing stuff like that is cool. Definitely not my goal. Never has been. It would more be a way to A) hold me a bit accountable to work on him steadily B) Could be an easier way to share the progress with folks time wise, TBD C) Be super fun to engage with people along the way.

Plus yeah! It could be super fun to loop other people into it and just have a good time. Which is something I've really resonated with in the 10+ years I've been doing this ( ) is it's all about the people.

Pretty wild how some trucks have made such impacts on our lives. Cool to think about.


Emotional investment in Frank, love it! haha He's certainly an emotional moody truck its seems like

I appreciate that. Was and is still a huge core part of who I am to do all that. Hell this year I'm on track to do 3 or even 4 trips this year. Which is a blast. I just need to find a way to share them again. I miss doing it. I know my friends miss it in some capacity. Honestly they are more like journals at this point and I still like looking back on them myself to this day. Which really was the purpose of them. The inspiration to everyone else was a huge bonus I didn't really expect. So fun.

I really really really want to drive Frank again. I miss it all the time. Was just fun. Plus he's Frankenstein. He can't die!


I'm confident I can get him back on the road soon now that I have a place to work. And from there. Who knows. That check list is a long one, but man be fun to work on again!



Hell just talking about this on here has me excited! So I guess thanks @Squeaky Penguin for trolling me

 

If it doesn't start by you trying to clear out the hornet nests, you're going to lose me as a viewer

 

You know I'm down to help, Frank revival would be a good time

 

HA! Okay! IG live maybe!

hell yeah. Plus you're the Haltech guru now.

 

SOS Remains my favorite story to read and I do every few months when I lose motivation to plan my own trips.
Plus I wanna see frank complete so you can build the 95...

 

SOS is a great one haha fun fun trip.

The plans for the 95 are good. Just a funds thing. Turbo, AWD Tcase swap(hopefully), interior work. Already refreshed the suspension with 5100s and 880s and leaf springs. it's been a good truck. Need to figure the clutch issue. But drive it every day and use to haul water, dirt, mulch, and everything. Been a great truck. Needs a timing belt soon I think. Probably wheel bearings given its over 300k at least.

It's a great truck though. I love it.