45acp’s DIVORCED build!

Ahh... For a second there I thought we'd actually see this thing get fixed.

 

Nope apparently he's got better things to do


Or just light on the funds.

 

Light on the funds, no room for it with all the other projects going on, trying to figure out my life, etc. The idea/theory is that I'll still be able to work on it (plumbing, electrical etc.) but it's a good 45 minutes away in a friend's barn. I have a bad feeling I won't be out there often. However, I kept the engine and drivetrain at the house hoping I can work on that aspect here.

I was in such a damn hurry, I forgot to take pictures of the other stuff I worked on since the last update. I'll get some pictures soon I hope.
I burned in the seat mounting tabs for both driver and passenger, finished the front limit strap mounts, added structural tubing and a shitload of gusseting for the seat belt mounts, lowered the front axle end upper link mount, and added a support for a steering shaft offset (in order to clear the front sway bar).

DSC00343 by Jonathan Krajnak, on Flickr

DSC00344 by Jonathan Krajnak, on Flickr

7515411069815284866-account_id=1 by Jonathan Krajnak, on Flickr


Big thanks to @Supra TT for driving up here from IN to help me out!!

 

Sweet trailer.
Truck looks good too man.

 

Don't let him deceive you, I brought it to the scrap yard.

 

So my leaf springs are saggy. Any suggestions on which route to go?

Here's some option in order of cost.

I have an extra set of front leaf packs (used, off a 1980 pickup) that I could pull apart and add a leaf to the current packs. I'd have to get longer U-bolts, I'm sure.

Leave the used packs alone and buy an actual AAL

Rancho RS60612 Add A Leaf Kit

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CPAFY...TF8&colid=2GWC55RDWARSV&coliid=I3010RL5MBILA0

Buy completely new packs.
http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/toyo...ength-leaf-spring-hd-each-tsp-fs-lr-7985.html

In any of these circumstances if I have to use longer U-bolts, should I might as well do a U-bolt flip?

 

And so the build begins!!!

 

Out with the old in with the....old?

 

Save the money. YOu arent wheeling it, don't bother with the U bolt flip.

 

I'd bastard pack it with an extra leaf and see how it rides. Every leaf sprung mini truck I've ever seen has flat or inverted leafs so I don't think it will need a ton of help

 

I second what snowy said.

 

This is true. In the time I had the cab off the frame, the packs had regained some arch and raised the ride height considerably after the cab was reinstalled. Took them about a month before they settled back down again.

 

Completely on-topic note...

(CliffsNotes version) I'm an ardent fan of John Moses Browning and his M1911 design. I had my .45ACP M1911 custom built by renowned pistolsmith Bob Rodgers in 2006. My ex-wife knew that it was one of the only things I owned that had any real value to me. Essentially, (back in 2010) under the guise of "We desperately need the money.", she pressured me to sell it approximately 6 weeks before she told me she was leaving (and long after she had planned to). After the divorce, I searched for it and found the individual had re-sold it and the trail ran cold. I've searched for it every now and then for the last 6 years. I finally had a stroke of luck and tracked down the current owner last week. It has since been turned into a MEU SOC 1911 clone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEU(SOC)_pistol). To my surprise, he's willing to sell it back!!!

 

You get any of the pictures/videos from the other week loaded yet?

 

I have pictures uploaded but hadn't posted them yet because I was still trying to piece together a video. I'll go ahead and post the pictures shortly.

 

No rush more just hassling you

 

In the process of a complete rebuild of the topper and color-matching it. If I didn't do it while fixing the doors, I'd likely never get around to it.

 

Hey Jon do you have a build thread for your 1st gen pick up?