My Big Can of Worms Build

man, you have put some serious amount of hours into this truck...is it worth it? not in a mean way but i just read the whole thread and jeeeeez

 

lol you know I didn't want to have this kind of project when I bought it. I am glad it worked out this way though - I've learned stuff I always wanted to know about when I was in middle and high school. I worked with my dad around the house (can't tell you how many hours I spent clearing brush around their house in the woods in Maine when I was a kid), but whenever our vehicles needed work, he didn't want to work on them. So this is my long awaited education.

 

What are your plans for the old tranny?

 

Send'r packin'!

 

r150 4x4 w/ j shifter?

 

Yessir.

 

Picked up more pieces of the puzzle - throw some new oil in the engine and treat the gas. I hadn't planned on letting it sit this long so I'm adding the HEET and about five gallons of fresh gas to get the fuel ready.

 

Today escalated quickly, what was supposed to be a few hours removing the steering rack and popping the engine out to change the oil and get a couple last minute details taken care of turned into a 12 hour marathon lol.

First, reason #3591 not to get 555 lbj's - they are wider than oem so the tie rod puller that works for oem lbj's won't work for these with out getting creative:




Then the rest of the rack came off slowly but surely - there's still so much sand and grime stuck in all the threads from the po hitting up Oceano and never washing the darn thing, man I really don't want to hit the dunes with this thing ever now.



Tim the Toolman really helped me see what I needed to do quickly:



Then I took out the engine and made the last bolt on's to the block (A/C compressor bracket, alternator bracket, motor mounts) so now it's ready for headers. I test fit it to make sure the motor mounts fit. So far I've taken an engine out of this thing three times and put it back in twice myself lol - it's getting easer each time.

Here it is ready for tomorrow - maybe I'll test fit the headers!

 

Another solid day - Test fit the headers and put new oil in. Looks like the vacuum lines to the front diff and the diff breather will have to be relocated slightly. Man I would have had a much more challenging time doing this with the engine in the truck

One of the headers had welding slag in one of the flanges and I ended up boogering up the threads on a bolt not knowing what was happening. Filed it back into shape and dremeled out the slag - that thing is a life saver.

Got one side torqued on. I put this stuff on both sides of the gasket:

$9 Permatex 81878 Ultra Copper Maximum Temperature RTV Silicone Gasket Maker, 3 oz. Tube

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-818...id=1514191115&sr=8-1&keywords=permatex+copper I put the rtv on before the studs and it made it go smoothly!




Tomorrow I'll get the other side and it should be the last time the engine gets put in the engine bay.

 

Merry Xmas & Happy New Year @mechanicjon @Speedytech7 @Speed Freek @SanClemTaco @Nicklovin @Blackdawg - have a safe and good time with your loved ones this year!

 

You too bud
We gotta get out and wheel soon, I got my suspension on

 

Ditto buddy

 

Thank you, already having a great one! Hope your is great as well.

 

Where have you taken it so far? I'm 8 months from having this thing wheelable but I'm in no hurry - if it comes out the way I'm planning it'll be worth the wait!

 

Yeah, I'm gonna need you to cut that down to 2 months so AZ wheeling can be a thing this season, great thanks!

 

Got another good 8ish hour day in. Finished installing the headers - at least until I bring it to the exhaust shop and see what he thinks about my work!

Installed a new coolant temperature sensor, some more water hoses, and unmasked the trans.

Hood on, engine in, for the first time in four months!




Here's an "in the works" list:

* Finish plumbing in radiator / mixing valve hoses
* Hook up wiring harness
* Re-seal valve covers / install PCV valve
* Re-install timing cover
* Re-install spark plug wires
* Connect intake manifold / throttle body
* Hook up vacuum / fuel / evap lines & reinstall charcoal canister
* Re-install airbox
* Install throw out bearing
* Reconnect transmission
* Hook up starter
* Install / reconnect alt, ps steering pump, AC compressor & belts
* Bleed coolant
* Reconnect rear driveshaft
* Re-install steering rack

Then the truck will be good to sit some more while it waits for suspension mods

@Speedytech7 If I had another couple weeks of vacation I could make it run. This looks like it'll take until April considering my work and school schedule and even then I don't feel like driving it. It's 2wd open right now just like my regular cab - time and patience will have that turn around into 4x4 locked front and rear with all new suspension - then I'll make that trip out to Pheonix again and it will be great

 

Got some stuff taken care of today. One more day of vacation before I head back to visit my folks. Here's what got crossed off the list:

* Finish plumbing in radiator / mixing valve hoses
* Hook up wiring harness - 2/3 finished
* Re-seal valve covers / install PCV valve
* Re-install timing cover
* Re-install spark plug wires
* Connect intake manifold / throttle body
* Hook up vacuum / fuel / evap lines & reinstall charcoal canister
* Re-install airbox
* Install throw out bearing
* Reconnect transmission
* Hook up starter
* Install / reconnect alt, ps steering pump, AC compressor & belts
* Bleed coolant
* Reconnect rear driveshaft
* Re-install steering rack

More than I thought I'd get accomplished. Good day.

Painted valve covers looking clean:



Coming along - maybe one more big day and the engine will be put back together enough to see if it runs.

 

Just a quick run to holy Jim, felt pretty good. At low speeds the rear bucks but when you get going it's getting close to the dream haha. In a few weeks I'm going camping in Ocotillo, hoping to go elsewhere before then.
Truck is looking good & moving along . Got me jealous of LT over here haha

 

Yeah doing the front first teases you - I experienced the same thing with my 2nd gen when I had the baja kits front setup installed - what are your plans for the rear?

 

To be honest the rear I would love to hold out until I get a good deal on some lt level stuff. Why spend a few hundred on something less when I know I want lt in the long run.... Of course buying something already built is cheaper but you know... temptation... hey check that pm for me....