Deeezy's Locked Sport Grocery Getter Build

Took the truck out for a quick fishing sesh.

 

I didn't like how far away the tire was to the back of the truck, so I shortened the spare tire mount on the swingout. I cut an inch out and I think it looks a lot better tucked closer. I also angled the top of the tire toward the truck a little more.

 

Felt like my clutch master cylinder was going to crap out, so I replaced it with new clutch TSB parts. The new TSB replaces the plastic master with a metal one, a slightly different pedal, and hose.

 

Some practice welding on scraps:

 

I want to add more "tubes" to the truck so I decided to get rid of the heavy Leer topper and replaced it with a Softtopper. There is a huge difference in weight.

 

3 degrees retarded cam gears installed. Had these installed for a while now and on top of gaining some power, I also gained about 1 mpg, now I get 14.8, up from 13.8. Depends how much stop and go driving I do, but the mpg hovers around 1 mpg. Must be from the power gained at the rpms when highway driving as the truck requires less gas pedal to cruise along. This is the only mod I ever added to the truck that I could actually "feel" a bump in power, except for the tune with the HP Tuner, maybe they are working together and the truck can utilize the bump in ignition timing now as the cam gears increases the knock threshold.

 

I deleted the clutch accumulator and replaced it with an OEM "elbow". It feels much smoother now and goes into gear a little better. I welded the elbow to a simple bracket made out of 3/16" flat stock so it could bolt to the existing holes where the accumulator used to be.



This is what got removed:



The bracket:



And finished:

 

I got a couple new tools and made a paperweight for the wifey:

Cheap fab table from Amazon (the only one that will ship through Prime to HI lol)




The new Milwaukee cordless right angle die grinder with 2" Roloc discs. It works awesome by the way:








And, the paperweight, made out of 3/16" steel:

 

Generic oil catch can installed. This one looks exactly like the expensive Mishimoto catch can, and is working good so far. I welded a bracket to it that utilizes the OEM holes on the fender.

 

A few pics from the headlight hoops I made. If all goes good, my exocage will intersect with them.

 

Well, I got started on the exo. It's going to take me a very, very, long time. No turning back now.

 

Made a little more of the exo.

 

And, a little more.....

 

I got half of the "x" brace done. I'm going to fab up the other upper half of the x and then cut the cage off to hoist it up and fully weld the cab, and then finish the X to the frame. The rear of my frame is boxed with 1/8" but I plated that with another 3/16" where the cage welds to.

 

Got the x brace almost done. I'll be cutting the cage off to fully weld the cab, and then finishing the x to the frame.

 

@deeezy where does this one go? I’ve got 2 of the five pieces for each side on the front mount and can’t figure out this last one. One on the far right.

 

I believe that is for the rear mount, but I didn't install it because it didn't fit up anywhere that I could see.

so I only have the front gussets on.

 

Haha, that’s what I figured but couldn’t get it to line up anywhere either!

 

Any help @dirt designs?

 

Got the last of the braces for the main cage hoop in. Built it so the cage goes through the velcro windows in the softtopper.