SilverGhost Rises

It’s coming together. I did run into a slight fitting issue with my original hood. Right at the outer corners of the cage. I might have to trim a little bit off of the tube ( the yellow section) but I won’t know for sure until the new hood gets here. It will be very small amount and then I’ll cap the end off at an angle. Nothing like building an engine cage. Very interesting experience.

 

FYI I'd ditch the champion radiator. I don't think any of them last. Some a bit more than others but all died.

Check out the koyo 4runner radiator if you want an all aluminum one.

 

We’ll see. I still have my stock one just in case. This one been holding up for the time it’s been in the truck.

 

Putting this here's I'm debating aluminum sheet or ABS.

 

The truck has been sitting in the garage way to long.......A few weeks ago I strained my lower right side of my back. I was on my knees hammering rebar into concrete at work and I was over reaching on my swing and pulled it. Shit happenes. Hopefully I'll be back at getting this damn thing done soon. I was in the middle of cutting aluminum plate for bed cage panels and enclosing the bed. My new one piece hood did show up and I had it line-x sprayed. Doesn't feel so flimsy now. Once I'm healed......

Rear end

• I'll finish the bed panels and paint them.
• Make a mount for my charcoal canister.
• Make sure all fuel lines are protected and routed correctly.
• Build tool boxes in the bed cage.
• Make a tow hitch mount and hitch hook up.
• Set pinion angle.
• Hook up the Arb locker.
• Run new rear brake lines.
• Cycle the rear again and check my drive shaft to see if it's going to work or if I need to get a new one.
• Set up chase light in the rear.
• Build a tent mount to the cage.
• Set up my rear camera.
• Run all wires and make mounts for ties.
• Make brakets for my tire carrier straps.
• Build mounts for rotopacs and pro eagle floor jack.
• Pull vinyl off and fix gel coat on my bed sides.
• Install my new anntena on the rear and possibly add extention.
• Make mounts for Maxtrax.
• Strip everything off the bed cage, check all welds and clean off the tube for paint.
• Add another exhaust mount under the fuel cell mount.
• Add a sway bar

Front end

• Build framing for the new hood
• Build mount for Arb compressor
• Figure out air intake, considering running it to the windshield wiper cowl
• Build new grill and headlight mounts. I'm looking forward to installing these new retro fit headlights with toyota etching on the projector.
• Add wheel well liners and brackets, not sure if I'm goint with aluminum or some kind of flexable material.
• Add light bar to bumper and enclose top of bumper and add more support for heavy pulling on the bumper.
• Strip the front end to check, clean and paint all metal work done.
• Get a new battery because I dropped my new battery and f'd it up.

The cab

• Strip the cab
• Clean up wiring
• Install Switch pro
• Check out and fix power windows. For some reason they stopped working
• Replace my new vinyl floor with another new vinyl floor. This time I'll cut it correctly .
• Install a new cb. Taking recommendations on a CB with a reasonable price. I dont want a huge bulky one but I'll need one with a speaker because my hearing sucks.
• Make a mount for sub.
• Button up all the interior panels vinyl.
• Figure out some kind cernter console.
• Make a mount for an Ipad to run a navigation system on. Doesn't necessarily need to be an Ipad. Just some kind of Navigation system.
• Build new custom sliders to work with the links.
• Add a roof rack. I don't know if I'm going to build one or buy one.

Once all this is done then I guess I'll be pretty much done. Unless something else comes up. But I'm ready to just call it done after this. I realize this project is one hell of a project. Life takes turns and if you get burnt out you'll probably won't finish it. I'm the kind of guy that once I get started with something I have to see it through. This ended up more of a list for myself to remember the things I need to do. See ya around.

 

How come we get picture of all the screwed up hoods but none of the right one?

 

Because I only got one horrible picture of it and then deleted it. So I don't have any now. It looks like the old one just fits way better.

 

Listen bub. You might have a bad back and all, but I know you have kids.
Just get one of them to take a selfie in front of it or something

 

Why don't you send one of your kids over and do it? Atleast one of them must have a driver's license by now.

 

Here! You happy now! In the middle of pulling the tape off the edges and trimming the over spray.

 

Oh I guess I still have some photos. Before I line-x the hood. Most of the panels are cut. I have two more panels for the top of the bed I have to trim. Also need to weld tabs and drill holes through the panels.

 

This is where I left off. I have two choices of bolts to use for the panels. I have a hex head or a philip head bolt. The cheap dimple die I got off Amazon works great but the angle is all wrong for the hex head bolts. They won’t sit flush in the taper of the hole. So I’m just going with the philip head bolt even though it’s not flush to the panel. It still seats better. These little things is what takes so much time to do.

 

I just love that the hood is in the dining room or something . Barb must be thrilled.
Thanks for the picture.
Here's one of a puppy trying to eat a cat.

 

you never disappoint. Well no one wants to pull tape with frozen fingers. Plus my aluminum plate takes up most of the garage. No room for the hood right now. Barb is cool with it as long as I keep cleaning off and warming up her car when it snows. She’s fine. Part of the deal.

 

So after a 5-6 weeks of not doing anything on the truck. I tackled the charcoal canister mount last night after I got off work. I figure I try and keep it simple and use what I had. I used the stainless steel flat head bolts I was going to use for the panels and they fucked me. They didn't like the heat one bit. It was a struggle trying to get the nuts off after I welded them. One completely broke off and one was stripped so bad I had to cut it shorter. At least I can still salvage what I could and still be able to use this mount. Looks like shit but all of this will be covered with panels so I'm ok with it as long as the charcoal canister can stay in place.

 

So I removed the axle and links to finish up a few minor things and paint.

 

Also looking forward to getting a set of these. For 4x4 it’s looks to be a real tight fit but would work. I’m willing to give it a try.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CL2_rm4nkc9/?igshid=1r0a3cpbsh32n

 

Interesting...

 

ha that like the 3rd person I've seen making those now.

Edit: scratch that, 2nd. That's the same dude I've seen.

Curious if it'll work!

 

I saw those and really wonder if you are just moving the weak link to the single bolt.