Chop, Cut, Rebuild: DB_1's Ranger...again

Ok kiddies, time for my bi-annual rebuild thread:
This time I won't be messing with the suspension...well, maybe the coilovers.
I may need new coils so I don't have so much uptravel but I'll deal with that much later.

Since i'm barely working progress will be slow since I'll need a few parts and whatnot to get my rig functional again. Main things I need to purchase are new leaf springs. They are totally shot and to have them rebuilt I can buy a new set of Toy springs which i'm gonna try out.

In the mean time, i've been removing stuff that either is damaged and won't be used again or just removing to get it out of the way while I work on stuff.

Here's my list so far:

Front bumper tubework: This will get reworked to accommodate the winch.
Front fenders: Thrashed beyond repair
Rocksliders: Been wanting to build new ones anyways so good as time as any to cut them off.
Rocker panels: Want to get the sliders up higher so they had to go.
Bed: Also trashed beyond repair, tubework will go in it's place
Gutted supercab area: Needed to remove for roof repair but may leave it that way and spray it with undercoating.

That's what i've done so far to the rig and I got my winch mounted today as well. I bought this winch early last summer before the roll and it's a SuperWinch Rock 9.5 short drum with synthetic rope.
I was pondering how i'd fit the grill back on since it sits behind it but i'd still need to access the freespool lever. My plan is to have it on hinges so I can flip it up, i'll just need a way to lock it in place at the bottom...maybe with Dzus fastners.

So on with the pics, i'll start with some before pics of the roof caved in and then with some of the roof almost where I want it. Still needs work obviously.
Other pics show the rockers cut and some general shots of the truck in its current condition. Last set of shots is of the winch install and grill mock up.

 

[IZwack]

Thank you sir, anything new happening with your build?

Nope - it's gotten more.. dusty <- is that progress?

 

[Rick]

Looking great Dave

FYI, I used Scotchbrite pads to give the aluminum on my Dart the brushed aluminum look. Just have to work back and forth evenly to make it look right.

 

[DB_1]

Oh well IZ, hopefully you'll get inspired and get back on it sometime

Thanks Rick, as much as I liked the look of the raw/brushed aluminum it's kinda too nice looking on my truck:
I also would've liked to have a bead roller to stiffen up the panels but I can't justify the cost vs. the amount of use it would get.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

I'm designing a bed alot like yours for my Sport Trac, I'll start building it after I so my SAS, SOA this fall/winter. Are you going to put truck mud laps on it for road use?

 

[BKennedy]

That looks very nice. One of the best bed's I have seen.
You need a light for your rear license plate, must be visible from 50' at night (CVC24601).
Like this;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Trailer-Bum...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d01b8ce2a&vxp=mtr
Or this;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CHROME-...DefaultDomain_100&hash=item460937c588&vxp=mtr

 

[DB_1]

I made some quick release mudflaps, I just took them off for pics. I'd like to make some kind of holders for them in the bed since I am currently stuffing them behind my seat when I go wheelin'.

You can see the peg where they mount on the frame in the 4th pic down that I posted today.

 

[DB_1]

That looks very nice. One of the best bed's I have seen.
You need a light for your rear license plate, must be visible from 50' at night (CVC5200).

Thanks Brian...the top bolts in the licence plate have LED's in them, hopefully they are legal? If not I can rig up the OEM lights that were in the stock bumper.

 

[toypaseo]

If you opt to use aluminum in the future, try using a red 3M pad (mentioned it looks like an SOS pad) for a brushed aluminum look. In the March '13 issue of Modified Magazine, they used that on a custom radiator overflow tank.

 

[Stic-o]

Looks good. No more rubbing on the body for the cage now? Ever resolve the Drive shaft rubbing?

 

[BKennedy]

Thanks Brian...the top bolts in the licence plate have LED's in them, hopefully they are legal? If not I can rig up the OEM lights that were in the stock bumper.

I saw those on ebay also. They are probably not legal because they do not have a DOT inspection number on them. They have to emit a specific amount of light. The good news is no one who is in the position to do anything about it knows they are not legal. And, if they did, they would not care.
Now, if they were on a lowered Honda with exhaust that sounds like a Vuvuzela, then someone would care.

 

[DB_1]

If you opt to use aluminum in the future, try using a red 3M pad (mentioned it looks like an SOS pad) for a brushed aluminum look. In the March '13 issue of Modified Magazine, they used that on a custom radiator overflow tank.

I tried that actually and a green pad as well but I didn't spend a lot of time on it. I have plenty of scrap to practice on, i'd like to try it on future projects.

Looks good. No more rubbing on the body for the cage now? Ever resolve the Drive shaft rubbing?

Thanks Steve, the sound was more of a scraping sound along with some banging and for now it's gone. I do get some banging against the A-pillar tubes though but it's tolerable. I have a urethane body mount kit i'll install if I don't go the solid body mount route in hopes it will lessen the body movement.

Not sure on the driveshaft just yet but I didn't hear anything on what I ran through at T-haven. I did put a leaf back in that I had taken out when I originally installed these leafs so I think that did the trick.

 

[DB_1]

So I just got chosen to go on a Devil's Canyon trail ride this weekend
I took a shot at requesting a spot a week or so ago in hopes enough people would drop out and sure enough it happened.

Been wanting to go on this trail for the longest time but the only way you can run it is by permit through the BLM plus you need to have an EMT riding along. The TDS off road club is doing this run and get first dibbs on a spot for the run. The rest is first come first serve with 15 total spots available.

I started replacing the body mount bushings yesterday with polyurethane bushing mounts so need to get that finished and need to get some tie down hooks mounted in the bed area to hold a small action packer.

I'll be sure to get pics and vids, they say last year it took all day to run the trail.

 

[Blue91Ex]

for the scraping and what not, why not either wrap the less irritable areas in a few layers of electrical tape so they wont scrape and for the more rattl-ey areas use rubber or something either on teh tubes or attached to the cab where they hit using some adhesive tape or something? might work for a temporary fix.

 

[BKennedy]

So I just got chosen to go on a Devil's Canyon trail ride this weekend
I took a shot at requesting a spot a week or so ago in hopes enough people would drop out and sure enough it happened.

Been wanting to go on this trial for the longest time but the only way you can run it is by permit through the BLM plus you need to have an EMT riding along. The TDS off road club is doing this run and get first dibbs on a spot for the run. The rest is first come first serve with 15 spots available.

I started replacing the body mounts yesterday with polyurethane mounts so need to get that finished and need to get some tie down hooks mounted in the bed area to hold a small action packer.

I'll be sure to get pics and vids, they say last year it took all day to run the trail.

Cool.

 

[DB_1]

for the scraping and what not, why not either wrap the less irritable areas in a few layers of electrical tape so they wont scrape and for the more rattl-ey areas use rubber or something either on the tubes or attached to the cab where they hit using some adhesive tape or something? might work for a temporary fix.

Too late, already cut out the tubes and welded up the holes in the cab. Still deciding one either solid mounting the cab or using urethane bushings where the tubes enter the cab. Not in a hurry to get that done plus i've got bunch of other mods to take care of.

 

[turboexplorer]

So I just got chosen to go on a Devil's Canyon trail ride this weekend

Been wanting to go on this trial for the longest time but the only way you can run it is by permit through the BLM plus you need to have an EMT riding along. The TDS off road club is doing this run and get first dibbs on a spot for the run. The rest is first come first serve with 15 spots available.

I'll be sure to get pics and vids, they say last year it took all day to run the trail.

Super cool. I'm excited to see the pics and vids.

 

[RockRanger]

I have wanted to do that trail sense I first heard about it. Have fun.

 

[BKennedy]

Is this the trail that is about 80 miles east of San Diego off Interstate 8?

I guess I should keep my EMT card after I retire, since I could stand at the trail head with my EMT card and bag with my thumb out.

 

[DB_1]

Is this the trail that is about 80 miles east of San Diego off Interstate 8?

I guess I should keep my EMT card after I retire, since I could stand at the trail head with my EMT card and bag with my thumb out.

Pretty sure that's the one, I think there's quite a history with that trail long before it became an off road trail. You can put in your name for next months run, looks like they're full but might get lucky like me and enough people will drop out.

 

[BKennedy]

Maybe after the front suspension update.....