Front end work

[CopyKat]

The old "I didn't want to do anything without your consent" line keeps getting tossed around, plus the old "we keep adding to the original design"

That's why I do my own work. Since I built the truck it has never ever been in any service garage other than my garage at home. I intend to keep it that way.

 

[CopyKat]

That's why I do my own work. Since I built the truck it has never ever been in any service garage other than my garage at home. I intend to keep it that way.

Sorry I take that back, it did go in for an immobilizer install. It was a mandatory thing the insurance company forced upon us. And of all things they hacked into the wireing. After I went through every wire before installing it on the truck.

Keep up the good work RJ

My axle is going in this weekend. Going to pull the current axle tonight and test fit the new beams.

 

[Paul B.]

Haha, Paul I didn't want to offend anyone, and about a year ago my job kept me tied up about 65 hours a week so there was essentially no explorer forum for me. But when I came back, well, about 3-4 of the guys I wheel with had rolled their rigs and plenty of other things changed. I had a feeling this project was going on for over a year, but I know it can be a sore subject when you talk about long term builds. FYI, my truck went into the shop the first week in Dec. At that time I was told it would probably be ready for the truckhaven run on MLK day, it's still in there. The old "I didn't want to do anything without your consent" line keeps getting tossed around, plus the old "we keep adding to the original design" and from what I've seen on your truck, I can imagine that there is plenty of mid-play audibles being called by the quarterback. Your truck is going to be a gem when it's done, just over build that thing to so it never has to be retired. I'm putting so much extra tubework into my truck and tying it in to so many places on the body that even if I rolled it down an embankment 5-6 times I could take a sawzall, trim along the floor outside of the cage and weld a new body on there.

Danny, I know what you mean about a long term project, and since I have done rebuild's 3 times before in the past with a lot of flax coming from the builder and getting really impatient with the process. But this time around being no.4 rebuild is a whole new ball game. Since the truck is 18 year's old now and I have age also, I have a lot more patiences now then I did back then, and I have been blessed with one heck of a builder now and I have not once ask the question "When is this truck going to be finish"! It will be finish when he's ready!!

Sorry, RJ for stealing your post. By the way I got your PM message about the leaf spring's but forgot to ask Winter about it. I will see him tommorrow and ask him then.

 

[R.J.]

how long ago did i send that message about leaf springs? at the time i needed springs, but im all good on leaf springs. but thanks for the thought

cutting, clamping, taking, hammering, tacking, then hammering some more is getting old. i've been putting to much work into these beams

 

[IZwack]

cutting, clamping, taking, hammering, tacking, then hammering some more is getting old. i've been putting to much work into these beams

I know in the middle of a project it can be disheartening to see very little progress but just keep pushing, you'll finish!

 

[R.J.]

eventually i'll finish, but the beams i htought i'd have finished last week, then three other days of working on them, each day thinking they're gonna be done that day (kinda like today and yesterday)

computer's goin slow for me

 

[IZwack]

Most of us are on the same boat as you -- my tube bender is still not yet bending .
Projects almost always run over-time, so its normal :biggthump.

 

[R.J.]

yeah i know, im just physicly tired of working on it, and my dead line is coming up fast

 

[mounty71]

At least tomorrow will be a little bit different

 

[R.J.]

yup. big project tomorrow

well they're not done, but here's what we have so far

also plated the axle pivot bracket

 

[IZwack]

Awesome! Is it time for some paint!?!
Great welds BTW

 

[RockRanger]

Looking really good there RJ

 

[Maniak]

Awesome! Is it time for some paint!?!
Great welds BTW

Paint? Jtsmith can powder coat it for ya.. (not sure if the beams fit in his oven though).

~Mark

 

[CopyKat]

cutting, clamping, taking, hammering, tacking, then hammering some more is getting old. i've been putting to much work into these beams

But they are gonna be bad ass when done. At one point I said screw it and I was just going to truss the drive beam, but then I got second wind and went all out.



Keep it up. There are quite a few guys watching this build. I'd hate to see ya dump it, cuz you feel it's taking too long.

I'll keep posting pictures of mine. BTW I test fit the beams and I'm waiting for the paint to dry on the rad arms.

 

[R.J.]

im getting the feeling that some of you think i want to give up on this? no no no my friends, i just wrote that right after cutting and tacking and getting things just into place yesterday. its taking longer than i had hoped but that just makes me want to work harder

i thought about getting them powder coated cause i think i could get them done for about $30 each, but if im just goin flat black, why not just spray it?

 

[CopyKat]

im getting the feeling that some of you think i want to give up on this? no no no my friends, i just wrote that right after cutting and tacking and getting things just into place yesterday. its taking longer than i had hoped but that just makes me want to work harder

I just mentioned it because alot of people get pipe dream ideas and start and don't finish because it was more than they could handle. Plating and trussing does take along time. It took me and a buddy 8H to do up my beams. Sure we bullshitted here and there but you need a break every now and then. I had 1 day to get these done. 70% of my plates were already cut, just had to weld them on. I know a couple of guys that can TIG, but it seemed that it would have been a week long process for that. MIG was so much quicker. Next set I may take more time to do.

Keep it up RJ........I'm subscribed!

 

[IZwack]

...why not just spray it?

especially since you live there in CA w/ little or no salt on the roads.

 

[R.J.]

all the plates were cut already?????? thats the part that takes forever!!!

beams still aren't done yet, but alot of good progress still

thanks for all the encouragement guys, no pipe dreams are half-assed attempts goin on here, we're into it pretty serious. oh, we found out that f-o-a is in las vegas, a frequent for jim

 

[CopyKat]

 

[R.J.]

well i haven't done any more work to them, and the pass side is at my friends shop so he can finish welding it. hold your horses, you guys know i don't slack with pics to much