20 year rebuild

[V8FJ4078]

Power steering box - glass beaded and rebuilt

Rear Bumper fitted up with hitch receiver, trailer plug and the newly received bumperettes. (thanks!)

 

[V8FJ4078]

Next up while waiting to paint the frame and axles.
I decided to make a tailgate to replace the aluminum plate currently serving as the tailgate out of some rusty doors I found in the junkyard 20 years ago.
There are enough good corners to shape the fit on the inside and will make longer pieces to fit in between to go the whole width.

 

[V8FJ4078]

Last weekend - Worked on getting fitted and tacked together

This weekend - tearing motor down to put TPI on and a new cam (due to 3rd lobe up from hand worn off, had replaced lifter previously) and found this after finding aluminum pieces in the oil pan...

Looks like a rebuild, bearings are rough from the lobe wear.

 

[shmukster]

Wow what the heck bent that rod so bad? How did the engine sound while running with that rod in there? Any odd noises?

 

[V8FJ4078]

The only thing that can bend it is water in the cylinder. It didn't run good on my last run out, but it didn't run good for a while because of the cam and the valves not opening all the way. The first thought was the frog hole, but it ran fine and certainly couldn't have lasted that long. They cleanness of the cylinder says it must be recent. I had been pulling trees down and out with the winch around the house and yard last summer/fall. Dropping engine off this morning at machine shop, so he wants to look at head gasket, the bolts didn't crack when loosening that corner like they did all across the other side on the head. Maybe it leaked in? Not that many miles on the engine, but with all that cam lobe metal traveling around, the crank bearings are worn too.

 

[V8FJ4078]

A few new updates
Working on welding up the tailgate as I have time and cleaning it up. Ready to paint the inside prior to closing it up tight.

Using an older grill so cutting in the newer light buckets and filling holes.

 

[V8FJ4078]

Rebuilding the motor and adding TPI

 

[V8FJ4078]

Painted the frame (Again) after my last paint wrinkled after curing for several days. Bought a new paint gun with 24" extension that sprays 360 degrees and I was able to get inside the entire frame better than ever before! Turned out even better than the first time.

 

[V8FJ4078]

 

[V8FJ4078]

Stripping off paint and undercoat on fiberglass tub.

Re-glassed a light layer and sealed. New body mounts replace the rusted ones.

Heater fan/duct holes closed to get ready for AC unit inside.

Been working on lots of prep to replace brackets and stainless fasteners to hold nuts for under the tub to mount seats and rollbar.
Powder coated seat brackets. Have to get rear bumper test fitted with body prior to powder coating.
Now onto prepping the body for paint - awaiting AC unit to mount and test fit prior to painting.

 

[shmukster]

I hope your neighbor doesn't complain about all that work going on at your place!!!!

 

[V8FJ4078]

That's funny Gary!

 

[V8FJ4078]

Test Fitting the bumper with the body for spacing and fit.

Test Fitting Front fenders, apron, grill and hood. Adding steel panels

 

[V8FJ4078]

Fitting and test fitting brackets, hoses, fittings and Tuned Port Injection

 

[V8FJ4078]

A few more fitting the front end body panels.

 

[V8FJ4078]

Spark Plug Wire Looms

Brake lines all run on the axles & frame.

 

[Yellow Jacket]

(Whistles). That engine is looking good!

 

[shmukster]

Make sure you stay out of the frog hole when it's back on the road!!!!!

 

[V8FJ4078]

Hopefully the engine runs as good as it looks!
Gary -hahaha! we just had that conversation when Dad was down to help line up the panels with me yesterday!
Frog Hole certainly helped collect all the junk in the frame as well as that long deep hole that collected water and mud inside the body when the side vents were open! Repeated moisture on the floor caused the roll bar pads and lower 4 inches of the roll cage to rust through too up front on the floor. Replacing those pieces currently too.

Found the pic of the long hole!

 

[shmukster]

That was on one of the pig runs!!! I remember the water draining out of tour truck when you opened the doors after driving through that mess!!!!!