Build 68 Kaiser Jeep Gladiator

[Gumby]

Got the front bumper tucked in a couple more inches.

Air intake pipe re-routed under the radiator hose required moving the fan so it got a shroud and a real mount. The silverado airbox will fit with some further inner fender work.

GPS speedo is great, but it won't read the OBDII because the PCM isn't new enough. It wants to see 08+ CAN. Im using HP Tuners to keep an eye on vitals.

Didn't like the aluminum radiator showing through the grille so I painted it black. I'll get the rest of the rad when I need to pull it next. I had plenty of that with the shroud fab. Keep it running and work on details later is the theme of this build.

Vent rubber finally all in

 

[Gumby]

Went looking for a truck bed toolbox on the Faceballs that would at least be period correct. I didnt want plastic. I found a couple steel ones from the 80s, and another one that was close, a good enough fit, good price and pretty cool for a farm truck. The couple selling it had a bunch of model Ts and As.

Transfer shifter from a 98 silverado fit, looks good and has the right throw for the 241c. Needs a different knob. I went back to a black ball on the trans too. The grenade was too pokey and this shifter has push down lockout.

Installed NOS. I poured that nasty s*** on the ground where I didn't want anything to grow. Can makes a good overflow. 3D printed a bracket.
I tried molding the overflow hose with boiling water and ice water. Didn't really work, but the process has potential.

 

[Gumby]

Got rid of the cone filter and cleaned up the air pipe.

Cut the cats out. They were rubbing on the spring shackles, one was busted up inside and rattling, and it let me move the crossover pipe into a much nicer position.

Radiator cap hits right on the hood support brace. Closing the hood all the way until the latches on both side of the hood engage results in the cap getting pushed down and not venting into the overflow. Until you pop the hood and then it vents everywhere. Best plan is to lower the rad an inch. It's not the easiest plan, but it's the right one.

Disassembled, dissected and re-shaped the old spare B-pillar and welded in a patch for the collision damage. I haven't finished it, just welded in. I did finish the bed seam i had to cut back apart and the fuel filler relocation.

I got distracted a couple of days. The spouse was in an accident that will total her RX, so she got a new Crown Signia. While we were doing that I traded the Tundra in for a Taco. Canadians have us pretty smoked out.

 

[Gumby]

I maybe have enough vehicles. Lincoln didn't make the picture again this year.

 

[bobm]

Nah ya need more . Couple more doggies too

 

[Gumby]

Been driving the truck a bit. Still needs lots of little things.

Manifold pressure at idle is high. Long term fuel trim is maxxed out. Smoke machine found leaks at the injectors. Swapped those out. Vacuum got up to 13 in/hg from 8. Still leaking, but better.

Cleaned the windsheld well for the first time. Had to scrub the glass with 0000 steel wool and some razor blade action to get the old stickers off. Tried out a glass polishing kit. Worked well, but this glass is too trashed. Deep scratches from the stainless wiper frames and from clearing snow with a dirty broom or shovel. Got a lot of little stuff and Im confident enough to try on the Benz.

Wanders a bit. Like caster is off. I should get it aligned. they wont be able to adjust the caster on a live axle, but can tell me if i needs shims.

Installed seat belts. The 81 cab had shoulder belt mounts, so it got that. Crashing probability seems high and the steel dash looks hard.

Embraced the rubber ducks with a tribute to the OG Rubber Duck, Kris Kristofferson.

All in all, it's a runner. Been to the scrap yard and the ice cream store. Certified good enough.

 

[Gumby]

Flushed the power steering. It was mostly chocolate milk. Whining from the pump is gone.
Adjusted the gear pre-load on the Saginaw gear. Still wanders, but now it's not moving the wheel through 4" of free play before you can correct.
Installed new door seals.
Printed new isolators for the horn and bought some new #6 machine screws to hold the ring down.

Looks like I might have a sticking oil pressure relief valve. Not an uncommon thing on high mileage LS. I gave her the beans getting on a busy road, then the oil pressure dropped and it got very noisy in the valves. Checked oil and it was good. Re- start pressure was fine. I'll flush the oil with some ATF or something. Glad i put in the gauge.

Got a new Fel-pro metal intake gasket. Hopefully, that helps the high intake pressure.

Made some block off plates for the firewall. It is hot and noisy in the cab. Gotta get it sealed up.

It is an interactive driving experience. The polar opposite of the new Taco.

 

[Gumby]

Got rained on. Apparently, in Toledo, the passenger wiper is not level with the glass. The proper placement can be judged by the scratched windsheild. Per the FSM.

Swapped in the new intake gaskets despite a good smoke test. Still not great vacuum. The intake is not a common problem on these, but this one sat in the sun for a while. Didn't really explain the maxxed out long term fuel trim, especially, as it wouldn't go away at 2500 rpm.

Finally got a misfire counter to work. 5 and 8 were both dead. The fuel trim suggests injector issues. Both coils would spark well. Peizo tool heard the injector clicking on 5, but not at all on 8. Noid light showed both drivers were working. I had one multec injector that tested good in my stash. Finally tossed all the injectors that were bad. Put it in number 8 and the miss went away. Fuel trim on bank 2 went to 18%
People want all the money for a set of injectors on faceballs, but used intakes are cheap, and often come with a fuel rail. 1st guy flaked bigly. While waiting for his dumb ass, I cleaned the clicking injector from #5. By the next day I had one injector hole clear, but still had a bad misfire. Still no word from the guy the next town south. Guy about a hour away had one and it was a great day for a convertible drive, so i went down and visited with a nice dude with a very clean lowered c10 with a 5.3l.
Swapped in the best flowing of the first batch out of the cleaner. No misfire. Fuel trims above idle zero right out.
Still too high fuel trims at idle and not enough vacuum. Might swap in my new intake. It came free with my $20 set of oem injectors. Delco wants $100 for new. Each. Xi wants $60 for a set, but not great chances 8 will work. Like Toyota, it's a better chance a used OEM one will work better than most available new.
Took it to fill Jerry cans today. Great truck for that kind of stuff. It rips now. Starts like an LS. Idles smooth. Great sound. LS swap the world!