'85 mini truck for trail use only

[zucruisers]

i have a steering shaft that should work for ya, you gonna be around tomorrow?

 

[Wayneraintree]

PM'ed ya : )

 

[zucruisers]

updates?...i know you've made some progress

 

[Wayneraintree]

Well, updates are as follows:

Locked right 3rd installed up front
Got the pass side longfield and chromo hub gear installed
Got the pass side completely reassembled

Since I found a broken birf on the driver side, I cleaned it up enough to see booger'ed metal around the seal seating surface. This is a good reason not to drive far engaged with a broken birf
John and Dom came over and cleaned up the surface with my dremel tool, seal is now seated thanks guys

I would be out in the garage reassembling the driver side of the front axle but the 40MPH winds and dropping temps coupled with an open garage door have me here, web wheeling

I should be able to get the side reassembled, mock up the steering and place the IFS box this week. I am looking forward to getting on with this project.

I also scored two 8 gal. propane tanks. Amerigas in white deer, PA reconditioned two steel tanks, new valves, paint, and filled them. 50$ for the tanks, 40$ for the fill Can't beat that... now I need lines and to install the propane set up on the V8.

I am thinking this thing will scream

John is making room in the shop......

and Sean S. gave me an IFS hub and my rear chevy's back to install.

Going rear springs up front so if someone has some stock minitruck rear leaves sitting around... let John or I know.

I am going to set a goal to have this thing running and operable by the end of January provided the tubework can be completed based on John's availability.

Oh yeah, Dom was nice enough to take a t-case and my 4.7 gears and install kit to school this week..... should be able to bolt it up sometime soon for some crawl!

 

[Wayneraintree]

Updates...

Got started on the IFS steering box install with the Marlins mount kit. Thanks to John for the help with the placement.

Pulled the front antisway bar and got the tierod and draglink installed to mock it up..

I got the holes drilled for the mounting plates, all I need to do is some grinding and welding and I should be able to finish it up soon

The core support only needed to be clearanced a bit to move the box pretty far forward, clearance on the frame, etc looked good!

oh yeah, Dom has my transfer case with the 4.7 gears installed coming tomorrow this is coming along nicely!

 

[Wayneraintree]

The mini made its way to John's for tubework, thanks for picking it up John! I may take a pic or two today since I am headed over there and it is on all 4 tires. The steering turned out nice!

 

[Straydog]

Try to hold still for the next pics. Last ones look like you're going through withdrawl.

 

[zucruisers]

Try to hold still for the next pics. Last ones look like you're going through withdrawl.

the next pics taken will be from my camera;p...and i sent those spring hanger brackets home with jeff today so he can grind the welds off of them

tube work will start very soon, the samurai will be out of the shop tomorrow, and the minitruck will go in, but i want to finish sean's bumper before i start on the mini

 

[Wayneraintree]

allright, post some pics already!!!!

 

[lowtideride]

signing in!!!

 

[Wayneraintree]

Welcome Alex! Sorry I was out of town when you were in

One more pic on all fours cause I like it

 

[Wayneraintree]

anyone have any feedback on the lines proposed to cut these into half doors? I've looked at the Pirate and other's threads on half doors but am just wondering what ya'll think.

I am going to keep the window frame and make canvas snap-on covers for the openings in case of really incliment weather

I am wondering about how much I plan to take out.... is it too much? I want it to be light and increase visibility, so the tape marked cuts provide that, I do plan to weld in one brace (or armrest) support horizontal along the high part of the cut).

Feedback?

 

[jtaco1]

I would change the lines to something like this and just go ahead and move the handle.

I will be doing this as well to a set of mine eventually, or make a set of tube doors.

 

[Wayneraintree]

why would ya move the handle if you don't have to? just wondering since it appears that the lines I have are walk though, handle not moved, and good visibility.. maybe lack in style points but... benefits of the angle?

 

[zucruisers]

jeff i dont think cutting down into where the red paint on your doors is going to help much with visibility, otherwise it looks fine to me;p

 

[Wayneraintree]

yeah, I was thinkin to raise it up to where the one on the 2nd pic from POR JT posted is cut but leave the handle where it is with the slight angle to accomodate it. I think cap'ed with sheetmetal and a cup holder in each will work fine : )

 

[zucruisers]

im trying to find my camera

shocks/lift springs, and rear axle are out, ifs rear axle is cleaned and painted, 63" chevy springs are bolted to the axle w/ rear ubolts and plates i saved from the fj60 i just scrapped

spring frame hangers are tacked into place and axle is positioned, hoping to have it back on 4 wheels tonight, i need to weld the rear diff and get it back in the housing

 

[Wayneraintree]

I can't say how much I appreciate the work John is doing, he is really this part of the build

I would recommend his work to anyone, it is multiple times cleaner than mine

I have been able to supplement the work and hopefully I can do the bitch work on the tubes and maybe learn something in the process

 

[lowtideride]

Where are the pics guys?

 

[zucruisers]

Where are the pics guys?

i found my camera and charged the batteries, i'll take some pics tonight and load them either late tonight or tomorrow...not much to look at yet, just some chevy springs and an axle;p