Builds 86 Xtra Cab Build (4Wheelunderground 3 link front, 4 link rear and 3.4 swap) (2 Viewers)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

@TLar25 , I usually put 4 in the bed. (camper shell of course) And two in the back seat that get anxious in the bed. But, this trip I took the back seat out. Left the slider open for those that felt crowded and wanted to move. They're a REALLY good pack.

IMG_20240611_122738251_HDR.jpg
 
Last edited:
@TLar25 , I usually put 4 in the bed. (camper shell of coarse) And two in the back seat that get anxious in the bed. But, this trip I took the back seat out. Left the slider open for those that felt crowded and wanted to move. They're a REALLY good pack.

View attachment 3654727
Very fun. They looked like they were having a blast.
 
They ARE having a blast! It's like taking your kids to Disneyland but these guys are never brats. 🤣 My wife and I are happy campers (glampers) right now.
 
Last edited:
I have been very busy but not so much on my truck. I haven't put the steering column in yet because I like the room I have to get the pedal bracket in and route cables through the firewall. I'm still waiting for my throttle cable. I bought 10 feet of heat sleeve and put it over the E-brake cable and speedometer cable where it passes close to the exhaust.

IMG_20240712_134131233_HDR.jpg


IMG_20240712_135418951.jpg


IMG_20240712_135406027.jpg
 
The throttle cable got here Saturday. Today is a pool party for my granddaughter's birthday but I have a little time.

When I originally did my 3.4 swap, I had the cable horizontal across the intake to clear the hood. It put a bad angle where the inner cable exited the sleeve and it had a lot of wear. I have to clearance the hood on this build so I cut the bracket shorter, cut a new slot and slightly changed the angle. Much better now.

IMG_20240713_192303168_HDR.jpg


IMG_20240713_192404901_HDR.jpg
 
I fit up the 88 steering column and ran into a problem with the phasing of the U-joints on the steering shaft. I originally mocked up with the 86 column. Fortunately all I had to do was reposition the steering wheel. I left it off for more room to work. Plus I need to make some repairs to the plastic clamshell cover.
 
Back to the dash. I gave every piece a bath in the driveway and wiped them down with Mother's vinyl and plastic cleaner. Kinda slow going as it's been a while since I took things apart.

I never got the tach to work properly with the 3.4 so I sold that dash cluster. I installed my 88 cluster. I noticed that a spider made a web around the needle of the temp gauge so I popped off the clear cover to clean it off. The entire housing is cracked in half and only the cover keeps it together. It's clean and it works so that's how it will stay. Starting to come together. The paint is a pretty good match to the 86 plastic too.

IMG_20240714_175959868.jpg


IMG_20240714_180141845.jpg
 
I still need to adjust the brake switch and clutch switch so I haven't put the lower plastic in place yet. I need to get some more brake fluid and bleed the systems first. Plus I need to figure out what these connectors are for. I think they were for the 22RE as I didn't mark them when I pulled it apart.

IMG_20240714_180025142_HDR.jpg
 
I always use telephone wire to mark things I disconnect. Like this one. I couldn't find anything to connect to it so I looked out at my 88. The other connector goes up to the dome light.

IMG_20240714_180047823.jpg
 
I like the blue colored plastic for the radio bezel off the 88 but it's a different shade of blue. Looks like I'll have to run the black one from the 86.

IMG_20240714_180322760_HDR.jpg


IMG_20240714_180330500_HDR.jpg
 
@gnob, Thanks I'll have to look into that. This clam shell is in fairly good condition. I used epoxy years ago on the screw "posts" inside since they were brittle and cracked apart. I'm going to reinforce them a bit more for now.
 
My column cover cleaned up and went on ok. I'll pick up the aftermarket one if it starts falling apart. More parts cleaning and installing most of the day. It's nice to be able to put the correct screws and clips in place. The dash pad is cracked but overall ok. I'm not spending $400 on a new one. I have a carpeted dash cover.

I have three steering wheels to choose from. I have the light blue one from the 88, a black version of it from the 86 2WD and the black one from this 86. I'm leaning towards the black 86 4X4 version. I need to see how well it cleans up.

I rounded up the best of the dash vents and started cleaning them up. They're in the dishwasher now. 😁

Hopefully I can finish up on the dash tomorrow.

Not sure if I'm going to install a stereo. I had a single DIN Pioneer unit but I never really used it. My shifter is too close to it and it was hard to see and access. I kinda like the double DIN touchscreen I have in my other truck. I have time to think about it. Maybe just a GMRS radio.

I want to make a mount for my ECM. I just had it stuck behind the kick panel before.

IMG_20240715_181225290.jpg


IMG_20240715_181324928.jpg


IMG_20240715_181049735.jpg
 
It’s looking good! How are you keeping the shop cool in the heat?
 
My column cover cleaned up and went on ok. I'll pick up the aftermarket one if it starts falling apart. More parts cleaning and installing most of the day. It's nice to be able to put the correct screws and clips in place. The dash pad is cracked but overall ok. I'm not spending $400 on a new one. I have a carpeted dash cover.

I have three steering wheels to choose from. I have the light blue one from the 88, a black version of it from the 86 2WD and the black one from this 86. I'm leaning towards the black 86 4X4 version. I need to see how well it cleans up.

I rounded up the best of the dash vents and started cleaning them up. They're in the dishwasher now. 😁

Hopefully I can finish up on the dash tomorrow.

Not sure if I'm going to install a stereo. I had a single DIN Pioneer unit but I never really used it. My shifter is too close to it and it was hard to see and access. I kinda like the double DIN touchscreen I have in my other truck. I have time to think about it. Maybe just a GMRS radio.

I want to make a mount for my ECM. I just had it stuck behind the kick panel before.

View attachment 3678539

View attachment 3678540

View attachment 3678541
i run a Bluetooth dongle for a stereo . it is hooked directly to the amp. my ham lives in that dash hole
 
I have one of the Jenson tractor radios suggested in a 60's thread. I liked the argument that a stereo intended for a tractor was perfectly appropriate for a 4WD. If you just want to stream off a fone I'd also do something like this: fastRADIO Plug & Play 99.99 HD radio - https://www.heavydutyradios.com/hdr_products_page_4.html Poke around that page for other tractor /HD use oriented stereos.

All of my 2M's are 70+W TX, so putting them inside the dash doesn't seem like a good idea from a cooling perspective. A GMRS won't have that much TX power, so it could be OK there. If 2M use is a possibility I'd look at a dual band radio and program in the GMRS freqs that you're likely to use.

In Patch I drilled a couple holes in the dash on the pass side of the radio console in that narrow vertical strip between it and the glove box and put in a couple more power points. I didn't want to drill those holes in the 4rnnr, and I wanted more power points and USB power sources than there was room for in that location anyway so I built a radio mount / power module that is in roughly the same location.

No pic of Patch, only of the 4rnnr:
i-gzxzp6K-M.jpg

Can see a little of the tractor radio there, No CD slot, front face USB & Aux input ports. I listen to music off a 16gb thumb drive.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom