Nice, getting the runout dead on is a rarity in my experience, I've only seen 1 local shop ever get it right, they barely had to use 1oz to balance the thing, pure quality.
Out of curiosiity, explain the logic on the grab handle, you're using it for the e-brake, correct, or something else?
p.s. (Well, 2 p.s.'s)
That back mask trick was even mentioned on one of them wannabe 4x4/Car TV Shows a few months back. I'm surprised you went as far as to use it, you planning on a nice paint job?
Tried out the two part SEM 39387 flowable sealer yet? I got a cartridge and gun as a demo from our paint rep recently and have yet to try it out.
The grab handle came about from a failed attempt at a tranfer case brake that used a go cart drum and band brake.
It functioned but did not have the holding power I had hoped for. I didn't expect it to hold on a steep climb but more of a parking brake.
Back to the question, since the parking brake did not work well enough, I switched the handle to the other side for the wife to use as a second grab handle. The logic comes in at anything that is held in two planes will be more secure than a single plane. With the dash mounted one that keeps her stable front to back the side mounted one keeps her from rocking side to side. This also is a great way to keep her hand away from grabing onto the window frame. The handle does not appear to be very strong for that application with as much as I have cut off the base but there is a piece of the ratcheting plate that is 1/4" thick inside the handle as well. I will not second guess the safety for the wife. She loves it and uses it constantly.
It will get repainted at some point this year. I may change the colors to get away from the heat of the black. It will get reflamed.
I was a bodyman for twenty years and this is the only vehicle I've ever painted for myself (except the stock cars). It's the whole "the shoe makers kids have no shoes thing".
The flowable seam sealer is great for some applications but takes a long time to stop flowing, but if used with the back masking to make a trough it could be contained.
I definitely fit the seats. The trim had to be removed from both seats on the console side. The seat bottom just touches but does not snag when moved. When I can replace the carpet it will fit the console nicely.
Vacation starts tomorrow morning so pics will be on hold for a while. Going to put just enough together to wheel the snot out of it for a week.
Just a note on the console. The entire structure was tied into the seat mounting rails and the floor crossmember to help keep the floor from flexing and ripping it apart like the cab corners. I literally rocked the whole truck side to side by the console without any movement of the floor or console. I'm going to tie the front mounts together as well. I'll use angle iron with the point up right where the floor starts to bend up to the firewall. The carpet and padding should make it unnoticeable.
The triple sticks worked awesome. Very easy to shift. Even used 2wd low range while stuck in a road construction traffic jamb across the bridge going into St. Louis. The best effect the twin cases had was it managed to keep the wife in the truck longer due to comfort on the trail.
We had a fantastic vaction week at Flat Nasty off road park in Jadwin, MO. Perfect weather and great wheelin'.
The last hoorah for Alice will be this week. Although she has been a fantastic ride and worth all the work the Illinois rot has taken over. The frame is trying to rip in half along with new holes practically every time I took her out.
Up grades have been non existent for some time but I finally added a RCV super set and Lockright locker to the front axle. This will be the first and only time that Alice will be locked front and rear. After this trip she will get torn down for parts for my '87 turbo truck Cirrhosis.
10 Year
15 Year
