Hello all,
I figured I would take a few moments to lay out what I have been up to since my Rug Road knuckle stud debacle. I bought my 1997 LX450 Easter weekend in 2017. I had a 2000 100 series before and regretted selling it from day one. I knew I wanted another, but thought the 80 series would be my next target. I had 3 requirements; it had to be rust free, have a strait body, and be triple locked. @D_Web actually found this one, and after some quick negotiation via email, it was spoken for and we headed north to bring it back. It already had the OME lift and ARB front bar that I wanted, so I paid a bit more than I set out to and brought it home. I had it in my mind to LS swap an 80 for some time, but after boiling this one over climbing a pass on the way home, and developing the 1FZ motor noise, I figured it was a firm plan. I drove the thing another 6000 miles with it making the noise, and it never got worse nor did it ever drive weird. It just kept on kachunk-kachunking its way down the road throwing back gallons of 87 as well as any Cruiser does. The last trail run I took it on was the January 2018 Rug Road run. All was going well until White Steve called over the radio that he saw an oil trail and for everyone to check their rigs. Low and behold, it was mine. I had lost the right front knuckle studs, well 3 out of the 4, and the knuckle displaced, munched the oil seal and nearly destroyed the lower bearing. My fellow CSC'ers sprang into action and we got it all back together and got me off the trail and home after enjoying the rest of the weekend. Great people in this club.
Upon returning home, I set out ordering all the bits for a front axle rebuild and spent the next few weekends elbow deep in birf soup and brake cleaner. After a full treatment of Marlin Crawler parts, it was back rolling. The issue was that the more I dug into the rig, the more I ended up replacing/rebuilding/rehabbing, and it wasn't long before I came to the decision to just go through it all and the search for a new dino burner. I spent the next 6 months filling part of my garage and office with everything I thought I might want for my dream 80 build. I contacted a few salvage companies and told them what I was doing and what I wanted. Take it from me, building report with folks pays dividends. I was able to get a 27,000 mile L96 6.0L from a 2012 Chevy 2500, a 35,000 mile 6L80 for a 2014 Camaro SS, and a Mark's 4WD kit from the land of Oz. The harness, ECM, TCM re-flash, cruise control, tap shift, and all the associated electronic bits came from Speartech in Indiana. I am still procuring the odds and ends like throttle pedal, engine oil cooler, intake tubing and MAF, etc. I will be running a new AC Delco fan and fan clutch to keep up with the cooling loads here in the the land of the burning sun. I officially started the swap a few weeks ago with the help of a buddy from work, in a single 8 hour day, we had the hood, front clip, all the peripherals, engine, tranny, and T case sitting divorced from their former homes.
Tear down near complete, I moved to prepping the new power train. I ordered a bunch of bolt kits and loose bits from Summit and Amazon, then commenced to mating the 6L80 to the LS. That was a PITA with out all the fancy fixtures and tooling, but a trip to Lowes netted a framing stud that just nearly leaped into the shape of an engine cradle. After filling the torque converter and installing it, the tranny met the engine and they have been getting along great ever since. Thank God for YouTube.
So here I sit, on a Sunday night, knees reminding me that I spent all weekend standing, kneeling, and crawling around on concrete trying to restore my noble stead to a better image of its former self. I got the motor stabbed for the first fit up today, and have a few hours of work still to resolve the issues I found.
Here is my build list this far:
Marlin Crawler full front axle rebuild with upgraded studs and hardware - DONE
Spectre Offroad HD Chromo Steering Link and Drag Link with HD ends - DONE
27,000 mile L96 6.0 liter from a 2012 Chevy 2500 - DONE
35,000 mile 6L80e form a 2014 Camaro SS - DONE
Mark's 4WD LS Swap kit - DONE
Speartech LS Harness, ECM, TCM flash, cruise module, Cruise stalk, tap shift module - DONE
Manefre 38 gallon long range tank - DONE
Corvette Fuel filter/regulator - DONE
Lokar LS throttle pedal - DONE
Slee Dual Batttery kit - DONE
Surco Safari Rack - DONE
ARB 2.5m Awning - DONE
Slee Sway Bar blocks and new bushings - DONE
Slee Castor Plates - DONE
New Control arm bushings - DONE
GAST 100% duty cycle air compressor w/5 gallon air tank ARB Dual Compressor with 3 Gal Tank - Pending
New L&R visors - BOOOOOOO No longer available in part network....................
New Front seat leather - DONE
Credit Card debt - PAID OFF!!!!
Wants:
270 degree awning - DONE
BIO Step Sliders - DONE
Single Swing rear bumper,undecided on brand - Avid Offroad Single Swing Custom - DONE
I guess some pics are in order?
I figured I would take a few moments to lay out what I have been up to since my Rug Road knuckle stud debacle. I bought my 1997 LX450 Easter weekend in 2017. I had a 2000 100 series before and regretted selling it from day one. I knew I wanted another, but thought the 80 series would be my next target. I had 3 requirements; it had to be rust free, have a strait body, and be triple locked. @D_Web actually found this one, and after some quick negotiation via email, it was spoken for and we headed north to bring it back. It already had the OME lift and ARB front bar that I wanted, so I paid a bit more than I set out to and brought it home. I had it in my mind to LS swap an 80 for some time, but after boiling this one over climbing a pass on the way home, and developing the 1FZ motor noise, I figured it was a firm plan. I drove the thing another 6000 miles with it making the noise, and it never got worse nor did it ever drive weird. It just kept on kachunk-kachunking its way down the road throwing back gallons of 87 as well as any Cruiser does. The last trail run I took it on was the January 2018 Rug Road run. All was going well until White Steve called over the radio that he saw an oil trail and for everyone to check their rigs. Low and behold, it was mine. I had lost the right front knuckle studs, well 3 out of the 4, and the knuckle displaced, munched the oil seal and nearly destroyed the lower bearing. My fellow CSC'ers sprang into action and we got it all back together and got me off the trail and home after enjoying the rest of the weekend. Great people in this club.
Upon returning home, I set out ordering all the bits for a front axle rebuild and spent the next few weekends elbow deep in birf soup and brake cleaner. After a full treatment of Marlin Crawler parts, it was back rolling. The issue was that the more I dug into the rig, the more I ended up replacing/rebuilding/rehabbing, and it wasn't long before I came to the decision to just go through it all and the search for a new dino burner. I spent the next 6 months filling part of my garage and office with everything I thought I might want for my dream 80 build. I contacted a few salvage companies and told them what I was doing and what I wanted. Take it from me, building report with folks pays dividends. I was able to get a 27,000 mile L96 6.0L from a 2012 Chevy 2500, a 35,000 mile 6L80 for a 2014 Camaro SS, and a Mark's 4WD kit from the land of Oz. The harness, ECM, TCM re-flash, cruise control, tap shift, and all the associated electronic bits came from Speartech in Indiana. I am still procuring the odds and ends like throttle pedal, engine oil cooler, intake tubing and MAF, etc. I will be running a new AC Delco fan and fan clutch to keep up with the cooling loads here in the the land of the burning sun. I officially started the swap a few weeks ago with the help of a buddy from work, in a single 8 hour day, we had the hood, front clip, all the peripherals, engine, tranny, and T case sitting divorced from their former homes.
Tear down near complete, I moved to prepping the new power train. I ordered a bunch of bolt kits and loose bits from Summit and Amazon, then commenced to mating the 6L80 to the LS. That was a PITA with out all the fancy fixtures and tooling, but a trip to Lowes netted a framing stud that just nearly leaped into the shape of an engine cradle. After filling the torque converter and installing it, the tranny met the engine and they have been getting along great ever since. Thank God for YouTube.
So here I sit, on a Sunday night, knees reminding me that I spent all weekend standing, kneeling, and crawling around on concrete trying to restore my noble stead to a better image of its former self. I got the motor stabbed for the first fit up today, and have a few hours of work still to resolve the issues I found.
Here is my build list this far:
Marlin Crawler full front axle rebuild with upgraded studs and hardware - DONE
Spectre Offroad HD Chromo Steering Link and Drag Link with HD ends - DONE
27,000 mile L96 6.0 liter from a 2012 Chevy 2500 - DONE
35,000 mile 6L80e form a 2014 Camaro SS - DONE
Mark's 4WD LS Swap kit - DONE
Speartech LS Harness, ECM, TCM flash, cruise module, Cruise stalk, tap shift module - DONE
Manefre 38 gallon long range tank - DONE
Corvette Fuel filter/regulator - DONE
Lokar LS throttle pedal - DONE
Slee Dual Batttery kit - DONE
Surco Safari Rack - DONE
ARB 2.5m Awning - DONE
Slee Sway Bar blocks and new bushings - DONE
Slee Castor Plates - DONE
New Control arm bushings - DONE
New L&R visors - BOOOOOOO No longer available in part network....................
New Front seat leather - DONE
Credit Card debt - PAID OFF!!!!
Wants:
270 degree awning - DONE
BIO Step Sliders - DONE
Single Swing rear bumper,
I guess some pics are in order?
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