Dumpie rises from the ashes

[workingdog]

So, there is another thread about the death of fj45 Dumpie on her way from Arizona to in Nor Cal.

But, now she is home, and it's time for her to rise from the ashes. This is her current state

 

[workingdog]

And here is the plan I've got sketched out. Although, for today, I'll I'm going to do is get the spare on so it's more mobile.


Assumption/current state
Everything rubber or plastic or glass is shot – bushing, hoses, body mounts, etc
Entire interior is toast
Frame is straight
Body needs complete sandblasting and repaint
Or new 12" stretch cab and short bed from Aqualu
Putting a 6.0 liter/6L80 combination with xx spline split case

The Plan
Strip the rig down, remove everything – anything savable into bins and bags
Separate top from cab and ribbed cap from top.
Take body off frame
Sell or give away the engine, trans, transfer case

Do what has to be done to the frame here before it goes to sand blast and paint
Repairs?
Boxing the rear sections? Or does this happen after??

Send body out to get sandblasted
do body repair as required
primer all parts
Alternative - Aqualu 6" or 12" stretch cab and bed

Sandblast and paint frame

Buy drive train
Gen 4 6.0 or Gen 5 6.2 Cheby drop out with 6l80
Howell wiring harnes with
Cruise control, TC input, AC input, gauge out, fan control
Need to know ECM location to order engine harness
xx spline split case with 4.0 gears

New tires (Falken or BFG 31 10.5R15 or maybe 33"?) on original wheels (paint the wheels?)

Frame
New springs with a little lift
What springs? Longer?

fj60 axles
Fab spring perches, shock mounts (frame and axle), pinion angle, castor, etc
Lockers at this time? Or later? And what lockers
Upgrade shafts? Birfs?
6 bolt knuckles? Other upgrades?

Mount fj60/fj80 steering set up
Mount the box
Do the pitman, tie rod, etc
High steer? Does this make sense to do?
Talk me out of doing Saginaw conversion
Do we need to change the shock tower to accommodate steering?

Cooling
As big a radiator as I can get
condenser, trans cooler, oil cooler?
Two speed, ECM controlled electric fan

Fuel tank
Rear? The Chevy one? An aftermarket one?
In tank fuel pump suitable

Body back
Lizard skin temp and sound deadening on entire firewall down to floorplan
Locate drivetrain in frame - With right headers

Tack up engine mounts (with integral cross member)
Fabricate trans cross member
Modify trans tunnel, get the shifter in the right place (which one are we using?)
Once we are totally happy, take the cab off, burn in mounts
Then final paint on cab in my little paint booth

Final engine install with transfer case
Final cab install leave fenders and bib off for now

Finish install
Mount ECM and install engine wiring harness
Painless wiring hardness
Fuel system
Cooling (hoses, surge tank, expansion tank)
Battery mount (requires the fender and bib on)
Air intake (straight to snorkel?)

Steering wheel and steering
Drive lines
Trans shifter
Transfer case twin stick shifter
Exhaust and 02 sensors
Seat(s)
Gauges
The rest of the dash
Knobs, radio, Ham
vintage air with all the plumbing
E-brake??? What system are we using?
Exhaust

 

[Skydog]

So, what was it that ended up causing the fire ?

 

[workingdog]

Something failed in the Dodge's fuel system and the hot exhaust and a bunch of diesel fuel cause it to grow and spread very quickly.

 

[Drake2]

Glad you have decided to tackle this project and it's going to be fun to watch the "rise from the ashes"! Hope it goes well for you!

 

[FixedIt]

Stoked to see this thread. Great luck with the build!

 

[Drake2]

Stoked to see this thread. Great luck with the build!

You mean like "stoking the fire" ............too soon, just too soon

 

[Skydog]

Something failed in the Dodge's fuel system and the hot exhaust and a bunch of diesel fuel cause it to grow and spread very quickly.

I just now read your story on pg 5 of your initial thread. Thx.

I (& we here) know for sure you, yourself, feel quite bad - but I can only imagine the owner of the Dodge, who was transporting for you - must feel Super Badly (amongst your property & that of another, his entire business operation was unwantingly, and literally - burned to the ' in-the-middle-of-nowhere' ground).

The subsequent fire was unfortunate for all (even us here on this board); but hence, the unfolding outcome is merely an aspect & the beauty of life. We're fortunate that we're often given an opportunity to REBUILD - and move forward & onward. But unfortunately, many of us don't. More times than not, we overlook such an opportunity, even if there is sentimental value added-in, such as Dumpie is to you & to your heart. Materialistically, we just throw away and attempt to discard things behind us - callously heaving what is rebuildable or able to be refinished or resurfaced - into our past. We do this socially, and spiritually, as well.

And instead of verbally complaining about it, as many of us often do, for you, you're taking the less traveled, Positive Road. You're not only providing Dumpie yet another shot at life; more importantly, you're providing us & teaching each of us a valuable lesson : it's not worth energy of complaining of being self-victimized, etc, etc. That instead, and ethically, we should just Hunker Down & redo, for both us and the better, WHAT WE STILL HAVE.

 

[gasser78]

This is great look forward to its resurrection

 

[tstepp920]

can't wait until we hear you yelling."it's alive...it's alive"

 

[Living in the Past]

So did every piece of glass break and all weatherstripping disappear?

 

[workingdog]

It shipped with all the glass uninstalled and in the cab along with the door hardware and mirrors. All the glass shattered and the parts are a giant blob.

@Skydog - I appreciate you sentiment. Apparently the universe it was time I didn't a frame off, rather than the piecemeal project I had in mind. It's going to challenge me in every way. We'll where it leads.

 

[Skydog]

Will be a fun, good-read story you & Dumpie will surely unfold to us. Be sure to add-in some good humor though. Will make your experience, and our read - more colorful.

Cheers 2 U & Dumpie !

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

 

[RoaringFork]

When life gives you lemons...

 

[workingdog]

Make Lemon Drops!!!!

 

[mrboatman]

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

[/QUOTE]

When life gives you lemons...

Drop an LS in the lemon - obviously.

 

[1969FJ]

Kind of sad to see it will not be stock. I am a purist. Not to say your goals are negative, but, these trucks represent a time period and I like that time period.

 

[workingdog]

Yes, I feel sad. But, I've got no use for a car that can only do 48 mph and is borderline dangerous on the open road. It was for sale for a long time, I'm actually surprised a purist didn't pick it up to restore it.

And that was before it was burned to the ground.