At this point we are in the home stretch - I think. The heater hoses are in place, the radiator and intercooler are in and the turbo tubing will be in either tomorrow or the next day. That will be a big step. The motor will not only be finished, it will look finished, which believe it or not is a pretty big deal. After 20 months it's a big deal.
The gauges. I went with Auto Meter Pro Comp gauges. Oil Pressure, Boost, Pyrometer, Volts and Water Temp. The Oil, Pyro and Boost I got liquid filled. That's important on the oil, and overkill on the other two, but it's what I could get - and frankly these things are expensive. I took what I could get. A year ago I'd have gone with their top of the line. No longer an option, nor is it important, frankly.
Oil, Water and volts are going in a three hole bracket fixed to the floorboard behind the shifter under the dash.These are essential as well, but it's pretty much the only place they'll fit and not get in the way of operating the vehicle or causing visibility issues. There are relatively large areas of the dashboard that contain switches or indicators that are no longer needed and the gauges could be made to fit in these spaces, but it's a hell of a lot of surgery. Making this thing look slick is just not important anymore. It is a freak. A Frankenstein monster. It's I suppose what one could call steam punk. Hey whatever works.
The glow plug light is in place near the old rear wiper, rear defroster and antenna controls. I'll be using none of these so we're going to locate the air locker switches there. Still haven't decided where to place the compressor or the tank (5 gallon). I have a new center console - I forget the name, but it's the one everybody uses. I might actually put the compressor in there. I have terrible hearing due to prior misadventures and this thing is going to be very loud on many levels. I doubt I'll be able to hold a conversation while driving it. Which sucks, but it's about function. As long as I can hear sirens. And Skynyrd - I'm kidding. But it would be nice to be able to hear the SW and ham units. Unsure of headphone legality in various jurisdictions. I am leaving the floor bare metal (bed liner) with rubber mats. It will probably drive me insane. What a way to go. I'd enjoy some sound deadening but it wouldn't be waterproof.
We are replacing the right front axle assembly as the factory unit appears to have shorn off at some point and left that way with a blank cover thrown over it. Another nice late build surprise. John Kelly ordered the parts, that should be replaced within a week or so - unless there are horrors awaiting. Might have to tap and yank the spline out. Or barring that, I could just shoot myself. If it comes to that, I promise I'll get enough gasoline and matches to take this God***ed thing with me. Look for pics!
At this point as the major systems are in place, the amount of little stuff is staggering. Seatbelts. Lighting, horn, roof rack, wipers, mirrors - if you need Aussie mirrors Man-A-Fre has them right now (June 16, 2014). Go to the site and get them before they run out and you have to wait another 15 months. The amount of minor attachments is ridiculous - easily 10-14 days in and of itself. Every time you look around, there's some other detail or fix. Window rubber - lubricating the window mechanisms. Hitch parts. license plate mount and light. The stock tag mount is covered up by the spare and jerry cans now. I got a tag mount that installs into the center of the spare. The light that came with it is junk, so I need to set up a light as well. I don't know how practical this mount will be so it's trial and error. I might end up locating the tag onto the back of the roof rack. Again - it's small details. Hood latch. I'm also installing locking hood pins. Weather stripping. Speakers. I have a bunch of marine grade LED lights I was going to install in various locations around the vehicle - had it all mapped out. But at this point, headlights are going to have to do it. I'll install off road lighting at some later time if at all. Disappointing, but out of money out of time out of patience. I'm not even sure about stereo and speakers. I have very good equipment there, but do I really need all that junk clogging up space? Alarm system and satellite tracking devices. Locking lug nuts on the rims. And then going completely through the vehicle, caulking holes and gaps, waterproofing in some places, making it tight.
All of this and we don't even have the turbo pipes, locking diffs or exhaust system on the truck. 2017. Mars. Complete insanity. Anybody who wants a Cruiser - it'll be at the base of the cliff I pushed it off of. Best of luck to you. Ha ha.