A few little things since the other day.
I'd ordered a set of these $40 LED fogs from
Amazon while I was still in VA and luckily they got there in time to install before heading back home last night.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I68J832/?tag=ihco-20
They're not directly compatible with the ARB lighting inserts so we made some adjustments. I basically just cut one mounting tab off of each fog light and then notched one of the ARB tabs to accept the brackets from the fog light. Since there were no places to put a screw or bolt, and I didn't want any hardware exposed on the outside, I epoxied in a little plastic covered nut that I think was originally used to assemble a plastic dog kennel. In the pics I have the screw just positioned to hold it while the epoxy dried. Ultimately I ended up with lights that were centered in the ARB trim and looked like they should be there. I can still adjust the light pattern in or out via the one bolt I put in, and up or down via the original hardware the light came with.
I still need to do some adjustment but they put out good light and have a very good cut off.
I also installed a Yellow Box speedometer calibration thingy. I was reading almost 9% off with the 34" tires and it was really throwing me off. 5MPH off I can deal with, but 6.5 at 70 is a weird number.
Easy enough install. Took 30 minutes to get out of bed, put on PJs 'cuz it's Sunday and rainy, read the instructions, do the math, install, and road test. I didn't feel like removing the console or doing any cutting ('cuz it's Sunday and rainy) so I just wrapped the module in a baggy and sealed it up with waterproof duct tape. It's now zip tied under the truck above and behind the transfer case out of the way of anything. It's dialed in perfectly so I don't care about immediate access unless I change tire sizes in a few years.
I also greased the driveshafts while I was under the truck. There was a pretty lengthy water-crossing since the last oil change.
Things to be done: I need to order a set of the trim that covers the front of the truck around the lights and between the bumper and grill. While I was installing the ARB, I learned that someone had epoxied these on my car and broke one of them. Actually, I just got fed up messing with it that I decided to break it. Then threw it on the driveway and broke it some more. I need to finish polishing my head light housings and once my engine cools today I'll finally replace the heater Tees. I've got a set of OEM and a metal set.. I guess I'll put in whichever is closer to me when I get started.
I think my 865 coils have settled in a bit and I'm about 1/2" shorter in the rear than I want to do. Not sure if I'll put in my spacers or install the Tough Dog springs I've had sitting here. The next mod might be drawers so maybe the new springs will be the move.
Side note: I'm really starting to appreciate the value in a 'seasoned' home garage. Meaning, my dad's been building his tool collection and collecting potentially useful things for 20+ years. It only ever takes a few minutes of looking around the place to find something you can use to complete whatever project it is. Scrap wood or metal, hardware, obscure tools, jigs, etc. I'm just building mine up now and realize I took a lot of that stuff for granted when wrenching at home years ago. I'm at the tail end of my 20s and will be building mine up for years still to match his.
I learned the hard way.
