Japeth the Blue Goat- Hillbilly 62 Expedition Build

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Well, headed toward home on the ferry back to DE.

Truck runs quite well. Tires are pretty loud and missing rear sway bar makes it a little less highway friendly than the gold one.

So I guess to some up the work done by IPOR: while I was a little upset at the sheer cost of everything and the fact that the estimate went bye bye a long time ago (and to be fair, I added quite a few things along the way too)... I did just load it full of relief gear and drive it across 4 states and back virtually the moment they released it back to me. And I was confident in it the whole way. Even in places I like West Atlantic City, where a broken down shiny cruiser would be a bad thing :).
But in the end you pay for what you get. I would not have driven anything I put together on a last minute trip like this. It is exactly what I wanted it to be- a well built, reliable relief hauler that could pull, on or off road, whatever I need it to.
Well done men :).
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So what was the final cost? Interested in knowing... We pay for what we get and sounds like it is going to be a reliable relief vehicle capable of handling multiple east coast to west coast trips. I'm envious and interested in knowing gas mileage reports.
 
Look at it this way. Even though it was more expensive now, the whole drivetrain is done and won't have to be opened up for a very, very long time.

Good work my friend :D
 
I almost brought it with me to try to install on the ferry, but does anyone know if an FZJ80 stereo ('97) will plug and play in a 62? My brother was given the stock stereo in a box with his 80 when he bought it.
In the end I'm glad I didn't, as I just got my instrument lights switched out as the ferry came past Cape Henlopen and out into the Delaware Bay. It was pretty roly-poly and started to feel not so good as I finished putting the last few dash screws in :whoops:

And do the FZJ80 stereos have compatibility with CD Changers...aka iPod dock accesories :) ?
 
drillduty said:
So what was the final cost? Interested in knowing... We pay for what we get and sounds like it is going to be a reliable relief vehicle capable of handling multiple east coast to west coast trips. I'm envious and interested in knowing gas mileage reports.
Click to expand...

I can PM you if you really want to know cost and my thoughts on the job. As I eluded to, there were a few things that I thought should have been handled differently about the job, particularly on billing issues. My recommendation is mixed in that regard. I can PM info for those interested in having work done, as I don't like it when folks plaster good or bad remarks without much explanation.
But since this is the build thread...the work is solid and I have no doubts on that :clap:

Fuel mileage is a big reason why I went with this swap. Unfortunately, I didn't get a great picture on this trip. Numero uno, the engine is still in break-in mode. So not sure how that affects it right now. A good portion of my trip and first good tank full was spent tooling around Ocean City, Atlantic City, and Toms River, NJ. That burned a lot of fuel. And I haven't had a stick since my '89 4runner that I traded away in 2002 :censor:
So I wasn't a particularly efficient driver. Then I had to haul it back south on the Parkway at 70-75, which isn't very efficient either.
My last tank was from Delaware back to my home at the southern tip of the Delmarva. That was good, consistent 60mph driving. I will try to top off the tank tomorrow or Friday and see how much I used. My guess is around 18mpg roughly for that portion.
I will try to keep a running tally of mileage as I start to put more miles on it. For certain it is better under all circumstances than the gold one which is consistently giving me 10-12mpg around the county on 31 MTs. :doh:

Hope to go out tomorrow morning while the bird is cooking and shoot some undercarriage, engine, and interior pics of the truck for yas.
 
Thanks for the update! I reached out to IPOR for some basic questions about a upgrade. No pricing was discussed. If you could IM me your price a d feedback it would be much appreciated. Again thanks for what you do your a great American brother!
 
drillduty said:
Who's pulling the Military trailer?
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Well...it was meant to be pulled by the Goat as extra capacity on relief trips. Through a bit of a SNAFU (documented in the trailer forum) I purchased an M105 instead of an M101A2. So I have two options- buy an aftermarket axle with electric brakes so it is useable behind the 62...or buy a deuce.
I've actually been hoping to get to the point soon where I could buy a deuce and a half (bobbed or stock) to allow a lot of capacity for these trips I like to do. The capability of the deuce would also allow me/us to get into places like eastern NC or north of me (as in Hurricane Sandy) as soon as the wind starts to die down if possible.
Judging by my wife's response to the new trailer...I've got to figure out where a deuce would have to live outside of our yard if that is ever going to happen.
I'm going to think about the options through the winter to see what I can come up with.

I also haven't forgotten about your PM. Yesterday is my son's 2nd b-day, so we've been busy with that. Apparently I have a work trip to Quebec coming up for the beginning of the week, so I'll write something for you on the plane.
 
I guess the performance of the truck has improved, even more than I thought. I just got a ticket coming home from church :( whoopsy.
 
EOE_overland said:
I guess the performance of the truck has improved, even more than I thought. I just got a ticket coming home from church :( whoopsy.
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:lol: How fast were you going?


I looked, but couldn't find the trailer thread. Link?
 
First fuel stop:
272 miles @16.3gals=16.7mpg
2/3 flat driving, last third App Mt foothills inc South and Braddock Mt at 900 and 1200' on I-70...the term "mountain" is used lightly.

First half was 50-60mph with a lot of stoplights. Last half 60-70 on highway. Not too bad; my best with the gold one was 16.5 on a all highway, flat trip to eastern NC on BFG ATs. These MTs are badly worn and loud!

Next tank will be mountain driving :)

Edit add: I'm not sure how I feel about the power yet. I'm hoping its still in break in mode, thought I wasn't given the paperwork when I left so I don't know how or when that works. But, while there is really no comparison to the new motor vs the tired 3FE with 300+k that was pulled for the vortec, I'm not noticing any more power or better torque than the 4.7 in my 03 Tundra. Sure it pulls nicely up the mountains on I-70 across MD, but so does the Tundra. Now tire size on the 62 is bigger with the 33x10.50s vs the stock tundra tires. But the turnkey vortec is being sold as 350hp. I don't remember the stock hp of the 4.7, but I'm sure it ain't close. So I'm hoping its still in slow mode. Time will tell. Oh yeah, couldn't have had more than 150lbs in the back, me, wife and 2yr old. So it was far from loaded.
 
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Rail

Think it should be plug n play, I just put an 04 Tacoma he'd unit in and it was plug n play.If you post up a picture of the back I could tell you.:cheers:
 
fl4031003 said:
Think it should be plug n play, I just put an 04 Tacoma he'd unit in and it was plug n play.If you post up a picture of the back I could tell you.:cheers:
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Got it outside in the back of the truck in case I got bored tomorrow :). Will shoot a pic when I unload shortly. Thanks!
 
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