Builds Let's build a 79 Series from parts... (4 Viewers)

[c2dfj45]

Thought we were doing really good.....made a long list that kept getting longer and longer of things we need to do....kind of depressing. I'm ready to drive this thing.

But before that happens, need to choose tires.

Mounted up a 255/80/17 on a 17x7 steel wheel. Pretty cool tall and skinny.....maybe too skinny. Going to explore 285/75/17 I think. Should be closer to a 34 which I kind of want but that will require a little more lift I think.

The more I look at this first pic, the more I kind of like this setup. Sure seems skinny. Need to get a rear one mounted up and see how it looks. The rear is the really tricky part of these 80 frames under the skinny 79 body. Kind of have a feeling this combo will be perfect back there.

 

[c2dfj45]

Started on these today. I don't know if they were ever serviced. Spindles had grooves on the seal area....going to have to order new ones.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I don’t think they look too skinny......says the man with 7.50r16.

 

[c2dfj45]

I don’t think they look too skinny......says the man with 7.50r16.

Trust me....I love that skinny tire look but I want this one to be a little more aggressive. The Kut Snake flares are a bit wider than stock....so a tire with some meat will be nice. Going to try and mount up a Falken Wildpeak in the 285/75/17 tomorrow. Nice tire.

 

[c2dfj45]

Lots going on today.....new guy in shop gets to play with this stuff. Sucks to be the new guy BUT....he gets to use the Hotsy tomorrow so it's not all that bad.

Going to probably buy some new birfs....thinking the gun drilled Longfields might be the way I go.

All the bearings were in really bad shape....guaranteed they had never been serviced.

 

[c2dfj45]

I wanted to get the flooring installed today.....make sure there were no surprises. A little tough in this truck because of the flooring...it looks a little puffy for my liking but it's going to be nice inside the truck and once the floor mats and seats are in, I think it will be OK. The driver's side looks awful because I haven't pulled the tunnel area tight yet. The OEM cupholder bracket holds the mat down.

Shifters in for final....

 

[c2dfj45]

I also managed the highly technical install of the jack. Nailed it.

 

[c2dfj45]

The most impressive part of the day was this. The dash and surrounding pieces were finished up. Incredible.

This is how we started

Mid way thru

Done!

 

[bottombracket]

That dash fix is astoundingly good! Whoa.

 

[c2dfj45]

3 different shades of grey on these 4 parts. Far too many shades. I had our interior specialist paint all of it to match....very very light dusting on the stuff that was close.

Just look at all this goodness! Beautiful stuff. Should be going in very very soon. Absolutely thrilled with the way it all turned out...not a surprise...our girl Kat is the best at this stuff. Miracle worker.

 

[c2dfj45]

That dash fix is astoundingly good! Whoa.

It's incredible. It's hard to believe how good. You can feel a slight difference in how the painted areas are vs the stuff that isn't painted but I'm not worried about it. I won't be fondling the dash too much.....at least after the first few days

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Will Kat spill some beans for Mud? Awesome work indeed.

 

[c2dfj45]

Will Kat spill some beans for Mud? Awesome work indeed.

I'm pretty sure this kind of skillset comes from many years of practice. My brother does this kind of work for a living and it's truly amazing what he can do. He's always been very OCD and very artistic....he can fix stuff that will blow your mind. Wish he was down in FL but the greater Wash DC area gets to have him.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I'm pretty sure this kind of skillset comes from many years of practice. My brother does this kind of work for a living and it's truly amazing what he can do. He's always been very OCD and very artistic....he can fix stuff that will blow your mind. Wish he was down in FL but the greater Wash DC area gets to have him.

I may have to send her a piece or two out of my pig in due course. Great resource to have nearby.

 

[c2dfj45]

She has reworked full interiors for us.....really worn leather interiors.....that have turned out like brand new.

 

[c2dfj45]

Friday is usually my day to play with my projects.....got very little of that in today.

Mounted up my dead pedal along with the kick panels.....all of this stuff is a tight fit due to the sound deadener and additional wires we are running along the floors and up in the kick panels. Kind of a pain.

Going to try out some Weathertech cut to fit mats in this one.

 

[c2dfj45]

Got this back from West Texas Off Road......nice and refreshed 80 box with the 105 sector shaft upgrade. Requires a 105 pitman arm too. Expensive setup but not nearly as expensive as a new 80 box.

And this is the reason we needed a new sector shaft on this box.....twisted splines and the whole shaft is bent. Yikes.

 

[c2dfj45]

Played around with some tires too.

285/75/17 BFG. 33.9" is what it measures out to I think...may be a bit under that....BFGs tend to run a little shorter than advertised. This looks really nice. Of course putting it up next to the truck with no axles really doesn't do much good. Needs to be on a 17x7.5 wheel(ideal would be 8.5 if I recall). This looks perfect to me.

Falken Wildpeak in a 285/70/17....I think this is a 32.8. Great reviews on this tire....but it has a rounded shoulder...looks like it's worn out. Not so sure I like it for this truck.

Would love it if the truck was this tall but I don't think we'll have this kind of lift.

Dopey dog in non optimal spot.

 

[Loober]

Got this back from West Texas Off Road......nice and refreshed 80 box with the 105 sector shaft upgrade. Requires a 105 pitman arm too. Expensive setup but not nearly as expensive as a new 80 box.

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And this is the reason we needed a new sector shaft on this box.....twisted splines and the whole shaft is bent. Yikes.

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Check to make sure they installed the seal where the sector shaft comes out of the box, they forgot on mine and i did not notice until after the pitman arm was installed.

 

[c2dfj45]

Check to make sure they installed the seal where the sector shaft comes out of the box, they forgot on mine and i did not notice until after the pitman arm was installed.

Funny you say that....my tech immediately questioned how that shaft was sealed when we were looking at things. I'll have a look. Thanks.