Builds Merl the Pearl Build (7 Viewers)

[Ecliff5]

Made some refinements to the drawer. Lined the inside with carpet and covered the bolts and L-brackets with carpet so the drawer slides on carpet as well and is very easy to open and close. I added a brace that runs along the top as a guide and used that to make a working lock as well.

 

[Ecliff5]

Took the dingo out for some frisbee yesterday and then mustered up the motivation to pull my front diff and send it back to marlin crawler for warranty repair. Was a brisk 25 degrees this morning with snow flurries. Had the diff out, packaged and dropped off at FedEx in 3 hours.

 

[Ecliff5]

love when a box of parts arrive. Figured I should do new rotors and pads while the front is apart. Grabbed some fresh seals and gaskets as well.

 

[family80]

Opening a box filled with factory parts is the best.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the new rotors mounted to the hubs. Was going to repack the bearings but driver side showed grooves from the grease being washed out by the moly birf grease. I noticed birf grease coming out of the hub on my road trip and knew something was up. Luckily I had a set of bearings for the rear but turns out they are the same front and rear so I was able to replace the driver side wheel bearings and get the passenger side repacked. Put some plastic wrap around the front and back of the hubs and wrapped them up in plastic bags ready for install.

 

[Ecliff5]

Front diff is back from Marlin Crawler. They said the copper line was plugged so they replaced it and routed it much better this time. Glad it wasn’t anything wrong with the internals of the air locker but still, what a pain. Something I could have done but they would not send me a new copper line, they had to warranty it. I did get a free knuckle seal/gasket kit though. Now to find the time to get Merl put back together.

Our baby boy decided to join the world on 1.21 at 10:20am, a month early. What an experience, first baby. He is a cutie Will be tricky to find the time to get her back together but with family visiting in the coming months from out of town I need to get her together so we don’t only have 1 vehicle.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the front diff installed today along with the new rotors and pads. Going on 2 hours of sleep with a newborn, it took way longer than expected. Lifting the diff into the housing took it out of me lol I am so shot. Didn’t even have energy to test the locker, so another day but Merl is mobile again.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the little one bundled up to check out his future hangout spot with dad in the garage. Figured I would test the front locker and all that. Welp, Merl was dead as a door nail. Haven’t started her in over a month. Enough juice to lock and unlock the doors and light up the dash but nada. Ran out to autozone and picked up a noco 10amp battery charger. Merl now identifies as a plug in hybrid. Hopefully she’s fully charged up by morning.

 

[Ecliff5]

The battery charger worked its magic and fully charged the battery and Merl fired right up. I’ll leave it hooked up as it works as a smart battery tender to maintain battery life and never over charge the battery. Was finally able to test the front locker and it worked! Finally! I am so stoked I don’t have to pull this diff again and since I’m part time it will pretty much stay brand new sitting in fresh gear oil until I go wheeling. Officially trxxxple loxxxed my old arb compressor is leaking or doesn’t like the cold so will need to reseal that.
Here’s a little video of a very cold start and the locker test.

 

[Ecliff5]

My little cruiser man in the making approves of Merl. Tested out the sleeping platform and got to hear the sweet sweet sound of the fresh 1fz.

 

[Ecliff5]

Replaced my driver side rear door lock actuator with a new aisin unit, cleaned and lubed the moving parts and installed a new vapor barrier with fresh butyl tape. Tested the lock before putting the door back together and it checked out so I put the door back together, closed it. Locked it and unlocked it and the door didn’t open… I forgot to hook up the arm and clip for the outside door handle. Son of a gun! Had to pull the whole door apart again, managed to razor blade the fresh butyl tape and avoided ripping the fresh vapor barrier. Got her all put back together and she works like a charm. Hopefully the passenger side goes smoother.

 

[Ecliff5]

New project cooking up for Merl. Quads, quad covers and eventually some Holley retro bright LED. Brand new oem chrome surrounds are looking fresh.

 

[ikarus]

New project cooking up for Merl. Quads, quad covers and eventually some Holley retro bright LED. Brand new oem chrome surrounds are looking fresh.
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Gonna look sick!

 

[Ecliff5]

Phew

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the holleys mounted in the brackets and got some depo clear turn signals. Harness from @jcardona1 to run all 4 on low and high. Excited to get these mounted and finally have some decent light output.

 

[Ecliff5]

Quads giving Merl a whole new look. Pretty stoked on how these turned out, the yellow inner lights with clear corners and clear turn signals looks killer. Need to adjust the lights at night and then I can add the covers.

 

[Ecliff5]

Tossed the covers on. Still haven’t even seen these things on at night, slacking.

 

[Ecliff5]

Took Merl and the family to her first car show.

 

[Ecliff5]

Picked up some nice black flares off a parts rig, I think black flares will looks nice on the blue. It was missing the driver door flare and I couldn’t seem to find a used one so I ordered a new flare and a bunch of hardware from partsouq to start my flare journey. I am still waiting on 3 of the rear door metal brackets that rivet onto the door, I ordered those from amayama. I got a can of 202 color match black to paint the new flare and a 2 part epoxy clear coat. Never tried clear coating anything so wish me luck. At least it’s the smallest flare on the truck. I have already JB weld repaired some of the broken clips on the flares. I noticed my driver front fender is not original and is from an earlier year so the holes do not match up, a few do so I think it’ll be fine. Getting all of the plastic plugs that the PO put in the fender holes will be a task in itself. But this should be a nice project.

 

[baldilocks]

All your work here motivates me to concentrate more time into my build and get out there where it’s supposed be….. good stuff here man.