Builds Merl the Pearl Build (12 Viewers)

[Ecliff5]

Thanks man, appreciate that! These trucks are a labor of love as you know. Treat them well, and they will love you back… tough love, but love none the less

 

[Ecliff5]

Got some sweet shots of Merl from the car show.

 

[Ecliff5]

 

[baldilocks]

What springs/lift is Merle running?

 

[Ecliff5]

- OME 2" Heavy 850X front 863X rear
- Dobinsons 6” IMS shocks
- Delta 3L radius arms
- Delta panhard bracket
- Landtank extended rear lowers
- Dobinsons adjustable uppers
- Dobinsons front panhard
- Dobinsons front coil spacer
- LCP rear sway bar links
- LCP front swaybar disconnect
- Slee extended bumps and brake lines

 

[baldilocks]

Thanks for the detailed answer…… what will you do about the paint? Mine looks similar but worse.

 

[Ecliff5]

Probably just rock it, keep watching it peel and fade away. I’d like to have the roof rack holes closed up, so I’d probably start there. I don’t like the plugs in the fender holes so that’s why I’m putting flares back on, less work than dealing with holes and painting the truck.

 

[baldilocks]

I plan to fill my fender holds with fiber glass impregnated bondo.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the new flare painted today. It turned out alright, I think I did 4 base coats and 4 or 5 of clear. Should be good enough to blend with the other flares and the crappy blue paint.
Mocked up the passenger front flare, the front screw is blocked by the bumper which stinks, either bumper or fender need to come off in order to access it.

 

[ikarus]

Looks clean to me! I was just watching some Paint Society videos on how to paint cars using rattle cans and your results have me thinking..

 

[Ecliff5]

Thanks! It turned out pretty good aside from a few dog hairs and some dust but it feels like glass now that it’s dry.
Not a big fan of painting, the days I choose never seem to be good, cold, windy, rainy, humid, dusty. All plays a factor in how it turns out.

 

[Ecliff5]

Tossed the roof rack and awning on and got most of the flares installed.

 

[Ecliff5]

Well, ran into a snag while trying to install the one bracket I had. Turns out, the old rivets were drilled out and the hole is now bigger, so the rivet came right out maybe the rivet gun tool wasn’t strong enough to pull it wide enough. It took two pumps on the tool and the rivet popped.
I’ll need to get into the door and nut and bolt the brackets on I guess. So much for getting oem rivets and a new rivet gun lol.

 

[baldilocks]

How much you have done in recent history has me ready to jump off of a bridge! BTW, fender flares are fragile and over rated.

My property demands a lot of my time this time of year so Cruiser time is skinny, very skinny. Keep me motivated!

 

[Broski]

Well, ran into a snag while trying to install the one bracket I had. Turns out, the old rivets were drilled out and the hole is now bigger, so the rivet came right out maybe the rivet gun tool wasn’t strong enough to pull it wide enough. It took two pumps on the tool and the rivet popped.
I’ll need to get into the door and nut and bolt the brackets on I guess. So much for getting oem rivets and a new rivet gun lol.
View attachment 3929947
View attachment 3929948
View attachment 3929949

Just go to the next size rivet

 

[Ecliff5]

Just go to the next size rivet

I am not that knowledgeable on rivets, I was looking for a larger rivet. The oem rivet was the beefiest I’d seen, needed to buy a new rivet gun with a larger 1/4” fitting. It was also a solid, closed end rivet, which make a waterproof seal. I’d need quite a large rivet to fit the hole in the door. Didn’t see any larger rivets at Home Depot or Harbor Freight. Probably would also need to drill out the hole on the bracket to fit the larger rivet if I can find one. I’ll do some more digging.

I was also thinking of rivnuts, but those usually have a lip and the bracket would not sit flush on the door.

In the meantime, I picked up some M6 x 10mm hardware from Home Depot while I wait on the other brackets to arrive. I need to get into the door to replace the door lock anyway.

 

[Ecliff5]

How much you have done in recent history has me ready to jump off of a bridge! BTW, fender flares are fragile and over rated.

My property demands a lot of my time this time of year so Cruiser time is skinny, very skinny. Keep me motivated!

Get wrenching already! I don’t have property but I do have a 5 month old baby.

Flares are legit and under rated, just takes some fiddling to make big tires fit and not rip them off.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got the rest of the brackets in and went ahead with bolting them on, wasn’t too much of a pain. Didn't take any pictures of installing but I taped a nut and washer to a wrench and stuck it into the door while sticking the bolt and bracket on from the outside. Gave it all a squirt of fluid film, sealed up the door and put the flares on.

 

[Ecliff5]

Merl has been getting driven around a bunch, I love this truck.

 

[Ecliff5]

Got a set of One Stone armrests installed today.