Mild 1986 Build/Restore

[SKULLYOTA]

Mostly figured out that my already installed crossover kit was made by Trail Tough, who let me know that it uses Ford Courier tie rod ends. Attempted to order 2 LH and 2 RH ends from Rock Auto, but ended up with 4 RH ends

Ordered two LH ends from Trail Tough and now just waiting on those

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Installed longer front brake hoses (application is a 90’s Geo tracker front passenger hose)

Also received a Low Range winch mount as an early Father’s Day gift (very tight fit, PITA but it looks pretty good)

And finally under hood storage cubby from Roadless Gear

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Took a light duty shake down run to the local OHV area, just stuck to the 2wd stuff.

Issues so far:

whoever did the SPOA just used the stock shocks bolted to the stock ubolts plates on top of the springs. As you would expect, very little travel and the shocks bottom out easy. and they bottom out HARD too lol.

Mandatory Poser pic on one of the gatekeeper rocks

Also couldn't sell the 5k UTV winch, so I started to throw it on while I save the pennies for a real winch. Might be able to self recover the sammy or move a log off trail?

Also discovered that the banjo fittings on the front calipers have slight leaks that cause the pedal to feel spongey after awhile of driving. Gonna try and get to the bottom of that too.....

 

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Ran a piece of DOM tubing thru the front crossmember and used it to tie into the tow bar mounts that I welded to the winch plate. Now I can flat tow it again

Got the winch wired up and working. Started scoping out what I need to make power steering happen possibly. Thinking Track/Kick box with Toyota p/u pump and a custom PTFE -6AN pressure line with steel fittings. Not high on the priority list but power steering is something I really wanted on the last Sammy and never did

 

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‘nother little drive around BLM today. Paid homage to the wise old burned RV of the desert.

 

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The wind died down and it warmed up a little bit for me to get my new Smittybilt top on. Very good quality, sides and back can zip out for a “safari” feel and the windows are tinted

 

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welded in new front lower shock mounts so I could use longer shocks that won’t bottom out. Cheapie blue-bodied Monroe shocks for a Crown Victoria (God rest the Queen)

 

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Also received the first piece of the future power steering puzzle, TC power steering pump. Cardone 20-813 was the cheapest option, about $40 on Amazon at the time I bought it. I was able to rotate the outlet pipe upward with the use of some heat, and already had the M16-1.5 O-ring to AN -6 adapter in my parts pile to thread into it.

Thanks to the old pirate4x4 threads I was able to dig up for that PN

I also have a 80’s Toyota truck reservoir coming in the mail along with a Geo tracker box. Bit of a hodgepodge…..

Still need double row crank pulley, pump pulley, pressure line and the box mount. In due time.

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Having a helluva time trying to get a Tracker/Sidekick PS box. Ordered and paid for one on ebay from Spaldings Auto in Spokane, order sat for days without shipping before they refunded me and admitted they didn't have one actually. Then paid for one from a yard in TX only to also have that order sit for days before getting refunded and told they couldn't find it. WTF!

Tried another yard on eBay today for box #3, almost twice the cost of the other yards but if it actually shows up.....

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Geo tracker steering box showed up

Fittings look to be 14mm pressure, and 15mm return (weird). Had to order the AN adapters from LowRange

Also found a Toyota pickup reservoir to use with it all.

 

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Speaking of LowRange, they were having a pretty good Fathers Day sale last week and I ordered 4.16 transfer case gears, a double row crank pulley and a wedge mount for the PS box.

 

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Got a little bored and decided to rework the ps reservoir mount with some angle iron and green paint. Mounts to some existing threaded holes on the inner fender. Had to remove the factory scissor jack holder

 

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Aluminum Double row crank pulley installed

 

[SKULLYOTA]

Received the AN adapters from Low Range today, the return looks like it might actually be 16mm-1.5 but my other adapter wouldn’t thread into it for some reason….

But both of these fit and I also got a AN to 3/8” hose barb for the return. Test fit the Low Range wedge bracket too

 

[SKULLYOTA]

I think all I need now to round out the PS swap is a pump pulley, cooler and some pressure line. And fabricate a mounting bracket for the pump to block.