What a great feeling to find the smoking gun, eh?
Fingers crossed it's all squealing tires and maniacal laughter from here out
Fingers crossed it's all squealing tires and maniacal laughter from here out
My kid wanted a Jeep, she's getting a 77 FJ40 LS Swap instead
- Thread starter JKIII FJ40
- Start date
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- #242
I finished modifying the fuel tank cover install. Irk some to hack a cover with no issues but necessary. At least I made small cuts and tested it several times. Then I raptor lined it and had to cut a little more, argh. I added the seat bottom rails to check for clearances. I will need to install something to prevent the fuel line from rubbing on the rail.
I spent a little time routing and securing the rear heater lines. I also need to check and refurbish the rear heater sometime this winter. I installed horns too, I still need to add the Coolerman relay to see how they sound.
Now I just need to find some seats and then its off to the exhaust shop. I still need to get the wipers working, fix my right rear tail lights and a few odds and ends.
Between the weather (rain and cold) and having to work part of the weekend I am limited from certain things getting done.
I spent a little time routing and securing the rear heater lines. I also need to check and refurbish the rear heater sometime this winter. I installed horns too, I still need to add the Coolerman relay to see how they sound.
Now I just need to find some seats and then its off to the exhaust shop. I still need to get the wipers working, fix my right rear tail lights and a few odds and ends.
Between the weather (rain and cold) and having to work part of the weekend I am limited from certain things getting done.
Big fan of the Corbeau seats myself: comfortable, available with heat and lumbar, their brackets fit really well. Best of all, they hold up nicely.
- Thread starter
- #244
Another oversight I discovered along the way with the Topnault tub, there was not any means to attach the hardtop or in my case Bestop soft top. I installed rivet nuts in the top rails. Its kinda hit and miss on what was present or missing with the the tub. There are plenty of welded nuts and in other places its just a hole. I have also had to start from scratch on other items.
I installed the Roll bar over the past week.
Another missing item was the passenger left side from pedestal mount, this also had to be fabricated.
I installed the Roll bar over the past week.
Another missing item was the passenger left side from pedestal mount, this also had to be fabricated.
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- #245
They are nice but maybe out of my price range, I'll check it out again.
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- #246
Installed the charcoal canister, just need to find a way to power the LS PV4 vale or pull vacuum to operate a mechanical valve for the vapor system.
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- #247
In the first pic you will see I installed some Rivnuts in the windshield frame and then added the Soft top front rail. My 74 has numerous screws to hold down the rail on it, I didnt want to do that this time around. The second pic shows the rail installed.
In Pics 3 and 4 I have two holes on the inside of the windshield that came with the truck when I bought it. I checked online and cant seem to find any trucks with the symmetrical holes on each side. If any one has an idea please let me know. Also I need to figure out what side the power for the interior light goes too. My 74 is on the drivers side, I will need to figure out where they tap in. I do have a Green and WB plug where the fuel lines go through the center of the hub, didnt think to check that for power for the interior light. I did leave a chase wire just in case I need to snake something through the front.
The last pic is just a glam shot, its starting to look like something other than a money pit (yeah right).
In Pics 3 and 4 I have two holes on the inside of the windshield that came with the truck when I bought it. I checked online and cant seem to find any trucks with the symmetrical holes on each side. If any one has an idea please let me know. Also I need to figure out what side the power for the interior light goes too. My 74 is on the drivers side, I will need to figure out where they tap in. I do have a Green and WB plug where the fuel lines go through the center of the hub, didnt think to check that for power for the interior light. I did leave a chase wire just in case I need to snake something through the front.
The last pic is just a glam shot, its starting to look like something other than a money pit (yeah right).
Damn fine looking vehicle
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- #249
thank you
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- #250
So next on the agenda is seats. Found a set of seats from a 2004 BMW X5, leather/power back/forward/up/down/tilt/lumbar and heat. I only paid $75 bucks a piece so not bad at all if I could get them too work. Unfortunately, the seats were a little taller than stock and my procar seats. I made a custom bracket to lower the seat and trimmed the tabs on the seat rails so it would fit the space. I ran some leads to a battery and they are fully functional. I also installed the windshield to door brace bracket too.
Hopefully in a week or two I can get it to the muffler shop. Of course I am contemplating ordering an exhaust kit and welding it up (as a last resort).
Hopefully in a week or two I can get it to the muffler shop. Of course I am contemplating ordering an exhaust kit and welding it up (as a last resort).
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- #251
I didnt like the push button to shift so I installed the side detent shifter. So much easier to move and to determine what gear you are in. Still amazed as it appears to be stock too.
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- #252
Added more silas sound deadening mat on the bulkhead and some other spots on the interior. I installed the correct shift plate for my configuration too. I have the rear heater torn down and painting in layers. I also flushed out the heater core too, lots of dark junk that came out. I still need to pressure test to make sure its good. I installed the wiper arms and blades and the interior rear view mirror.
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- #253
Today was the first in quite some time where I had most of the day to myself to work on the truck. I replaced the resistor with the normal bracket mods and a little bit of soldering, and it worked too when I finished.
I did a little tidying up today, bled the brakes (cracked the bleeder and pumped the brakes three times) but will need to go back through it again to makes sure all the lines are purged of air. I later found a small leak on one of the fittings so I will need to see if it can be snugged up or redone.
I fired it up and backed it out with the assistance of my spotter. I let my kid get in and move it both forward and back too. And the last pic is from inside the garage as I was cleaning up the middle bay of the garage from the long year that it was inside.
I feel somewhat accomplished as it moved under its own power both out and in the garage.
I did a little tidying up today, bled the brakes (cracked the bleeder and pumped the brakes three times) but will need to go back through it again to makes sure all the lines are purged of air. I later found a small leak on one of the fittings so I will need to see if it can be snugged up or redone.
I fired it up and backed it out with the assistance of my spotter. I let my kid get in and move it both forward and back too. And the last pic is from inside the garage as I was cleaning up the middle bay of the garage from the long year that it was inside.
I feel somewhat accomplished as it moved under its own power both out and in the garage.
Congrats- that’s a long haul.
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- #255
Thanks Jesse. It will be almost two years when I finally have finished the project in the spring. Had I not done the LS swap this wouldve been done by now.
.... maybe, lol. The first few miles are a little nerve wracking, but keeps getting better and better.
- Thread starter
- #257
Passenger seat bracket built and seat installed. It sits about two inches higher than the drivers seat. Kinda feels like your in a big rig as its so high up. I may eventually tear apart the seat frame and remove the seat raising mechanism to shrink it down or gut it and graft to a stock seat frame to lower it.
I also installed a 4Plus tire carrier, Dave builds these like a tank. Definitely a vast improvement over stock and worth the expense.
I re-bled the brakes, I didn't get all the air our the first time. Mucho better and stops quickly now.
I also installed a 4Plus tire carrier, Dave builds these like a tank. Definitely a vast improvement over stock and worth the expense.
I re-bled the brakes, I didn't get all the air our the first time. Mucho better and stops quickly now.
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- #258
I reinstalled the back piece of aluminum, I bought one of the plastic tailgate pieces off of Amazon but its not a good fit so theres a waste of $80.
I added some grounds and made a 1 to 2 wire splitter to feed both lights. I finished the rear heater too and did some tidying up in the passenger well and added the heater plenum.
I also finally tightened the power steering pitman arm and the CruiserMatt Relay rod. I found one (White with Black stripe) ground under the hood not attached, now my wipers are working on low speed only. At least they work, I bought the wiper motor used for $25 and it had a loose wire so I soldered it where I thought it could go.
I added some grounds and made a 1 to 2 wire splitter to feed both lights. I finished the rear heater too and did some tidying up in the passenger well and added the heater plenum.
I also finally tightened the power steering pitman arm and the CruiserMatt Relay rod. I found one (White with Black stripe) ground under the hood not attached, now my wipers are working on low speed only. At least they work, I bought the wiper motor used for $25 and it had a loose wire so I soldered it where I thought it could go.
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- #259
New shop rag unfortunately. I went to grab a shirt I haven't worn in some time and noticed a hole in the back and the fabric was paper thin.
Just a little nostalgia on a cold winter day in upstate NY. I'm not cheep by any means but I will wear t-shirts till they disintegrate before I toss them.
Just a little nostalgia on a cold winter day in upstate NY. I'm not cheep by any means but I will wear t-shirts till they disintegrate before I toss them.
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- #260
The day for the exhaust finally came. Definitely quieter than without an exhaust, they did a great job on the front part of the system. I may need to change the back part later on. Its nice to be able to move it under its own power on and off of the trailer. I also put the soft top on for a bit too.
The kid got to test drive it down our street too, of course I still cant get her to spend anytime in the garage. I did bring her along while I was harvesting some parts for the doors from a rusted out carcass.
The kid got to test drive it down our street too, of course I still cant get her to spend anytime in the garage. I did bring her along while I was harvesting some parts for the doors from a rusted out carcass.