Builds Red Dawn (60 converted 62 Build Thread w/ R2.8)

[TheNeek]

So things went down... er up rather, this weekend. Got the OME lift in. I know there are a million install threads, so just a few choice photos. I think our chassis being in decent shape made things go well. I was struggling with the rear, but finally get the rear axled seated.

I did realize after all was said and done that I put the front leafs in backwards (picked the fixed end wrong). I swapped them around on Sunday so everything was correct.

Note that the fronts are backwards in this photo. GAAAH!

Guess I don't get much of a sun tan on my ankles working in the garage all the time.

Torquing the rear shackles

I'm always too dirty to drive it around the block so my wife did the maiden voyage. Still no rear glass, should get that installed on Wednesday. It went together well, like I said. Got to wait for things to settle a little, the passenger rear is about a inch higher than the drivers side. I've got a chromed set of these wheels to put on when we get around to it, these SSRs will eventually be for sale. Truck rides great, excited to put some miles on it in a few weeks.

 

[TheNeek]

I figured I would "take it easy" and try to chase an oil drip. Nothing drastic but I hate putting oil on my driveway or in my garage. I had the parts lying around to freshen up the oil filter housing and oil cooler.

Clean!

Put FIPG on the oil filter housing gasket, and some nylon tape around the oil pressure sender.

New water lines and clamps. Here's hoping that does the trick. Judging by the grime and oil on these parts it might be part of our oil drip, if not all of it.

 

[fjdemon]

Looking good, Nice work!

 

[mattressking]

Sits level front/rear, kinda jealous.

 

[TheNeek]

Sits level front/rear, kinda jealous.

I was so nervous. I honestly thought of your truck when I set it down and noticed it was level. Kind of feeling guilty about it.

 

[TheNeek]

I started working on some mounting for the National Luna Battery System. I'm hoping to hide the solenoid in the passenger rear fender. Should be fun to try and get it stuffed in there. Means I need to work up a mounting system that fits behind that quarter panel card. Here we go.

I'm not 100% on this distribution block. I think it might be too big in wire awg to work well.

I'm making options mostly, either mounting them separately or together.

The big wings are for me to slip it in the fender area, trace out what needs to be trimmed, mark holes and then finish out. So it's a work in progress.

 

[mattressking]

Speaking of sheet metal brakes....look who is using one!

 

[TheNeek]

Got a special delivery from @red66toy

Car Tech Auto Glass came out and put the last piece of glass in.

So we went and got a beer! First time the truck has been outside the neighborhood since we took it down for paint.

 

[TheNeek]

Speaking of sheet metal brakes....look who is using one!

HA! I know right? There is zero chance I could bend a bumper with this little guy.

 

[mattressking]

HA! I know right? There is zero chance I could bend a bumper with this little guy.

That's cool you have access to one, never had the opportunity to mess with a brake.

Truck looks killer! I can't wait until the day I take mine out of commission from daily driving to do this.

 

[TheNeek]

Got the ARB roof rack on last night... what a bear that was.

Still fits in the garage. Phew!

Exhaust shop did a good job.

Drove the old girl into work:

Little things everyday.

 

[TheNeek]

I hope everyone had a good holiday. I got a ton of stuff done right before we left for a 9 day long camping excursion / shakedown with the in-laws and my nephews. Lets see if I can catch this thread up.

I started mounting the dual battery controller from national luna.

After a few hours of massaging and trimming I got it up there and riveted it in. I used rivets because fasteners would stick out and keep that trim panel from snapping down. I need to get a longer vent line for that one that is tight in the picture.

With the solenoid mounted I started working on the battery connections. I wanted something that would keep water and debris out of the quarter panel. These Moroso bulkhead terminals were just the ticket.

Banged a few holes through the inner quarter panel

Started making some terminals

And connected up the battery cables (I really need to do that fuel filler bulkhead gasket)

I'm really happy with how this part turned out. I can hook up a battery tender really easily to these terminals and everything is nice and tight and weather sealed.

 

[TheNeek]

Next up was mounting the second battery. Since we are running bigger tires now, the spare really is old dead space. I started working on my "expedition cross-member", or at least that's what I'm calling it.

I bought a group 31 Marine Northstar Battery got out the metal squirt gun and started building a mount for it.

I think it turned out pretty good. It's behind the 3rd member and isn't lower than the leaf pack or axle. I don't think it will be in the way, time will tell though.

 

[TheNeek]

My wife and father-in-law started working on getting the interior panel all fitted.

It turned out great. The two charging ports and the fridge all run on the second battery. I'll be adding an air compressor and small water tank with pump later.

Next up was the Simpson III tent

No pictures of us putting it up there because everyone was lifting it.

And the last thing to put on before our trip was the awning (which we didn't use )

I made some brackets to hold it on since the ARB brackets were on back order.

Off we went.

 

[TheNeek]

Truck did great on our trip. The trans oil light went off 3 times, but I'm not surprised given all the stuff we had on and in the old girl. I'll do a trans cooler until we get an LS swap done.

More projects to come.

 

[Toyoland66]

Good job on the resto.

Have you considered a H55 swap instead of an LS swap? The 3FE is a pretty bulletproof engine.

 

[TheNeek]

Good job on the resto.

Have you considered a H55 swap instead of an LS swap? The 3FE is a pretty bulletproof engine.

Thanks. I have thought about it, and with all the weight this girl has now and the things I plan to add, I don't think the 3FE will be up to the task.

 

[mattressking]

LS seems like a good move, parts are everywhere and plenty of power.

Progress looks great!

 

[red66toy]

Fantastic work and jealous of your fast progress! Looking forward to seeing this rig in real life!

 

[NookShneer]

Fantastic work and jealous of your fast progress! Looking forward to seeing this rig in real life!

Speaking of... last min for this months meeting. But would be great to have you drop by a Seattle Crusierheads meeting.

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