Builds The Oddball 80 - Middle East GX Renovation (2 Viewers)

[Grandlooser]

Holy s***, both the bridge and the cabin remind me of the location of the movie evil dead 2. Pretty sure it was filmed there lol.

 

[Brake Weight]

Excellent tuck and excellent droop on those flexy pics.

 

[wngrog]

Excellent tuck and excellent droop on those flexy pics.

I have been trying to make sure I did not overload those “stock replacement” OME springs. Not adding bumpers is key to get to use these babies.

The Bilstein shocks are also impressive. This truck has almost zero body roll or dive on braking.

We ran 75 mph to and from on the interstate portion which was about 300 miles at 2900-3000 RPM and I got an average of 14.5 mpg.

Not bad at all.

Couple more photos of the day

 

[sbman]

Best news is the fuel gauge works somewhat. This is full.

You should be able to scale that by adding a resistor to the wiring at the sender unit. It should be the yellow/red stripe wire on the connector. If you need a bit more resistance, put one inline with the sender line, if you need less, put one in parallel with the sender line to ground. I'm not sure which way the circuit runs, either measuring the stock units resistance (Full) vs. the replacement unit or just trial and error and you should be able to get it to read full when full. The linearity still may not match up though so half may not be half. An inexpensive "decade box" from amazon makes these kinds of things fast and easy to figure out whether you do pure trial and error or calculate the value from measurements and use the box to verify and fine tune.

 

[wngrog]

Now that the OddBall80 is sorted out. Time to make this little nugget of gold right

 

[Dcups]

So whats the game plan with the trailer? I still think you need to swap it to a 6 lug axle with matching wheels... That would be the Bees Knees!!!

 

[wngrog]

So whats the game plan with the trailer? I still think you need to swap it to a 6 lug axle with matching wheels... That would be the Bees Knees!!!

I’m keeping it 5 lug but am powdering the wheels and adding Yokohama’s. The wheels look close enough to “match”

I just finished breaking down the trailer for blast and powder. I will be doing an epoxy primer powder. That way I can protect it. Cut out bad spots then repaint it the color of the 80 and restripe it.

I am going to spring it under when it goes back together. Not going for a show trailer just looking to be confident in it and preserve its unique history.

 

[iptman]

You take the trailer to a vinyl guy to measure and plot out the replacement stripes?

 

[wngrog]

You take the trailer to a vinyl guy to measure and plot out the replacement stripes?

I got good measurements yes.

 

[138thBatista]

The Bilstein shocks are also impressive. This truck has almost zero body roll or dive on braking.

What springs are you running with them? Granted, I haven't changed out my OEM springs and I haven't had time to go through all 36 pages, but my Bilstein 4200s are pretty stiff, maybe about 3k on them? Rattles my 80 on bumps pretty good

 

[wngrog]

What springs are you running with them? Granted, I haven't changed out my OEM springs and I haven't had time to go through all 36 pages, but my Bilstein 4200s are pretty stiff, maybe about 3k on them? Rattles my 80 on bumps pretty good

I don’t know the actual numbers but it’s the “stock height” kit. It Raised my truck a good 2” all around

 

[138thBatista]

I don’t know the actual numbers but it’s the “stock height” kit. It Raised my truck a good 2” all around

I'll probably just wait until I can get a full OME set, helloooooo tax time

I'm enthralled with this thread and I'll eventually go through all 36 pages

 

[wngrog]

I'll probably just wait until I can get a full OME set, helloooooo tax time

I'm enthralled with this thread and I'll eventually go through all 36 pages

These springs are great as long and they are not overloaded with heavy bumpers and such but the great thing about Old Man Emu is that they have a spring for everything

 

[John Young]

I do love the 'go faster' stripes on your 80, WG! So fitting for this truck and trailer. I was going to strip the stripes off of our 75 pickup but it got overlooked long enough that I started to like them. Ads a bit of unique character.

 

[Honger]

Finally wrapped this up... cool rig. I miss my 80 bad...

 

[onesix6]

Time to bring this paint back.
Griot’s Complete Compound is amazing stuff. I can’t wait to see the final results

That looks great. I've had good results with Meguairs Ultimate Compound.

BTW, did you do that by hand or did you use a powered polisher?

 

[wngrog]

That looks great. I've had good results with Meguairs Ultimate Compound.

BTW, did you do that by hand or did you use a powered polisher?

I used an orbital polisher for sure

 

[onesix6]

I used an orbital polisher for sure

Gotchya... loving this build. Super clean. Thank you for sharing.

 

[wngrog]

All of my coil sprung trucks get a $100 set of Airlift 1000 bags. I like to run them with very little rear rake and light Duty/soft springs so these little guys do Great work when the truck is loaded down.

I drill out the holes on the bottom of the perch with a 3/4” step bit. Sleeve the cheesy air like with some 5/16” hose.

They always look like they are way too short but when weight goes back on they fit just right.

 

[wngrog]

Taking the OddBall80 camping this week so I took advantage of having some tall Boy Scouts at the farm put the tent on.

I loaded it out like I travel and took it around the farm to see how it handled loaded.

Came back and added 15# to the bags and it really firmed everything up.

I have a brutal squeak that is wearing me out. I think it’s in the ambulance doors so I cracked them open to see if I could find something loose.

While I was in there I found some dirt dauber nests and a couple of non secured rods I fixed. I added a layer of Noico and of course almost bled out from cuts smoothing it all out.

Hopefully I got that squeak.