Builds The Rebirth of an 80. My build thread. (1 Viewer)

[FromTjtoLC]

Looks like you are a man on a mission. Once you get it past the PM and fixing issues due to age and neglect you will have a vehicle that does a lot more than any jeep could and quite comfortably too. That's when the fun begins. I've had my 80 for about a year and a half now and I'm on a first name basis with my FedEx and UPS delivery guys.

I'm starting to know what you mean. I have this current project, the pulleys including the one on the ac comp itself and some oil leaks to track down. Then, please God, let me do something fun to it.

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Got a chance to work on the truck last night. Replaced all vacuum lines under the intake plenum and around the top of the intake. Replaced the vsv with a new one. Replaced gaskets as I put the truck back together. Went a lot smoother than I expected thanks to hf swivel sockets I picked up before I started. Took about 3 hours but everything went back together, didn't have any leftover nuts or bolts, didn't break anything. Got it started up and cleared the codes out with my scanner. Runs nice and smooth so hopefully that is the end of it.

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Drove a little over 200 miles today in the cruiser. Started and stopped 4-5 times so the light would've came on had it wanted to. Think I may have finally gotten over the dreaded p0401!!

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Found a few parts that I was able to put on my truck over the weekend. Got another battery box to replace the one that's disintegrating under my hood. A few interior pieces. And the thing I'm most excited about.

Before:

And after:

So much better! Anyone on the fence about the grill swap, 10 minutes, no cutting up the truck. Easy peasy.

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Called slee about my lift today. Couldn't reach him. Also am running into some trouble getting the tires I had in mind for it. Mt/r's in 315 are back ordered with no eta. I am set on those tires so I'm gonna wait for a while and see what I can find.

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Placed an air/oil separator between the line coming from the pcv valve. With the top of the intake off I saw how nasty all that oil vapor was making things. Bought the jegs "kit". Comes with everything you need to make it happen.

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Started my lift today. Parts are coming this afternoon so I got started pulling the springs and shocks. The placement of the ds upper shock mount right under the brake res is pure genius! Had a tough time with that but so far so good.

 

[TEXASYETI]

Making short work of this project! Keep it up!

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Got my parts!!

 

[Diggs84]

I hope you've got jack stands along with that jack....

 

[BILT4ME]

I hope you've got jack stands along with that jack....

Yeah, he does....they're under there! I saw the pic at first and thought the same thing until I realized the jack isn't even under the truck.....

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Yes definitely secured with jack stands and chalks. I want to die in a blaze of glory, not being crushed under my truck in my garage. Got the brake lines in and the panhard for the front before being called in for the night. Work tomorrow so it's hopefully gonna be finished up Wednesday and taken to tire shop for dura tracks this weekend.

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Front is done.

For the second time I got screwed by ome on hardware. First time my steering stabilizer came without hardware and this time I only got 3 packs of bushings and washers. Placed a call to slee and robbed the bushing kit that I needed for the front from the rear shocks. Kinda need those.

 

[BILT4ME]

Drive it around and let it settle. Make sure you re-torque your radius arm bolts, as I have read about a few guys with "popping" sounds at random times that turned out to be the bolts not tight enough. Tighten them with the truck on the ground and weight on it.

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Back is done. Everything but the rear shocks and the castor plates are installed.

Currently at the tire shop getting tires.
Few observations. Slee didn't have the sway bar spacers for the rear end when I ordered so I am without a rear sway bar and on shot shocks that are maxed to the top. That being said, the rear rides like crap. Bounces all over the place with reckless abandon and is tracking all over the place.

Need a few more things,

Alignment absolutely
Panhard adjustment
Rear upper link adjustment
Lspv adjustment

I need to research how to do those last 2. Also, if anyone has the slee kit and can weigh in, I couldn't use the sleeves in the panhards or the upper links. Bolts were too big for the sleeves and no other hardware came with the sleeves. Should I be using those?

 

[FromTjtoLC]

And done. What a day. Spent a lot of time on my back, in the garage. In 100 degree weather.

Forgot to put the sleeves in the control arms so those need to be addressed, castor plates need to be done, rear shocks. All in all it looks really good.

 

[DDabs]

Love your thread. Inspiring!

I like the idea of the air/oil separator you installed. I am in the middle of working through my EGR system and I think I might grab one of those. Where did you get it?

 

[Phildoh]

Looks great! My slee panhard (front) had the proper sleeve for my bolt, but the whole bushing with sleeve was bigger than the bracket. Had to open it up and beat the bastard in there. That was one of two things I didn't like about the lift. The second was the hardware supplied with the stabilizer, it wasn't tapered like the previous ones, so it fits a little weird. Tight, no slack, but weird. Otherwise, very happy with Slee and their stuff. I bought the front bumper as well, for having a solid winch mount, but I can't justify 2 grand for the rear bumper. Yeah, its nice, but 2 grand? Cmon Slee, you already made the jig to build them, quit screwing the customers on the price!

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Love your thread. Inspiring!

I like the idea of the air/oil separator you installed. I am in the middle of working through my EGR system and I think I might grab one of those. Where did you get it?

I got it from jegs. Whole lot was like $70 but you can get it by itself for around $50. Just FYI though the separator will not fit the pcv hose. I just bought the whole kit. And thanks for the kind words, it's been a journey already!

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Most important test passed. I can still fit in my garage....