Drove it up to 13,000’!
What Did You Do with Your 80 This Weekend? (20 Viewers)
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Kind of a shakedown cruise as after 3 years of figuring out the maintenance on this vehicle I finally killed the to-do list.
The 15 yo decided he likes wrenching.due to a crazy transmission cooling/heating line mishap (there’s another thread about it), we need to swap the radiator. And besides giving him some advice and helping him with a few tough angle bolts and such, he handled it by himself. Good day to be a dad:
It’s 7 feet to the top of the bars. It’s not safe to do it that way.
What's it weigh?
Washed it. Washed a few other cars.
Missing my datsun and my daughters truck
Missing my datsun and my daughters truck
Did some exhaust repairs. Paid a shop to rework the exhaust last year and the idiots never welded the tailpipe where it exits the muffler.
It needs the bracket.
It can be done in an overhead position with MIG or SMAW.
Clean plenty of area around it, particularly oil and grease, then back-gouge the crack with a cutoff wheel on a grinder, then weld away. I did a root pass, then two reinforcing beads over top.
Do what works for you.
Make sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby in case you didn't get all the oil cleaned up.
175 lbs. Truck is too tall for people to lift it up there. Plus with this ramp system I can do it solo without bothering or coordinating with others even if that method was safe.
That bracket is welded to the frame
I would also add to drill the ends of the crack to give a “ termination point “ on the ends. This step is a most “crack repair procedures “ I have seen over the years.
got to sit in it and see thats its living a good live with my buddy that i sold it to. i miss my truck but it was the right thing to sell it so someone that i knew would be able to use and take care of it
Played around in the mountains this weekend and found the limit of my suspension and clearance for 37's.
I'm going to change out a few components for more compliant flex and more droop. Most likely will go with Dobinsons Flexi coils with longer shocks, some type of front swaybar disco, and a bit of creative fender trimming in the front. I've extended the rear bumpstops and will only need minor trimming.
I'm going to change out a few components for more compliant flex and more droop. Most likely will go with Dobinsons Flexi coils with longer shocks, some type of front swaybar disco, and a bit of creative fender trimming in the front. I've extended the rear bumpstops and will only need minor trimming.
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Replaced the manual tranny to a fully hydro automatic. Yay! 13 hours of work for 3 people. Problems:
- next time make sure to check which plate belongs between the tranny and an engine, so we don't have to cut a hole for converter screws
- there's nowhere to connect the kickdown cable (it shifts okay though, only minor flare between 2/3) - - I guess I'll try tightening it, might fix the problem
- the rear driveshaft is too short (I'm in FWD only now), apparently because I had a HF2AV previously. Going to put it back as soon as I manufacture a cable actuator for the center lock
- BUT IT WORKS!!
I'm happier than ever. Finally I can drive like a normal person, not like a 20 ton truck.. 
- next time make sure to check which plate belongs between the tranny and an engine, so we don't have to cut a hole for converter screws
- there's nowhere to connect the kickdown cable (it shifts okay though, only minor flare between 2/3) - - I guess I'll try tightening it, might fix the problem
- the rear driveshaft is too short (I'm in FWD only now), apparently because I had a HF2AV previously. Going to put it back as soon as I manufacture a cable actuator for the center lock
- BUT IT WORKS!!
I'm happier than ever. Finally I can drive like a normal person, not like a 20 ton truck.. 
Is this the trail that goes up to Santa Fe Peak?
Yes. Pretty exciting without being too technical
I thouhgt it looked familiar. That's a fun trail.
