Yet another 80 build...

[ThreeEyedBandit]

I have had some questions and requests, so here is my short boring story on my second 80 build. I am terrible at these, so I give it a week before I loose interest in updating except for big ticket items. Chronologically this is going to be a rough fast ride to the current day.

All started with a 94 and a blown head gasket, only ~310,000 miles. Traded a set of new RCV's for a mini truck for it. Spent a week cleaning it up after a couple weeks of doing the head gasket and machine work. Funny smelling locked white 94 on 315's first day I got it running, missing the front locker.

Stock rockers

Trimmed

Rockers, current shape and well used. Lots of internal bracing, started as a piece of 2x4 .188 wall

More to come shortly

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

Rear bumper, same tubing. Shortened frame, added recovery points.

Did my typical shaft mod and added a front ARB. Decided to whittle out an air manifold for the solenoid.

At some point I welded up some beadlocks on factory steel 17's, and added 37's and hydro assist

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

Every expo rig needs rear swing outs

Lily approves of the adventure

Some time previously I added front RCV's, since the Rubicon was coming up decided to do the rears. Drilling and reaming the rear hubs.

I also did the rear suspension, upper wishbone doodly doo that Nukegoat came up with. Luckily I had already clearanced the gas tank, so was able to make numbers work with a 3" lift. Pictures to come later.

Little Sluice? Made it through with no extra body damage, A/C blaring

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

Made it to the end, pretty fun trip. Even did the soup bowl at some point.

Result, both radius arms looks like this afterwards.

I kind of hate radius arm, so up came my version of a three link. But first some assorted picture of the rear setup.

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

Don't hate on the randomness to follow

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

Carved out some 'high' steer arms, with a preload bolt to eliminate shims..

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

And done up to this point.

Also did the front bumper at some point, trimmed rear fenders and added 40's

Worse part so far was/is the exhaust. Need to re-do it, but most the exhaust goes out the back.

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

And this is where we currently stand

So there is about five years, missing many points and trips. Hope to keep better track, but doubtful.

Somewhere in there we had a two year old daugther, and I built a 4x6 plasma table. Next step is rear coilover, followed by fronts. Polyperformance had a really good deal on some 2x14" DSC's so now there are four on the way. Yes, 2.5's would have been better, but lazy and cheap.

Goal is to have the rear done by the end of September and trans/engine skid figured out by then also.

 

[06reg4x4]

Very cool truck!! I love that simple rear bumper!!!

 

[06reg4x4]

And not often you see the rocker cut sliders outside of Jeep land. Very cool.

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

Rocker chops are definitely not as common here, it's a bunch of work and the gains are worth it. I do wish I would have body mounted the slider after all the work, but no regrets!

I'm also surprised how well the bumper has held up. Granted I'm not as hard on it as I use to be, but I do still need to tie the wings into the frame some day.

 

[06reg4x4]

If you could take more pics of that bumper I’d appreciate it. I want something simple like that. Are the quarter panels cut?

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

Here are a couple more. Wings follow the body out, and taper smaller towards the front. Was pretty easy once I started cutting.

Side profile showing clearance with chopped rockers, they are about 1" above the bottom of the wings.