My First "First"--The New Adventure

[BucknutBob]

Well, the next beast is home...and in desperate need of a bath! Pics are from the seller's home--I WISH I had that kind of spread! Yep, it needs a lot of TLC and more than a couple body parts, but it's a pretty good foundation for building the next beast: solid front axle (factory), Trail-Gear super-flex springs, 5.29 gears, ARB's front and rear, Alcoa wheels (I know steel is better for the rocks, but they sure look good!), welded-on sliders with kick-outs, gear-drive T-case (upgradeable to 4.7's, and eventually dual cases), fresh "four squirrels of fury" 22R (unfortunately the carb'd model--yuck)--he said it's a crate motor with about a year of minimal driving on it. The tires are 36's, with two good ones and two hosed. Picked it up for two grand--the lockers alone would cost that much to buy!

 

[Footofgod]

Oh HELL YES!!!! Love it! Slap some tube doors on there since you live in the south and get wheeling!

 

[Tanner]

Woot, that thing looks awesome! Hey if that inclinometer works and is in good shape AND you're thinking of selling it to recoup some money let me know. I've been thinking of getting one.

 

[Lunch-Box]

Yes please.

And 99% will look at you wondering what the hell...but we get it...

 

[RunninInGA]

That's awesome Bob! I'm not far down the road from you - we (yes I said we) need to wheel that thing when you're up and ready!!!

 

[BucknutBob]

That's awesome Bob! I'm not far down the road from you - we (yes I said we) need to wheel that thing when you're up and ready!!!

Sounds great! I need to do some important operational repairs on it (clutch slave cylinder, brake line and bleeding fluid, steering stabilizer, etc.) and am on a tight budget, but I'll definitely let you know when I'm comfortable to go romp in her!

 

[BucknutBob]

Woot, that thing looks awesome! Hey if that inclinometer works and is in good shape AND you're thinking of selling it to recoup some money let me know. I've been thinking of getting one.

Sorry, but I intend to keep the dash toy for now. Thanks for the offer anyway.

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Awesome Bob!

I can't wait to follow the build thread. You should name it "Diamond in the Rough". Get it? Rough? Like in rough off roading. (I just crack myself up...LOL).

My feelings are - if the frame, and drive train are solid - the rest is cosmetic.

:thumb3:

 

[Footofgod]

Bet he's never heard this one!

 

[KidVermicious]

Looks great, Bob, I'm completely stoked for you. She looks to have been well loved, but body panels can be replaced! Hose her off and get to wrenchin', the Ouray trip is only 13 months away.

 

[BucknutBob]

My feelings are - if the frame, and drive train are solid - the rest is cosmetic.

:thumb3:

That pretty much sums up my thoughts on the purchase. Everything else I looked at was all or mostly stock that looked nice, needing thousands of dollars in mods to get it where I wanted it for serious wheeling. With this, I'm already well ahead in the game, and can tinker with the little stuff as I see fit.

What's going to be frustrating is with the way my job is, I'm open-to-close on work days, so I only get two days a week that I can do much to it, and my pay is every two weeks, so for every bigger expenditure, I have that much longer to wait (aargh). And yes, KidV, I have my eye set on the Ouray trip for sure!

 

[liveoffroad]

looks like a good project bob. what are your plans for it?

 

[BucknutBob]

looks like a good project bob. what are your plans for it?

Doors, top, front fenders, 35" BFG Mud T/A's, probably get rid of the body lift and let the suspension provide all the lift, proper offroad bumpers and winch, wheel spacers for a little extra stability, Bushwacker wide pocket-style flares, plus a few other goodies. Down the road, probably stick a 3.4 Yota or 4.3 Chevy V6 under the hood. For the immediate future, though---DEEP cleaning, and straightening up some of the "rigged" pieces and wiring.

 

[BucknutBob]

Well waddya know--there IS a truck under all that crud! First day I've had since buying the critter that I've had time to do anything to it, and what it needed was a bath....badly! I'm rather pleased with the nearly rust-free platform to build on, especially on a model notorious for rusty frames. Next up is yanking the seats and carpeting so I know what I've got to work with on the inside, getting a clutch slave cylinder and getting proper pedal feel for the clutch, and bleeding the brakes from where the guy added a new line but didn't bleed them (can you say mushy pedal...sure, I knew you could).

EDIT: Man, look at all that slop on the driveway! It was so deep, it took about as long rinsing the cement as it did washing the truck.

 

[KidVermicious]

Looks good, Bob! I've got $10 that says you're going to need to replace the inner fender and core support on the right, though.

 

[BucknutBob]

Looks good, Bob! I've got $10 that says you're going to need to replace the inner fender and core support on the right, though.

That's probably a safe bet! Yeah, the core support takes an interesting down-turn on the passenger end. I may just try the BFH (big f'ing hammer) approach in the meantime, just to get it close enough for the hood to cover the gap a little better. That driver side fender might actually pound out with a proper bodywork block from the backside. What the hey--it's not like I'll hurt it if it doesn't work like I hope (LOL).

 

[IndianScout]

killer, lots of potential there..

I'll be watching this build..

 

[Pisa 8687]

That's an awesome rig. And no most will not get it. Can't wait to see you get her wheeling again.

 

[soj1057]

Can I just say Im pretty jealous of you right now haha. Cant wait to see where she ends up.

 

[Footofgod]

IS at least clean yet?