Thank you!

 

Is that an O'Reilly tote you sent with the misc parts? lol.

 

Actually it's an AutoZone tote

 

Curious, how'd you end up dealing with that gap between the dash and 3rd gen console? I'm thinking about swapping mine out.

 

I put a little switch panel in to fill the gap

 

Worked on the truk this weekend. Had to change the oil for the first time since I switched to synthetic. Used a WIX XP filter, Royal Purple 5w-20 and 12oz of a special engine life treatment that my dad is a distributor for. Some pretty good stuff too! Also took the time to repaint my flares. They lasted for over a year with the Krylon, but we're starting to look gray rather than black. Went with the he same Duplicolor Bed Armor spray I used on the bottom edge of the cab. Came out really good, just hope I can get at least another year out of them this time.




Also had a little extra time and decided to break out the welder and make a little something I have wanted for a while.


Total cost was $12 and that was for the clevis. Made it to stick out far enough to clear the valance and still be completely functional. Next weekend is the wife's turn as I get to figure out why her brake pedal is surging. So I get to turn all the rotors and fix her parking brake that hasn't worked since she bought the car over 2 years ago.

 

That Bed Armor looks good. I'm glad you did that because I have 6 cans of it in my house that I was thinking about using on the flares. Did you do any special prep work for it or just spray it on over the Krylon?

Get me the hookup on some engine life treatment for a fellow E4. lol

 

I can ask him what the cost is on if for you. The company is called ProOne lubricants. It's some scary good stuff. 1000x better than Lucas.
Also, I scuffed the Krylon with some 120grit and then rinsed it off. Let it dry and then wiped it with wax and grease remover. I'm loving the look of the finish on it.

 

If you never noticed, my step bars are bedlined with the Duplicolor bedliner. It's held up fine on the actual bars, but it's peeling on the plastic pads, which is understandable since it's nearly impossible to fully prep those due to the texture and the pattern.

 

That's because you didn't sand blast it

 

You wanna sandblast them for me?

 

When we do my trans if we have time sure.

 

Well got a little progress this weekend. Scrapped big ugly and got it out of the yard for good.

Got a whopping $169.20 and here is big ugly's final resting place.

Took the $169 and got myself a 2nd battery for the bed (3rd total) and made some busbars to connect them.
Used some 3/4" x 2" x 10.5" solid stock alumnium. This way makes hooking up my 1/0 wire a whole lot easier.
Now on to the pictures.





And the spare fits perfectly beside the batteries in the front corner.
Next thing will be to get the transmission in. It shipped late last week so maybe I will see it before next weekend.

 

Well got a little progress this weekend. Scrapped big ugly and got it out of the yard for good.

Got a whopping $169.20 and here is big ugly's final resting place.

Took the $169 and got myself a 2nd battery for the bed (3rd total) and made some busbars to connect them.
Used some 3/4" x 2" x 10.5" solid stock alumnium. This way makes hooking up my 1/0 wire a whole lot easier.
Now on to the pictures.





And the spare fits perfectly beside the batteries in the front corner.
Next thing will be to get the transmission back. It shipped late last week so maybe I will see it before next weekend.

 

I got a seemingly good surprise at work today, but then turned out to have created an even bigger headache.



Already got a hold of Smart Parts and they're covering shipping back and forth to make things right. Through this whole ordeal, I have been very impressed with the customer service these guys provide, but am a little upset about the issue with the synchro.

 

I'd be livid.. At least they are taking care of it though

 

I still don't think they rebuilt anything. They just converted it to 4x4 and called it a day. Internally it looks no different than mine did when I first got it from the junkyard.

 

Thankfully. I complained about the fact that the paint was all scratched too and they said they'd repaint it and everything when they got it back.
Looking closely at it, I do believe they reused my oiler, but they cleaned up all the surface rust off the counters haft mine had and they definately put new synchros, just one decided to break.

Honestly, it'd probably be survivable the way it is, but after paying over a grand to get it rebuilt, I shouldn't have to deal with it. I'm just glad I noticed it before it came time to install it.

 

^Yeah it's a real good thing you noticed it. It just sets you back but from my understanding you're not in a huge rush?

 

Exactly. And that's what I told them when I called them back. I've got a lot of other prep work yet to do, so I'm not in a huge rush. Still need to finish at least the rear axle before I can get the trans in.

 

Why's that? So you can get the rear driveshaft figured out?

 

I'm thinking I can run a stock 4x4 ranger shaft and use a conversion joint on the back initially, but main goal was to get the 9.25 installed with the trans. And then finish up the D44 and do that next, plus Shaun is buying my built 8.8 for his truck and it would be nice to get it under his whole he's down here.

 

Yeah that might work. I've read about people having to modify the length of their drive shaft when they run different rear axles. But you never really know until the axle is in there.

 

Did I ever give you the rest of my 4x4 driveshaft? I can't remember. lol.

 

No, you didn't. I figured you'd bring it with you when we did the swap.