My newly acquired truck! =]

[Kiko]

Ok,i finally got an answer from jbm. My bumper will be shipped today or tommorow. Apparently someone was on vacation and didn't give it to the person in charge of putting in internet orders so it didn't get entered. I'm still a little aggrivated but glad that i got that mess handled. It looks like i'll be Sunday installing my front bumper,valance,and clear bumper lights.

I'm trying to decide what to buy this week though. My options are..

*Another viair 400 compressor (**** waiting on air pressure.....)
*2 more valves for the front (Tired of sitting lower on the left when riding low)
*2" drop spindles


Compressor will run me around $174.95
2 More valves will runs me about $71.98
Drop spindles will run about $109 according to the ad for airbagit.com in mini truckin

Now my problem with the drop spindles is that i will at the moment lose 2" of lift in the front (Not bad considering i get awesome lift right now) and i will only lose 1/2" height when aired out because i only have roughly 1/2" clearance between my tires and fenders when aired out right now. I can cut the fenders a little to clear but i don't know if i really want to do that or not. It would lower me 2" without changing my control arms or tie rods yet so that's why i like the idea.


I'd like to get the 2 more valves for the front so that when i ride low i can keep the left from riding lower because of my gas tank. Also it's kinda boring just playing with the switches and only being able to go up/down in front. It would be much more fun to hit sides in the front since i don't have a swaybar anyway. Also the way the lines are the air transfers from one bag to the other when i take turns so one side goes down a little when making sharp turns and it doesn't feel too good when the truck lays over on the lower control arms going around turns. Kinda bumpy ride......

And the compressor is self explanitory. I'm tired of waiting for air pressure when i leave work or my girlfriends house. If i park for a little it's fine but if i stay somewhere like my g/f's or work for 7-8 hours my tank loses enough pressure that i have to wait 30 seconds before leaving. I know where it's leaking (Barb fittings) but i plan to fix those later (Replace the one on the tank with a pushlock) Also two compressors would give me more playtime with the switches before running out of air.

.....So many choices and so little $



Which one of the 3 do you guys think i should get this week? I'm leaning towards the valves or compressor personally.

[NevurMind85]

yea co with a compressor or valves first. honestly thats a presonal choice. but imo go for the valves first and then the comp. but if you wanna be switch happy go for the comp. but really to make your truck feel safe on corners get the valves.

[Kiko]

I'm thinking valves too. It feels safe when turning but i just don't like how it leans. It's not that i feel in danger but i hate the air transfer. I will probably buy valves and the needed fittings to hook them up and then try silicone on my barb fittings coming of my tank and air gauge. I think that's where it's leaking out because i checked the tank fittings and nothing bubbled.

After the valves i might go ahead and get another compressor but honestly it's not a big deal if it wouldn't leak out when i park at work. I just hate having a full 140psi and then leaving work and having to ait 30-60 seconds just to have enough air to get the truck up to drive.

I would definately like to get the spindles though. I will have to look at my friend nicks truck and see how he has his fenders cut so i can get an idea o what i need to do to mine.

I will probably buy the valves and fittings thursday. Then next week i will decide wether to buy spindles or another compressor

[Kiko]

I'm really wanting to get rims soon even though i don't have it fully bagged yet but i'm not sure on width and such. These are ones that i found and really like. Seems like a good price too..

http://www.gcustoms.com/product_info...ducts_id/3358/

[Svtzx555]

I thought when bagging a truck, you were supposed to stay with stock spindles?

Don't waste your time cutting the wheel wells up...just pull them out.

[Kiko]

Quote: Originally Posted by Svtzx555

I thought when bagging a truck, you were supposed to stay with stock spindles?

Don't waste your time cutting the wheel wells up...just pull them out.

You can go with drop spindles if needed. You just lose 2" of lift. And i'm picky about my engine bay getting dirty so i'd prefer to keep the fenders on. I might just get some trailer fenders welded in.

The truck is being a bitch right now though so i really don't give a shit about it at the moment. I've got to check and see why it's stuttering. It does it randomly still and it's pissing me off.

[NevurMind85]

yea ive had my times where im pissed off at the truck and would rather sell it but im glad i havent sold it. itll come around. and i have 2" drop spindles. i dont really care for that 2 extra inches of lift. i clear everything as it is.

[Kiko]

Yeah right now i get awesome lift so i could stand to lose 2" and still be ok. I don't know what is causing it but it's still sputtering. It happens randomly and at different times. Sometimes only under hard acceleration in 3rd and sometime i can floor it in 3rd (Not literally) and it won't do anything. Wtf?

I'm going to check some things and maybe put in new plugs but if it keeps on i'm dropping it off at a shop and just biting the bullet and paying a mechanic because it's pissing me off really bad.


Edit: What do you think of those rims? My co-worker said they would look good on a mustang but he didn't think they would look right on my truck. I personally think they would look pretty decent.

[NevurMind85]

i think they would look great. so go for it. and yea i would say its a misfire so i would say change the plugswires, sparkplugs, dist cap and dist rotor.

[Kiko]

Quote: Originally Posted by NevurMind85

i think they would look great. so go for it. and yea i would say its a misfire so i would say change the plugswires, sparkplugs, dist cap and dist rotor.

Wouldn't the dealer be able to run a computer diagnostic check or w/e their fancy name is for it? I replaced the wires and plugs when i bought the truck. I haven't messed with the cap or rotor though. Not sure if i know how to replace the rotor honestly.

Should i just take it down the street to the mechanic and get him to check the timing? It'll run about $60 but i don't have a gun or know how to check it.

[PSYKO_Inc]

For the sputtering issue, First thoughts that come to mind are the fuel system (filter, pump, injectors, etc) or possibly the ignition module in the distributor. My old 85 S-10 had the same symptoms and eventually died on the highway, and it turned out to be the connector that plugs into the ignition module had worked its way loose.

As for the truck sitting a bit lower on the driver's side due to the weight on that side, you could trim the bag cups on the passenger's side to level it out. I'd still recommend an extra pair of valves to stop the air transfer, but at least you can sit level in the mean time.

[NevurMind85]

phyco is right it could be any of those. but for safe mesure i would go to orilies or advance and buy a cap and rotor and then ask for help installing them. and if they have any what of a brain they should be able to help you.

[Svtzx555]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kiko

Should i just take it down the street to the mechanic and get him to check the timing? It'll run about $60 but i don't have a gun or know how to check it.

I have a timing light if you wanna ride over and let me check it. I can do the cap and rotor for you too.

[Kiko]

Quote: Originally Posted by Svtzx555

I have a timing light if you wanna ride over and let me check it. I can do the cap and rotor for you too.

I'll do that one day. I think part of the problem might be it's burning oil. I checked last night and my oil level had dropped even though it was full a couple weeks ago. My gauge still reads 40 though when running.

[Kiko]

Told my friend Nick about my problem and he seems to think it's my piston rings. It's not burning any oil when you look at the dipstick but it's still stuttering some and you can see fine white smoke coming from the oil filler tube on the valve cover after running for a few minutes and removing the filler plug.

I guess i'll be replacing my pistons and rings soon? I wanted to replace everything inside the engine later but not this soon..

[Kiko]

*Ahem*

When i get paid Thursday i'll be picking up a vacuum gauge and checking my cylinders for low compression then fixing whatever i find. If all goes well i plan to go ahead and order my valves and fittings so i can run seperate valves on my bags. I may also bolt the valves inside the frame rails so they are closer to the bags for a faster fill time (A little hopping...maybe?)

My bumper will be here tommorow but i'm going to go ahead and grind the old bolt heads off my old bumper so i can remove it today. That way i can buy new bolts and come Wednesday afternoon when i get home from work my bumper will be here and i can go ahead and bolt it on along with the new valance and clear bumper lights.

Once the engine problem is solved i would like to start saving up for the bolt on 4 link from suicide doors and start collecting parts to bag the rear. Definitely need a muffler on also...

[Kiko]

Cut the bolts on my old bumper and removed it so that i won't have to tommorow before putting on the new bumper. Once i got the bumper off though i thought it looked strange so i took a second look and found that my passenger side frame horn (Or w/e you want to call it) had broken off the end of the frame and was still on the bumper.

It fits up fine but needs to be welded. I'm going to ask some people i know this afternoon about welding it on for me (Which shouldn't take long honestly) then i can put my bumper on tommorow (With new bolts obviously)

I also got bored and removed the fender trim since i hate how it looked. It looks much nicer after touching up the primer and washing around the edges to get the dirt off after removing the trim.


Not quite full lift









Notice anything?












Damage to the driverside fender from before i bought it. I'll be buying another fender soon and replacing it.










****ing bowed tailgate... I'll take it off and fix it one day....maybe









Fender trim off and cleaned up








Aired out in front. Only about 2-3" skidplate clearance right now. 0" coming soon







Cleaned up my wiring under the hood with black wireloom so it looks nice...





That's all for today. I'm going to return some un-used control arm bushings and see about getting my frame horn welded back on for tommorow when my bumper comes in.

[Kiko]

Bumper didn't arrive today like the dhl website said so i called and it is going to be one day late which means it will arrive this afternoon. I also have my vacuum gauge and will be testing my cylinders today. And on a side note,it's a bitch to find bumper bolts that fit at the parts store. I may just run by lowes and by some silver carriage bolts and use them

None of the ones at the auto parts store matched up. Either the head of the bolt was small or the threaded shaft was too big. I may have to use the one with the smaller carriage bolt head but i won't be able to bolt it on until I get the frame/bumper horn welded on the passenger side...

[HondaGuy]

Woo, just spent like 45 minutes reading through all this haha. Can't believe I haven't seen this thread yet. But anyways, it's coming along great! Glad to see a first gen being brought back to life. Keep it up man.

[Kiko]

Thanks
I just went ahead and ordered a valve silencer for my dump valve to quiet it down and slow it some. I'm kinda tired of having to go down little by little to avoid slamming onto the lower control arms. I'm going to try and order the other 2 valves so i can run 4 valves in front sometime next week.

[Kiko]

Just got back from having welding done. It only cost $20 and it's good too. My bumper horn is back on and i sprayed some flatblack spraypaint on the weld to help protect it for now. My bumper was delivered around lunch and my clear lights will line up ok if i trim the tab. It won't sit flush in the bumper because they're too long. No big deal though. Nothing a knife can't fix.

I've still got to scub and armorall my new valance before i bolt it on but for now i'm returning some wrong bumper bolts and buying all new bolts for the bumper and 2 new fornt tag bolts. I'm thinking some chrome spikes maybe?

I'll post pics later after i get back from seeing my girlfriend..

[Kiko]

Bumper horn welded on. My friend's,friend does good welds. I sprayed some flat black spray paint on the exposed welds so they wouldn't rust up. You can't see it though so it's ok.










New bumper (Saved $35 or so by ordering from different company...screw jbm)





Valance cleaned up with degreaser and washcloth then bolted on





Bolted up





I have to buy new bolts to put in my clear bumper lights after work. Also i have to tighten up the bumper bolts tommorow since i don't have a socket to fit. It's nice and tight though thanks to the split washers i added (Didn't come with them but i had some) The passenger side of the valance has a ziptie because it was getting late and i didn't have time to fight with it to get it on. It's not wanting to line up with the fender hole so i'm going to have to loosen something up and get enough movement in the valance so i can line it up otherwise drill a tiny hole in the valance to bolt it to the underside of the fender.

The tag bolts are temporary. I'm going to be buying the 4" or so chrome spikes that i seen on a lot of trucks at scrapin the coast. I've just got to find them...

[FsasNick93]

trucks looking good. you've came a long way

[NevurMind85]

lookin great man. it really has come along way from whereit first was. still got a ways to go thou. but atleast itll look killer the rest of the way from here.

[Kiko]

Thanks. I'm trying to catch up on some stuff i owe for then i'll be ordering more bag parts. I'm also looking around for a nice 2" cowl hood if anyone has one for sale that's not too far away.

I'll get some daylights pics after i put the lights in. It looks much better in the sunlight

[Kiko]

Daytime pic.




My friend Nick's sonoma and my truck





I have the clear bumper lights installed but no daytime pic of them. The wiring is all wierd. When i turn on my lights my right turn signal is solid but no bumper light. If i turn the right turn signal on they both blink. wtf? I'll have to do some wiring but i can fix that problem. My left turn signal and left bumper light don't work though. I think it may be all the cut wires hanging form where the previous owner wired in fog lights to the old bumper

I drilled the hole for my trailer ball but i have to wallow it out to fit the trailer ball. I'll probably do that tommorow. On my way home from work though i'll price bigger bits and see if i can fidn oen big enough but with a small end to fit my drill. That would be a lot easier. I also need a trailer ball with a longer shaft to go through enough for the bolt and lock washer..

[lowcherrydime]

lookin great man.

[Kiko]

Thanks. Had to go back and trim my spring pockets because the bags were rubbing.. The left side is done except for putting the cotter pins in,brake caliper on,and wheel on. Now i just have to do the right side then i'm done for the day.

My valve silencer is on it's way and i will be ordering the 2 other valves next. After that i'm going to go ahead and buy the 2" drop spindles. Once the front lays i'll start saving on the back setup.

[bryanking11]

whoa man... just read through your thread. great progress and motivation.

nothing like seeing the fruits of your labor, u know?

i have to admit i had lotsa rustbucket thoughts at the front of the thread, but wouldnt say that now. lookin great and hope to see more