Project: 4x4 Under Construction

[85Monster]

Quote: Originally Posted by NJtruckin

honestly tho, i love this project. and im jealous. and its because you can work on it as you go and dont have to have massive downtime. i love it!

Haha yeah all the down time was taken care of before I even got it signed over to me! We all built it right too, I still haven't had a major mechanical problem since I got it. The only down time it'll probably ever need again is for paint, and if I do a V8 swap haha.

[85Monster]

Got everything electrical working today on the motorcycle!! And bought a new knife to put me over the 20 dollar limit at autozone to get another point on my rewards card haha.

[85Monster]

Oh forgot to mention, I also picked up one of those suction cup dent puller things. It works great where there's still paint, not so well on primer. haha. Oh well it's helping me pull some of the bigger dents in the doors and bed.

[85Monster]

I know many of you members here will disapprove of this, and lots of things I do...but I like lights. Haha. So I finally got a legit sound/light sync. device. It's got room for 6 different LEDs, 2 to pulse with Low sounds, 2 to pulse with Mid sounds, and 2 to pulse with high sounds.


And I got the motorcycle running too! I surprised myself, I usually have to ask for help in figuring out how to get things working right...but I got this all done in 2 days. Been sitting for like 8+ years, and now it runs. Purrs like a kitten.(Pics at 2 in the morning btw)





If the damn rain would ever stop around here I'd run some seam sealer EVERYWHERE in the cab and test for more leaks(already picked it up and used it around the top before putting the headliner in)...then I guess it's time to bite the bullet and invest in carpet. I've still been doing body work outside and frame clean up, nothing worth getting pictures over though. I might go ahead and stick the bumper back on tomorrow though without painting in..I don't think I'm going to get around to that paint any time soon. I plan to replace it with a new one anyways. Eventually.

[85Monster]

Made a loongg over due purchase today...got a sander! Haha this body work will be done in no time now.

[85Monster]

Dark spot is not a run in the paint. It's water. just a wet spot.

[85Monster]

Ran out of primer earlier and the only two places around here that have the right brand and all are a small hardware store walmart. Went to walmart and they're still out. So I'll have to wait on the hardware store to open up tomorrow.

[85Monster]

Also, does anyone have any opinions on the motorcycle? As in, should I paint the frame black, or paint it whatever color I decide on for the gas tank/fairings. And should I stick with chrome fenders or strip the chrome and paint to match the tank and fairings? Polished engine, silver painted, or black painted? Guess I should go join a motorcycle forum now for stuff like this..haha.

[85Monster]

here are some quick pics of what it could look like...

[85Monster]

Not the same bike I know, but they're all in the CM family. Same over all looks.

[85Monster]

As it sits right now.

[85Monster]

I'm going to replace the driver side door though. It's beat to hell and I had intentions of fixing it, but underneath that paint the WHOLE door was covered in bondo, and underneath that is deep scratches, like from a wire brush on a drill or something. So I'll just get a different door. Maybe I'll look into power windows/locks? Who knows.

Also I need to sand and prime all along the bottom of the truck. That's the goldish strip you see all over haha.

[85Monster]

So I've been unwisely spending money lately on things I don't need...so I need to cut back some. And it's time to redo a lot of mechanical stuff on the truck so more progress mighttt be a little while. Brakes are starting to squeal, that loud AC compressor is getting even worse, I need to replace that ASAP. Could use an oil change and all the other fluids topped off. Needs new windshield wiper blades again. I'm going to spend some time working on all of that area of stuff before I get back to saving up for paint and such...on the plus side I did pick up some floor mats last night, helps to cover up some of those wires before I can get the carpet in.

[85Monster]

Okay here's a few random shots from riding around the other day

The hill was steeper than the pictures make it look..that and I stopped once it had started to level out so I wouldn't have to worry about it rolling away on me.

[85Monster]

I was by myself so I had to actually put it in park and set the parking brake, get out, and take the pictures...

[85Monster]

If I can ever get someone to go with me, I'll take it through some of the more serious trails along the power lines out here and stuff...I don't want to go on my own because if I get stuck I'm screwed haha. I'm not going to bury it in the mud though, not my thing. Just climbing some hills and such.

[85Monster]

Here's a video so you can see just how horribly loud the ac compressor is...hope it works.

[85Monster]

Well I was going to post a video of the subs/leds working together but it just isn't doing right. Sound was awful and didn't match the video at all, the timing was all off...

[J@mes]

My compressor for the bagged truck squeeled before i had money for the delete pulley,so i just shot silicone in the front,where the bearing was,lol. It got me by for a little. If i lived closer,i'd head over in the '93 and we'd hit the powerline trails. I love going offroad,but i dont have any friends at all who do lifted trucks so i'm worried about getting stuck too (Since i have no winch,and my tow strap is useless without another truck)

I'm really digging the offroad pics. You should get someone to ride along and take action shots.

[85Monster]

Ask and you shall receive. Sooner or later. haha

But for now, just a leeettleee more clean up stuffs.

Here's a heavy load. Got that rear end squatting!


And the front end lifting!


More passenger side bed sanded and primed.


Where it stood around lunch time


What I did tonight


See the really bad dent? Worst body spot on the truck...


2 coats of black, waiting on the 2nd to dry before throwing on a third and final coat

[J@mes]

If you can use shackles to lift a 4wd (Don't see why not,but i don't know 4wd stuff so i don't want to make a mistake) you should grab an ebay set. They're cheap and would get you a couple inches in the back.

Or you could do a body lift for roughly 100 bucks. That would look pretty awesome. Looking good though. I like the attention to detail

[85Monster]

Thanks man. Yeah I've been considering lifting it more and more lately. I might end up doing it..it'd be super easy since it's 4x4 haha. shackles in the rear, 10 minutes under the truck turning two bolts to lift the front.


Tomorrow I might attempt to do the primer around the windows..I've been scared too haha. I just know I'm gonna mess up and just destroy one of the window seals..oh well, it's gotta get done sooner or later. Still gotta do the roof, top of the doors, the rest of the tailgate, and the wiper cowl in primer...just all the tedious stuff really. And the frame is about half in black all the way around, just need to do the front half on both sides. Still need to paint the rear end, brake calipers, and shocks too. Shocks and calipers I wanna do in some sort of red. Just to make them stand out a little bit against the dark colors of the frame and eventual body. That's about my list of up coming stuff, since I still have all the materials for all that. oh and that DAMN AC COMPRESSOR. haha

[85Monster]

The frame and fender well paint is taking me so long because I'm realllyyy taking my time to make sure it's clean under there so the paint and primer bond well and I won't have to redo it any time soon. Lotss of prep work as I go.

[85Monster]

Oh and I forgot to mention, no body lift for me. There's enough frame visible on these trucks as is. And I'd have to worry about transfer case linkage, bumper relocating, the fan blades fitting in the fan shroud and blah blah blah...not for me. Shackles and torsion bars if anything.

[NJtruckin]

2 tips. if you lift with torsion bars, spray your boots all around with silicon spray. itll keep them from rubbing through.

second, if you want to keep paint and stuff from getting on your seals, use KY jelly along with painters tape. paint wont stick to it.

[85Monster]

1 question. Boots?

And nah I'm not worried about getting paint on them, I'm worried sandpaper eating them. haha

[85Monster]

shit

[J@mes]

Aw snap... that looks fun. Did you try turning the front left/right while keeping the gas pedal steady? I've seen a lot of 4wd guys do that and slowly inch forward.

[85Monster]

I tried everything in the book, it was just stucckk. I was resting on frame rails and skid plates. Turns out that was the nastiest hole out there and everyone knew it but me. A guy on 35s got stuck in it. Full size 4x4 haha. I tried turn it backwards forwards jamming logs under it bouncing around...The tires were touching nothing but water. It was too deep to get logs under it too for enough traction to even move. Took 4 full hours to finally get back out of that hole once I went in. Never again. I'm sticking to hill climbing and puddle splashing...

[85Monster]

I think I tore something up in the front end too. When in 4WD something clicks up there now. Not sure what it could be but that's not something I'm going to worry about for now.

[85Monster]

Found the clicking noise. Not a big deal at all either. Apparently when I got pulled out of that hole the other day, my muffler that was already broken loose, snagged and got bent down. Well, the Y-pipe is what snagged. From the y-pipe back has been off for a few weeks now. So the pipe is bent down below the frame rail and hanging a little bit and it touches the front drive shaft or whatever so when it's in fwd its hitting right there and that's what makes the clicking sounds. Junkyard y-pipe and problem solved!

[J@mes]

Cool. Your luck kinda came my way,haha

[85Monster]

Hahaha it's a sucky feeling isn't it?? You know right away too, it's like you hit, then just awwww mannn....dang...

[85Monster]

Compared to another truck at Tractor Supply. Big brother haha


Also finally got around to painting that junkyard 4x4 shifter housing. It looks weird but it's just the picture. Same dark gloss black as the rest of the interior.




I forgot to get one of it in the truck, I'll get around to it one of these days. Right now I'm still cleaning mud of..everything. Like, there was mud on the back glass, inside, on the passenger side. How does that even happen?

[J@mes]

Yeah. I tried squeezing around the mud,on the edge where it was dry,and slid into it and unweighted my drive wheel. I had to sit for about 2 hours,waiting on my friend to pull me out with his f159. Not to mention that i noticed a trail for bypassing the mud,AFTER i was stuck. Had i noticed it,i could have had fun instead of sit mud.

[85Monster]

That's hilarious, there was a trail beside the mud hole I got stuck in haha!

[85Monster]

I got under my truck for 2 hours today. Trying to fix the whole pile exhaust issues in one go. First being the tore up y-pipe. I got another for free from a friend, brought it home, and started to unbolt mine. First, one bolt broke off. I got the other one out of that side of the pipe, and the 3rd was missing. Other side. Got two out, could NOT get the 3rd out. Out of frustration I grabbed the pipe and started jerking it up and down trying to get it to bend out of the way so I could get to that 3rd bolt. And it magically ended up back in place. So I was said great. All those bolts for nothing. Put them back in place. One side went together with no problems. The other side however was nothing but problems. Two metal pieces fell out from in between the pipe and manifold, it wouldn't sit flush, I had to get a bolt to replace the missing one since there was already the broken one there...blah. I got it as good as it's going to get now, hooked the rest of the exhaust up, and someday soon I'm going to get some of the exhaust leak repair putty mush stuff from autozone and just coat the one side of the y-pipe and the other 2 smaller leaks I still have and just leave it be for now...

[85Monster]

I'd like to redo the exhaust someday with all new shiz, but that's not happening for a while. Nowhere near a priority for me.

[85Monster]

Another cool picture of my toys haha

[85Monster]

And in the picture the side fairings are off on the motorcycle...

[85Monster]

I think I need to replace the wheel bearings now...pretty sure that's what this noise is. Never heard it before because my truck was so loud haha. Guess I'll find out soon though.

[85Monster]

This 4x4 looks fantastic lowered. Just sayin. Getting some different ideas...

[J@mes]

Meh.... I like the lights and the guard thingy. I couldn't see that still being offroad capable.. that front bumper looks like a snowplow

[85Monster]

True enough, especially with those tires but it looks mean.

[85Monster]

Bought a 5 and a half quart oil change jug today and a new filter along with gear oil and windshield washer fluid. Rear end was scarily low on oil took about 2/3s of the bottle to top it back off.

Come next paycheck(tuesday) I'll get fluids to change out in the transmission and possible spark plugs and mayyybeee wires...maybe. And someday an air filter. Then hopefully everything will be up to date and I can get back to fixing it up more and more.

[J@mes]

I think it would be a smart idea to put back enough money to change the fluids,so if you ever sink it,you have money already put back.

For the wheel bearings,it's possible that they just need cleaning and re-packing since you sunk it. It's worth a shot. Mine never made noise,but when i pulled everything apart to put on my spindles,i realized just how nasty the wheel bearings were. The grease was completely dried up.

Since your truck is 8 years older,i'm pretty sure they are in need of grease anyway. Plus i'm pretty sure you aren't the first person to get it stuck in a mudhole

[J@mes]

I think it would be a smart idea to put back enough money to change the fluids,so if you ever sink it,you have money already put back.

For the wheel bearings,it's possible that they just need cleaning and re-packing since you sunk it. It's worth a shot. Mine never made noise,but when i pulled everything apart to put on my spindles,i realized just how nasty the wheel bearings were. The grease was completely dried up.

Since your truck is 8 years older,i'm pretty sure they are in need of grease anyway. Plus i'm pretty sure you aren't the first person to get it stuck in a mudhole

[85Monster]

Unfortunately the wheel bearings on a 4x4 are in a sealed unit and can't be serviced at all. You have to replace the whole hub...

But no I'm not the first haha. My uncle bought this thing with the sole purpose of being an offroad toy. It's been sunk well on past the bottom of the doors. When I got the thing there was mud about 5 inches up the door panels. It's been jumped before too! haha

[85Monster]

Some old lady ran me off the road today-_- So I got to take a quick trip through some rough terrain and a trash can...now the hood is also on my list of things to replace. And she just drove off!! I mean I wasn't going to bother with insurance crap but at least have the courtesy to apologize...sheesh. Haha that trash can was toast too. Smashed all out of shape.

[GMC777]

Lowered 4x4 FTW!!!