Joined
·
5,954 Posts
bummer on the lug nuts!
Different threads front and back would drive me nuts punny
35s fit pretty well!
Different threads front and back would drive me nuts punny
35s fit pretty well!
Great White Re-Build
501 - 520 of 554 Posts
Joined
·
703 Posts
New nuts were supposed to be delivered last Thursday but still haven't arrived. The front axle needs to come out, hopefully, for one last time and I was going to do 9/16 studs then. I guess I should quit putting it off and just do it already.
Joined
·
703 Posts
I never was a big fan of the front bumper. I chopped off the sides and left it a stubby bumper for now. I may add some tube to the sides when I redo the rear bumper.
I also cut off and redid the front shackle mounts. I don't have any pictures of the finished product but it drives so much nicer. They got moved back 1.25" and up 1". The shackles actually have room to swing and do their thing now. Once I get some softer shocks on the front, it should ride REALLY nice.
![]()
![]()
![]()
I also cut off and redid the front shackle mounts. I don't have any pictures of the finished product but it drives so much nicer. They got moved back 1.25" and up 1". The shackles actually have room to swing and do their thing now. Once I get some softer shocks on the front, it should ride REALLY nice.
Joined
·
5,954 Posts
Looks good, the next bumper I weld up I also want to curtail the sides pretty high to leave the tires pretty exposed in the front
Joined
·
703 Posts
Thanks
I'll probably add some tube later on and see how it looks. Lately i've just been driving it but I need to get started on the front axle again. It'll probably come out one last time for a limited slip diff and possibly new gears.
I'll probably add some tube later on and see how it looks. Lately i've just been driving it but I need to get started on the front axle again. It'll probably come out one last time for a limited slip diff and possibly new gears.
Joined
·
703 Posts
I finally got my winch bolted in but I still need to mount the switch in the cab. I've also been working on driveshaft issues. The 1310 to 1330 at the front axle was binding with minimal flex. I ended up having a part machined so i could mate an XJ and explorer shaft. The explorer has the wider 1330 joint and a bigger splined slip. I also dropped the transmission mount down almost an inch. Next will be 2* shims on the front axle and it should be good to go. Her first trip out is planned for Saturday June 23rd so we'll see how she does then.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Joined
·
703 Posts
Haven't updated for a while so here goes.
I took it to the local offroad park once but mainly it's getting road miles and a few things fixed. Here's a list since the last update.
Replaced the winch and redid the bumper slightly (burned the old one up on a long, slick hill)
Made a switch panel out of the CD holder for the winch controls (has another switch on the solenoid box too)
Swapped the old 35's for some wore out 37" MTR's on the H2 wheels
Got the ABS light turned off
Modified the sending unit so my gas gauge will work
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Old rear- new front
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
I took it to the local offroad park once but mainly it's getting road miles and a few things fixed. Here's a list since the last update.
Replaced the winch and redid the bumper slightly (burned the old one up on a long, slick hill)
Made a switch panel out of the CD holder for the winch controls (has another switch on the solenoid box too)
Swapped the old 35's for some wore out 37" MTR's on the H2 wheels
Got the ABS light turned off
Modified the sending unit so my gas gauge will work
Old rear- new front
Joined
·
5,954 Posts
I like the position of the winch controls- and why is everyone getting bigger tires except me??
Joined
·
703 Posts
Well here's my quarterly update
Not much has happened since last time, I've had it in the woods once since then and racked up a bunch of road miles on it. It's about time for an oil change now that I think about it.
It's got different tail lights because they were free and one was cracked from it's first time out in the woods. Passenger rear door has some new wrinkles from the latest trip out. It's got a sway bar with quick disconnects now. The shocks are pretty stiff so body roll was just enough to be annoying. That's fixed now. I'm also messing around with an old steering box prepping for hydro assist. If I can find the right tap, I should be ready to tear apart my astro box and get it tapped.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Not much has happened since last time, I've had it in the woods once since then and racked up a bunch of road miles on it. It's about time for an oil change now that I think about it.
It's got different tail lights because they were free and one was cracked from it's first time out in the woods. Passenger rear door has some new wrinkles from the latest trip out. It's got a sway bar with quick disconnects now. The shocks are pretty stiff so body roll was just enough to be annoying. That's fixed now. I'm also messing around with an old steering box prepping for hydro assist. If I can find the right tap, I should be ready to tear apart my astro box and get it tapped.
I read through your entire thread. I am not an off road type of guy BUT what you do with a vehicle is just pure magic. I have dabbled with cars throughout the years but have never tried to tackle things that you seem to "just do." Your "brain camera" that gives you "pictures" of your vision is amazing. I have a little more than a layman's understanding of a lot of things but you seem to be like a walking library of information. Your fabricating skills and insight as well as your welding abilities are to be envied. I appreciate the amount of time you spend bringing others along on your journey with your thoughts and photos.
You are an "old school" mechanic -- so much more skilled than what I see today's "technician" capable of. Not meaning to degrade any technicians but just marvel at your true mechanical skills versus by the book part changers (like me). A true joy to read and follow along.
One thing that I will take away for my build is how you bobbed the bed. I will be trying this when the time comes and I hope it comes out 60% as perfect as yours.
Have a nice holiday and I look forward to more of your updates.
Doug
You are an "old school" mechanic -- so much more skilled than what I see today's "technician" capable of. Not meaning to degrade any technicians but just marvel at your true mechanical skills versus by the book part changers (like me). A true joy to read and follow along.
One thing that I will take away for my build is how you bobbed the bed. I will be trying this when the time comes and I hope it comes out 60% as perfect as yours.
Have a nice holiday and I look forward to more of your updates.
Doug
Joined
·
703 Posts
Thanks for the kind words. I've always wrenched on things since I was little. Whether it was model cars, R/C cars, 4 wheelers, dirt bikes, motorcycles it always got taken a part and put back together. I remember taking a 1:25th scale 55 Chevy truck and tubing the bed, cutting down the axle and stuffing some big slicks under it from an old dragster model.
My fab skills still leave a lot to be desired but it's come along way in the 11 or 12 years since I started building blazers/jimmy's. Everything I'm able to do now has come from many, many people doing it before me and posting on this site and one or two others. I miss the good ol' days when there would be daily updates and new projects started weekly it seemed like. I guess most people have moved on but I still sit at a computer for 8-9 hours a day and don't use Facebook much (other than to keep up with the s10 group).
I'm glad this information can be useful to someone. Good luck with your build and let me know if you have any questions.
My fab skills still leave a lot to be desired but it's come along way in the 11 or 12 years since I started building blazers/jimmy's. Everything I'm able to do now has come from many, many people doing it before me and posting on this site and one or two others. I miss the good ol' days when there would be daily updates and new projects started weekly it seemed like. I guess most people have moved on but I still sit at a computer for 8-9 hours a day and don't use Facebook much (other than to keep up with the s10 group).
I'm glad this information can be useful to someone. Good luck with your build and let me know if you have any questions.
Joined
·
5,229 Posts
Nice to see your still at it , haven’t been on this site in quite a wile .did you retire the extra cab and move on to a blazer ? Iam still playing with my crewcab working on a long arm Dana 60 4l80e swap wright now
Joined
·
35,536 Posts
He hasn't been on for over a year.....
Joined
·
703 Posts
Yep, still at it. I'll probably, finally, order my hydro assist stuff today. I keep putting it off.
Wish I could have kept the truck too but I drive the blazer 2-3 times a week vs 2-3 times a month with the truck. Actually it might do DD duties for a while if I sell my Silverado.
Joined
·
703 Posts
Huh? I literally check this site 4-5 times a week. Not necessarily just the SFA page.
Joined
·
35,536 Posts
That's weird. I checked your stats and it showed last activity a year ago.
501 - 520 of 554 Posts
