mpace6a

Problem, is Murphy is always right.

IIRC. the 4.3 requires just as much work to go in as a 350. At least the 2.8 is bolt-in.

I use photobucket myself, but hate it just because it takes forever to load on my laptop.

Just saying, the search feature is a wonderful thing. Secondly, do NOT use chains. Chains are fine for constant pressure, but when you get stuck, theres almost always tugging, jerking, etc, and chains can/will break, and can/will kill you and bystanders. Theres many members on this and other forums who wouldnt even consider going wheeling anywhere with you if chains are your recovery choice. Second, for tow hooks, you need brackets. don't just bolt them into the unibody because they will tear out and go flying at high speeds, like chains. Use straps with a breaking point twice the weight of your jeep with closed loops, no hooks. Simple as that.

I was going to suggest the cat. converter, but seems you've gotten that already. I know it seems trivial to even suggest at this point, but, I kept having issues with my dads '97 ram, had to put 4 or 5 different thermostat's in it, before the last one finally fixed it. don't know why, the others opened fine when tested, but would just stop opening after being in the truck for a week or so. Plus, its the cheapest thing you can do to test your system.

Huh. Looks like it went smooth! On the 2.8 I swapped in, the newer valve covers wouldnt work with the carb intake, and the old valve covers wouldnt work with the new timing cover, and so on. But, nonetheless, it all seems to have gone together well! If you drove it all before, it might feel a bit "stronger" than the old engine, but its still a 2.8. It'll do 65 uphill with a VERY slight grade, but flat and downhill you can cruise 75-80 all day long.

Thats beautiful...i shed a tear of joy seeing that.

The later 2.8's with TBI had a different intake, which in turn needed a different timing cover, and therefore a different oil pan so everything would mate up. If you're sticking with TBI it'll have to stay, but if your going carb'd then you'll have to swap it out for the carb'd 2.8 oil pan anyway. I didnt notice much of a difference between the two other than the lip that bolts into the timing cover...but i didnt size up the tbi 2.8 in the engine bay.

Plenty of local blokes have also offered to take it off my hands. And you're too far off mate; shipping would be a killer. :yes: Shipping wouldnt be an issue for me...I'd come pick it up from you! Or at least let me come make a fiberglass mold!! Anymore news on betty? This is probably the 5th or 6th time I've read this build through. Still intrigued and inspired by it!

Awesome, start a build thread! What'd you get the 3.4 out of? Gettin real tired of my 2.8 puttin around like its got 88hp, need a bigger powerplant....not sure if i want small and simple, or go all out with a v8 or diesel...

Yes, thats the relay. Can you hear it click when someone turns the key? The relay should make a click when the key is turned,seperate from the starter solenoid. An easy way to check it is to cross the terminals on the relay. If it starts with terminals crossed, but not with the key, it more than likely needs to be replaced.

^ I think the outside hinges would add a more "complete" look with the ceiling tiles, just my $.02

x2, check the relay. That was my 2.8s issue when it wouldnt start.

What I was just thinking...Have they never seen an extended cab truck before? The way they joined it is just ugly as sin. I've seen better looking 1 eyed, 12 toed inbred kids!

Ill check those out too. Waitinh on my sway bar bushings to come in since nobody had them in stock.

Thanks for the tip! I hate body roll...

Cool! Thanks for the info man!

That is sweet! It would be a show room queen if it was mine...and I'd be making fiberglass molds of all the trim and mouldings. So much want!

Check for leaks. Happened to me and I had a leaking fuel line in the engine bay. Usually gas evaporates fast enough you won't notice a leak, but drive somewhere, and when you smell gas pull into the nearest parking lot, pop the hood, look for wet areas, and check the lines from the tank to the engine bay.

How do you like the HIDs so far, as far as brightness and light pattern? Really thinking about getting some... ANd the truck looks great man, really like how the JCR bumper looks

Ehhhh....cut the frame, make a truggy? Then who cares if its bent or not! And a bent frame can still be fixed, professionally or otherwise. Tboned some tweakers that ran a red light, driving a 97 dodge doing ~45 when i hit em, tweaked the drivers side of the frame about 2". Was pulled back out, and tracks straighter now than it did pre-accident. Just went back and re read the original post. If the impact broke the windshield, its safe to say the frame and unibody are both bent pretty bad. If your unibody is tweaked the truck is pretty much effed. can't really straighten a unibody. :nuts: :doh: :rotf: But yeah if it knocked out the driveshaft, which easily messed up his transmission, and cracked the windshield. His truck is done for. No two ways about it. No insurance company is going to pay to get that fixed, it will get totaled out. And if he chooses to buy it back it will cost a lot more to get it fixed than what theyre going to give him for it. IMO if it was me, I would buy it back get as much money for it as possible. Buy another truck, part out the wrecked, one then scrap it. :dunno: Not necessarily on the drive shaft...if it broke his springs (I'm assuming he means the ubolts or maybe the shackles?), it could have twisted enough and just dropped out. Usually you have to hit the driveshaft dead on and hard to grenade the transmission. Just a possibility...but I'm kinda arguing for the sake of the arguement at this point. Regardless its probably totaled, and if the unibody is that warped, there's probably nothing good that hasnt been tweaked slightly aside from the interior.

Didnt get a chance to fix anything, but did figure out the swaybar is hitting the passenger coil, and has rubbed a small groove into the trackbar mounting bracket, so thats getting replaced tomorrow. Thanks for all the tips guys, I'm gonna go through everything tomorrow with my brother, see if i can find anything else that may also be giving me issues!

Where did you say you live again....I may show up in the night with truck and trailer! Awesome story man, sweet lookin collection!

can't be much help with the axle...but man that truck is sick! . :MJ 1: .

Ehhhh....cut the frame, make a truggy? Then who cares if its bent or not! And a bent frame can still be fixed, professionally or otherwise. Tboned some tweakers that ran a red light, driving a 97 dodge doing ~45 when i hit em, tweaked the drivers side of the frame about 2". Was pulled back out, and tracks straighter now than it did pre-accident. Just went back and re read the original post. If the impact broke the windshield, its safe to say the frame and unibody are both bent pretty bad. If your unibody is tweaked the truck is pretty much effed. can't really straighten a unibody.