neohic

So what everybody up to today when we should be spending time with or significant others? Me? 50 hour Trivia contest... but she's here too so it's cool, right?

Good news! I just found a box somewhat local to me... only about a four hour drive one way... The guy said it has been on his shelf for about 14 years! Hoping for the best.

Yeah... I thought about doing that, but my main problem is the rear lower corners (all round and stuff). I like the look of a full box, but maybe I should just cut the corners off and make up a bumper that wraps around from wheel well to wheel well.

I'm working on my '88 Eliminator and the lower four inches of my box is in tough shape... dissapointing because of the shape of the rest of the truck. Does anyone know if new box sides are available anywhere?

I totally understand your feeling of being lonely... not too many looking at mine either. I totally dig the green! Almost painted my old truck that same color but sold it instead. Cool truck though... I like the "business only" look! Simple, no frills... awesome!

Je-Pontiac-ep?

Happy to have it back on all fours again... it's been way too close too the south wall in my shop for weeks! :wall:

Currently- 1988 Eliminator, SWB, 4x4 swap, 4 inch lift, 4.6L, auto, Chrysler 8.25, 4.10 gears, 31s: Had this litte guy for the past five years and has been a project for the past two and a half (change of jobs, wedding, bought house, built my shop... probably more excuses but it should have been done by now). Past- 1989 Eliminator, SWB, 4x4 swap, 3 inch ift, 4.0L, manual, 3.07 gears, 33s: Terrible truck to drive outside of in-town speeds. The plan was to keep the truck as a beater/offroad rig, but the change of jobs had me commuting 70 miles a day. I sold it to some kid who wanted something cheap to drive out on the ice, but for what I actually had in it and for what I sold it for I drive it for two years for the gas money I put in it! Took the 33s off before I sold it along with all the good stuff I built for it. I saw it once since I sold it five months ago and he already had a huge dent in the bed... brought a little tear to my eye...

Just about got the steering done... it helps working at a technical college: This weeks assignment for the Machine Tool Department? My drag link and tie rod! A little paint and it's ready to go.

^Joined two months and twelve days before I did... and has way more posts than me...

Anybody know if an out-of-box kit for a Ranger or something could be made to work?

Neato idea on the thermostat housing... wish I would've thought of that while mine was apart. Good thinking on the pressure bottle too! Bet it was cheaper than a '92+ radiator with a cap. Awesome truck!

Awesome job on the bumper! How tall is overall (minus the hoop)?

Got some YJ brake lines for the front... didn't take pictures. Making up some new steering as well. Still moving forward, though!

Thanks, kid! I cut out the basic shape out of 3/16" plate and then I just clamped it to my work bench and bent it a little... reclamp about a half an inch forward and bent... reclamp, bend... and so on. Then I did something similar for the bend on the face of it. I got the coils and the track bar back in today... finally for the first time my truck has coils that don't look like macaroni noodles! Before: After:

Big day... got the axle back in after the new control arms. Made up my truss and control arm plate and got those on too. Finished it up with some hammered black paint to match the rear. Hoping to get the coils and calipers back under it tomorrow.

Pretty much... Full gauges, bucket seats, color matched everything, 10 hole wheels, short box, 4.0L, and only 2wd up to '91. You could get any other options from there. Neither of mine had cruise or air, one had a rear slider, one has an auto trans, both have tilt... my color matched fender flairs are gone though. (I'll fix that when I paint the truck.)

Small change of plans as far as the control arms are concerned... no longer going with the WJ arms. I found these locally: Rubicon Express fixed lowers and adjustable uppers both with rebuildable joints at the frame... brand new for $250!

Totally not making them that big... even I don't think I'm cool enough to pull off that big of "cool guy holes"!

Now moving on to make the front match the rear: I got the ball joints out (that have always been bad since I swapped in that axle four years ago...) and the carrier with a set of 4.10s to go in. I've got a truss template made up and I'll box in the control arm mount while I'm at it... making up a diff cover to match the rear too. I'm also kicking around the idea of using WJ control arms for now as I only have about four inches of lift (probably more lift and long arms in the future). The plan as of now is to get the axle built up for future stronger internals as money allows. I'm calling this "phase three". Phase one was the original lift and 4wd swap, phase two was the engine, phase three is goint back through the suspension and refining everything, and phase four will be the bodywork and paint. ... gotta have the "cool guy holes" too!

I'll totally be there this summer... :cheers:

Big progress today... I got the 8.25" mounted! I've got a Dakota rubber line to go in and new hard lines to go out to each wheel. The rusted rotors are just for mocking up... getting those turned before it's back on the road. Gave it all a good coat of black hammered paint too:

... and the issue of time to do it on my part. I'm already hoping to finish my truck before spring... and that's almost a long shot! Maybe come time when it gets warmer here we could figure something out?

Thanks dude!... maybe see you in Colorado! :cheers: