dusterbd13
I'm Awesome
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2011
- Messages
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- 178
ok, I'm going to link to another forum for the start of this. hopefully that's ok here.
I'm finding that this forum is where I wing up for all the model specific information, and inspiration. so I would like to give back with a build thread. its been going for about 2 weeks now, so I apologize for anyone reading it and wading through a few pages. but its a fun read.
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/f...gap-gmt400-a-drivabeater-thread/136993/page1/
ill add my latest update here as well
Budget first:
previously was 256.96
new money:
3 /4 ton leaf spring: 20
Now: 276.96
first off, I spent a hell of a lot of money this week on maintenance/repair parts. However, none of it has arrived yet, and I don't quite remember off the top of my head, so im not adding it in today. Maybe when it comes in....
also, we settled on the elky with insurance, and im keeping my billet centerlines and nardi wheel from it. So those will make an appearance at some point in the near future.
Since nobody likes a thread without pictures, ill do some.
First: the cherokee steering box that may or may not work. First round of cleaning on it is done, but it needs a lot more before I can paint it and install it.
also, the set of 3 /4 ton leaves I grabbed from a big rig repair shop for 20 bucks. They may be too stiff in the back, in which case ill pull short leaves until it rides right. The sagging, broken springs on this now have to go. My thought with the 3 /4 ton leaves is that they will have a higher rate, for less bottoming and better handling. In addition, should hold up better for tow dolly/flat tow usage. And engines. Every truck I have ever owned has hauled at least 1 engine over 100 miles in the bed.
next up, picture of the sub box that didn't fit. Its behind the seat now with perfect clearance, but its not where I WANT it. After other things are finished up, and I get some time, ill build my downfire underseat box again. And make it fit this time. However, the design in my head has changed a bit....
while cleaning out all my elky parts, I came across some stuff I almost forgot I owned that I can use on this truck.
Aluminum underdrive alternator and crank pulley from March:
the crunch 300.1 amp, wiring, and a K&N extreme top/spectre air filter combo. You can also see a backup camera and a set of tokiko HP struts for a miata hanging out in the corner of the picture. Backup camera may get used on this if I can find a good, unobtrusive spot to mount the monitor.
the yukon mirror I scored
I didnt take a picture, but I pulled a side post stud adapter and a couple of terminals out of various boxes for the 6 gauge amp cable, some RCA cable, and some other odds and ends while cleaning.
Now, so this post has actual content instead of just pictures of parts laying on various surfaces, I present the exhaust swap. Remember I had picked up an unknown flowmaster catback from pull-a-part. Well...
unfortunately, its louder than I care for, and I can now hear the catalytic converter rattling. Dammit....
I also got my new dash bezel in. significantly less broken than the old.
today we had some fun. This is what a drivabeater is all about. Fun, friends, and family. See, I had bought a new pressure washer last night, and got it put together after church. Needed to run it for a good 30 minutes to break the motor in and then change the oil. I started by using it to clean the steering box. That took like 3 minutes. So I went after the engine bay a bit.
changed the oil, and my buddy art (who's the best $200 paint and body man ive ever seen) came by to hang out and see the new truck. My wife and daughter came home from the girl scout cookie booth, and my daughter wanted to try peeling some plastidip. She has fun doing it for some reason. I wanted to tru the pressure washer method of peeling plastidip, and art wanted to see what was under it in preparation for spraying real paint on it. So we messed around in the driveway for a while. Art and Mary had a plastidip fight with the peelings, and Mary played in the gravel. And we wound up....
until next time
I'm finding that this forum is where I wing up for all the model specific information, and inspiration. so I would like to give back with a build thread. its been going for about 2 weeks now, so I apologize for anyone reading it and wading through a few pages. but its a fun read.
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/f...gap-gmt400-a-drivabeater-thread/136993/page1/
ill add my latest update here as well
Budget first:
previously was 256.96
new money:
3 /4 ton leaf spring: 20
Now: 276.96
first off, I spent a hell of a lot of money this week on maintenance/repair parts. However, none of it has arrived yet, and I don't quite remember off the top of my head, so im not adding it in today. Maybe when it comes in....
also, we settled on the elky with insurance, and im keeping my billet centerlines and nardi wheel from it. So those will make an appearance at some point in the near future.
Since nobody likes a thread without pictures, ill do some.
First: the cherokee steering box that may or may not work. First round of cleaning on it is done, but it needs a lot more before I can paint it and install it.
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_175456 by Michael Crawford, on Flickralso, the set of 3 /4 ton leaves I grabbed from a big rig repair shop for 20 bucks. They may be too stiff in the back, in which case ill pull short leaves until it rides right. The sagging, broken springs on this now have to go. My thought with the 3 /4 ton leaves is that they will have a higher rate, for less bottoming and better handling. In addition, should hold up better for tow dolly/flat tow usage. And engines. Every truck I have ever owned has hauled at least 1 engine over 100 miles in the bed.
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_175428 by Michael Crawford, on Flickrnext up, picture of the sub box that didn't fit. Its behind the seat now with perfect clearance, but its not where I WANT it. After other things are finished up, and I get some time, ill build my downfire underseat box again. And make it fit this time. However, the design in my head has changed a bit....
You must be registered for see images attach
20180222_082800 by Michael Crawford, on Flickrwhile cleaning out all my elky parts, I came across some stuff I almost forgot I owned that I can use on this truck.
Aluminum underdrive alternator and crank pulley from March:
You must be registered for see images attach
20180222_082827 by Michael Crawford, on Flickrthe crunch 300.1 amp, wiring, and a K&N extreme top/spectre air filter combo. You can also see a backup camera and a set of tokiko HP struts for a miata hanging out in the corner of the picture. Backup camera may get used on this if I can find a good, unobtrusive spot to mount the monitor.
You must be registered for see images attach
20180222_082811 by Michael Crawford, on Flickrthe yukon mirror I scored
You must be registered for see images attach
20180222_082818 by Michael Crawford, on FlickrI didnt take a picture, but I pulled a side post stud adapter and a couple of terminals out of various boxes for the 6 gauge amp cable, some RCA cable, and some other odds and ends while cleaning.
Now, so this post has actual content instead of just pictures of parts laying on various surfaces, I present the exhaust swap. Remember I had picked up an unknown flowmaster catback from pull-a-part. Well...
You must be registered for see images attach
20180224_092928 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
You must be registered for see images attach
20180224_092938 by Michael Crawford, on Flickrunfortunately, its louder than I care for, and I can now hear the catalytic converter rattling. Dammit....
I also got my new dash bezel in. significantly less broken than the old.
You must be registered for see images attach
20180222_130730 by Michael Crawford, on Flickrtoday we had some fun. This is what a drivabeater is all about. Fun, friends, and family. See, I had bought a new pressure washer last night, and got it put together after church. Needed to run it for a good 30 minutes to break the motor in and then change the oil. I started by using it to clean the steering box. That took like 3 minutes. So I went after the engine bay a bit.
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_172123 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_172109 by Michael Crawford, on Flickrchanged the oil, and my buddy art (who's the best $200 paint and body man ive ever seen) came by to hang out and see the new truck. My wife and daughter came home from the girl scout cookie booth, and my daughter wanted to try peeling some plastidip. She has fun doing it for some reason. I wanted to tru the pressure washer method of peeling plastidip, and art wanted to see what was under it in preparation for spraying real paint on it. So we messed around in the driveway for a while. Art and Mary had a plastidip fight with the peelings, and Mary played in the gravel. And we wound up....
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_164416 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_172200 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_171440 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_171445 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr
You must be registered for see images attach
20180225_172133 by Michael Crawford, on Flickruntil next time