Winter Projects - who's doin' what??

["Mad Max"]

So amid the preparations for my little monster garage project I was just curious if there are others in 1st gen TDR-land getting ready to kick off their own 'Winter Project'?

Big or small, swaps and conversions, bodywork and paint, interior or trim - let's hear from all you wrenchers and gearheads - write up a little diddy about your project - hearing about other's projects and the status of 'em along the way can sometimes be the best incentive for others to get out there in the cold and make cool garage stuff happen. :-laf And if you have pics be sure to post 'em along the way - I love to see projects 'in work' and of course the final product.



Who wants to be first??!



- Sam

 

[JLEONARD]

I have a couple of items that need doing this winter. One is new front coils springs and shocks, along with whatever the doctor says is worn out up front.

I also will be modifying my turbocharger but that requires a new crossover pipe and intake horn to be fabbed (nonI/C).

With some luck I'll be able to do some bodywork in prep for a spring paintjob.

The list for inside the house is too damn long to mention.

On the boat I am contemplating cutting in a transom door... that's a big project.

Jay

 

[Greenleaf]

Bigger turbo. Fuel pressure gauge. Gov spring.



GL

 

[bgilbert]

Well I have an intercooler in the works. Waiting on intake horn from Don. Just ordered a governor spring, autometer water temp, oil pressure, trans temp gauges from PDR, and 3 gauge pod and base for dash from US Gear. Oh yeah and I have a brand new PDR HX35-16 in the garage waiting too. Might have a 518 lined up for the 91 727 auto. Yeah I'll be busy this fall/winter.

 

[TKingsbury]

I need to finish putting the rest of the side trim on my truck from when I had it painted. Hopefully find a shop and get the GTX painted so I can start putting it back together. Do an engine swap on the New Yorker so I have a good engine to put in the GTX. Finish the rear part of the cage in the Samurai. And who knows what else.

Travis. .

 

[Flexiheep]

My winter project is make sure my soon to be wife (5 days Oo. Oo. Oo. ) and my truck get along... . Actually it won't be too hard, they both like each other pretty well and since the Dodge is going to be our only car for a while, gotta keep it on the road and both of them happy.....

 

[LEggers]

I wana install a PDR HX-35 and a new ATS manifold this winter. Still saving my money though.

 

[cerberusiam]

Upgraded trans, injectors, upgrade the ole VE, brakes, e-brake, gauges, and stacks.



I'm waiting for my christmas presents. Oo.

 

[MrWinkey]

Ridin the sleds... ... . summer is for workin on the trucks..... sheesh... .



I might add some gauges to my truck but thats about it.

 

[Nordby]

Doing the 1978 F250 4x4 crew conversion, but I hope to at least get it moving under its own power before winter! It's in the conversion topic, so I won't bore you here... .



It's the first gen that got me into this mess - and it is getting me out of it too - hauling trailers with parts donor vehicles (3 now!), parts to shops for machining (head, flywheel, brakes), teaching me basic diesel mechanics, and takes me to work to pay for it all!



jon

 

[paccool]

Finish installing the pre turbo gauge, install the new OEM tach I got recently, new springs and complete front end rebuild(already got the springs in hand), might go for a water meth injection system.



Told the wife I needed the injection system to lower towing temps! Not sure she believes me though! :-laf

 

[sparks57]

Hmmm... . let's see... DTT Billet package, Stoopid pump, twins...



You know, the usual!



Well, I was going for 500hp in a first gen, and now that I have twice the valves, now I need TWICE the HP!!! 1K HP here I come!!!

 

[SteveMiller]

old truck becomes new toy

Well, if I can manage to get my 2nd gen to hold together for any length of time. The 92 is getting some major mods. The wheel base is gonna be shortened to 130inches. Coils front and rear are going to be installed. I'm putting a 14bolt in the rear with a detroit. And then I'm off to Moab to see if a cummins really is too heavy to be an offroader. Oo.



Other plans including a modified HX35, pump tweaks, custom mounting of the gauges in the dash. If I'm lucky I'll manage to hook up power to the power seats and put the carpet back in but who cares about that little stuff?



steve

 

[Nordby]

Steve,



I have coils from a 1997 2500 4x4, shock towers, but not the axle side of things - whatever was welded to the axles went with them. I am in Monument just South of you, and they are yours for free if they will do you some good,



Jon.

 

[dan brooks]

Geez, I have too many projects I want to do, just not enough $$$ to get 'em done... .



4" exhaust to try to bring the EGTs down - I saw 1200* a LOT when pulling hills this week - had the camper on and the Jeep on the trailer... just shy of 14k pounds total. I had plenty of pedal left, but couldn't use it without the EGTs going up... 30-35 MPH in 2nd gear sucks, especially for those behind me.



Need new tires for the truck and replace a couple bent wheels at the same time - just have to find some inexpensive wheels rated at 3000 pounds or better... and not having any luck so far.



Sand and paint the camper shell, patch the holes on the cab from the visor and repaint the top.



That's just a few things for the truck. The Jeep needs tires ($170 each for 35" MTRs), I want to fab a high clearance transfer case skid for it, and I'd like a winch (but will settle for a wench... of course, those end up costing a lot more in the long run).



Need to pour a concrete slab at the house - it's a PITA trying to load the camper up on an uneven surface, and it would be nice to have an extra parking area where I can wrench and leave the truck or Jeep where it's out of the way for a few days. Of course, that means extending the fence - friggin' redwood is expensive - and building a new gate. Also want to build a new workshop on the back of the house, then knock down the front wall of the garage so I can actually walk around the front or back of the truck - it currently fits in the garage, but only with the nose against the wall and 2" to clear the garage door.



There are a lot more things I can think of, but it's too depressing.....

 

[MMiller]

Well lets see. I gotta swap the 700R4/208 out of the wife's chivvey, then convert it to a 4 spd/205. That way it will be ready for truck pulling next summer. She says she wants to get some new sheetmetal on it this winter too! The 90 I want to swap out the dana 61/71 for a set with 4:10's. Anybody interested? Then it will need lockers, some 38. 5" boggers, flatbed, bob the frame after the rear leafs, and stacks. I know the cummins isn't too heavy for wheelin, have wheeled the 93 many times!! Oh yeah the 75 needs a different set of headers, a fuel cell, and some odds and ends. Haven't decided if I gonna step up and build ladder bars and drive shaft loops.



Hope some of this works out this winter. At the very least I want the chivvey converted to 4 spd, and the 90 trail ready. Anybody want to come help? I could use some sponsers too! :-laf



Michael

 

[sparks57]

Well... I sure think the cummins is too heavy for wheelin'. I got myself in BIG trouble trying to follow some 350's into the mountains a few time... damn thing is just too stiff and heavy.



Not to mention I put a nice little dimple in the headliner directly above the driver's seat...

 

[MMiller]

Nope, I have wheeled my 93 quite a bit. Had the 90 out about a month ago. In the sandy soil, the only place it would not go was when the rear bumper would dig in on an uphill attempt, and two very muddy places where the diffs drug, and the opens on spun two tires. I get a huge blast out of wheeling the 93, but I have to stop that because of the paint/body damage. The 90 is an old farm truck, so the body is of no concern. Its auto too, which will work much better. I just have to get rid of the 3. 07 and get some 4:10's and lockers. I will take my cummins anywhere my 440 truck has/will go. I love the always ready diesel, no cutting out, flooding out stuff. Just instant black smoke and tires turning! Oh yeah, the 6" suspension kit is very soft off road, and it flexes quite well.



Michael

 

[jeeppuller]

winter project

This winter will be a bit busy for me. My Jeep needs to be modified to fit my kids in the back seat. But my big project is: My '89 crewcab conversion 2wd 8ft box, auto trans. It will be a '89 crewcab conversion 4wd with, 6ft box, 5spd with new doors, hood and box sides. I bought it a few years ago, it was done by Bayer Auto but they didn't prime or paint the floors when they stretched it, not to mention the bondo. Well, it will be nice when it's finished - I hope Oo. .

 

[flightmedic]

Lets see:



My dirt bike needs a carb. rebuild. The fourwheeler needs a motor rebuild. My Accord needs various odds/ends (timing belt, exhaust & probably a clutch). My soon to be wife's car needs minor attention. I have that S-10 still sitting in the shop with a donor LT-1 and 4l60e (I can't get the gumption up for it). The shop needs the heater installed. The new/used John Deere tractor needs the deck gone over and a couple leaks fixed. My girlfriend wants to convert our laundry space into a 2nd bathroom, the wainscotting in the basement needs to be finished. Their are wiring issues in the house that need to be addressed. blah, blah, blah.....



More importantly! I am waiting to see how much oversight will be applied, after the wedding, to fundage when it comes to making the truck "road worthy" If little oversight: Watch out Piers as I will clear your shelfs. Lot's of oversight: I will continue to live vicariously through all of you. :{