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Mounted the Tool Box Doors. Thanks to
Bill Lammers of Ocala FL for the new hinges installed on my old doors. No I no
longer have that convenient step into the front of the bed that the open
tool box offered, Oh well. 1/12/08 |
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Fabricated a single stringer Bar to Windshield
Frame brace to use when the Full Canvas Top Sides are installed.
Should probably consider some additional attachments to the rear portion of
the over the door/window side frame though.
1/12/08 |
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I had the idea of building a off road style
spare tire carrier tail gate like seen in the lower portion of this photo.
However after setting the tire in a position close to where it might reside,
I'm reconsidering. I like the look and idea, but after seeing how it
blocks the rear view I'm now considering leaving the tail gate out all
together, and will likely place the spare flat on the floor in the front of
the bed. I did look at mounting it vertical at the front of the bed
where it would be expected to be mounted, but the 39.5" tire blocks way too
much of the rear view. 1/19/2008 |
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The three simulated Mounting Heights of the
Rear Winch. Each height offers a potential location (elevation) to
built the rear receiver hitch tube. I'm looking at mounting the
receiver tube flush to the bottom of the rear cross member (lower image),
centered on where the pintle hook would mount (center image), or flush to
the top of the rear cross member (upper image). Mounting it below,
would be more the norm, and be the easiest. However I'm concerned with
it dragging, and getting me hung up more. The center would not be as
strong but an option. Mounting it above would be a little more work
and some tight clearances to the bed cross member, but get the hitch and
winch both up and out of the way. However it would be a very long drop
receiver hitch to ever reach a trailer if I desired to to one. 1/19/2008 |


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Well last night and today I fabricated the
Hitch plate. I went with the over the cross member to provide maximum
clearance for the winch when off roading. It's a little tight to
install with the bed installed, but it can be done. 1/26/2008 The
top picture collection is of the hitch as fabricated. I used existing
bumperet and pintle hitch bolt holes for mounting, however I will need to
drill two more holes vertically up through the hitch and cross member to
secure it better from twist. Drilling two 3/4" holes upward over your
head is no fun, sure wish the bed wasn't installed.
The middle picture collection shows the hitch installed and with various
items inserted into the receiver tube. The pintle hitch sticks further
rearward than stock, but it's not like I plan on using it to pull a trailer,
just pull other folks out.
The lower picture collection shows the winch from several different
angles. You can see in the lower left image that most of the departure
angle is preserved. The winch bracket has a loose fitting 2" tube, and
I think I might tack a couple of shims to it to take out some of the play,
other wise it will wobble a lot when bouncing along the trail. |


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Started fabricating the tailgate today.
Still need to fabricate the hinges before installing some sheet metal on it.
02/02/2008 |
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Finished welding and smoothing out the frame of
the tailgate. Also worked out the hinge design, and need to purchase a
1.125" ID tube and cut the attaching plates. The cross bars on the
side panel areas are there to reinforce that area when/if a four wheeler is
loaded. I will fill in the 4 small (8" x 14" areas with 16 gauge
steel. The large center area fill be filled in with a removable panel,
so that I can use the tail gate if I wish with the winch installed and still
haul a four wheeler. 02/03/2008 |

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Work continues on the Tail Gate.
Re-thinking the center section, not sure if I want a solid panel or a mesh
panel. 02/09/2008 |
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Well Gabrielle and I took the Frankie (the M)
out for a ride yesterday after returning from visiting the new Harbor
Freight store that opened up just under an hour away. It was a nice day, and
the temperatures were in the mid 40’s. After the engine missing that
occurred the last time out, 10 degree day, I was eager to see if it was
related to the extreme cold. Well to my dismay, when ever we would be
cruising at road speeds (2,800 RPM and 55 MPH) the miss would occur, I could
accelerate or decelerate and no problems. No issues when starting from a
stop either. I have also noticed that the truck has seems to of lost some of
it’s ideal torque, as in order to start (1st or reverse) I have to give it a
little accelerator or it dies.
Now I’m still fighting the tuning of the Holley TBI. And based on some of
the posting I’ve read on the unit (I wish I’d found them before I bought
it), I’m thinking I’ve made a mistake. I should probably go to a good off
road carburetor. I did pull a plug to see how it looks, and to my eyes it
looks good, with a possible indication of High Speed Glazing (sudden
combustion chamber temperature rise). If that is the case, then it could
explain the missing, and I would need to replace the plugs with a colder
ones. My current plugs are NGK V-Power GR4 Spark Plugs.
So now the question is do I need to go to a colder plug, or is the plug OK,
and I need to give up on the Holley Fuel Injection? Any suggestions or
Ideas, Help? 02/09/2008 |
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Fabricated and installed the Door Checks I made
from 1" nylon Straps. Doors open just over 90 degrees.
02/17/2008 |
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Well I have the hinges parts fabricated and
ready to weld onto the tailgate. 02/24/2008 |