82 stepside. Thoughts and crazy ideas

[KirsL]

I love a manual but my knees don't any more.

Yep, my knees didn't even like going for a nice easy bicycle ride over one of the last nice weekends we had recently. So shifting gears is definitely out. Especially for a daily. A pure toy, sure. But not in this case.

I have an ‘03 aam 14 bolt and no vss. I don’t believe gm uses vss on axle. Always trans or t-case

Gotcha. Dakota digital has a vss that goes in the t-case. So that's looking like the solution I'll end up going with.

I don't mind doing an axle swap but if I don't have too. I'd rather not.

 

[ZooMad75]

Pssh... Can't keep your knees in shape for driving a manual if you don't drive one every day. That's what I do. But I'm odd that way.

Though I get the idea to make the truck accessible to the girlfriend. Plus the modern multi-speed slushboxes have good lower gear ratio numbers.

 

[KirsL]

I wish it worked that way. But I know it won't for me.

Her being able to help drive will be huge on a 4500 mile trip. I like driving, but being able to take a break once in a while is nice.

 

[KirsL]

I'm used to it but my girlfriend being a touch shorter then me has a hard time getting into the truck. Especially doing it without using the door as a pull handle.
So building steps was added to the list.

They'll be handy come winter to knock any crap off my boots before getting in.

I decided to build them out of aluminum. Partly because they're just steps, not sliders. Partly I just like working with aluminum. I'll have to get some shots during the day but I got them welded up and installed today.


Not my prettiest welds but they'll be just fine. And some of you will probably ve wondering how thick the base/mounting plate is, it's 1/2". The step themselves are 3 x 1.5 x 1/8.

All tig welded, cause why not. That was actually done with DC/pure helium. Works exceptionally well on thicker stuff and preheat the part to switch to AC.

There's a couple extra pieces I didn't get pictures of. Was more concerned with getting on then photos.

End result, she's happy she has steps.

Course now she wants a grab handle too .

 

[Chickntrk]

Won’t those be slippery as heck when they are wet?

 

[KirsL]

Won’t those be slippery as heck when they are wet?

Absolutely they will be. Over the Thanksgiving weekend I'm going to put a anti-skid coating on them.

Getting them on the truck is half the battle.

 

[nvrenuf]

I bought a roll of the adhesive sandpaper like stuff that’s on skateboards to use on my sliders, I haven’t used it yet but if it sticks it should work great.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Spray on some bedliner?

 

[KirsL]

I tried the spray on bedliner on the ones I built for my Dodge years ago. Where you don't step, it's held up. But where you step, lasted about a year.

We get some roll on type at my work. I'll end up using that. I'll get a picture of it when I go to work.

 

[Big Ray]

don't know how I missed this one...subscribed!

 

[KirsL]

So there has a been a leak for a bit and it turned out to be the brake booster.


So over the Thanksgiving weekend I swapped it out. It actually wasn't too bad to do. Took longer to swap the lines out then the booster itself.

I'm really bad at taking pictures while working as I'm busy working. Not documenting.

The trip this weekend revealed a couple things that need to be addressed to be more comfortable on long trips.
1: I need an actual stereo in the truck. The Milwaukee m12 speaker is nice, but takes up precious cap space. Nothing crazy, couple speakers and Bluetooth for hands free.

2: The cab needs more sound deadening. We had to just about yell at one another to hear each other..

3: I need to rebuild or replace the vent windows as a ton of wind noise comes from them not sealing well anymore.

4: While I like the look of the stock mirrors, they are painfully bad at seeing a large enough field of view. I'm sure I'll have to adapt something but it'll be worth it.

 

[KirsL]

Slowly plugging away at little upgrades and repairs.
See if anyone can figure out what I’m doing with this.


It’s 85% done outside of install.

 

[ZooMad75]

Battery Box?

 

[KirsL]

Close. Air filter box.

I'm going to move my filter to where the passenger side battery currently is. Moving it forward and "enclosed" will help with some in cab noise and feed the engine cooler air.

Still have to put together the new battery tray. For its new home.

 

[Chickntrk]

I was gonna guess center console, with a sub mounted inside

 

[folkenheath]

Nice work!

So when are we going to see the crazy ideas?

 

[KirsL]

I was gonna guess center console, with a sub mounted inside

You know that's not a half bad idea. I do need an arm rest and storage in a regular cab is always hard ti come by.

 

[KirsL]

Nice work!

So when are we going to see the crazy ideas?

Thanks!

Oh I have some stuff brewing, planning and a little building already. Needs a little more done before it sees the light of day .

 

[KirsL]

Ah, where to start.
I worked on some stuff over Christmas, I had the 22 and 23 off. So lots of shop time. But then promptly after Christmas both my girlfriend and I got sick with covid. Yay. That was fun. We're both finally getting over it. So much fun being sick for news years.

I officially listed the Dodge for sale. Listed down in the classifieds. I'll give it a week or so before I put it on marketplace and Craigslist.

Now things I got done on the truck over the Christmas weekend.

I replaced the tierod and drag link ends. Upgraded to the ORD ends. They seem pretty good so far. See how long they last.


I tried the cheap ord stabilizer bracket. But the little 1/4 u-bolts snapped. Now I could of done a simple plate with some 1/4-20 grade 8 bolts and probably been done with it. Na, that's to simple.

 

[KirsL]

Here what I came up with it.



2" block of 6061 aluminum, some time on the drill press. Works perfectly.
Now you're probably wondering why did I make one vs buying one. Mostly, time frame. It was Friday before Christmas and I needed to drive the truck home that day. So I made one.