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Project MULE - Expedition build on a 1991 1500 4x4 Suburban

That console is turning out very nice and clean. Very well built! I’m starting to wonder if you have some Amish blood in ya with that kind of honed in wood working skill. Usually I am not a fan of that many toggle switches (or aftermarket bolt-on gadgets that require that many switches) but you’ve done an exceptionally clean install with the wires and switch placement. The shift lever might be a pain to reach when hit one of those trails like the Doll House trail in Canyonlands where you are shifting from 4hi to 4lo every 100 yards. Even a shift lever that is easy to reach becomes a pain on the back on those type trails.

Like I said before, you're going to need a 15L Cummins and 2 ton axles to power and support the weight of this rig by the time your done adding everything you need :pimp:.
 
Thanks Larry, The switch panel is designed to be modular. Right now this is the max The truck is also used to show what I sell with weatherpack connectors, relay boxes, wiring an switch panels so its kind of done for show-n-tell. The center console did turn out great but all things considered I'd rather be working with metal.

Not much left for building after this. I will be building the sleeping platform and drawers, a 16 gallon(probably less) water tank and a secondary fuel tank in frame. I still have the 14 bolt shelved and will be putting that in probably next winter.

When we get back it gets painted white... This time with automotive paint :whistle:
 
Spy photos in. Along with running search and rescue ops we can also do a FBI background check while you wait! :D:D:D

Actually the Toughbook is for live data logging on Topofusion and the wife can write int he log for out trips.

The tach, tranny temp and vac gauge are still kind of "there" as temporary. i still have not figured out where to put them.

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Lookin' good! I really like the gauge lighting. Wifey does as well, so we'll prolly have to copy that for our own truck. :rolleyes:


What radio band(s) are you set up for? :popcorn:
 
No I'm still alive. I got back from vacation and have been swamped since. The truck has been on hold for a little while while we take care of other stuff. Mainly our business.

I have to warranty our the rear springs as they are not as heavy as they were supposed to be. The wife backed into and old oak while in Minnesota and bent the dual swing outs and hopefully start acquiring parts for the motor project. We also how to get it repainted to white in the next few months.

I decided to get back into dual sport bike so I am working on some products to offer to that community. Sold both of our trailers and plan to get a jumping jack next year.

That's the scoop.
 
10-4. Glad to hear all is going well. Seemed odd not seeing a daily updates for a while and got worried maybe the Zombie Response Lights failed you and they got’cha or something.
 
Updates:

Well, I've been busy with our business and both the wife and I have got back into dual sport bikes so thats been eating up a lot of our time.

During our trip to Minnesota Bridget decided to back into a very old very large oak and bent the swingout spindles so I am slowly trying to remove them from the bumper without hacking the bumper up. This initially is not going as planned since I did to damn good of a welding job. :doah:

The 3/4 ton springs we got earlier this year were real soft... like half tona soft so I was able to warranty them out last week and I upgraded to 1 ton springs. They sit about 3" higher now but once we get the drawer system built and the rear bumper re-assembled it should drop back down.

Engine project:
It's waiting until tax refund time. The heads are bagged on my shelf and the block and crank are at the machine shop with all the machining done (except the decking). I was able to get the correct ECM from one of the guys from the Gearhead efi forums that EagleMark runs.

Body:
We will be repainting the body in White with a single stage Urethane with a black trim. Kind of getting the color scheme idea from Larrys Polarbear. We hope to be painting the body once it warms up.

Interior:
The switch panel was fun but we need more room for camera gear and other items while on the road so I am going to redo the switch panel and make it more conservative. but add more USB power ports.

The drawer system is still being worked on but it looks like now the drawers will only go forward enough to the back of the back seats. Since we have got back into Dual sports bikes we have been going to more bike events with friends in the Mule so we have decided to keep the back seat. That shortens the over length of the platform in the rear.

Tires:
Sometime in the spring. Still locked on the Cooper Discoverer ST MAXX in 315-75-16

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Thats pretty much it for now.:waytogo:
 
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Thanks for the update, I enjoy reading about your build and all the interesting and well built modifications you have applied.
 
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Thats pretty much it for now.:waytogo:[/QUOTE]

I'm running them on my Blazer. I really like the tire. I think it looks good on the truck and is a good cross between off road and traveling tire.
 
Been a while since I posted, Everything has been running fine and the truck has been doing great... until now. Started getting a howl in the rear. Found the rear left axle seal was leaking. Pulled it a part and it was not pretty. I got 6k miles on these new National bearings and seals and this happens! I still have to pull the right side to verify that side is still good.

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Talking with the manager at O'reilly in the morning.
 
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