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Saying Good-bye to the 90 and Hello to the 72 Build. NEW:Hidden Exhaust

Put it between the framerails, down low and behind a stock bumper......VTBlazer style! :waytogo:

The large, angular plate-style bumpers just don't look right on a 1st Gen to me. You can cleverly plate and reinforce a stock bumper from the back side to give it more durability (especially at the corners) against impacts.

The look of a stock bumper with a fairlead peeking out through a hole in the license plate area seems a lot more stealth and lets you really show off the trademark original grille/surround. With a stock bumper, you'll also have an easy place to put the front turn signals.... :wink1:


:usaflag:
 
Greg72 said:
Put it between the framerails, down low and behind a stock bumper......
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Sure Greg, You make it sound so easy. I do agree with you that a stock bumper would look better, But I don't have one. Plus this build is getting close to the end, the snow is flying and it's way past time to go wheeling!

I plan on getting a new winch in the near future and maybe next spring/summer would be a good time to build a stock bumper.

I do like the beefyness of the plate bumper though. Plus it gives you a place to stand when working on (admiring) the motor.
 
Dennis,

One of these days I'm going to take all of these ideas and productize them....

I have a feeling that there are plenty of 1st Gen guys who want certain "cool" setups that are just too labor-intensive to build for the average guy. Small production runs of parts could keep the costs reasonable.

Tube doors, stock winch bumpers, aluminum 69-70 grille inserts, etc.... there's a whole host of things that I personally believe there's a market for.


:usaflag:
 
y5mgisi said:
Progress?
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Some.... But not much. Working on finishing up the fuel lines, brake lines and other non-picture worthy items. I did make a fancy bracket to hold my reservoir for the power steering. I will post a pic of that in a few days.

I am going to temp in some exhaust so I can fire this thing up. I did want to get the exhaust done before I fired it up. But , I live up in the mountains and taking a trailer down the snow/icy covered roads doesn't thrill me. I could chain up the trailer but I still wouldn't feel good about it. Roads are very steep.

Stay tuned!!!
 
Greg72 said:
Dennis,

One of these days I'm going to take all of these ideas and productize them....

I have a feeling that there are plenty of 1st Gen guys who want certain "cool" setups that are just too labor-intensive to build for the average guy. Small production runs of parts could keep the costs reasonable.

Tube doors, stock winch bumpers, aluminum 69-70 grille inserts, etc.... there's a whole host of things that I personally believe there's a market for.


:usaflag:
Click to expand...

x2, i would love the grill inserts, winch bumper, and worked fenders. would save tons of work
 
Cool build! Where did you get the relay rack and the blue sea fused bus bar? I have a couple parts from blue sea and they are nice but I couldn't find the one you have on their site.
 
I built the relay rack myself. I have extra pieces if you want one.

Here's a link to the Blue Sea fuse blocks http://bluesea.com/category/5/21/productline/126.
I used the 12 circuit with cover, Blue Sea PN# 5029 up front. And I also used the Blue Sea 5030 6 Ckt with Neg bus bar under the hood.
 
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90k5blaze said:
While trying to figure out the new mounts for the shocks. I discovered I have very little flex in the front.

It got me thinking that maybe I went the wrong direction on the build. :doah:

I used Tuff Countys 2" HD springs up front. The reason I went HD's is because of the Cad 500, Heavy winch bumper and winch.

I used the hillbilly garage method to check my flex. I hooked the cherry picker to the front frame horn and lifted it until the tire was off the ground. I measured from the top of the spring plate to the frame and it went down a ½”.

My original plan was not lift at all but I thought I would gain a little flex with the TC lift.

So I have spent the last 3 days reading every post on the 52” springs. I’m not sure I want go this route either.

My main reason are:

Body roll on the road through the corners. ( I drive it to the wheeling/racing locations)
And side hilling.

I want some front flex with little (2”) or no lift and a stable ride.

What about running 73-87 2” front TC lift springs? They are 47” long and have the same spring rate 495 as the 69-72 EZ rides 42”.
I could order Kerts B52 kit and move the rear spring hanger. They would be 5” shorter.

Or should I call dever or alcan and get a custom set?. But I would still prob have to move the mounts.
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LOL...I'm sorry Dennis, But I just happen to be this far along in reading your thread, and I couldn't hold back, as to obviously this is where I am now..
I can't wait to continue reading! Great build :thumb:

-Dan
 
OK Brothers!!! This winter has been hard on me and little time to work on the Grinch!!!

Probably a good thing, As I have had the worst luck with my truck and snow plow. For those who don't know, I live in the Mtns and have to plow in and out. My daily driver has a 8.2 Boss V plow mounted up to her from November to April/May. It's been all I can do to keep the plow running. The roads are really rough and have been tearing the crap out of everything.

Updates and pics coming this week.
 
90k5blaze said:
Updates and pics coming this week.
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Can't wait.:waytogo: I was just thinking about your rig the other day and wondering how it was coming along.

I really want to see some pics of this thing destroying some huge snow drifts. :eek1: :woot:
 
Before I post any updates I thought we would have a little discussion on the steering.

I have already installed crossover steering and will be running a lockable D60. I also installed a PSC tapped gearbox. Running 36 13.50 IROCs.
Off road use consists of Snow running, Sand/Mud Drags and lite trails. I have no real intentions of rock crawling. No offense to those who do but we just don't do a lot of it here. I may even consider a light Baja style race or obstacle course. When I say Snow running.. It's high speed 30-60 MPH through fresh powder trails usually about a foot deep.

Hence my hesitation on the Hydro assist.

I want/need (have to have) quick steering response. I have the 8" 1.75 PSC ram which most say gives decent on road steering. I am really leaning to just using the crossover steering for now and leave the gearbox in.

Get a stock gear box and run crossover only
Leave modded gearbox and run crossover. only
Install the Ram
Install a different ram.

Discuss...
 
A 1.5" cylinder would be faster and make sure your return line isn't restricting flow back to your reservoir should get your really good steering.
 
Are you sure you even need hydro assist? I'm not using it and the only time I've wanted it were when I was rock crawling and the tires are in a big crevice. If you dont do that kinda stuff maybe you can start out without it and add it later if needed.

Although, if you need to turn a lot with the front locked, then you probably need it.
 
bp71k5 said:
Are you sure you even need hydro assist? I'm not using it and the only time I've wanted it were when I was rock crawling and the tires are in a big crevice. If you dont do that kinda stuff maybe you can start out without it and add it later if needed.

Although, if you need to turn a lot with the front locked, then you probably need it.
Click to expand...

I decide not to go with the Hydro assisted steering. I did leave the PSC tapped gear in there just in case and capped off the ports.
 
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