SoCal '85 6.2L Jimmy build

[solvire]

I don't feel so young, but yeah, I'm burned out working behind a computer so I have to get out and do real man work or I'm gonna throw something out my office window.

I don't think anyone else in my office can work on a vehicle. Beyond changing tires etc.
Lost Angeles

 

[solvire]

Autometer Gauges

Been a bit for me. I have only had about one day a week to work on the machine, but in that time I got some electrical done. What a PITA all that was.
The autometer gauges. Thanks user ION.
I must say that the wiring kit for the cluster is a definite benefit. It made so many things more enjoyable. I love the gauges.

I pulled out a ton of wiring back behind the dash. There is still a ton more that needs to come out. i was waiting on Kert to open up some time to fab a dash so in the mean time I put the old one back in.

here are some pics of the progress.

I had to do some major chopping on the original cluster. And in the spirit of my ex GF, being without class or dignity, i slashed and smashed pieces out of the way so all my nasty tangled wires could stuff into that tight hole back there. All hidden away so no one knows the sin which lies inside.

The tach lights don't work.
Also the tach doesn't work at all because I am not sure yet how to hook up on a diesel. I've been considering a few approaches, but I'd like something simple that can just bolt into whats there.
The oil gauge is not working because I haven't changed out the oil sender yet. Soon.

My first attempt at doing anything electrical so I am impressed the truck didn't burn down and that it all went back together. Took forever though.


As you can see there is no speedo on the orig. I musta drove too fast and it just exploded.

The angle on the speedo is fine but the others on the left are not great. Too hard to see them.

Like I mentioned no light on the tach. What is strange is the tach will flash when just for a second when i turn the key off. I am not sure what is going on in there but it looks like the dash is coming off again.

 

[K85 Octane]

I can see your future.....

Any close?

 

[solvire]

multiplicity

I can see your future.....

Any close?

Answer: Yes

Yeah, I think you are right on.
I saw your post earlier and kept thinking... well I guess I gotta go through the steps. At least I know I'm going the right direction.


BTW I really like what you did there. Bravo on that work. I continue to learn a lot and pick up great ideas from guys on here.

 

[solvire]

finally got out to hungry valley to test out the girl. She did amazingly well. Considering how many cracks there are in her. Steering got stripped out a little I think. I'm going to go under when the temp comes down and look at all the bolts but the steering is all over the road again. I'll have pics shortly.

 

[solvire]

Sound Deaderizer

After the awful head shrinking heat of the LA valley, it is about time to get rolling on the work again. It cooled down a little bit so I can actually tollerate the temps.

I have ordered 3 part sound deadening from second skin. The package arrived quickly and I am prepping the floor to put it in. Once I get the pics up I'll add details on application, product and overall effect. I took my phone out and measured the sound pollution going about 45 and will remeasure once the product is installed.

Pictures will be up shortly. I'm doing the rear half of the truck and then putting in the front half. If I had a place to store things I could actually put in more than just a piece at a time, but this is the joy of limited space in LAngeles.

 

[y5mgisi]

I cant wait to do some sound deading stuff!

 

[VegasAR15]

Did you ever get the tach figured out? I thought the diesels needed a different tach. I'm going to be ordering a tach for my 1985 6.2 soon, think I might just replace everything like you did.

 

[Deuling]

I cant wait to do some sound deading stuff!

X2

 

[K85 Octane]

you're going to make Gorman sept 30th right I couldn't give a crap about the 4wp event but it helps to get others out there and show off the rigs.

 

[solvire]

tach

Did you ever get the tach figured out? I thought the diesels needed a different tach. I'm going to be ordering a tach for my 1985 6.2 soon, think I might just replace everything like you did.

Nope having got it figured out yet. Been on other things, but will be coming back around to it soon. I'll definitely be posting once I do though. I don't think it's a matter of a different tach rather diesels just have to find a different sensor source.

 

[solvire]

Gorman

you're going to make Gorman sept 30th right I couldn't give a crap about the 4wp event but it helps to get others out there and show off the rigs.

I actually wasn't aware of any event. Work consumes my life so that doesn't surprise me. It will probably be a solo trip because everyone I know in LA is a soft palmed type. Before I'll have to PM you so I can figure out where you landing out there. Few weeks ago I did the test course but there are some cracks on her that I really need to take care of before I do much more technical wheeling.

 

[solvire]

Sounds of Deadorizor

Alrighty, took the long weekend to put in the sound deadening. Included are some pics. I went with second skin as your know. Ken at second skin gave me some estimates on material quantity. We also went over a few strategies on how to get the best results.

I am only doing half the truck at a time BTW. It has to be drivable due to the fact that it's on the street and LA street sweep gangsters have parking enforcement leading the way. I have to move the truck twice a week. PITA.

I downloaded some sound meter apps for my phone to get an idea of the noise polution. With and without the carpet in there wasn't too much of a difference. The phone only goes to 100dB so i am using my metric as 45mph since that is the speed I'm at when I hit 100dB

My strategy is so far.
Lay down a vibration dampening layer on all the exposed metal. I went with the b-stock damplifier pro. I have no less than a dozen cuts on my hands now and it took a lot longer than i expected. That jimmy gotta lotta square footage in her ass. It seems to go down really well and road testing the noise there was a considerable tonal change if not a slight volume reduction. I think I have dropped it around 5-10dB at that point. The tinny sound is gone and it is more the engine drone and tire rumble.

I'll add the pics for the mass layer in the second reply.

 

[solvire]

Mass Load

The second step was to add the mass loaded noise barrier. I went with the luxury liner pro. My estimates I think were way too low with this. I am almost out of it and only did the rear. Let me say that this stuff is kinda spendy. I've invested more than I wanted to.

I didn't put it on as exacting as the dampening layer because for one I didn't have it and I didn't think I needed to. I went and road tested it after laying it down and the volume had dropped. At 45mph I was now down to between 87 and 90. This is only with half the truck done. I don't expect the truck to be lexus level quiet; I just don't want to need earplugs on the highway.

The carpet now sits in there like a bad toupee. It needs to get thrown out. It's friggen nasty. Anyone know where I can get good vinyl flooring that's fitted? Or maybe just a rubber floor mat would be fine.

 

[solvire]

window seal

Got a kit for the window sweep and felt. A six piece kit from A1 Auto for ~$100. Not bad IMO. The old stuff was rotted completely. If it was not rolled all the way up, the window would rattle when I closed the door so bad that I thought it would explode. I still need to get the channels for the rear window. That thing is still hosed. I have to run it with a drill.

New stuff went in really well. Fit great. Everything is nice and snug now.

 

[y5mgisi]

Good job man!

 

[solvire]

6.2 updates

It's been a long while since i put anything up.
Since then I have been wheeling a few times and replaced some of the less awesome parts. I completely destroyed the yoke and drive shaft and had to get it towed in. I am also very upset I didn't have any pics of it when it happened.

Also had to take some time off ($) so that I could build a rifle. It took effort to build a nice rifle whilst abiding by Kalifornia laws.

Anyway,
Back to building.

The back panels on the truck were too beat up to repair. I went to the depot and picked up a 4x8 of hardboard and attempted to trace out a template. They didn't line up well because apparently the original panels were too rotten to hold the line. I don't have a table to work on so I did this all in the street with a jigsaw, so edges are kinda uneven. Hardboard was only $13 so I might redo it another weekend if I feel motivated.

I went to a local audio shop and picked up the stretchy speaker covering. It should be durable enough for my purposes. Looks decent anyway. Sprayed adhesive all over and then used 1/4" staples all the way around to keep it in place. Some sheet metal screws with washers and done.

I'll be putting in some speakers up front in a few weeks. Next projects are the doors up front and some speakers in the cab.

 

[Burbdood 74]

Looks good to me. If anybody tells you that the edges are jagged and uneven, you could always do what I have mentioned before here.

Look at the person telling you that and tell them to get a closer look at the edges. Then, grab them by the back of the head and bash their head on the panel 4 or 5 times and ask them if it's straight now. Then tell them to do it themselves next time.

 

[solvire]

snuffy i enjoy your form of negotiation. it's graceful yet effective

 

[Burbdood 74]

snuffy i enjoy your form of negotiation. it's graceful yet effective

Works well on ex-wives, brother-in-law's and door to door salesmen too*







*may cause temporary loss of freedom courtesy of your local PD and a trip or 2 to anger management