Day one.
The Colorado crew departs from Larry’s house at 6:30.
The sky is grey overcast and it’s cool. Very un-Pueblo-like, but it makes going to desert much more inviting. I rethought all that when I saw 107 degrees on my outside temp a couple of days later.
We head west on highway...
It was somewhat a redemption run for Larry. The poison spring canyon section was probably the one that finished off his frame last time. He started to feel the strange feeling late in that day. The next day the feeling got worse.
Watching his truck this time you could tell the frame had...
Man, we got back from our trip to Utah last Friday. We could have run into each other if you came east to Lake Powell. We were at Valley of the Gods Thursday.
Tuweep is a great place. I've got similar pics and parked at that exact campsite in 2019. Worth the 70+ miles of dirt to get...
While I'm not a Ford guy that will be a rad combo. I don't know how many people have said I should put my FWC on a cut up Suburban. But the Centurion is a ready made way to get it done. Can't wait to see it.
Prep is done. I leave to head down to Larry’s after breakfast.
The truck has a functioning parking break with the correct intermediate cable installed. (Kinda important with a stick) Last week my tach decided to go off the rails so I put in a new one. Did the cleanup an reorganization to the...
Time to prep for Desert trip ‘22. The truck needs a clean out from doing the compressor install. Swap in a shorter park brake cable and maybe get the camper circuit upgraded.
The rest will be organize the gear and pack.
I head to Larry’s Friday after work. Departure is Sunday after...
I completed the compressor install. Wired in to my existing junction blocks on the fender. But the positive block was fed with a 14ga wire with only a 20amp inline fuse. Had to upgrade. So I got a roll of 6ga cable, ends and a new hydraulic crimper and upgraded the fed the junction block...
Having the space, ability and 2nd set of wheels does play into the process. My off-road toy is not my daily. I have space to do the work. Plus my rig being older is much easier to work on. No overhead cams, mile long chains, guides and phasers to fail. Just an anvil like reliable big...
Part of it for me comes down to if you fix it yourself or need to pay a shop to do the repairs. That will dictate the direction on keeping an older ride going vs trading up to a newer or brand new ride.
I’m in the minority as I prefer do all my own work and I keep a much older than most...
The compressor bracket fits right in the unused corner well.
I’ve got some wiring supplies coming in to finish the install. Plumbing is already done from the original setup. Just need to put a 90 degree elbow on it and a quick disconnect.
Lots of work was completed. I’ll hit the highlights. Fresh softride front springs are in. Fresh steering gear with the welded in frame brace repair is completed. Fresh steering stabilizer and new Bilstein shocks out back with ORD upper mount braces. We were able to jamb the inside of a...
Getting the band back together. Taking advantage of the long weekend to revise the front suspension and fix the cracked frame around the steering box mounts.
Desert trip prep is in full swing at the bigassgas garage. The pile of parts is big.
Did a test run in the driveway of my new...
Those pics are from Medano pass when we did that in college. That was actually the first time I did any off road driving. I drove Al’s solid axle ‘84 yota with the stiffest springs known to man on it. Either that trail has changed a lot or my inexperience made it seem a lot harder than it...
Never ever in my mind could I have imagined two Nissans in that garage with a third outside on standby. But I can tell by our conversations you are enjoying the hell out of the difference in wrenching on the little trucklets. That's really all that matters is having fun playing with trucks...
Funny you should say something about nobody wanting to work on manual transmissions down there. One of our mutual friends that is in Phoenix sent me a message when I found out I was getting a rebuilt nv4500. He was looking for one for his son's S10 and he mentioned nobody there does that kind...
I picked up the transmission today. They built the unit with the early low gear ratio in the later style wrapper. Fresh synchros, new bearings throughout. Anything it needed it got during the rebuild. We tossed my core on the cart and he asked if I wanted to see inside. Hell yes, I do...
They don’t break if you don’t drive them. It was a used trans. It’s a roll of the dice sometimes.
I will admit the exhaust routing Larry pushed for was money. We didn’t have to touch the exhaust to remove the trans. Can’t wait to get the trans back in. I miss the pull from 3rd through 4th.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.