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Blues Brothers - so many good movie quotes there.

Part of the reason I left in unfinished is because where the driver side seat belt comes up along side the console is very tight and I wanted to see if it was a problem before I built the arm rest/ storage compartment. It's proven to be tight, but still functions fine and only gets caught up...

Reflexively keeping parts = pallets and crates full of stuff I may never need. Or maybe crates and pallets of gold. Who knows? I do keep most stuff... I may install HD relays for the lights, but for now, they are brighter than stock, and the stock wiring seems to be holding up fine.

The center console...you guys saw my redneck console a while back, right? The cardboard box with a Starbucks 4-pot cardboard cup holder, right? As much as I liked that one, I figured I should spend a few hours and build something nicer. I knew I did not want to re-use the bulky original center...

One issue that was bothering me was the fuel vapor pressure inside the fuel tank. Whenever I removed the cap, I would get a blast of explosive fuel vapor. I went through the fuel tank plumbing diagrams over and over again to make sure that I had this one installed correctly. It seemed to be...

Original razor grilles on these Cherokees are very hard to come by, and literally every single one at the wreckers bends and cracks in it. Mine wasn't in great shape and I tried not to let it bother me, but I did want to replace it with something nicer. There are a couple specialty shops who...

Figured it was time for an update on the Cherokee. Not much really, just a great daily driver. There have been a few tweaks and upgrades made and a couple epic winter wheeling adventures too. Our winter here in the NorCal Sierra Nevada range was pretty spectacular, with a couple massive storms...

Oh, cool. It would be fun to park this in their showroom for a while...

Thank you. One detail that doesn't show without really looking, is the hardware. I didn't want to use gold zinc plated hardware, so I spent about $600 on grade 8 zinc aluminum fasteners. It's a very subtle touch. Some of the pics show gold zinc hardware, but those haven't yet been changed out...

That's it for now. I'll leave you with one last shot of the body on the fresh chassis.

Motor and trans inn the chassis = time for engine wiring and plumbing.

A Holley oil pan was installed on the LS3 for added front differential clearance.

Anyone who has ever assembled a Dana 300 t-case knows how difficult the shifter mechanism can be to install. Those interlocking pills make it a challenge, but machining up some dummy shafts to hold things in place during assembly makes it a ton easier. Modified oil pan with Toyota magnetic...

Using the HD rear output shaft and VSS kit from Advance Adapters will make this case strong enough to handle the 440hp of the LS3, and also offer the speed sensor input to the GM ECM.

Building the D300 transfer case took some time. These cases are strong, but they tend to leak, so extra attention was given to those leak prone areas. Also, the rear heavy duty output housing needed some machining to be able to be used with studs, instead of the supplied hex socket screws. Why...

All that nice satin black powder looks a ton better when the pieces are assembled with new hardware. Here's the modified pedal assembly. If you don't remember, the sport where it mounts to the firewall was modified to bolt up to the hydro boost. The beautiful narrowed Dana 60 with new...

But we need to remember where we started. Most people look at a fresh build and can't fathom the work that went into it.

Someone once said - now all we need to do is take that pile of parts and put them together.

Hi guys. We're back, and getting ready to fire this thing off. Thanks for your patience. Assembly is the best part of the job. Sure, I like cutting and modifying things then welding them together, but final assembly is the most rewarding part and takes a lot of patience and finesse. Do it...

If a new battery will start it, and will not once it is warm, maybe it's heat soak in the starter. Starter motors can go bad in a few different ways. Grime buildup polluting the windings, bad or broken solenoid, worn bearings, worn brushes.