Project: Doitall Dodge
- Thread starter Metcalf
- Start date
my1stcummins
Adventurer
That truck has got a great new smile.:sombrero:
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
So what is the next big project..........
For those that might be coming from other boards or don't get around to the other sections of the 'portal much here is the idea I have been thinking about for some time.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/62520-The-center-mounted-winch-thread....
Basically. I am trying t design a center/mid mounted winch system where the winch will be mounted above the rear axle of the truck sunken in a box flush with the bed surface. The cable will then go to a new rear bumper that will hold a removable snatch block system. The winch line will then go around that snatch block and into a DOM tube that snakes along the inside of the drivers side frame rail to the front of the truck. The tube will exit the front of the truck and be capped with a round hawse. The winch line will remain rigged in the truck like that at all times. A 'safety thimble' will keep the winch line from being pulled back into the tube.
It will basically be a replication ( with my own flavor ) of the Foers Ibex Vector winch system.....
Anyways, check out the thread and give your comments. The thread is more about the idea in general, not just specific to my Dodge.
For those that might be coming from other boards or don't get around to the other sections of the 'portal much here is the idea I have been thinking about for some time.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/62520-The-center-mounted-winch-thread....
Basically. I am trying t design a center/mid mounted winch system where the winch will be mounted above the rear axle of the truck sunken in a box flush with the bed surface. The cable will then go to a new rear bumper that will hold a removable snatch block system. The winch line will then go around that snatch block and into a DOM tube that snakes along the inside of the drivers side frame rail to the front of the truck. The tube will exit the front of the truck and be capped with a round hawse. The winch line will remain rigged in the truck like that at all times. A 'safety thimble' will keep the winch line from being pulled back into the tube.
It will basically be a replication ( with my own flavor ) of the Foers Ibex Vector winch system.....
Anyways, check out the thread and give your comments. The thread is more about the idea in general, not just specific to my Dodge.
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
This was one of those little neat modifications.....
Drill 1/4" pilot hole in heater box......
Use 4" hole saw to make 4" hole.....
Hey look, a big hole in my heater box!
Clean out all the fuzz bunny's, leaves, pine needles, etc....
Find cool plastic plugs in McMaster catalog.....
Insert cool plastic plug into hole to cover up the new easy access clean out hole.
I have a few extra plugs since they come in a pack of ten. Let me know if anyone want one for their 1st gen.
Drill 1/4" pilot hole in heater box......
Use 4" hole saw to make 4" hole.....
Hey look, a big hole in my heater box!
Clean out all the fuzz bunny's, leaves, pine needles, etc....
Find cool plastic plugs in McMaster catalog.....
Insert cool plastic plug into hole to cover up the new easy access clean out hole.
I have a few extra plugs since they come in a pack of ten. Let me know if anyone want one for their 1st gen.
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
I need to drop a link to a research thread so I don't lose it....
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/32171
Big huge brakes for a kingpin Dana 60!
Now that I have 17" wheels I have a little more room to play with....
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/32171
Big huge brakes for a kingpin Dana 60!
Now that I have 17" wheels I have a little more room to play with....
I'll take one! That is a great mod. We should be up in Durango early August to hit the river. I'll give you a call....
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
No problem on the plastic plugs. PM me your mailing address and I will drop one in the mail. I only have about 6-7 left so first PM first get :victory:
On a side note. If you remove the plastic plug it makes one heck of a fresh air vent into the cab!
I had a few people ask for some comparison pics of my truck next to another truck for scale. Today at lunch I saw a nice 3rd gen Dodge in a local parking lot. This is probably my favorite truck in the Durango area. It's just a nice simple regular cab long box on 37s with a leveling kit.
Side by side, sorry for the stupid tree in the way! I thought about cutting it down....
Tires. BFG 37x12.5x17s next to my 38.5x13.5x17's. That is a big difference!
From the tailgate. Not that much difference at all. I had about a 2" taller tire also. I love the 3rd gen Dodge trucks, they have HUGE stock wheel openings, and 37s can fit with no cutting! My old beater is still pretty neat though. My truck generally had more clearance in every area yet was still the same height. The 3rd gen would most definitively have better visibility, which I envy for sure.
On a side note. If you remove the plastic plug it makes one heck of a fresh air vent into the cab!
I had a few people ask for some comparison pics of my truck next to another truck for scale. Today at lunch I saw a nice 3rd gen Dodge in a local parking lot. This is probably my favorite truck in the Durango area. It's just a nice simple regular cab long box on 37s with a leveling kit.
Side by side, sorry for the stupid tree in the way! I thought about cutting it down....
Tires. BFG 37x12.5x17s next to my 38.5x13.5x17's. That is a big difference!
From the tailgate. Not that much difference at all. I had about a 2" taller tire also. I love the 3rd gen Dodge trucks, they have HUGE stock wheel openings, and 37s can fit with no cutting! My old beater is still pretty neat though. My truck generally had more clearance in every area yet was still the same height. The 3rd gen would most definitively have better visibility, which I envy for sure.
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
I had a few hours after work tonight....
I disassembled the drivers door a bit. The window was WAY to tight with the new weather striping. I ended up pulling the window out of the roller at lunch, it went clunk bang into the bottom of the door. I ended up having to trim a slight portion of the rear of the window wipers. Getting the window back in the track was fun too! It works much better now....
It was still light out so I decided to build something with wood....
Off came the rocker panel trim. I used it for a template for a wood replacement.
Then I cut it out with the jig saw. After a little trimming and sanding it fit pretty decent....
Next I laid out the mounting ring for the new speakers. Its a 6.5" midrange and a tweeter separate set...
Drill a pilot hole large enough to get the saw started and then cut the middle out first. This makes it much easier to hold everything when your working off the hood of your 70 year old Willys MB...
After a little sanding and fitting, here it is mocked up in the truck. This is kind what the speaker position is going to be like. It overlaps the door panel just slightly but shouldn't be a big deal. My truck had 1985 doors so no mounts in the door panel for speakers. I ran the speakers up higher than normal so they don't get kicked, out of the muck, etc....
Next I had to make up some spacers for the speaker mounting ring. I also cut out the main rocker board for the speaker magnet so the speaker would stick out less. I ended up using a rectangle of particle board and a shim made of some paint stir stick.
Finally I mixed up some epoxy and glued it all together and aligned stuff for the last time.
I used a few scraps and a heavy piece of steel to hold everything together while it sets tonight in the fresh air on the back deck.....
I will probably make the other side tomorrow and start on the fiberglass skin for the pods.....
I also pulled some more trim out of the truck and sprayed it gray
Stupid red dash is about all the is left.....
I disassembled the drivers door a bit. The window was WAY to tight with the new weather striping. I ended up pulling the window out of the roller at lunch, it went clunk bang into the bottom of the door. I ended up having to trim a slight portion of the rear of the window wipers. Getting the window back in the track was fun too! It works much better now....
It was still light out so I decided to build something with wood....
Off came the rocker panel trim. I used it for a template for a wood replacement.
Then I cut it out with the jig saw. After a little trimming and sanding it fit pretty decent....
Next I laid out the mounting ring for the new speakers. Its a 6.5" midrange and a tweeter separate set...
Drill a pilot hole large enough to get the saw started and then cut the middle out first. This makes it much easier to hold everything when your working off the hood of your 70 year old Willys MB...
After a little sanding and fitting, here it is mocked up in the truck. This is kind what the speaker position is going to be like. It overlaps the door panel just slightly but shouldn't be a big deal. My truck had 1985 doors so no mounts in the door panel for speakers. I ran the speakers up higher than normal so they don't get kicked, out of the muck, etc....
Next I had to make up some spacers for the speaker mounting ring. I also cut out the main rocker board for the speaker magnet so the speaker would stick out less. I ended up using a rectangle of particle board and a shim made of some paint stir stick.
Finally I mixed up some epoxy and glued it all together and aligned stuff for the last time.
I used a few scraps and a heavy piece of steel to hold everything together while it sets tonight in the fresh air on the back deck.....
I will probably make the other side tomorrow and start on the fiberglass skin for the pods.....
I also pulled some more trim out of the truck and sprayed it gray
Stupid red dash is about all the is left.....
njtacoma
Explorer
I just look in awe
This is one of my favorite threads.
Your truck is great! I have had my eye on an extended camp early cummins 4x4, but no 3 point belts in the back seat, so that makes it a non-starter for me.
Great Truck and you can see by my post count, I don't speak very often.
This is one of my favorite threads.
Your truck is great! I have had my eye on an extended camp early cummins 4x4, but no 3 point belts in the back seat, so that makes it a non-starter for me.
Great Truck and you can see by my post count, I don't speak very often.