The Wanderers build

[superbuickguy]

beside replacing headlights on my 90 R3500, temp wired these

stupid camera.... I had 5 more pictures of this process... so backup a second. The gate is bent from people crawling across the tailgate (I know, right, what was GM thinking not plating it?). The problem is it bends the inner panel. The inner panel barely clears the window when the gate has a power window... so to fix

yes, with a engine hoist. I'm going to plate it with something (probably 1/4" aluminum) then carpet that. Might even attach the inner gate to the outer new skin
how tight you might ask.... these bolts, stock, are short but not short enough - they hit and prevent the window from fully opening

and as you might sharply notice, my new bass box has arrived. Probably won't land in the back because it fits under a seat.... does the passenger seat really need a pew pew lock box under it?....

 

[superbuickguy]

I asked how the condensor comes out.... got a lot of answers, some quite insistent... it comes out the top. Weird, none of the pros suggested that... weird.

probably the same pros that list the condensor on the left as a direct replacement to the one on the right....

 

[superbuickguy]

this is not winning. Bought new hubs because I'm not a fan of Warn

pretty

don't fit... 30 spline axles, 35 spline hubs

time to install

apparently you're supposed to drop the tank a bit and slide this in.... or simply cut and reweld tabs

and rewelded

there we go

and it's a good thing I cut those tabs and moved it slightly forward.... if I hadn't the hitch wouldn't have reinstalled without major work

in other news, I can now store more junk... err... treasures

 

[superbuickguy]

if it weren't for bad luck.... sing it
worked on this today

went back together fine

and it is the right core

problem is the threads on the condenser are slightly different... and I stripped it.... ah well, I wanted to practice my alumium soldering
though I did get the front hub together - so winning-ish

 

[superbuickguy]

what we see here is junk. There is a company out there that sells these things.... The problem.... it doesn't come apart so it can be rekeyed.... but that's not the end of its troubles. First the key barely works and the contacts are the highest of chinesium there is - sometimes it works, sometimes not - there is no rhythm or reason for it. It's also too long - so it will ground to the regulator if you don't use the cap....junk. I need to find the original one but not for now - this thing needs to get to Sandpoint so I can clear my shop out

I actually have a replacement regulator coming that is supposed to be an upgrade.... crossing fingers

but I need to brace the back of the tailgate because I plan on walking on it when the camper is on it.

my shear is not happy with me, but it's cut

now starting to get some of the overlanding part installed

 

[superbuickguy]

onward
need to cut the space for the door handle

and last test fit, next up rivnuts and counter sunk bolts with a bit of carpet over the top of it all

 

[superbuickguy]

So let's catch up
the panel attached - not done, going to carpet it and perhaps add some rails to it to give it even more strength. The real problem is the inside is caved in - and I knew the problem just not its extent and was why I was trying to find another tailgate. so this is part of the solution, the rest will come soon

and here's the solution...

my new shop.

so, as you know, I'm moving to Sandpoint Idaho. Yes, this shop is smaller but it's not my only shop. I have a 2 car garage that will fit a project car (once the boxes are evicted). It has a machine shop in it that's heated - so there's where the lathe, mill, tools and welder are going. This space will likely be a bodyshop during the time it takes to build my new shop and mechanical stuff on everything but the 4x4s will be at the house. But what a pain and it's not going to end for at least a year. I hope to have the shop built by the end of October.... we will see, right now getting the digger to come dig has been a challenge.... but that will be a different post, this is mostly update on the Blazer

next will be it on a trailer getting towed by the dually this weekend.

 

[superbuickguy]

Pretty much just a transport day but it's a real 4 hours travel between Kennewick and Sandpoint (with fuel stop, breaks and food stops)....
some might accuse me of liking squares

of course, had to fill the inside of the Blazer up too

and the bed of the dually

a smaller - though, if you add up all the square feet - I have about 1/2 what I had in Kennewick

70 mph, 7 mpg - that was about top speed.

what you don't see is the full weight set that it also carried

next up, alignment

 

[superbuickguy]

Dateline Sandpoint.... restarting the project
first, shop tunes

next week I'll bring the rest of my major tools - at this point, I may leave the heavy stuff (steel, press brake, lathe, shear) at the old shop until the new shop is built... but for now, this is more than enough for me to work all week

and enough stuff

the start of the ladder... there will be additions like a molle panel

Luigi likes the new digs because he has his ball

this might be tomorrow... I still have an issue with the switch that I don't know I have a solution for.... the regulator reverses current to change direction but the switch on the tailgate is junk... to rewire? to eliminate the key switch for something cordless? I dunno

old uncovered

I already have power locks, so adding a remote might not be a bad idea at all... thoughts?

 

[ITTOG]

Dateline Sandpoint.... restarting the project
first, shop tunes

next week I'll bring the rest of my major tools - at this point, I may leave the heavy stuff (steel, press brake, lathe, shear) at the old shop until the new shop is built... but for now, this is more than enough for me to work all week

and enough stuff

the start of the ladder... there will be additions like a molle panel

Luigi likes the new digs because he has his ball

this might be tomorrow... I still have an issue with the switch that I don't know I have a solution for.... the regulator reverses current to change direction but the switch on the tailgate is junk... to rewire? to eliminate the key switch for something cordless? I dunno

old uncovered

I already have power locks, so adding a remote might not be a bad idea at all... thoughts?

Add it! It adds convenience so worth it in the end.

 

[Kingsize24]

Love the ladder! And I agree with @ITTOG
The convenience will be well worth it.

 

[Mekcanix]

I am with both of the guys go with remote if it simplifies and solves a issue. also ladder is cool, I may have to see about incorporating that into my Rebel

 

[Kingsize24]

I am with both of the guys go with remote if it simplifies and solves a issue. also ladder is cool, I may have to see about incorporating that into my Rebel

Lol... I was thinking the same with my PW.

 

[superbuickguy]

rear window continued
remove the old regulator and slide new in

liberal axle grease, liberal it is

works a lot better but still fighting the collapsed gate

you can see the issue here - there's not much room on the bottom for the mechanism.... but this is likely going to be as good as it gets for this one

as for the ladder, I look ridiculous trying to lever myself up onto the gate - there is a slight mod coming to that, so stay tuned.

 

[superbuickguy]

start with solder

then shrink wrap

now all tied up

time to void warranties - move the stops

not quite as tough as I hoped