Project Southern X-Posure

[rswords]

It's been about 6 years since I've had a play toy so when a buddy offered up this 85 he just picked up I jumped on it. Ended up being Honkeys old rig.

Specs when I got it were:

305 SBC
TH350
NP205
Bed bobbed 14"
Welded rear
detroit in the front
rear springs up front and Chevy leafs in the rear
8k winch

The tires were gone in front, like 1/16" of tread. Still holds it own on the muddy hill climbs around here, also the detroit was busted so I need to pulled it and swapped in a Lockright till I can fix the Detroit.




Playing at the property the day I picked it up



Ended up breaking both Birfs




Gotta get some decals made up...


Plans are as follows...

Comp cut the front fenders
Rebuild the bumpers out of 1/4" material
Possible 4.3 Vortec swap, if not I'm gonna ditch the carb and go TBI
Cage, Seats, and Harnesses
Tube Doors
36" Iroks
Longfields
Clock the 205 up and make as flat a belly as possible including a full belly skid
MAYBE a bit of HP in the bottle for those really clay packed hills we have

I'm sure the list will grow... ;D

[rswords]

And some poser flex shots... Need to take the overload out the rear springs and the front needs longer shocks, they are holding it up.




Cut the fenders and made some quickish release door hinges. Longfields should be here next week, got a spare housing sitting in the shop that is gonna get the full treatment.

[rswords]

Longfields are here...


And got the cab gutted to put the cage in. 1.75" DOM going through the dash.
Got the GF to help out...



All loaded up and ready to head out to Chris at RockWorks Fab to get the Cage, CorbeauSuspension Seats, and 4 point Harnesses.

[rswords]

The cage has been started, here is the design Chris at RockWorks Fab came up with.


My 4xInovations tube doors showed up. VERY nice work! Got them hit with some primmer to keep them from rusting up around all this salt water.



Also pulled some spare axle housings out the storage shed and took them to the shop to start the rebuild.

[stumper92]

Looking good!

[toynrnd]

Makes me miss my Toyota.

[HONKEY B]

it really makes me miss a toyota also

[rswords]

Not much progress....

[rswords]

Cage is done. Kinda wishing I would have went through the dash but oh well. It will serve its purpose well!






Also picked up some used Crow harnesses for $50 for the set. Now just need to order some seats.

[toynrnd]

That cage looks nice!

[rswords]

Thanks, I'm really happy with it.

[PaulC]

Did you tie it into the frame rails via the sliders?

PaulC

[rswords]

Sorry for the slow response... It is tied in by the sliders


Been slow going, working alot, messed up my knee, and moving in a new house. Good news is the new house has a small garage/shop better news is this is the view from the back porch...



I took the truck to the shop to use the forklift to get some measurements for the front shocks. big flex.... like 7" total travel... :laughing:

Also found out that the RUF's are not really rear springs... Who knows what they are so that gets added to the list to do. Here are some poser flex pics. The rear seams to be working well but the front sucks...

Front springs go negative pretty quick...

[rswords]

Got Marlin Crawlers new Heavy Duty Knuckle Bracing Kit installed. Very nice kit, required minimal grinding to the axle housing. I really need to practice my welding more...

[rswords]

Got the old axle out of the truck with some help from the girlfriend and tore it all apart and cleaned it up. Gotta order some parts from Marlin this week and hopefully it will be together next week.