Well, it took a few months longer than planned but my trooper is finally in one piece!

Put the body on saturday night after a quick and dirty paint job for the frame (see below) and the engine started up monday afternoon.. Everything is working, but it needs new front calipers, that'll have to wait until next week..

I discovered some rot on the 2.8 frame, and had to get help with welding which took awhile, I know its not going to last forever. However I am saving the frame the red body came off which is virtually rust free, to use later on (possibly in conjunction with a 3.4 swap? hmm).

I learned alot about the trooper doing this project and I dont regret doing it this way, now I feel much more comfortable working on it, I had almost zero experience as a mechanic when I started. There are a ton of (possibly interesting) details I could write about that I cant remember now, so heres a couple pics:


as of today:


the gallery is up at http://69.180.172.223/gallery/

If you have to get front calipers go ahead and get the one for a 94 Trooper. Get them loaded. They will bolt right up and give you much better braking.

Only downside you will need to buy the 94 rotors as well. I'm also unsure if they will fit behind those wheels? Someone will chime in.

Nice job.

Joe

You can use Rodeo brake caliers and rotors too!
They are vented.
They'll bolt right up.

Just so everyone will know. Using the front valence to pick up the front of the body is not a good idea. The front fenders sheet metal has to support the weight of half the body. If you've got stuff inside the body like seats and junk, it increases the weight dramatically. Could easily damage the fenders and kill you when they buckle. There are body horns at the firewall upper corners of the fenders that are built strong enough to support the body weight. The other way is to run straps under the roof with the doors removed. The roof is more than stout enough to support the weight.
In his defence he needed to raise the body up under the low building rafters so he could get enough tilt on the body to clear the engine. So I know why you did it that way. But still a dangerous way to go. Glad you didn't get hurt on that one.

CJ

Yeah I was aware of that and it wasnt my first choice but thats why I stripped everything out (the seats were added towards the end when i got a little ansty).. the body in that condition weighs about 600-700 pounds.. better than 1200+ with all the doors and stuff on, if I do it again I'll try to do it somewhere where I can raise it vertically.

The front rotors are fine and I am low on funds so bigger brakes would have to wait.. but I will keep that in mind..

One thing I forgot to mention was I wouldnt have been able to do it without 4x4wire, thanks to a few people on this board that have removed a body before I realized this project was possible.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />heck of a first project <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />,goodjob <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Bansil