Ok , heres a few pics.Today I was out there for about 3 1/2 hours and got the body totaly gone.So theres a pic of just the frame and engine and tranny , 2 pics of where the frame needs to be fixed at the back , just the 2 gussets and the back crossmember , and then if you can believe this , the trooper inside a van <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> Its true , the whole body is in the back of my van , ready to go to the recyclers on Monday.Those cutoff saws work great , just like a hot knife through butter.Only reason it took me so long was the dumb thing kept flooding on me so had to let it sit <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

Anyway , heres the pics for today.









My trooper body just vanished today <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />



Woot ther eit is <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Whew!:8
That frame looks ruff. You've really got your work cut out for you.
I guess us guys down south do'nt realize how lucky we have it.
Mine's just a little farther along.
Check out my picks and tell me what you think. <a href="www.cardomain.com/ride/2273033" target="_blank">Troopzilla90 picks</a> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Yours looks like alot of work too.Luckily you have a shop , not like me <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> Most of the frame I have is solid , except for the gussets and back crossmember.Those seem to be a bad spot for rust on all troopers.Wait untill you see the bad frame with the body off <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> A little cutting and welding on this one , some rustproofing and paint , it will look as good as new <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I just need to get rid of this 4 cyl engine and tranny , then I can dig in on the frame.I have no idea where to put the extra engines and stuff I have , might have to rearange the back shop , take the boat out of there.The motor bike is staying though <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

So much work to go yet , but its slowly getting there now that I have officialy started the big project.I am still shooting for the end of March , or very shortly after.Once the frame is done , then I'll start putting in the new brake lines and my custom fuel system.I might raise my tank up just a little too as I have to make a custom mount for it as its a 19 gallon fuel cell.All my lines are stainless braided , with russell fittings everywhere.No push on lines at all , other than the main fill hose , all the others are screw on , even the filters.New tie rods , torsion bars , ball joints , new bushings for the rear end , new rad , built up 3.4 , tera lows , front lock rite , headers , I am going all out on this one <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

That's rather bold shooting for sometime in March. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
I've given up on a date. I just want to keep make'in progress.
Its seems the longer it takes and the more I talk to you guys out there on the web the more ideas I pick up and the bigger the project gets.

No complaints lots of great info out there. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Well , I found out long ago , if you don't set some kind of goal , you have nothing to keep you motivated.And usualy if you start slacking once , its a downward spiral from there.This is from when I used to hit the gym all the time and did great gains , then I had some physical problems , nothing to do with lifting weights , and I had to take time off.Now , I have to get motivated to get going back in there and get back to where I was before , but its not easy.Thats why I say set a goal and shoot for it.If it takes longer , oh well , it takes longer , but your still going for it your hardest <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Where'd you get the front clip from the Trooper from? My core support is getting a bit, ahem, rotted and this will be a major concern in the near future. I've thought about rebuilding it myself, but I do like the idea of simply swapping the front body clip .

- Jim

That front clip came off my other truck.It helps having 2 while doing this.One the body was shot , the other the frame was shot.The one that the body was shot is gone , and its down to the frame now.Got the engine , tranny and transfer case off all in one.Man , that was not easy , trying to balance an engine with no good mounting points other than the motor mounts <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I managed though , so now I have to figure out what to do with the 2.6 and tranny.I still have to get rid of the 2.8 also , not a lot of room to store stuff here.

I hear ya brother. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
I have a 10,000sqft. shop and I'm running out of room to stash a dis-assembled Trooper. Ounce you get one totally stipped its hard to imagine how much room it can take up. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />
Kind'a like rabbits. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

I'd gladly take your shop to work in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Once it stops raining here , I am going to modify my fence a little so I can get my frame through and into my back yard where I have a little <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> 230 sq foot shop to work on the frame and get all the front end done.Its all coming off so I can do the frame with rust preventer and paint , then new ball joints , tie rods , shocks , drop dif , lock right , steering stabilizer , brakes , my calmini A arms , etc are going on.I'm also going to fix the back part of the frame out there , then do all my new brake lines and fuel lines and stuff.Once I am done out there , its just a matter of putting the body back on , but have to do that out front again.

Still waiting for my fuel cell to come in , but that should be pretty quick.Cost me less for that then a stock replacement gas tank.Its 19 gallons , has a sender in it allready , plus the 3 fittings on top for lines.A nice blue powder coat , but there will be pics of it once I get to the fuel system.Its all custom stuff , nothing stock left of it.All braided stainless hose , with screw on russell fittings and filters , one before the pump(Holley) , and one before the TBI giving the jets a little more life before they plug.


As I mentioned , I am going all out on this project.Pretty much all thats original is the frame and body.Everything else is being upgraded , or new for parts.I will keep documenting as usual <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Instead of a rust preventer. (Like the 3m Rust Fighter which never really dries and looks like <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />.)
Look into the SIMS tintable spay-in bedliner.
I guarantee nothing will rust, you can'nt chip it off, plus you can pick the color.
It's a little more exspensive, however you can spray it from the same gun you would use for the rust preventer and have a job that lasts longer and looks a hole lot better. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />