Well , gonna have the truck frame in my shop by the end of today , then the rain won't matter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> Road trip tomorow , pickinbg up my rims and tires.I got 8" rims and 33" tires , total cost including taxes and mounting and balance is 1311.49.Its a better price than I could get in town where they wanted 1100 just for the tires , so a 100 mile drive is not such a big deal <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I think my diff drop is in too , I have to go by the post office and pick it up. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well , the weather actualy cooperated with me , I modified my fence , pushed my frame on through and stuck it inmy back shop.Just remember this wasn't designed with cars going inside when I got it and put it up.Its not that big , I think its 11x20x7 , but its got power , lights , and a nice flat cement floor <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I have a couple pics of the frame inside to give you a size scale(not much room but will suffice) , and also some pics of my little(ok , not so little <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> ) helpers.The fuzzy one is 150 pounds and the black lab is 75 pounds , and they help by laying in the way , and with the fuzzy one , getting hair all over.Any grease , oil , etc is a hair magnet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />











Now I can go out there whenever I feel like it , and not have to worry about the rain or working in puddles.And the room difference isn't that much different than what I had working between the 2 trucks before. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Well , picked up my tires and rims yesterday <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />No pics right now , was just pouring out today , so they are in my shop , and not much light in there for taking good pics.

Went out and did a few things on the frame today.Took the bumper off the back so I would have a better idea of exactly what I was dealing with.It wasn't quite as bad as I thought.The rear crossmember was only half rotted out and filled with crap , but I am replacing it anyway.The gussests on the corners where 2 of the back body mounts go are on the way out , but could be usable for a couple of years.They are getting replaced anyway while I am in there and its all accesible.The main frame rails are solid , nothing to be fixed there , it was just the one support on the passenger side where a tow hook was , the support was rotting and I ripped the tow hook off by hand <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> The other part of it was solid , so I have to grind that off the frame to get rid of it.

I then took all the fuel and brake lines off the frame as none of that will be reused anyway.I took the engine mounts off the frame , and thought about jumping in on the front diff , but I was out there long enough today <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

One thing I am not sure of yet is if I have to change out the steering box or if they are generic for the 2.6 and 2.8 , with just different hoses and fluid boxes.I haven't really looked too close at the 2.8 one yet as the body and everything is still there for now.

I also picked up that stuff thats a rust converter/primer , so I have it when the frame is fully stripped.Its the good stuff , what marine companies use on boats so they never rust , and whatever rust was there turns into a solid stuff and primer.

One other thing I am debating is whether to take off the sway bar or leave it on.I think theres 4 bolts hold it on , then the 2 parts on the lower control arms that make it work.I haven't seen too many posts on first gen troopers with the bars gone , most were second gens.

[EDIT]

Here are somelinks with the rims and the tires I got.I went with the Savero MT as the tread is very similar to the BFG MT which I had on there , and the price was excellent , couldn't find anything decent close to the price in a 33".

Eagle Alloy 186

GT Savero MT 33"

I took off the rear bumper , and have a couple pics of how bad the crossmember was.Half of it was rusted pretty bad , I put a hammer through it easily.The other half was actualy pretty solid , but its being replaced anyway just because its easy to do now while everything is exposed.





The next pic is the front end , which pretty much everything is coming off so I can prep the frame , then do the lockright , drop diff , new ball joints , tie rods , brake lines , etc.



Here is a pic of my tires all stacked up right now.The top one is just a spare I got the tire and rim for 40 bucks , nothing special , but as long as it holds air , its all good.



The next 2 pics are the steering box mounted on the frame.This was from the 89 with the 2.6 engine in it.I am posting the pics to see if anyone can tell me if its the same steering box as the 2.8 uses.I think I have to change the hoses that are on there right now , but that shouldn't be a huge deal.And if I have to change the whole box , I would like to do that before I get the engine and stuff mounted in there while its all very easily accessible.






I'm hoping Jerry will chime in about the steering box.Hopefully my workshop manuals will arrive early this week <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

HEY BARAK THOSE BOX.S ARE COMPLETELY INTERCHANGABLE , FROM THE 4 CYL TO THE V6 EVEN THE HOSES WILL FIT ON THE BOX, ENG SIDE IS OF COURSE DIFF, JERRY

Ok , thanks Jerry.I'll use the same box thats on there , but will take off what I need from the 2.8 and slap it on there.Makes it easier than changing out the whole box.
I have the metal for fixing the frame , and will be doing that tomorow. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Yup -- everything interchanges this side of 1988.5, IIRC. I've run a Trooper steering box and a Rodeo steering box on my Amigo. The only problem you MIGHT find is from folks that drive on the opposite side of the road, where the steering box is a mirror opposite. Probably won't find any of those in the Northeast! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Randii

I'm not in the east anyway <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> I'm as far west as you can get , any farther and your swimming for Japan <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I only have a couple of directions to go off the island to hit land <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anyway , haven't been outside yet , just got home from work.I did buy a new welding helmet.All I had before was one of those cheap plastic things with a handle.I got a great deal on a Hobart professional auto darkening helmet.Retail price here was 515 , I paid 189 for it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> So after I have my lunch , I am gonna go and fix the frame and use the new helmet.

Got the crossmember all cut and tacked into place on the frame , and cut out the 2 gussets that the body mounts go on.My box from Jerry arrived today <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> with the new body mount cushions , and also the isuzu shop manuals.They will come in handy as I have to measure exactly where the holes go so the body mounts line up on the back , and these manuals have the body measurements with everything pinpointed on it.I was hoping to get it all done and welded , but it was a lot of work cutting that metal up and making it fit right.

After that , next step is stripping all the front end stuff off so its down to the basic frame.Hopefully the diff drop brackets come in soon to , so I can get started on that stuff too.So much to do , so little time in a day <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" />

Oh , that auto darkening helmet works great <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />.Maybe tomorow I can get the crossmember all welded in , then tack the gussests in once I measure and drill the holes and finish those up.

Not a lot accomplished <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Between work and stuff , I don't get a lot of time out there.I have the crossmember fully welded in now , and one of the gussets is half welded in.The other is just tacked in right now.Hopefully tomorow I can get a liuttle more time out there and get the welding all finished up and start stripping the rest of the stuff so I can prep the frame and start putting things back together.Still waiting on my fuel cell , I'll have to give them a call , its been over 6 weeks now , and they said 4-6 weeks and I should have it.