Well , today I got the engine mounted on the frame <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Still have some stuff to do on it yet , just little things.The hard part was pushing the frame out of the yard , around the block , then pushing it all back in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />It was harder on the way back with the extra weight.Also it was a little tricky to get the mounts to line up as I lowered the engine.It would have been much easier with an extra set of hands <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />Anyway , I have a couple of pics of it sitting on there right now , will have more as I finish up the rest of the stuff on it.









One of my little (ok , not so little at 150 pounds) helpers , trying to push the frame back into the shop in that last picture.The other one was laying in front , trying to stop it from rolling <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You can see her tail in the top right of the pic.

Not as much done today as I would have liked.I had to take the diff drop bracket off a couple times and grind it down.The oil pan would rub on it when the motor was flexing , good thing I tested it right away by pushing it around a little.I put my oil filter relocation kit on today , but will have to get the low profile one where the hoses go out the side , as with the hoses on , it won't quite clear the header.I ran all the wires for the engine and plugged them in , so thats good to go.I then played around with the main exhaust pipes and headers , and I will have to get the main pipes all custom as they are just different enough to not want to work.I also took the transfer case off the truck in front , I think I will have to redo the teras in that case , as no one wants to attempt to fix the one hole that is dented in , that bolts to the tranny.And , to change the cover on to it , I pretty much have to take the whole case apart anyway.Its good practice <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

Did a few things today , but mostly running around town.I dropped all my exhaust stuff off , and it should be done tomorow afternoon , all nice and modified for me <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />I then ran around town trying to find some fittings I could use to run the stainless braided lines like I have for my fuel system , from my trans to my trans cooler , to my radiator.Of course the first ones off are flanged , and they have nothing that fits to work with that hose.The other ones right off the trans , one can be done , but no one has that fitting in stock , the other one , it is a fine pipe thread , and again , nothing will work with it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> So , I might go with the black tranny cooler line , and forget going with the stock stuff they had , this way its all easy to put on the adapters , and just push it onto the rad nubs.

I also took the transmission , torque convertor , and flywheel off the truck out front.Well , its just the frame and half the engine now <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />Not a whole lot I can do now really on the rebuild.The oil filter adapter I need is on backorder , looking at 10-12 days for that.The exhaust won't be ready till tomorow , but I need that adapter on before I put the header on.The fuel cell is almost done , I think he said wednesday , then I just need to fab the actual mount point for that.The only other thing I can do is start putting the tranny on and make that crossmember work out with it.I still have the transfer case , which I am going to swap the stuff to the one I just took off as the one bolt hole isn't smashed in.

One thing I was looking at , the shifter on the trans , with a 3" body lift , do I weld a pice on the bar to make it longer , or can I go find a bar thats a little longer and swap it in?The 4x shifter is easy , my kit came with a pin thing to weld onto it to make it longer.I just wasn't 100% sure about the shift bar for an auto.Don't want to make it go back together and not shift properly <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

HEY DAVE ON THE TRANS SHIFTER BAR , ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIFTER ASSY , THE BAR THAT HANGS DOWN MUST BE LENGTHEND APPROX, THE SAME LENGTH AS THE BODY LIFT , THE EASIEST WAY IS TO EITHER DRILL A SMALL PLATE ABOUT EVERY 1/4 INCH ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE BAR IN YOUR CASE A 3 INCH LIFT I WOULD MAKE THE BAR 4 INCHS LONG , THEN MANUALLY PUT THE SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL AND THEN THE TRANS LEVER IN NEUTRAL,THEN LINE UP THE BAR OVER TO THE SHIFTER TO THE CLOSEST HOLE THAT WILL KEEP THE BAR CLOSE TO PARALLEL TO THE FRAME , YOU WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE TRANS IS IN THE SAME GEAR THAT THE INDICATOR IS SHOWING , AND ALLSO IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO GET IT CLOSER TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE, IF YOU PUT A SMALL MAYBE 1/4 IN HEIM ROD JOINT ON ONE END OF THE ROD , MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO ADJUST . IF BY CHANCE YOU HAVE ONE AROUND I HAVE USED AND ALLWAYS SAVE THEM IS THE STRAIGHT BAR THAT IS USED TO ADJUST AN ALT, ONE BOLT HOLE ON ONE END AND THE REST OF THE BAR IS SLOTTED ALL THE WAY TO THE END , THIS WAY YOU CAN JUST SLIDE THE LITTLE HEIM ROD END UP AND DOWN AND THEN LOCK IT IN PLACE JERRY

Hi Jerry , another thing I was considering is to add a length or readi rod to the bar , and then it can be adjusted to any length I wanted.But I think you are talking the flat plate piece that is bolted right to the trans that actualy does the shifting?If so , that should be fairly easy to modify something to work on it also.I'm not sure if I have that extra piece around for an alt , I'd have to look.I've been pulling pieces off as I need them.The wiring is actualy pretty easy on the engine , the wires only fit on certain parts.As for the main harness on the wheel well , I marked what plugs go where , even though some were color coded.

All right I'm starting to get a little jealous. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
The Trooper is really starting to come together fast.
Really lookin good ! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I seem to be stuck in nuetral waiting on parts. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Well , I did spend a lot of time getting parts together while my mom was sick.I didn't really get started untill almost the end of january or so.The hardest part was all the stuff on the frame and suspension.And of course , I still have to wait for a few parts.But other than that , it can go quick with the parts handy.I just need more time to make it go together faster <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Had a couple 14 hour days at work , so today was the first time I spent on the truck since the weekend. I put the torque convertor on , kind of tacked the tranny on , just a couple bolts holding it on , and I tacked the tranny crossmember on to see how I will make it fit.Looks like I will have to drill a couple new holes , and maybe tack an extension onto it to make it a little longer , other than that , I can make the holes line up , I was pretty close how I tacked it on there with a c clamp <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

One thing that came to my attention when I was playing with the tranny , does fluid go around the starter area?With the new starter I have , its not the round shape like stock , so doesn't sit flush with the bellhousing curve.Its been a while since I had a tranny apart like this and I forget if the fluid goes there or not.I am thinking no , unless the front seal is bad and leaks , but not 100% sure on that.

Anyway , by the end of the weekend , I hope to have the tranny all on , and the rest of the engine finished.Then I guess I can start working on the transfer case and swap the teras into this one.Also , my fuel cell cage is done <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> , so I can start playing with that too and run my lines and mount the cell.Its getting closer every day though <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Did a little bit of work out there today , but not everything I wanted.The place that fabbed my fuel cell cage for me was closed , and I was also going to get somemetal off them to fix my tranny crossmember so I can mount that more permanent.So , those 2 things were out for the day.I did manage to runa few of my line son the engine.I got the line that goes from the water pump to the back of the engine done , and also the one that goes from just under the TBI to the back of the engine.Both are done in braided stainless , like my fuel lines , and my tranny lines are going to be.I started running the fuel lines , just have to cut them to length for the first part off the engine to about the firewall or so , not sure where I want to join them just yet.I also put the rad hoses on the engine.

The engine should look good , it has chrome , braided stainless , and colored connectors for the lines.It also has the yellow Accel plug wires.It should be as sexy as me when its all done. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Oh , On the other engine , I found a ground strap that I don't remember undoing.It was sitting on the back of the engine , under where the air cleaner would be.One end should have been bolted to the engine block somewhere , and the other end has like a black plug tip on it.Anyone have any idea where it came from or goes to?It was allready disconected , thats why I said I don't remember undoing it.Maybe it was on the firewall somewhere , and I undid it quickly when I had the body being lifted? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I know , pictures <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> They will be coming soon enough.Don't want to spoil it just yet , I want to finish running the hoses so it looks good <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

There should be a bracket at the top of the middle of the firewall. That is where both ground straps (to engine block and to valve cover) connect on my engine; with a black plug tip as you described. Now how 'bout them pics <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />