Yeah I wish I was just closer to someone that liked doing this stuff. So far, this whole build has been a one man show. It would be nice to have a fresh mind here once and a while. Oh well. I'm gonna try to get the top welded back on this weekend. My buddy is bringing his TIG machine over.

Got some more done this morning. But I'm taking a break until this evning when it cools off. My welder buddy is coming over to bail me out on welding this thin sheet metal.

Very nice! I'm impressed and envious of your mad skilz! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Got the bed rails all welded up. I just need to knock the welds down and put a little glaze on it to fill in the low spots. We worked on it at night and man the temp difference was amazing, imagine that. My buddy is a piece welder and is really good. I was blowing holes in the thin metal as soon as I struck an arch. He get in there and runs a 3" solid bead and never blew a hole or warped the metal with the same machine I was using. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Just a pic of one rail welded up and a just a artsy one

That's why I suggusted folding the lip over. More metal to weld to. My welding skill are about as good as yours.
Coming along nicely.
CJ

I have a couple quick questions for you. I've pulled out the wiring harness that goes to the computer. How much of the harness that goes up over the brake booster and to the fuse block and dash cluster do I need to keep intact? Do I just cut the wires off at the firewall, and trace them out later? Also, were you able to pull the engine and tranny as a unit? I'm having some clearance issues with the oil pan and front axle. I'm thinking about pulling a little tension with the cherry picker (forklift in my case), and cutting the frame off at the firewall to get it out. Thanks, Tim.

Are you talking about the donor truck or your Trooper? If the donor then yeah just cut them at the fire wall. Between the two of us it will be easy to figure out were they go. You said your doing a TBI right? When I pulled the engine I torched off the front diff bolts and let the housing drop about two inches. That got me the clearance I needed. And yes, I pulled everything out at once.

Yeah, I was talking about the donor truck <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" /> sorry. It is a TBI, so I'm figuring it going to be pretty easy. There's alot more involved than I thought in pulling an engine and trans than I remember. It doesn't help when there's oil, grease, brake fluid, and dirt EVERYWHERE. Thanks for the info. Tim.

I picked up a Taurus fan, a throttle cable, and a couple of main leaves out of a toyota today. I figured I'd give the leaf spring setup one more shot. I only gave $20 for the springs so no big loss if they don't work out.

Haven't really worked on the Trooper much lately other than my fan. I had to trim about 1/2" off the shroud. I wish I could have had my radiator and fan before I put my engine in, then I could have moved the engine back that 1/2" but oh well. I also picked up a Warn M8000 winch for $50 bones yesterday and Saturday I got me 2 doors and a fender for the drivers side.

Does anyone know anything about the m8000? It only spools in. I was told that it was re-wired that way to increase the speed but I'm not buying that. I would like it to work both ways again but haven't gotten a chance to look into it yet. It will probably start life over on the front of the Trooper but eventually move to the back when I can afford a biger winch for the front.