We have a winner!

 

I'm too lazy to get out the bucking bars for my truck, but here's some of my early work from school:





I've always wanted to do a full aluminum body with rivets and Dzus fasteners.

 

Nice work. Large rivets in thin aluminum requires a special touch.

 

Splicing the bulkhead connectors into the new harness, 54 wires after removing unneeded circuits

 

With more wires than available ports, I'm routing the grounds through the body which is bonded to the engine and frame.

 

Nice work, looks clean as always!

 

You've got the A&P, you've obviously got the skills. Maybe get your IA and make a bit more money to dump into your project. Looks awesome.

Are you an A&P by trade, or you just hold the license? I'm a helicopter inspector. I gave up the "turning wrenches for a living" a few years back, but the urge never stops (pay gets better though).

 

Thanks. The ticket is my life, at least for another 5-7 years.

Birds have been keeping us busy lately…

 

In the immortal words of Joe Dirt... ˟˟˟˟'ll buff out!

I've got two EC135's with 4 FOD'ed engines right now, guys working on blending the CT's as we speak. You're obviously not working on helis with a turbine that big, but if you know anything about the EC135's, they basically tell you NOT to borescope the engines unless your power margin starts to fall off, because you are pretty much guaranteed to have FOD. These things suck up everything.

Enough of aviation though, how's your build going? Did you ever make headers for it? I'm curious if anyone makes a set of headers for a LS swap into these trucks, say something like my '95 2WD. I'll use manifolds if I have to, but getting my desired power numbers will be just that much easier if I can help the exhaust flow.

 

The truck is running good enough that I wouldn't hesitate driving it anywhere. I finally have the cooling issues resolved. I still have a CEL for the 2-4 shift solenoid (the pcm thinks it controls a 4l60 in this regard), a simple programming change I hope. I just haven't had the time to check into it.

The exhaust clearance is very tight on the RH side with my manifold arrangement.



The left side has more room but would still be a challenge for headers.



I don't know how a 2WD frame compares, but headers on this truck wasn't an option.

 

Looks like I'm either going to be (a) building headers, (b) using manifolds, (c) cutting the frame and going nuts.

 

The Hooker cast headers solve many headaches for a lot of tight space LS installs

 

Still blown away by the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Easily the cleanest most well done engine swap of any kind that I have seen. It was nice seeing the process. I learned alot. I read all 8 pages (even came across a comment I left years ago lol). I hope its still treating you well!

 

Thank you, Brother. Truck is doing well, needs a bigger fuel tank…
​​​​​​​I just scanned your build thread, pics wouldn't load. Kinda like having a bowl of candy and being told I couldn't have any! How goes it?

 

Ohhhh yeah I need to get rid of that. I sold that build about 3 years ago sadly Needed money for a home. I have a new toy now though! I posted it in the "new arrivals" as I was gone for a few years. Didnt get any attention haha I got this one mainly done but theres alot of stuff on it that Im cleaning up and changes to come. So I may start a new thread on it.

 

The work that you did was amazing. Are you still planning to do something with the 4Runner body?

 

Thanks! I do have big plans for the 4Runner but the project won't start until I complete a few other chores I have going on. It'll be fun.