If you need any help on the skidsteer engine i have a guy in town that is very handy at them so let me know. Amazing progress and i hope to see the suspension pics soon.

 

I appreciate it. I might be calling you when I tear into it again. I believe it it having some ignition issues. Possibly with the points.

I cannot wait for the suspension to go on either.

 

Ordering the suspension Monday morning!

In the meantime, we are still plugging away at the cab and frame. Trying to get more body work done.

I had a few kids missing today since it was Friday.

But I was still able to show the kids how to do a little wet sanding. On the passenger door before we put another coat of primer on.


Had them throw down another coat of primer on after cleaning up the mess of wet sanding.


They could not get over how much smoother is was after we wet sanded.

Still continuing to do body work to the cab. Last coat of filler on the back side of the cab. The entire cab , minus the cab support repair, will be ready to put in primer in a few days.


I have been trying to fine OEM height greaseable shackles but having no luck. NWOR said they do not have any in stock, and I have yet to find anyone else that does either.
So we started to try and remove the existing ones for possible use on the new springs until we can figure something else out. Had them throw a little heat at them. They are broke free from the leaf spring, but not the frame mount.

I think that I am going to end up making them out of some plate steel that I have at the shop.

Going to be taking a break over the weekend from this. Mainly since there is no school. But I might try and head to the U-pull it on Sunday for a few things.

 

Nice progress so far, can't wait to see the new suspension installed! If your going to build your own shackles you can get the greasable bolts thru TG they're listed at $8.40 a piece on tg's site. ( probably get them a little cheaper thru low range or addicted offroad) http://www.trail-gear.com/shackles

 

Thanks for the tip! I have never bought them before so I could not think of other places. Thanks!!

I really think that I am going to just make them oem length. I have enough resources to do it.

 

Your new avatar pic looks sweet!

 

Thanks buddy.

 

Not much new going on around here today. Monday is a short day in our district since we have meetings after lunch. So it cuts the class time in half.

We were able to get more of the body work done, and beat a few door dents out.

The body works not perfect, but a few of the kids really caught on with how to mix and spread filler. Kind of cool.

More torching to try and get the leaf spring bolts out, but they are frozen pretty good. I told them they didnt have to keep trying but they became obsessed with trying to get them out after they refused to budge. HAHA


More taping and sanding on the body. Filling in low spots.






Trying to get dents out of the drivers door. Its actually in pretty bad shape. Has a crack/break in the top of the door by the window seal. And the window is off the track.




Previous Owner drilled holes to repair dents with a slide hammer like we are doing. So I had the kids fill in the holes with the MIG welder and put a coat of filler on it.


The kids love hitting up this Latino market thats across the block from our school. MMMMM yummy drinks.

 

And Im waiting on paypal to transfer the last bit of funds for the spring purchase from NWOR. Hopefully if will go through this evening and we can order in the morning.

 

This builds looking great!! I love the factory sunroof cab... Tell the guys great work and hang in there!!When the suspension comes its gonna get better!!

 

Heck yeah! I'm pumped to build this suspension and make it a roller!

We should have the rear axle out tomorrow. Heck maybe both axles out from the frame

 

Dont drop anything on your toes!

 

Nice project I did not think schools could do this awesome.

 

Haha That would be bad.

 

Thanks for the compliments.

My boss is pretty cool. And he also understands the learning benefit of a project like this.

 

It's really awesome for you to do a project like this with the students, it's something they will never forget. I look foward to more updates.

 

I hope so. I know there are a few kids that are really getting alot out of this. I know that if we had this when I was in high school, you would have had to pull me away kicking and screaming.

 

Still the same old grind here. Sand, apply, sand, apply, hahaha.. Some of these kids are really loving working with body filler and the sanders. Others are really excited about the frame end of it.

I placed the order with NWOR yesterday!!!!! They are going to be shipping out this morning he said!!!!

I asked them about bolts since I am making the shackles, and I suggested using Trail gear bolts. He told me now to use those kind?? Then he started to explain to me that the TG bolts end up having threads that are right on the bushings for the spring packs. He said that they ,NWOR, sell pins that have a smooth shank all the way through and nuts that thread on to either side. And also come with a grease fitting on one end. They cost 15$ a piece!! Not to bad.


Started hitting the drivers door with the first coat of filler.


Then some of the others finally gave up on trying to remove the shackle bolts and just dropped the axle from the leaf's.




Kind of a slow day since I had the older kids at job shadowing down at the local GMC dealership in town. They go Tuesdays and Thursdays for a few hours in the afternoon.

 

Cant wait to see new springs show up...HEAVY METAL!!!!

 

I seen somewhere you were in St Joe Mo, later this spring/summer, I should have a 92 standard cab 2wd truck that I will need to part out due to body damage. Last I looked, the frame is rock solid. If you guys want it, you can have it. I am about 3 hours further south.