What did you do to your rig today?

[lookzcustoms]

any pix?

Yup! There is even a thread with his write up!

didnt really look for it, u could have posted a link

[Jayman]

didnt really look for it, u could have posted a link

I did think about it, but then figured that I'd make you work for it.

[studum]

I meant to post one, but it took so bloody long to upload the pics and do the writeup that I forgot. Anyhow I've edited the post to add one. More pics are in the how-to thread I made up.

Still have to add that last piece of trim over the screws on the inside. Today it's getting it's water resistance test

[pitbull-trucker]

Well after deciding to keep the old girl, it is in the shop right now having the entire exhaust system done from the manifolds to the tailpipe, the big suprise was that none of the studs were broken on the manifolds, just needed a bit of heat to loosen them, the egr tube was the only piece they had problems removing so one is on order and she will be ready to go in the morning. Next project is getting the small hole in the frame welded, and replacing all of the u joints. After pricing out newer trucks I realized it was gonna be cheaper to fix the issues that I know are needed on this truck. As soon as the warmer weather is here to stay I am going to replace the front fenders with the new ones that came with it when I bought it and install a snorkel at the same time.

[Scotto]

There's a good point in your post: price out a newer vehicle and then sort of guess what might be needed. It always seems to be at least a thousand in work/stuff to get it up to speed. And if you just took that money and put it into your truck, you're instantly ahead of the game.

[01R50]

Brought the HB to the garage to find the exhaust leak up near the engine.

Garage called back and said there are three broken studs on the passenger side manifold. I also have leaking seals on the back of the transfer case and the rear axle.

Only getting them to replace the broken studs. Nothing else. The truck has turned into a money pit, and I am seriously looking at getting another truck now.

Anyone have a cheap Frontier for sale?

[Adam]

The seal on the rear axle is pretty simple to replace. It took the shop I brought mine took all of 10 minutes to change it while I watched. You've put a lot of resto work into that hardbody, can't let a couple of leaks stop you can ya?

Today I fixed my door panels that were installed half assed by the previous owner. I also found I lost a y pipe bolt and thats why it's leaking. I contemplated installing my stereo but got side tracked and ended up cleaning the garage instead.

[01R50]

Is not just an axle seal, but just a never ending list of repairs. Has cost me around $6,500 so far since I bought it 2 years ago. And the total keeps climbing. The manifold stud job will likely cost me around $500. The engine is also burning around a 1/2 liter of oil a week. Meaning that I either have to rebuild it some time soon, or replace it with another engine (more $$$). Etc, etc. That wouldn't be so bad if it was a newer truck, but it is a 1988.

Will see what I come up with.

[Adam]

Here are those pictures:







The hatch opens and closes perfectly but the locking mechanism is screwed so the guy told me he just set it to be unlocked all the time, so I can at least open it. It doesn't look 100% showroom perfect but for such an old truck I'm not gonna be that picky. I'm happy it just looks decent! The bumper won't line up because apparently someone welded the mounts to the frame, so the new to me bumper on there is straight just the mounts were welded on crooked.

[studum]

Looks good!

[danxe]

Is not just an axle seal, but just a never ending list of repairs. Has cost me around $6,500 so far since I bought it 2 years ago. And the total keeps climbing. The manifold stud job will likely cost me around $500. The engine is also burning around a 1/2 liter of oil a week. Meaning that I either have to rebuild it some time soon, or replace it with another engine (more $$$). Etc, etc. That wouldn't be so bad if it was a newer truck, but it is a 1988.

Will see what I come up with.

On a happier note; finally did the Spidertrax 1.5 spacers install.

[01R50]

Picked up the HB from the garage. There were four broken studs. They had to install some heli-coils on the broken stud holes. Price came in just slightly under my estimate.

Is like night and day driving it back. No more p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p while accelerating. Engine is a lot quieter and it gets up to speed quicker too.

Garage says there might be a broken stud on the drivers side, as he says he hears a slight leak when under the truck. But I am already tapped out on money for the other studs, so anything else will have to wait.

Well at least I won't attract too much attention when the zombies hit now that my truck is a bit quieter

[Morpheus]

front end came apart tonight





New beside old

[Simon]

Wow, huge difference in bulk on the tie rods.

[Jayman]

As I said before, that $hit is beefy!

Did the kit come with replacement IA and PA's too?

[Nd4SpdSe]

Oil change

[Morpheus]

As I said before, that $hit is beefy!

Did the kit come with replacement IA and PA's too?

Yep, both beefed up too

[Nismojunky]

installed some 1 1/4 wheel spacers today and bedlined my rims

[studum]

New driver's side front inner and outer wheel bearings. Serviced the front calipers.

[Morpheus]

spent 4 hours trying to remove my driver side balljoint.. Sledgehammer, trip to princess auto to buy air hammer and pickle fork... trip to canadian tire to buy puller and map/oxygen bottles for my torches.

One broken 1/2in extension, 1 broken puller, cherry red heat.... balljoint still hasn't budged. Gave up.. try again tomorrow.