Nice project. And I can definitely understand you frustration with "other guys work"!! I have pretty high standards...so I don't trust others to do work on my vehicles.

Heck why pay someone a lot of money to $crew things up...I can $crew things up myself for a lot less....


This is how I got my box....traveled 6 hours..one way to go pick it up.



Made up some bed stakes...then strapped it down.

 

That is exactly it. About the only three things I pay to have done are balancing tires, making drivelines (though I did make the front one for my jeep) and vacuuming the AC. I can pretty much screw up the rest myself.

 

New (to me) bed made it home



Gonna clean it up and have the line-x work done before installing it.

 

So far so good one step at a time my friend.

 

Got the lift pump, IP, and tappet cover gaskets today along with the tappet cover seals. Plan to replace them as soon as the weather breaks. I've been leaking but it seems that it's gotten worse (1 qt every 100 miles)

 

New front rotors, brakes, seals, and a tub of bearing grease, just need to order King Pins so the front steering is complete. Also just ordered some Blue Super Bright LEDs for the instrument cluster. Will be nice being able to read the left side gauges once again.

 

looks like you will be busy for awhile.

 

Yeah I've got a pile of stuff to get installed, just need to find time and motivation to do it, especially since riding season is almost here.

 

I know what you mean about motivation It is a really nice sunny day here but is supposed to rain tomorrow night. so it is hard to get started on anything that won't be finished right away.
I did find enough iron and hole saws for my front spring hangers though

 

So the lifter/tappet cover gasket leak I thought I had turned out to be nothing more than a combination of the last two valve covers and the lift pump gasket. Made quick work of that today and the oil leaks are gone. Best part is I can put $40 back in my pocket.

With that said I'll never buy a gasket for this truck that isn't a Cummins brand gasket again. The lift pump gasket I got with the lift pump is substandard quality compared to OEM Cummins brand.

Next on the list is getting the new bed out on and the second gas door welded in.

 

that's what I tell the guys on my Toyota 4x4 forums, somethings are best to buy from the , esp things like gaskets.

 

Got my led instrument panel lights installed today. Not sure I'm liking them or not. Wish they made them with half the brightness.

 

I have read that quite a bit. Too bad at least it is easy to go back.

 

I don't have any progress pictures, but I have made some progress this week. I ordered a new head unit, amp, and speakers to replace the "brand new" 10 year old alpine unit (I miss having my iPod for tunes). I got most of the LE molding off the truck cab today, ordered new front side marker lights from rock auto (broke the plastic tabs when removing nuts), and cleaned up the fender flares prepping them for 2 sided tape. Want to have them installed before the rockers/flares get a treatment of line-x. I do have a few trim holes I need to weld up before I get that done though.

I am having a hard time deciding if I should line-x over the flares making them part of the fender or line-x the flares separately and install the line-x'd flares over top of the line-x'd wheel wells. Thoughts???

 

I always paint parts separately if possible. I looks much neater like thought went into it. I am pretty critical( That's what my wife says)
When everything is painted(together) there are always spots that you will miss. And to me looks like a Hack job.