Harry Dawg
Member
Howdy Y'all.
I finally had to turn a wrench on the old girl, so I guess it's time to start a proper build thread.
Took it down to Mustang Island in South TX a couple weeks ago. Hauled my dirt bike down and camped out on the beach for the weekend.
On the way down there, I developed a slight trickling leak from the transmission cooler line right at the radiator. It's been a nagging issue (already paid a "shop" to fix it, and we see how that went). They installed a new trans cooler line, but upon further review the coupler to the radiator is actually what was leaking.
The factory flared line goes into the coupler, but instead of being held in with a threaded fitting, a horseshoe shaped clip maintains pressure on the flare and the inner O-Ring.
I trust gas station sushi about as much as this design (+ the part was out of stock at Advance Auto Costs), so I went ahead and installed a barbed fitting on the radiator and connected it with a piece of 3/8" Fuel Line and some hose clamps.
Planning on purchasing a camper soon, at which point I will upgrade to a TruKool 40K Trans Cooler and AN lines. My trail fix is holding up fine for now though.
It was pretty uncomfortable sleeping in the back with the third row seat still installed, so I think this will be coming out soon. I hate to toss it because it's mint, but I don't have any where to store it (camper will be for full time living. Currently staying in an Air' B n B ) and it won't serve me any good.
Other upgrades I want to do -
1) Front Hitch - This way I can carry my dirt bike while hauling the camper, and this would also accomodate a winch cradle (It's a 2WD unfortunatley)
2) Full Length Roof-Rack
3) MAYBE - Stiffer rear springs and a spindle lift / leveling kit - Still not set on this, but I suspect one of the spindles is bent. My buddy and I were road tripping to Florida in this truck many moons ago, and he hit a semi-truck tire in the middle of the night. Blew the radiator hose, bent the wheel and ruined the front bumper and valence, but I suspect it knocked the spindle out of alignment as there is a rotational whomping noise ever since. Checked wheel bearings, wheels, tires etc and everything is solid. We've probably put 50K miles on it since then without an issue though, so who knows.
I also plan to build a interior camper system once the back seat comes out. I'll start with a basic wooden platform system that has slide out drawers, and then add some side shelving and additional storage on the side doors. Not going crazy with van life conversion, and mainly just need the storage space for camping gear, tools, MX equipment, fishing gear etc.
Definitley looking forward to some more organization, as i've been spending a lot of time in the rig and it gets messy pretty quick.
That's it for now. Will post some updates as more things get checked off the list.
I finally had to turn a wrench on the old girl, so I guess it's time to start a proper build thread.
Took it down to Mustang Island in South TX a couple weeks ago. Hauled my dirt bike down and camped out on the beach for the weekend.
On the way down there, I developed a slight trickling leak from the transmission cooler line right at the radiator. It's been a nagging issue (already paid a "shop" to fix it, and we see how that went). They installed a new trans cooler line, but upon further review the coupler to the radiator is actually what was leaking.
The factory flared line goes into the coupler, but instead of being held in with a threaded fitting, a horseshoe shaped clip maintains pressure on the flare and the inner O-Ring.
I trust gas station sushi about as much as this design (+ the part was out of stock at Advance Auto Costs), so I went ahead and installed a barbed fitting on the radiator and connected it with a piece of 3/8" Fuel Line and some hose clamps.
Planning on purchasing a camper soon, at which point I will upgrade to a TruKool 40K Trans Cooler and AN lines. My trail fix is holding up fine for now though.
It was pretty uncomfortable sleeping in the back with the third row seat still installed, so I think this will be coming out soon. I hate to toss it because it's mint, but I don't have any where to store it (camper will be for full time living. Currently staying in an Air' B n B ) and it won't serve me any good.
Other upgrades I want to do -
1) Front Hitch - This way I can carry my dirt bike while hauling the camper, and this would also accomodate a winch cradle (It's a 2WD unfortunatley)
2) Full Length Roof-Rack
3) MAYBE - Stiffer rear springs and a spindle lift / leveling kit - Still not set on this, but I suspect one of the spindles is bent. My buddy and I were road tripping to Florida in this truck many moons ago, and he hit a semi-truck tire in the middle of the night. Blew the radiator hose, bent the wheel and ruined the front bumper and valence, but I suspect it knocked the spindle out of alignment as there is a rotational whomping noise ever since. Checked wheel bearings, wheels, tires etc and everything is solid. We've probably put 50K miles on it since then without an issue though, so who knows.
I also plan to build a interior camper system once the back seat comes out. I'll start with a basic wooden platform system that has slide out drawers, and then add some side shelving and additional storage on the side doors. Not going crazy with van life conversion, and mainly just need the storage space for camping gear, tools, MX equipment, fishing gear etc.
Definitley looking forward to some more organization, as i've been spending a lot of time in the rig and it gets messy pretty quick.
That's it for now. Will post some updates as more things get checked off the list.
