Re-Coil and and and
The Truck looked truly ace sat low, but alas was to low and left only around 1
inch before it hit the bump stops. So I had no alternative but to raise it a
tad. I got a set of std Jag coil springs (with aircon as they are slightly
stiffer) I had my stud iron tool from last time and the new coils where fitted
in no time flat easy peasy in-situ to.. But the truck ride height almost made me
weep ;o(
Looks like a skyrider now but everyone recons the suspension will settle an inch
or so, which should be bang on ride wise, maybe higher than I wanted but should
ride real good.
After I got over the initial shock of now having a gasser
style truck ;o) I set about the exhaust outlets, they were so tight on the
rolled rear pan they would only of rattled about and annoyed the firk out of me
on them long journeys... so I could put it off no longer.. by the time I had
the holes symmetrical I had a bigger gap than I wanted, but hey they
are round now and wont bloody rattle ;o)
Though the top photo may say otherwise I did the front
panel next. I just took the photo of the new ride height after ok ;o)
There are parts of me that wants to retain as much of the original style and essence of the truck as poss, like bumpers and badges etc, but really they do not have enough of a Hot Rodded Truck look if you retain things like that. So I wanted the smooth look on the front, so off with the bumpers and fill in dem holes...
 .
I couldn't believe what a thought was a straight panel
could be so buckled? A twisting session and all was much better and the patch
panels could be tacked in.
I must find some way of improving the horrible gap and look, behind the front grill.. maybe some expanded steel mesh, colour coded of course
I have all the original badges to but I am not
going to use them I have decided.. I would like to sort the bonnet hinges to as
even though they are new they are absolute shyte, and you can only shut it doing a F100 Bonnet shuffle, which involves shutting the front then going to each rear side and pushing hard down on the corners to sit it down anything like. Turned out there are special bolts and washers for th ehinges and without them you can forget it, I got some of them and once they were fitted the bonnet fitted a treat
. Oh and I
cut the inner wings out so they fit over the shock top mounts, just need to work
out how to patch em up now ;o)
I had a BMW third brake light laying around, I hate wasting
stuff so after many days of looking at it taped to the rear.. I finally took the
plunge to fit it.. wish I hadn't bothered I hate it.. but to late now..
*Groan*
I covered the rear of the roof and marked around the round bar I had bent to
shape.
Cut the hole and tacked it in.. whooooo scarey.
I sat the light on the round
bar, as it would hit the interior light if frenched. I stood back and nearly wept.. I absolutely hate it...
So all I could do to salvage the stoopid idea of a third brake
light, was to try and form the wire round the light and half french it.. I tried
all sorts, first failed attempt was to simply bend the bar round the light.. er
nope.. then this intricate one with nails Ha Ha.. nope again... Ahh Ha what
about a wood buck to bend it round?
So after much faffing around I finally got a buck made... another failed method,
but it was closer than the nail one. I used this very close attempt to finally
get the sucker nailed onto the Truck roof.
What I finally came up with was to mark the light direct onto the roof panel, then tack the bar onto the roof and bend in the shape needed, tacking as I went.
It now sits nearer the roof, so not fully frenched, but not as sticky outy as it
was. I have to redo the centre bottom bit but the general idea is there, I will
mould it all into the roof line and should be the best I can do with a bad job.
I still hate the look but it isn't as bad as when I first did it. The top curve
on the light flows similar to the Truck roof line don't ya think... oh well suit
ya self ;o)
The next job on my list was the Tow Bar..
I found a brand fire new one on E-Bay for £50 no bids so that will do me it looked the style and size I needed from the photos and the dirty deal was done.
It is for a 307 Peugeot for all you spec freaks And though it needed narrowing a
very slight amount, it fitted cock on.. Oh and I had to grind off the lower part
that the brake away cable fits in, I can simply drill another higher up.
So that's the tow bar fitted, and the mount for the electrics to.. Need to make
a hinged number plate now, maybe even one that is controlled by a cable wink
wink nudge nudge ;o)
Since doing this lot I have now started fitting the bed wood,
that Craig Dixon kindly got me for free gratis... I am struggling to find what
to use as bed strips though, the proper kits are cool but out of my budget alas
;o(..
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