The REAL test drive

Today:
-found the m.i.a. bag of bolts so the floorboards got screwed in along with transmission tunnel
-repositioned the new speedo cable so the exhaust isn't melting it and so it connects to the speedo without popping off
-shocks are on! Grand Wagoneer fronts and dodge 3/4 ton rears, all monroe sensa tracs. (pictures to come) I had to remove all the shocks stock bushings except the rear lowers. They were designed for a 1/2" mounting stud, not 3/4". I ground down the stock shock bushings to fit the shock eyes. Thats 12 bushings btw.
- the "defroster" vent control panel got put on and works. yay.
-screws into the dash

With the carb retuned I took off down the street... again.
Shifting was exceptionally good today, the engine didn't bog, it drove straight, and with shocks it didn't bounce all over the place. The shocks weren't so stiff that it was a bone-jarring either, actually pretty smooth on the smooth stuff.

The speedo cable popped off the first time out, but a little repositioning and it started reading. It got up to "55" and sounded like a bomb ready to go off. But i had a big smile on my face listening to it.

After 5 miles of driving the engine started losing power intermitantly, so i hauled butt home at 10 mph. in the driveway the engine smoothed out and died. Gotta get the fuel guage fixed and put in more than 2 gallons at a time.

Experimented with spray paints today- the colors came down to a krylon almond or rust oleum hard hat almond. both were pretty close to original color.

Seat belts and vents and shocks- oh my!

Well, I managed to get my right angle grinder (probably the best tool in the shop) back and began the journey of putting in seat belts. I cut the original Jeep mounts down, and welded extra strengtheners to the mounting plate. Here is the result:


I saw another set like this on the web and it had protective cover plate, so using my mad skills the belts got a -sturdy- cage around them out of galvanized sheet. they will bolt to the wall between the mounting plate.

From the passenger side, the plate will mount immediately above the wheel well. I still need a guide for the belt to run through to keep it from rubbing on the trim.

While waiting for the paint to dry, the vents got hooked up. note: the little screw on arms go up to the hinge. When you put them on upside down it doesn't close.

Notice anything different? Probably not. I ejected a bunch of junk from the back to make some work room. The dash is mostly completed, seat belts in but not mounted, rear passenger seat in, spare tire on hood now.

And my shocks came in. They are a set for a Grand Wagoneer for the front and a Dodge 2500 for the rear. $36 for 4 shocks. Thats almost stealing. The eyes may have to be modified to fit the bolts, but these have, from what I've seen, about 2 -3x the travel available of a stock shock.

The dash and belts.

The wiring was assembled after a month hiatus, having to re-learn the wiring and where it goes, the power was re-routed to give the lights and accessory lighting full time power.
Accesory lighting used to be dash lights switch, but is for the dome light now. I may add floorboard lights just for kicks for those topless nights.
The wiper and fan are key-on power only as are the passing beams (like it needs those)
With the dash on I tried to take her around the block, and the speedo isn't registering. Dang. Hopefully the cable just pulled out when I finagled it in there.
At least the lights work.
I think that I said the front seatbelts came from a 2002 jeep tj. They're just the right length and the buckle side fits between the front seats perfectly.
The upside is that I found the long missing lower front seatbelt anchors in a pile of spare parts.
I'll make the mounting plate for the reel behind the seats and have real seatbelts!

The rover shifted pretty good going down the road, I dropped in a ditch, popped it in 4hi and its kinda anemic. Although 4 lo crawled up and over the edge of the driveway without problems, except for slamming the rear leafspring on the concrete coming back into the ditch, it seemed happy.

I'm hoping to have it ready for SCARR in Marble Falls, TX next month. This is hosted by Texas Rovers and has been around for a couple years.