Thanks! Yes progress of getting it "kinda" trail worthy. Tested the flex and it seemed ok.

 

Definitely needs front shocks with more travel.

 

Are you going to rework the shock mounts in the rear? I'm not an expert, but the angle they are running at seems wacky to me.

 

Absolutely I will. Just getting it to ride better till I pile up more parts to install.
It needs springs and shackles.
For the front I'm probably gonna build long arms.

 

I have not really been on this thing much recently because I've been busy with work and school.
I was in Boston a week for Ford training..

Current situation finding what works and what does not. No lights except headlamps pass side burns dim. Pulled the connector to the head and found the pins corroded to ****. I deleted that connector and hard wired the harness with solder and sealed with heat shrink. Same problem still exists!
Pulled the head lamps and running lights. Pass head lamp ground pin burnt to crust. Both turn signal bulbs pretty much one with the sockets.
Replaced connectors and sockets everything up front now works.
Now I have to find out why I'm dropping voltage to the brake lights and turn signals.

 

Yes you saw that. Lol

 

I work on a lotta cars every day and this is something I don't see very often at all.
Ground to body is obviously really high resistance and found the ground to engine just.. kind of.. hanging out on the coil bracket.

This waa key on engine off.

 

I do love that tape I get from Ford. Good stuff!
Btw I know.. nothing is secure. I'll take care of that after all the issues are fixed.
Those 2 wires are temporarily pinched off. That's the fan circuit. I guess the PO thought it was appropriate to let them hang with the copper exposed.

 

Just one thing I hate is those aftermarket lead clamps. Not on my rig

 

Since it was a 2wd I'm guessing that's why it was missing the bracket. Couldn't find one around here so I built one and adjusted the linkage.
Works mint. But this maybe temporarily.

 

Also the fuel gauge never went under a half tank.. I found the sending unit improperly installed with the baffles interfering with the float.
Awful lotta "good enough" BS went on with this truck lol
It's a DD now. Got rid of the obnoxiously loud exhaust. Before I was barely touching the gas to avoid attention.

 

Been daily driving this to work and all. Runs great! Than the outer pinion bearing took a ****. Luckily it didn't harm the ring gear.
as usual when I have something apart I must make something better.

 

Simple, but effective. You didn't add one at the bottom to make draining cleaner? Where did you purchase that drain plug w/ bung?

 

That is a O2 sensor bung. I found the plug in my stash of hardware at work. I didn't even think about a drain. Good idea but a little late now.

I did have some time on my hands tonight, lol
Another thing.. found out why the driveshaft had such a loud WOOOOOOOOOO at 40+ MPH.
This kid.. I'm guessing he lost 2 bearing caps for the U joint. So.. he threw some random ones on that were too big. Like they just flopped around.
Good enough right????
I didn't throw away all my parts though! I did find a Spicer joint for my old XJ still hanging around so that's done.
I'll let the RTV set overnight before I fill it.