An Update
Wow......I cant believe that it has been 2yrs since I updated my build. I started chasing rust about then and just got so frustrated that I had to let it sit. Then life got in the way BUT started back a few months ago with smaller things to work on. Figured that if I compartmentalized the build, that it would not seem so overwhelming.
I started off with the heater box. Why? Who knows, maybe it was the first box of parts in front of me. Well it is clean, painted, all new parts and ready for install.
Next, I started blasting, priming, painting, powdercoating the small stuff. Very fulfilling and got to rebox and rename the huge pile of boxes that I already had.
Then one frigid day a couple of months ago, I decided to tackle the Dana 20. Why? Who knows. I never had torn apart a transmission, transfer case, or axle but seemed like a great idea at the time. The funny thing is that you read everything, print everything, watch everything you can and you still need to rebuild it 4 times to get it right. I really feel for the guys that build these everyday. Some guy with small hands that were all nicked up from the sharp edges in the case I guess. Once for me was enough.
Moved on to the drive shafts since they were on the same shelf and the Dana 20. They are all disassembled, cleaned, painted, and all the parts to put back together are bought. Check.
But the elephant in the room just kept growing. Everytime that I looked over at the body sitting on the frame, I felt the weight of the world on me. No mind you, I worked my way through college as a roughneck and a welders helper but that was so many years ago. I am the neighborhood mister fixit but after getting my a** handed to me in cutting out all of that rust, I just knew that my mind needed to be right to dive in. This wasn't a couple of hours here and there, this was like marriage (a commitment). Well last month, I got my mind right, blocked off some days from then through May and dove in. It's not gorgeous work, this wont be a trailer princess. It is my goal for it to hold together, not leak, and not rust for the rest of my lifetime. I WOULD like to put a decent coat of paint on it in the end and at know that I did it all myself.
My wife asks, "why do you do this?", "you really enjoy doing all that?". I guess I do.
Wayne