Project Mini me

Spent about four hours out there today and didnt get much done. Got it ro the point I could get the rack bolted in, but couldn't get the lower pressure hose bolt in... So fought that for a while. Then found I really dont need a steering spacer.when it was to long.. So I basically have to take lt all back out, likely attach pressure hose underneath, then reattach the upper by the ps reservoir... After getting frustrated, I just moved to putting just one camber bolt in. Didnt want my strut riding only on two camber bolts... We'll see if thats enough when I get it aligned down the road.

Sucks doing stuff twice, but practice never hurts.

When you get a minute, update your avatar. Yours appears to be one that didn't transfer during the software update.

Got the pressure hose in. Had to undo top then install bottom by rack, then re install top. Required removing the airlid to throttle body intake tube....


One hose wasnt long enough with the lift do I had to by a longer hose....

So then I had to fix steering to rack. It wouldnt work no matter how I angled it, so I cut about an inch out the shaft. Then got the steering all back together.

So now I have to tighten the rods, add fluids, get air bubbles out and make sure no leaks. Then tires on , brake bleed, alignment. Work out bumper mounting. But its all in there

Nice job...that should be a fun little toy.

Oh yeah, and align steering wheel, and fix battery charge issue as I needed to have key on ignition so wheel wasnt locked up while I was finagling steering.... But I got this stuff. I should get alot done the next time I go out.

Thanks honky kong jr

Looks like you got that rice patty moving right along in progress. Don't you wish you get your American Muscle to move just as fast?

HotRodPC said:

Looks like you got that rice patty moving right along in progress. Don't you wish you get your American Muscle to move just as fast?

Click to expand...

Yeah, but this one is coming together because the other truck is like ground up resto.....


Went out today to just put in ps fluid, and tried to trickle charge the battery to no avail. I went down to oreillys to get battery quote of like $130 so figured f it and went to summit for an optima....
Then I can g side to side with ps and see if it leaks....

Good news....Got the optima in!

Bad news... She fired up fine but qhen it came to turning the steering wheel back and forth to get any last bubbles out, I noticed the upper pressure hose leaking. I tightened it a single rotation, but it started leaking horribly....

So I think I need to pony up for a new pressure hose and a ps pump now.

It's one of those Fd up situations where if I tightened the top of pressure hose (near the ps pump) there really wasnt room to get it in/ manuver the bottom side (by the ps rack) into its position without crossthreading it. So I eventually got it in the bottom, and thought I was in the clear, when putting it in up top -had to hold the hose with bolt in the end of ratchet level - against
Id guess 25lbs of resistance from lacking slack, and while I thought it was looking level about half way in, but a couple of threads later, felt that it wasn't. I backed it out, but the bolt is steel, and ps pumps threads aluminum, so you can guess what happened. A couple of the threads right nearest the edge of the bolt hile were chewed away, so I cleaned it all out, and tried to reposition the bolt and reinstall... It went in level this time, and the washer appeared to be tightly sealed around the hole and installed...


Long story short the rack was leaking at the hose top and weeping at the bottom though seemingly all done and bolted in.

Third times the charm they say....

I wonder if I got a new pump and new pressure hose, maybe if I had drained coolant, and removed radiator and lower coolant hose, if it would have made install way easier, maybe coming in the front?

I think next time out I will switch gears and bleed the brakes, just to get some accomplishment and clear my mind of this.

Also just paid registeration and went down to DMV yesterday, and shes insured, so once I get her back together , with no leaks, and bled, I will pay for alignment, and then be riding.

I still have some more off road/upgrade parts to buy, and have to get bumper attached firmly, but getting closer..

Is it the big tires putting to much strain on the PS pump and hoses?

No. I haven't even really started driving her. Just ****** situation....

I just ordered these.... If anything I might need a driver side axle, and I have heard of "diff drop", but want to get her done....

I might have to drain and get coolant to remove lower rad hose, then attach all hoses, then install pump... Debating on using teflon tape vs thread locktite.... Also gotta google torque spec, as it wasnt much to strip the threads inside the pump...