FrontYardFabs's 94 Yard Ornament

[FordX4-offroad]

when are ya gonna boat side it?

[frontyardfab]

In my "spare" time.


Also, a little experiment. Where I live, corrosion is a huge problem. Stainless rusts here...

So in an attempt to keep the shock bodies looking good for more than a couple months, I've wrapped them with clear vinyl. Similar to the decals you find on most dirt bike forks. I know a local decal guy that had a small drop that I could have.

It's nearly impossible to tell the difference from a wrapped one to a bare one.

In the picture the left one is and the right is not.

[frontyardfab]

Another shot before trimming up the excess. (By the way, the last good update is at the bottom of page 2 if you're like me and skip to the most recent page of a build...)

[91norcalcrawler]

Looking good son to bad your not I'm a shop were in for some rain

[Blackdog76]

Looking good. I'm partial to white chevys for some reason.

[frontyardfab]

Thanks for the positive input guys.

Yeah, jeremy. I don't know how it's been over the hill but the weather's been pretty vicious over here. Had a tree go down in the yard last night...

Here's my little update. Trimmed down the dash and capped the ends. Got to play on the TIG. Never have TIG'd alum until this... didn't come out too bad. Figure a dash is a good place to learn.

Also got the seats in it, then started foolin around in the girlfriends rig. Needed an excuse to lock the hubs.

[frontyardfab]

Been workin on the console the last couple days. Mounted the shifter and master battery switch. Will eventually skin the top with the same 12ga alum as the dash.

[frontyardfab]

Well, haven't had much time on the chevy lately. The gray 4runner in the pics blew a head gasket a couple weeks ago

But I got it back together and I'm back to work on this thing. I decided to go ahead and knock the welds down on the dash and give it a decent finish. So after laying out all the gauges I used an 80 grit pad on a DA to give it a uniform dulled finish. The main goal was to make it look even, without polishing too much and creating a glare for the driver/passenger.

The light between the tach and oil pressure gauge is to be Check Engine and I'm going to pop another one in just below for Alt.

[the_white_shadow]

The dash looks pimp. Nice work.

[frontyardfab]

Thanks white shadow!

Here's a couple more pics that wouldn't upload earlier...

[frontyardfab]

Got the battery tray done yesterday. The bottom/front/sides are all one formed piece of 10 ga. The back is just 1 1/2"x1 1/2"x 1/8" angle. Strap is 1/4" flat bar. Also made a rubber pad to toss under the battery out of some old conveyor. Simple and effective.

[chevy_phil]

Such a sick cage man

I want it in my truck

[frontyardfab]

Thanks chevy_phil! I got a ton of tube work to do still...

Well, I wish I had some pictures to share. Day before yesterday I took it for the first test drive. No wheelin, but I'm living at the end of a long county road with very little traffic so I got to run the trans through all the gears and feel out how it's gonna drive. I'm so excited now it's not even funny.

Considering the amount of work done, parts changed, and time parked (almost 3 years). It went pretty well.

Motor is still pretty anemic. It's getting better the more I run it but I'm having re start problems. It seems to be fuel related. All ignition components minus the actual destributor have been changed and its getting plenty of air. It starts fine on the first attempt of the day. But once I shut down, it won't start unless I mat the throttle, then feather it to keep it running. Then it clears up after about 20 sec and runs alright.

Also, any more throttle input than about 2/3's seems to do nothing more. It seems to just run out of steam at about 4200rpm. Maybe related to the starting issue???

Tranny seems really good. Love the shifter and location. Very comfortable to reach and go through the gears. It doesn't quite shift as hard as the people at Art Carr said it would but that could also be the lack of power. I'm not complaining because it shifts pretty firm, just not as aggressive as anticipated.

Took it up to about 60mph and the sch40 driveline felt pretty good.

Suspension feels a little on the firm side but I'm not gonna make any spring changes untill I beat on it some and see if it softens up.

Any suggestions on the motor issues? Or construction thoughts? I've still got a gang of work to do. Thanks again to all the people that dig this thing. It helps me stay moving on it.

[Ford rules]

Sounds like a fuel problem for sure, I dig that dash it looks awesome!!

[frontyardfab]

Thanks Ford Rules.

So yesterday I soaked the injectors in some cleaner for a couple hours. While soaking, I took the fuel pressure regulator and injector "basket" (i'm sure it has a real name) off and maticulously cleaned the parts, and reassembled with new o-rings and gaskets.

Also put a timing light on it and found it to be 2 degrees retarded. So I bumped it up to about 2-3 advanced.

The test drive felt good. More power than it's had yet. Even left a little pair of black marks on the road.

While it's gettin better, it still starts like shit... Just won't fire without my foot on the gas. The more pedal, the faster it starts.

Anyone with some ideas? I'm gettin close on the safety aspect of the truck and want to go play, but don't wanna have these problems on the trail. Thanks.

[WonderTruck]

Coolant temperature sensor went bad on my 89 3500 and had similar symptoms.

[frontyardfab]

Today I changed the coolant temp sensor and mounted the spare.

The CTS seems to have helped the starting issue. It still won't quite start on its own but with my foot just barely on the gas it fires right up and doesn't need to be pumped or cleared. So I guess better but not perfect... still lopes when cold. Seems to be a lack of Choke circuit.

I think I'm going to look into the TPS because of the erratic throttle input problems. 3/4 throttle=pull, WOT=stumble... And it is better and worse at total random.

I kept the spare mount simple. I just figure no point getting crazy for a spare tire. Bent a tube for a x-member that matched the back and flipped it the other way making for a flat surface for the tire to sit. Then welded a hook on the front and 2 pieces of round stock on the frame and used the Poly tire strap. Super simple, easy to put on/take off, seems to stay put pretty well.

It also got it's first bath in a long ass time.

[91norcalcrawler]

Looks good man can't wait to get mine finished and do some testing

[frontyardfab]

Thanks bro! I'd be gettin more done if it weren't for this weather.

But I think I'll be ready about the same time you are. We'll have to get up Cow and stomp around with a couple fresh rigs.

Also, I replaced the TPS and now I don't have the WOT bobble I had before. It runs better everytime I change something. Just won't quite get back to the way it was before it was parked. Still no choke... It's not that big a deal. Just gotta work the throttle for a few seconds when it's cold to get it to idle smooth.

I picked up a couple more sticks of tube yesterday so I should have some updates comin in the next couple days that are worth lookin at.

[frontyardfab]

Got some work done lately. Ran a couple tubes to the core support tube and mounted the grill. Then got another couple tubes in to tie the cab cage in with the back of the cage. Welded all tubing to the body where possible.

[frontyardfab]

Well the weather's had me kinda down since it was keeping me from workin. Fortunately a buddy has let me haul the rig out to his shop. Meaning its back on!

Here are the latest tube additions in the ext cab area. Including the B-pillars and pad on the frame where I landed them. Plus a stout grab handle for the passenger. Driver always has the wheel to hang onto and whoever is riding shotty gets hosed. I've been beat around a cab enough to make the handle a priority.

[91norcalcrawler]

So killer I like everything about the whole rig roll cage turned out awesome so far might need some help doing the tube work on mine

[rokcrawlr1]

Yep, this thing is looking sweet. Lots of good ideas flowing man, don't stop!

[frontyardfab]

Really appreciate the kind words. Really like your rig rokcrawlr1.

And 91norcalcrawler, hit me up anytime. I'll run over there to help on your beast. All we need is a big bottle of Pat-Ron and a pile of tube.

[sas_yota91]

Any updates??