No you're not. Hobbies are like this, cyclical. You hit it hard for a while, then back off to clear your head or wait for the wallet to regain some buying power or gain motivation and time. I'm super hard on myself some times, always suggesting to myself that "l should be this far along" in the project and beat myself up for failing to do so. Sometimes, you have to step back and say...hey, l'm doing this for the fun of it...so...quit making it not fun by putting conditions on everything.

Hell, it took me nearly 18 months to get the time and ambition to tackle the white 04. And, if it wasn't for the shutdown...it would still be in pieces.

Brian.

 

yeah thanks still lazy lol

yeah you are right and I have way to many projects

 

Just some maintenance today. Checked rear wheel bearings, only one was sketchy...but l'll replace them all...along with seals and gaskets. Have a pinion seal coming, too.

Old girl will be down for a while, going to start getting serious about the build.



Brake shoes were replaced last fall, still looking good.



One broken bolt on drivers side hub, other than that...she came apart smoothly.




Brian.

 

Well Brian, what does “getting serious about the build” entail? Curiosity is Getting me lol

 

Exterior:

Rear ladder
Larger tires (285/75)
Guards for 4 rear windows and one side convertered to table/shelf.
Jerry can holder
Window moldings and felt channels (all)
Finish roof rack (reenforcing front, incase a RTT is acquisitioned - l'd left it open, since it was mostly for the light bar)
Add two supports from body to roof rack each side (behind rear doors) and two along A-pillars (roll cage, basically)
And probably a hundred things l'm forgetting...

Interior:

Insulation/sound deadening material
Wood sleeping platform/cabinet/compartments in footwell for high lift jack and recovery gear
Second battery compartment (footwell)
Wiring accesories (tablet, USB, CB/GMRS radio, secondary winch control, lighting, etc)
Rear door table
Safety equipment
And probably another hundred things l'm forgetting...

Mechanical:

New suspension bushing, complete.
Rewiring dash/ignition, removing anti-theft device
And a few other things....been getting after most of this from the beginning.

I'm hoping that by next year this time it will be ready, or close enough for government work, for a trip to Alaska. Fingers crossed for open borders by then, too.

Brian.

 

As you know, built the roof rack.



Then added plastic grate flooring and light bar up top.



Light bar from front. Never was a hundred percent happy with this look, lights looked too small and was higher than acceptable to my eye.



As l was originally making the rack and adding supports...my "brain" said add more...but my "just want this done side" said...it will be fine. Well, we all know how these things end. Ended up having to watch where l stepped or knelt...so...it was a complete fail.

So, off came the rack, off came the light bar and off came the flooring.

Added several more supports and even extended the plastic flooring a bit farther forward than before. Which will help support roof top tent. Walked all over and it's solid now.





Since l've decide on a roof top tent, light bar was now not an option. So, l tucked it in just in front of the rack and making the top guard bar even with rack flooring.



Believe she looks much better with it tucked in above windshield, and now the small (4") lights look appropriate (in my opinion).



l believe a fork can be stuck in this part of the project...now. Yeah, modification will happen as we go, but the flooring is on to stay.

Brian.

 

Looks good nice work

 

I think it looks way better.

 

Removed rear interior trim pieces around windows and seat belts. Needed to be done to find materials for securing cabinets and sleeping compartment.





Hope to purchase insulation material soon.

 

I'd had these cabinets, removed from an old maintenance van we auctioned off years ago. Didn't really plan on using them, but got messing around with them yesterday...and l'm not hating them for a primary cabinet structure. I'll probably put wood veneer over them eventually, maybe not...time will tell. Bought three 4'X8'X1/2" sheets of cabinetry plywood the other day, for sleeping platform and overhead cabinet, and will have extra for dressing these cabinets up some, maybe just cover the door section in wood, leave painted metal framework exposed?

These two fit in just right and are about right height for putting a counter top on, for cooking indoors.



Laid two on the floor, partially over rear footwell area. I'll have to make a support for front edge, but l like the thought of them offering me a spot to slide my high lift jack underneath. (I've already removed third box standing on end by right rear door, after picture was taken. Decided against it, since this will be my canopy side and there may be times l want to crawl in the back...without going through the rear door...plus...it's nice to have a couple options.





I've centered them since this picture. They are about three inches higher than the well-wheel housing, so l'll need to build sleeping platform to match height. Still leaves plenty of headroom, plus while sitting on the well-wheel...it almost felt as though l was squating. The sleeping platform/sitting area will be on the left side, with a isle way for my feet on right.

Added a skid plate. Was off old Dll, knocked the mounting brackets off for Dll application and it lined right up with bumper bolts and slipped in between frame like it was made for a Defender. Took ten minutes to throw it on.



Looked her over underneath and l've got two more minor leaks to get after. Front output yoke on transfer case and rear axle pinion seal...and she will be drip free! Tighten a loose exhaust hanger that had been rattling and installed a nut on one of the bolts for the front bump-stop, missing since l bought it, l've looked at a thousand times...and finally threw a nut on it.

The leaks and rattles are a never ending battle, you fix one...and others appear. But, you just keep chipping away at them...and soon enough...they're all gone. Engine and front axle are spotless, after tackling both of them.