Got to checking out how the rear crossmember replacement is going to sort out did some cleanup in the shop as it’s getting out of hand in there lol.

 

Got after the welding as I had a few frame patches to do before I get into the really hard stuff with the spring perch and crossmember. First time with my new welder and I’m still learning and getting it dialed in

 

Took a little time to do something fun for a bit. I got the long tube headers slid in to place so I could see how it all lines up







Need to pull the valve covers and redo those

 

Got after the sway bar mount in the rear cutting what was left of the old one out and welding in the new bit. I got started on removing the spring perch as that is the next bit that needs to come off for replacement.

 

Got the rear door taken apart and the spare tire mount removed I’ll be blocking off the holes as the spare mount will not be getting reinstalled. I have a full bumper swing away set up to replace it. Not sure the door would have survived 35s

 

Looking good, Bill! Glad you are back after it. So much to get caught up on, been MIA for so long now, dealing with my aging parents, which both passed last winter, within a month of each other, anyhow, they had great life's, no sadness about that, besides missing them. Congratulations on the retirement from the service and my condolences on having to get a job on the outside...😂 Those Milwaukee Fuels are the bombdiggidy aren't they, just bought one last month, since l'm pulling the plug on working in a few months, for good though, and don't have a air compressor at home, besides for tires. The benefits of always being able to use the garage at work and all of my air tools ends.

Did make some headway on my 110. I'd rebuilt the engine a while back and something wasn't right, but instead of tackling it again with these 60% useage hands (damn RA puts engine rebuilding out of my wheelhouse now)...found another 200tdi in Brimingham AL...drove down from Michigan on Tuesday during spring break, loaded it up at 7:00pm and at 2:17am, after three hours sleep, pulled out of the hotel parking lot and headed home. Dropped it in the other day, started at 10:00am and out with the old by noon and new engine in and running at 5:00pm...not half bad for an old man. Seems good, no smoke and plenty of power. So, maybe...in a few months l can really get after it again and use it for what l intended.

​​​​​​Anyhow, enjoyed your videos and updates...looking forward to hanging around here again. And Thank You, for your service! Although, probably won't sleep as soundly now...knowing you're not out there protecting me anymore...☺

Brian.

 

@The Deputy good to see you back on Brian, nice to have one other old 110 active on here lol. Sorry about your parents that sounds like a very rough time.

As for the defender it was time to get going on it or give it up to someone that would get her back on the road.

i am way behind on updates as I have been trying not to post my shop stuff in here as I didn’t want ruffle any feathers. I have decided that is probably a silly concern so the updates will be coming a bit more consistently as I will post the reels from instagram and a bit more info about what I was up to or what was involved.

so we will get started on catching it up, as I have made in my mind a ton of progress. The end goal is in July to do the great divide with my daughter before she heads to college.

 

Ok I’ll find a better way than that moving forward. Just the link is kinda dumb since it doesn’t load like the YouTube link

 

ah I had plans to do the great divide trip with a bunch of classics this summer for what the 35th anniversary? but life got a little crazy with kiddo number 2 due this summer so unfortunately have to scrap. If you have any route questions or other CO things to see don't hesitate to reach out!

 

another person in our group is laying out the maps/ routes for us. I’ll let her know though. I’ll likely have the oldest truck in the Group by a fair margin lol