"The Bucket" project diary

[rusty76]

Really fun truck. I enjoyed reading the build. Hope that you will have more to add down the road.

[burton'sblazer]

Good stuff. How well does turning out your exhaust out ahead of the rear tire work? Do you have a problem with fumes?

[fun in dirt]

Zero fumes...Had them straight out back before & that was the worst, not as bad coming out at back corners, but out the side in front of tires seems to work the best!

[fun in dirt]

I've always used ammo boxes for storage & love them. But been a little worried about someone swiping a box while I'm in the store or away from the truck for any length of time. It's where I keep winch controller, snatch straps, shackles, tools & all that other good stuff that doesn't need to come up missing. And heaven forbid I should ever crash this thing, the box weighs at least 50lbs & could easily be a death blow to the head (bunji corded down but don't really trust those) bouncing around. I've seen folks rig up locks on ammo boxes and cool hold-down brackets you can buy, but decided to go a different route...
So with pieces already had laying around the shop, a 6' aluminum hinge for $13 (this leaves 4'+ for another project) and $8 lockable paddle latch we fabbed up this solution.

[AHowe88]

Nice! So where do I send my $21 to get one?!?!

[fun in dirt]

Originally Posted by AHowe88

Nice! So where do I send my $21 to get one?!?!

LOL! Thankfully my husband does most of the fab work & puts up with me being picky about this kind of stuff, which equals alot of time in labor. With all the time he puts in these kinds of projects, it's a good things I don't have to pay him in ca$h, and he likes it better like that too

[Zane M]

Just stumbled upon your thread.
Great job on the build. Looking forward to future progression.

[madkmart]

Very nice build any updates

[fun in dirt]

No real upgrades lately to report. Have just been riding in it!
Had to do a little playing with the heater duct work as it blew out at the floor in the middle & with my new console all the heat was going straight into it. So blocked that off & made where it would blow onto my & passengers feet instead.
Last week the speakers quit & it seems my amp took a dump, so just wired them back directly to the head unit.
That's about it lately. Supposed to go on a camp out & mud ride with a MS group first of Feb an looking fwd to that!

[Angelse68cal]

Any pics of how you hooked up the hydro boost brake set up

[fun in dirt]

Originally Posted by Angelse68cal

Any pics of how you hooked up the hydro boost brake set up

This is all I have on my computer (besides what's in above post), but I can take a few more if you want to see something specific.
Got a new master cylinder & reservoir from AutoZone from '01 (?think that was the yr) one ton truck & put after-market proportioning valve just in rear brake line so wouldn't be sliding those tires with the drum to disc swap in rear.

[jimbug]

Nice blazer!!
I like the out of the box solutions you came up with for storage and that you have made all the good mods to make your drivetrain beefy!

[fun in dirt]

Bought some hubcaps from PICKMUP several years ago in hopes of finding a set of the elusive wide 16.5, 8 lug steelies for them. Finally gave up looking & just made our own. These will be summer set for riding the gravel & going fishing!

[fun in dirt]

Added 3" ... can't wait to put them on & get that "look view"!

[Tom Vogel]

That will be Very Nice!

[rusty76]

Wheels look great

[fun in dirt]

Super smooth ridin compared to the TSLs. Balanced 'em with 6oz of the red airsoft BBs. Hubcaps don't look right on here, so will save them for something else, wall decor in the meantime. These steelies give the ole Bucket a totally different look.

[New_70'C10]

Great work and some of your mods are definitely top notch. I just found your build and couldn't help but notice your caliper brackets in the first pages. Can I bother you to find out where you originally got those from?

[fun in dirt]

Originally Posted by New_70'C10

Great work and some of your mods are definitely top notch. I just found your build and couldn't help but notice your caliper brackets in the first pages. Can I bother you to find out where you originally got those from?

Thanks! A friend cut a bunch of 'em out long time ago & gave us a set.
But this place sells them ... http://diy4x.com/product.php?product...=&bestseller=Y

[fun in dirt]

Tired of the flat black paint job; too many people have it now & getting pretty faded and rough looking anyway. So, finally settled on olive drab - Rapco 33070 to be exact. My sweet husband spent 2-1/2 months doing body work after work on it. Several dents, dings, and of course rust to repair since the last paint job about 10 years ago. I'm super excited how it turned out - tacticool!

[Deer_hunter_088]

following

[hemi43]

I like it !! Can't beat that military look .

[swamp rat]

looks great!

[Tom Vogel]

Nice! Always liked your truck.

[mcmlxix]

I see you swapped out the grille for a 71/72 style... what are you doing for front facing running/turn signal lights?