The Hornet. 96 S-10 2wd to 4wd

Looks better evertime I force myself to take a look. I do cry a little every time I open this thread lol It reminds me of my awesome bad decision making skills. Lol. Maybe one day it will head back to Kings Mtn.
 
Cage off for weld out.
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I’m gonna be cartwheel ready for Dixie Run. I can already hear @Paul screaming “Crackhead at midnight!”
 
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Major props to @mcutler That cage fits tighter than a southern girls yoga pants. One sexy bitch if you ask me. Time to get her prepped, painted, and serviced for Dixie Run. Gotta make her purty for the first public appearance.
 
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Ain’t OCD a bitch!!
 
Two coats of satin black all over.

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New synthetic line and blinging hook installed up front.

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Cleaned out the fuel cell (water/sand/dirt), remade all the interior lines to 2 Walbro pickups. The old line was deteriorated and nearly collapsed. New filler neck, fuel filters, and a proper FATS fuel vent line.

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I’m spent, it’s hot, gotta work the real job for a few days.
 
You damn right. Total dedication to the hobby i sense in you.

To the uninformed, @BigSouth is convoying to the Dixie Run with me and the rest of the BDB.
Mayhem shall ensue.
Promise...
 
Looks great all cleaned up bubba.

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I really appreciate that. Something tells me it won’t stay that way long trying to hang with y’all. Guess I better start practicing up on body work too.
 
Not sure what paint you used, but Rustoleum Universal paint/primer in one is the best sticking stuff I've ever used. It's also in cans with nice triggers on them instead of the buttons that hurt like hell after a while.

That is all...carry on. :D
 
Not sure what paint you used, but Rustoleum Universal paint/primer in one is the best sticking stuff I've ever used. It's also in cans with nice triggers on them instead of the buttons that hurt like hell after a while.

That is all...carry on. :D

Great minds think alike. Went through a case of that exact stuff. I will admit, the paint flowed out of that can in a very nice fan pattern.
 
Dixie Run 2018! Figured I'd write up my trails and problems mostly for memories. Gotta get it on the internet while it's still fresh...

Arrived Wednesday afternoon and setup camp with my BDB brethren. Dinner, DARK, "Let's go wheeling!" Copperhead is the trail of choice and I didn't know any better. Truck was doing great. Made it up 3/4 of the trail with no assistance. Got high centered on some rocks, over extended my front axle, unplugged my front driveshaft (this will be a recurring theme). No biggie, I'm with a good crew, tools out and fixed. 5 feet later trying to winch up and over, unplugged driveshaft again. This time, those smarter than me suggested a ratchet strap. @upnover has everything in his rig so I stepped back and let experience teach me a few things. @backhalf-cj runs strap from shock hoop, under axle, back to shock hoop. WORKED!

Thursday morning I took some advice from @sbrittain and twisted that front passenger limit strap to allow zero droop. We tested it out on The Moon.
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Entire trail, both ledges, with no winch, and most importantly, NO DRIVESHAFT FAILURES!! Did catch a little 3 wheel action climbing over one of the ledges. I was amazed that the truck just sat back down on all 4's as I drove out. Probably should give credit to @mcutler for solid spotting. Wife may have tensed up just a little.

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Friday afternoon I attempted some (unnamed to me) obstacle that once again resulted in an unplugged driveshaft coupled by a busted front u-joint. It was noticed that I've got a serious case of front axle wrap when I'm under torque. This time I actually started to spread the yoke ears. Thought I was done for the trip. Long story short, hand driveshaft to @loose cannon , he heats the ears with @Curtis_H propane cook stove, clamps it in George's trailer vise, and then manages to install my new u-joint in egged out holes. I definitely chose the right crew to role with!

Saturday I joined up with @T-bone71 and @John Fowler and saw some more of the park. Rode the entire Creek Bed from bottom to top.

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Headed up and into the Canyon Trail.

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Managed to take a little more paint off @mcutler pretty cage work.

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And climbed up and out of The Jungle (driveshaft again = winch)

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One last obstacle worth noting is Hellivator. No I didn't climb it, but I did get up to it and around the bypass trail unassisted. I'm at least proud of that.

All in all, it was one hell of a trip and I couldn't have made it happen with out my BDB and Rock Corps crews. Made some new great friends and ate like a King. I also can't forget to mention my wife. She trusted me all weekend, never bitched about the ride, learned and ran my winch several times, even laid in the dirt helping me put my driveshaft back in. God, I love her!
 
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Congrats on making a great rig.
The welds shown above look good. Almost a shame to cover them with paint.

Thanks man! It’s been a few years in the making and I’m still not done. Got plans for the future too. As for the welds, I totally agree, but they look just as good under paint.
 
I think it’s time to start the next phase in the evolution of The Hornet. I’m sort of at my limit with the Toyota driveline on weight and tire size. Even though I’m pleased with its capabilities, there’s also more potential there. With that being said...

Let there be TONS!!

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Picked these up off of the List of Craigs. CUCV set, Pros: they’re already poster children for Blue Torch Fab with trusses, diff covers, disc brake brackets, and high steer arms. All the old brackets are already gone. Cons: front hubs, rear diff, and rear ring gear are all missing. I was planning a gear change and rear spool anyway so the rear diff being gone wasn’t that upsetting. Front hubs are gonna take some coin to remedy.

Anyway, I’ll continue to acquire parts over the next year and a half and hopefully have her under the knife in early 2020 just in time for my midlife crisis.
 
Drop them off anytime buddy!

Oh, don’t you worry, I hope to have the 14 bolt in your shop by Christmas. As long as the wife doesn’t clean me out shopping for the kids.
 
Decided to throw $100 at my front axle wrap issues. Seen it on the internet and put my own little spin on it. Couple heims with offsets, .25 wall 1.5” DOM, tabs, and axle wrap plates from Ruffstuff.

Cut the axle wrap plates down to my size.
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Mocked up on the axle.
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Tabs behind the winch on my SAS truss and winch plate.
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Of course I borrowed the old man and his giant tractor to flex everything around and check for clearances before finish welding.
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I also installed a limit strap on the front passenger side holding that side at ride height. I did notice about an inch of stretch when we flexed out that corner with the tractor. Testing will go down this weekend at The SHOP for our annual Toy Run.
 
that looks good fits well in there. So does the swing arc of the bar provide the foward and back movement needed for your springs to compress and relax without needing a little shackle on it?
 
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