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Seasoned...
Joined: Sat Oct 21st, 2017
Location: Near The Pointy End , USA
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Extremely happy with my OTC ball joint press and kit I bought the big screw press for doing diesel trucks
OTC Big C:
https://www.amazon.com/OTC-6736-C-Frame-Forcing-Assembly/dp/B005J3LOSK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1525784477&sr=8-7&keywords=OTC+ball+joint+press
Along w my 20 ton HF press I can do most ball joints and pressing in house or on the truck
Can't wait to see how you do the snorkel
I spent an entire day trimming the fender flare around the snorkel for the perfect fit on my wifes FJ
I have never been able to get powder coat to work well for me on undercarriage parts, once they get scratched/pitted or if the PC isn't perfect water gets under it and soon after it all needs re-done
Looking forward to seeing how this turns out!
I have an mechanic friend of mine, well he was a couple years younger than me and passed a few years ago in a Motorcycle crash but he was a advocate of OTC tools, and I've borrowed the smaller version from him. It worked out pretty well actually and I did forget about OTC. Unfortunately for me, Snap-On and MAC will let me throw $2-3k on a truck accounts for tools and just come by once a week for a payment. lol ughhh
As for the trim work on the FJ, I bet it was worth all the time too. My problem as well as everyone else's that's a Ranger owner is that this kit is only "close" and so meticulous efforts slightly unseen and unknown will neglect some function > form. I will have to get a down the fender shot during the day tomorrow. I could have sat there for hours with a multitude of different thickness washers and shimmed it to perfection but.. it came out good enough for government work.
And I've seen the PC issue happen before. Part of prep work and a comment that @Chris made all contribute. Time will tell in the end..
Scrambler82 wrote:
Undrstm8ed ,
Nice stuff, power coating... wow; is it for durability ?
I had some parts powder coated, what I thought as a great job and in about two years later the coating was rusting off. Probably poor pre work but it is what it is !
I am not a fan of Powder coating for under carriage parts unless we are talking a show truck.
have you been doing other powder coating, how has it help up ?
Like the Snorkel !
Ive had other items PC before with good results and lasting too.. As well as Zinc plating and other stuff. Some of its for durability but more for aesthetics and appearances. At one time, even my old track car was clean enough to lick off the oil pan most days. I love working on cars but I hate getting dirty. Some of that stems from a very strict set of parental units. ANYTHING I did to my cars in the garage had to be completely spotless of stains or residue. I learned how to pull FWD cars apart and not get anything on the floor. Each time the cars came in, they got cleaner and cleaner making less chances for dirt. rough childhood lol
The new frame will be my first complete "off frame" rework/upfitting.. And that, as well as many components, will be all powder coated for various reasons. Nothing to shiny, just done well.
Chris wrote:
I would have that flashing ground off and then shot peened before powder coating - sharp edges leave the coating thin and prone to water getting under the coating lifting it off in sheets.
Better still is to use POR 15 or a chassis black and spray it over a zinc rich primer.
Good note for all.. I learned that a while back and will spend the time knifing these parts down. Thanks for the reminder Chris
410customs wrote:
Very nice I will have to check into this kit
Is there a water drain hole at the lowest spot pre air filter?
Being from CO I have never needed a snorkel, I had had my BII in water up to the headlights but not very often and that was in California LOL
I always gave my wife crap about having a snorkel for looks on her FJ
I am not laughing anymore
Now that I am in North Idaho we have water over our road right now to the tune of 18-24". If the river keeps rising I may in fact need a snorkel on my BII
so I appreciate this thread very much!
I sealed up the entire intake box in/out with exception of one hole. I wasn't quite sure if I should leave it for drainage or not and from further research, I'm being told to seal it all so I'll be going back in tomorrow to do that one lil .25" hole left.
And for not having a snorkel:
That water was 30" deep 2.5 hrs later, in some areas well over 35" as the water started to slightly skim over the front of the bonnet itself at the farthest end of 80 yards of mid 40* water.
MY trail partners 4x 4Runner didn't make it. This was the first water-crossing we came to on the South to North bound Mojave trail. This was like 48 miles into the 168 mile trek and it really took the wind out of his sails. Thankfully I had a full tool kit, and an Autistic Zone was only 54 miles away once we got back to the main road. Reworked the entire upper end, got water out of cylinders, had near 6 seconds of water pour out of the oil pan before I saw oil let alone solid oil. I got him back together and running and we went on. I stopped in Vegas, he went to St George then Billings Montana for work.
Scrambler82 wrote:
Good write-up !
I have thought of a Snorkel but for look s more than usefulness but have never Benn able to locate a kit that would fit the 2003 Ranger.
I like the way it looks on your vehicle !
Thanks for posting !
Since I've not been able to prove there's much difference in the fenders as of yet from what I'm told. I would say this is as close as you're going to get. My ONLY advice is if you're remotely emotional to your vehicle(s) to take all things into consideration because once that template goes on and you drill a 3.75" hole in the side of it, you're committed and its a done deal. Not that you couldn't get another fender and replace it, but your virgin bodied rig has been deflowered regardless.
Once I get a chance to create a new Multi-carrier bumper, the 48" Hi-lift will be put on the rear bumper I think and the new hood and front end will come into play. Depending on money flow, everyone may see an even MORE creative snorkel kit to match the new fenders.
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Roman courtier during the reign of Nero.
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~ Undrstm8ed Truckumentry Write Up Pg.
~ Undrstm8ed Trailermentry Write Up Pg.
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