Quote from: ack on December 29, 2005, 08:13:34 PM

Then again, there is an older couple that come every year to the ZookiMelt ...  They have a BLAST!

Yeah, that's us...

So jzap how old is older?  Just wondering so I know where I will fit in.    My wife and I are planning on being there this year.

It's relatively close for me, I will be there for SURE...   I am 44 and I will have my 11 year old boy with me too...

I will definately be welded or locked by then, one way or another.. but that is about all, going to try it at stock height first, I like to keep em as low as is practicle...


I am just chomping at the bit to get started, I "sniped" a brand new cheaper top (didn't need a top really, but the windows were poop...) for $67 over the weekend, $81 delivered, so that was a steal...   

Changed out the belts today, and put a more free flowing air cleaner on it.. also checked out the manifold and it isn't cracked.. I have some leakage in the twin down pipe I think, it isn't too bad, but definately sounds louder than it should be.. i will check it out tomorrow..

Had some more fun with it today, but I am REALLY starting to appreciate it on the street..... I have never had it easier when parking! (except maybe my Festiva......lol)

So jzap how old is older?  Just wondering so I know where I will fit in.    My wife and I are planning on being there this year.

We don't use "the 'O' word" around our house... We prefer to say, we are becoming mature...  We're not really THAT old...  early 50's...  Still young enough to have fun... 

Look over the rear axle ball joint (center pivot).  I've had two of them go (one siezed on the frame mount, another was a replacement with a frozen & loose pivot bolt).  Make sure that the axle side bolts are tight as well.  Also, some years (mine: 98) have cheap trans crossmembers.  I replaced mine with an older one, spacing the low end with a 1/4" piece of steel, making the exhaust the lowest point, and the frame even across the bottom.

Yours has the factory upgrade rims, which may be 7" units already, but mine had the stock steel ones (5 1/2" IIRC).  Mine was a lot better after replacing them with more back spaced 7" wheels (widens the track as well, but it seemed to make the tires a lot more stable -- 5 1/2" is the narrowest rim that the 235 is rated for).  Some stock wheels from other vehicles wont have a large enough center hole for the front hubs.  Remove and toss the front wheel 'beauty' rings.  They just hold mud against the hubs and don't let you notice if they are loose or not.

4 door brakes fit the front hubs (2 or 4wd), you need the calipers, mounts, pads, rotors.  Never run out of brakes again.
I junkyarded my skid plates:  they are aluminum, stock of some sort.
I raised the front edge of the driver seat where it mounts to the body with bits of angle iron.
KYB GR2 struts are just like all other KYB struts/shocks I've used:  too stiff; but relatively cheap.
To quote gramps, purt near the easiest timing belt change you'll ever do.
Same for the right side CV/half shaft assembly.  Later (96?-98) axle shafts are larger in diameter, front and rear.  Most have the 5.125 gearing.  Rear axle on the 4 door is the same, excepting the brakes (and anti-locking optioned vehicles -- they have speed rings & sensors). 
Older units (yours) have a different soft top and rear windows (can be changed if wanted to later one with zip  out windows if the trim/mounts are changed as well) than later units (95 +?).  Somebody on ebay sells foldable mirrors to replace the stockers.
I have an F350 crew cab.  I think the outside diameter of my turns is smaller than the inside radius it can turn.  I hate driving the durn thing.  But love driving my 'Barbie car'.  So much more fun, reminds me a lot of my old Honda car (the original 600's).  Just with more ability to gather momentum.

Enjoy!

Thanks for the great info!!


I have the fever for fixin... lol.. I have patched a bit of the rust... and found a 97 in a junkyard today, same color... had good fenders, hood and driver door...

The guy at the counter said the hood wouldn't fit my 93... I bought it anyway.. as the only difference looks like it isn't flat like the 93...  the fenders and doors were listing as fitting, so it is hard to believe that I can't make the newer hood fit... anyone know???/

I was lucky enough to find a decent top on Ebay (sniped it for $67!!)  Brand new, perfect in original carton.. It isn't a Besttop, it's a Pavements End or something like that.. but it looks pretty decent in quality, seems equal to the wasted Besttop that is on it now..  They guy had four.. I sniped the first one for $67.. the others all went over $115... guess I stole it..  LOL...


I had an IDIOT at the local muffler shop quote me $440 for the downpipe/converter.. PART ONLY!!!  I had to laugh in his face as I told him to back my Tracky out of the shop...  LOL... The manifold is fine afterall, so I just ordered a MagnaFlow downpipe and converter for $144 delivered...  I guess I should have just gotten a header, and built a system, but I have had SO many headaches in my life with header leaks.. I just couldn't bring myself to do it (yet) the power gain from just the header alone has GOT to be minimal, and it seems plenty powerful enough as it is.... (crawler gears will solve that anyway)


So, does anyone know for sure what width my rims are?  (factory aluminum...see link)

I did some sheet metal and rivet work.. I don't mind the look of that at all.... rust, I hate... patchwork looks OK in my book, and I am sure I will have a LOT more by trails end.....

http://www.forumsigs.com/users/quaddawg605/Tracker/

Went ahead and bought the fenders, drivers door, AND hood... hope the hood fits!!

I guess the metal was a bit high, but the colors match, even down to the door panel, so it should be a simple bolt on upgrade... should have them on by tomorrow, PLUS the new top..   I got the new top, hood, fender and drivers door complete with all hardware, for less than $350.....

Now, am considering a spray job afterall.... I hate to steal other's ideas.. but I think it's going OD... Saw that one on here... liked it.. I like Camo, but it has been done to death....

(if the Bengals manage to beat the Steelers Sunday (doubtful) it might get orange with black tiger stripes!!!lol)

The hood will fit, just look different.  Can't recall if the body lines match up but I bet they do.  Guys have done that.

That's an excellent price on the top, nice score.  I got my new one for over twice that.  Well over twice that.  It was the cheapest I found that wasn't used (went down that road, got screwed) or really mysterious.  Then I see another post and yours where guys got super great deals and I hate you all.

Factory rims should be 15x5.5", steel or aluminum.  I've got a set of both.  I think only the backspacing is dimensionally different, and they're within a half inch of each other.  I think...they might be the same...

The cheap little beater ain't so cheap now, is it?  It's a damn disease. ;D  I'm just concentrating on getting mine running right now.

Get some real military rough texture OD paint.  Rust resistant, nonskid, and abrasive. ;D  A friend of mine has an old Chevy similar to yours painted OD but it's smooth.  To my former Marine eyes it just isn't right without being rough and textured.

hmmmm, I can get them to add texture, along with the flattening agent I guess... would probably take an undercoating gun to shoot it... (or I could BRUSH IT!! lol, don't laugh, I might!)

Nah, it's still a cheap little beater... I don't ever count the add-ons... that is just the price of playing... lol...    I am STILL trying to figure out a way to justify and ARB!!  lol.... gonna weld instead...

Mine might end up coated in Herculiner.

I whacked a deer with my '96 last year, and the only hood I could find was a flat one.  It bolted right up, and used the same latch, so i would expect yours to work the other way around.

I like the flat one better now that I see one that isn't caved in.. lol...  Oh well... I am glad it will fit, and if I don't paint immediately, at least it's the same color.. haha..

Yours looks great!

My wrecking yard has 8 trackers according to the computer ,  I just saw two, but the place is huge!   One fender had a very very slight dent, he through that in for free.... I pushed the dent 90% out with my thumb from the inside... man those fenders are thin! I will coat these with chassis saver BEFORE I put them on, course they are just going to get banged up on rocks and trees... at least they won't rust again...


What is the WORLD can I do about these PINK seats!!  They are in GREAT condition,  I want to keep them..  Think I could dye the center sections? I don't care if it doesn't come out any particular color, just something other than PINK!!   HA!

I got some $20 seat covers for my stained, cigarette burned seats.

What is the WORLD can I do about these PINK seats!!  They are in GREAT condition,  I want to keep them..  Think I could dye the center sections? I don't care if it doesn't come out any particular color, just something other than PINK!!   HA!

I have seen vinyl seat dye in spray cans.  You may have to look at some of the more well stocked auto supply stores, or maybe JC Whitney...

Well, I got the hood, fenders, new top and driver door on!   Not too many skinned knuckles or anything.. I must say, it hardly looks like a beater at all anymore.. LOL, maybe I should sell it.

I do have to pull the damn left fender off again though, I was silly enough to put the fender back on before I road tested it, and the door needs to be tweaked a bit... forgot all about having to have the fender off to adjust the door.. lol... oh well, live and learn!


The seats are cloth.. do you think the vinyl dye would be the right stuff? or is there fabric dye?

What is the EASIEST way to remove the factory vinyl stickers?  they are brittle, and heating and peeling isn't an option.....   I have used something.. but I forgot what it was. I don't want to kill the paint just yet, as now it actually looks pretty good... I can hold off painting it for a little while and save up for a lift.

Rocky Road?

Calmini?

Opinions??


Heh Heh this is turning into the one thread for everything topic.. 

I do a lot of searching, I will search out rocky road  vs. calmini and see what I come up with. 


I am waiting for the Magnaflow downppipe/converter, then it's off to the muffler shop for a nice tight install of the rest of the system.. the manifold bolts don't look TOO corroded...... do they like to break?   The manifold bolts look pretty rusty... do broken studs come out of these heads pretty easily?  I am hoping for the best but being prepared for the worst.. lol... if the studs on the downpipe/manifold break, it looks like I will have to remove the manifold to drill them.. and at that point, I will wish that I had just gone ahead and gotten the whole header system.. lol... jeez.. this bug bites hard doesn't it!?!?!

Did you guys see one of my other projects in the background of some of those tracker shots?
http://www.forumsigs.com/users/quaddawg605/49fleetline/

(I need to post some of the post fender/hood/newtop/door install... looks fine with the ghetto rivet rust repair..  I wonder if the junkyard would cut out just the section I need.... little portable plasmacutter would whack it right out and I could weld it in... I ain't much on delicate welding and the sheet metal on these things is T H I N ! !...  I think I will stick to my riveted ghetto look..


I looked under the bumper covers today, and EVERY screw and nut looks rusted as all get out.. plus the bumper underneath looks pretty rusty too... ugh..   What is the easiest way to get the cover off? How many bolts exactly are holding it on???

Cloth seats are even easier...

Just get some black Rit Fabric Dye (available in most grocery and department stores).  Mix it up in some hot water and apply it to the fabric with a sponge.  Be sure to use rubber gloves, and don't get it on anything porous. 

Sponge it on lightly, and let it dry completely before another application.  You may have to apply several times to get the depth of color you want, but black should cover the pink pretty easily.