Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

What did you do to your GMT today?

Trailblazer and Envoy related, but not off-road related...

by DirtyBacon04 » Sun Jan 07, 2018 11:25 pm

I started building the drawer/sleeper system I designed. This system allows me to reinstall the rear driver side bench, increasing my person capacity by 2. It's a long, narrow contraption. The rear 2/3 of it is a drawer accessible from the rear. The front 1/3 is a trunk type thing with a hinge-up lid. The top the container is 5.5' long so it'll double as a sleeping surface for long road trips.

I don't want to share pictures because I am apparently way better a mechanic than I am a carpenter. I am so far embarrassed at it's appearance, but I have faith it'll look better once i get it all sanded and covered in the trunk carpeting. All I have at my disposal is a skill saw and a scroll saw. I swear if I could get perfectly straight cuts, my blueprints would've been awesome. It's a friggin sturdy sumbitch, thats for damn sure. Bitch is heavy though (approximately 4 tons worth of screws, glue, and 1/2" plywood, i think)
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by Trail X » Mon Jan 08, 2018 12:48 am

Looking forward to seeing it bacon. In the future, a straight 2x4 can be clamped in place to be a guide for the side of the skill saw foot. Straight cuts every time with that.
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by DirtyBacon04 » Mon Jan 08, 2018 1:21 am

That's a damn good idea... it'll be good for when I throw this thing in the fire and start over.
It's strange not only having rear seats again, but I've taken off the RTT until the next big trip. First time I've taken off the tent since I put it on. Almost feels like I'm driving a sports car, lol
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by DirtyBacon04 » Mon Jan 08, 2018 5:24 pm

Ok, here it is so far. Obviously the lid is not completed.
Btw, any tips on dealing with bowed sheets of plywood?
Attachments
20180108_154253.jpg
20180108_153853.jpg
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by Trail X » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:14 pm

Looks good Bacon. No drawer slides? That drawer might get difficult to move if you load it up too much. You going to put a latch on it to keep it from walking out?

The bowed boards should go away once you put your lid on, right, as long as you line up the edges prior to putting your screw in.

Also, remember not to put your jump starter pack in the drawer. You can't open the tailgate when the battery dies.
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by DirtyBacon04 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:10 pm

Yea, I didn't feel like messing with rollers. I'm gonna line the bottom of the box with a fancy ultra low friction plastic. Should keep it pretty easy moving.
Jump box stays in my glove box for that very reason! Lol
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by Diacom » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:37 am

Yeah, that's all Drifta out of Australia uses is low friction polymers for their drawer systems. Good choice.
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by cpyonker » Fri Jan 26, 2018 8:59 am

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Attempting to bend the number back to spec after destroying it at bundy Hill


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by BC backroader » Wed Mar 07, 2018 3:52 am

Expensive time in the shop. I spotted an oil leak a week or 2 ago, and discovered a leaking inner axle seal. Took it to my local driveline shop, and found the seal was leaking due to a failed bearing in the front diff. After tearing it all down and finding further damage, including the axle inner CV , it eventually ran up to $2500 CDN, mostly labour. While it was in there, I had the transfer case fluid changed, as that was a little overdue, too. Now everything in the front end has been done in the 3.5 years that I've had the truck, hubs, ball joints with UCA, tie rod ends, sway bar links, and axle disconnect. Should be good for another 220,000 km.
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by Trail X » Wed Mar 07, 2018 2:38 pm

Good grief. What was the issue with the bearing? I would have questioned that diagnosis - hopefully they brought you parts to look at. Those seals just go bad sometimes, and its rarely the bearing on the diff that is the cause. Those bearings get good lubrication due to the gear oil bath they sit in.
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by BC backroader » Thu Mar 08, 2018 4:52 am

Yes, I got to see and feel the worn parts. The bearing was very loose and rough, and the spider nest was damaged, luckily no gear damage. The shop is a driveline specialist, and did my disconnect a couple of years ago. Don't know if the bad CV killed the bearing, or the other way around. Other than the oil leak that led me to have it checked out, there were no noticeable symptoms of anything going bad down there.

I took the TB into a different shop, closer to home, today for an alignment, as I didn't get one done when I had the UBJs and tie rod ends replaced a few months back, and now I have the lower ball joints and A arm bushings gone. I think I'm just at that point where the combination of age, the lift, and my many kms of logging roads are all coming together at once in a conspiracy to bankrupt me!
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by BC backroader » Fri Mar 16, 2018 5:04 pm

Got the truck in for the lower BJs and bushings yesterday, as well as the long overdue alignment. Feels much better now, and zero noises when I go over speed bumps. Hopefully that's the end of repairs for a while. In the 3.5 years that I've had the TB, it's cost me nearly as much in maintenance and repairs as it did to buy it.
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by DirtyBacon04 » Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:13 am

My task was similar. Replaced entire LCAs. Took a bit longer than expected.
Staying parked until I replace tie rods, too. Then I'll go get another free alignment :) after that, the rig will be ready for another cross country adventure!

Giving thought to replacing fuel pump before it shits out on me right after I fillerup. 175k miles still have original FP.
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by Trail X » Tue Mar 20, 2018 8:14 am

The fuel pump isn't fun, but it can be done with a helper. The worst part for me was getting the fuel line "quick disconnects" to come apart, and then snap back together. They are finicky and feel like they are going to break. Is your fuel level sensor still working? I replaced my whole pump SA because it stopped reading.
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by ETB1 » Tue Mar 20, 2018 8:46 am

Started installing a snorkel
5AE1CE81-FFDF-4209-8F93-914ADE98A3A5.jpeg
5147D8D4-3CFD-4DF7-B74E-E38E15B5EC29.jpeg
. Build sheet will come when I’m fully finished. Explaining any and all concerns
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by bartonmd » Tue Mar 20, 2018 8:50 am

Yeah, I'd be interested in seeing how you did the airbox.
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by Trail X » Tue Mar 20, 2018 8:50 am

I'm definitely interested. That thing looks like it was meant for the TB!
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by ETB1 » Tue Mar 20, 2018 11:28 am

Bartonmd, I’m usinh the inline filter from an f150, any inline filter would work, I chose this because it was free. I have talked to mark from bear tear drop trailers he is actually going to cad design a box for his Tb. I am removing the washer fluid reservoir to make room for it and another battery, I will get a small reservoir to put somewhere to replace. It.

Trailx this is a snorkel for a land cruiser, it is the closest I have found to our body lines
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by Trail X » Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:45 am

Nice find! Which specific product did you purchase? I imagine that the different brands might have different lines. The one you have matches up pretty well.
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by ETB1 » Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:06 am

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B90PP ... ref=plSrch

Now when I get finished I will tell what needs to be modified, I should be finished this weekend, so I’ll have a build sheet wrote up with detailed pics
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