So I have been accumulating tools and equipment as I found sales and/or opportunities, and keeping it all on my back patio (much to my wife's dismay!). How do you get a rolling tool chest, engine hoist, and other pieces of heavy equipment across grass and gravel? It's a lot easier if you a bunch of left over plywood drops from building a shop!

 

I can see why ya wanna swap it out. If you can't trust it, and a fair bit of it needs replaced anyway...... Do it once, do it right, don't worry about it again.

The truck project was never intended to be 4wd. It is going to be my hotrod - 2wd with a posi rear end. I am putting the widest meats I can fit between the frame rails and rear fenders. Tubbing won't be out of question, and I will do it need be. I plan on putting a wood bed in the back anyway. The crate drivetrain from GM Performance is a LS376/525, and is advertised at 525 hp and 487 lb/ft of torque. The one I had got broken in on a dyno, and actually pulled 544 hp, 503 lb/ft of torque. In a pick up, this one will be a beast! It will be coupled to a 6L80E six speed auto trans. I decided not to go manual for a couple reasons - it makes it easier than having to fab/engineer the clutch linkage, and, well, my bod is getting older. I just don't want to push a clutch pedal anymore. The rear end will be a Ford 8.8 out of an early Explorer ('98 ish) with 3.73 gear ratio. The rear suspension will be a parallel four link with a panhard bar. I am going to put 2" drop springs and shocks on the front from Belltech Sport Truck. I will once again box in the Dakota frame rails and possibly add some additional cross members to deal with the power and torque. The interior will get done up, but the exterior will remain as pictured. I was going to satin clear coat it, but after it was burned there is just too much paint damage. So I guess it will be a rat rod / sleeper build, with a bit of a pro street vibe. At least that is the plan so far.

 

I never really enjoyed moving large, heavy objects...... Just not a lotta fun..... But, in this case, move it once, and there it is.

 

Slowly getting moved in. The desk, fridge, and amp are done. I got the map of the Sierra Nevada mountain range hung up. I also made a couple of shelves. More shelves to come.

 

Hey, you got that nice new floor DIRTY! Clean up your mess!

 

I also have to hang the four corner speakers up near the ceiling. I swept the floor after I took the picture.

 

I said I swept the floor - I didn't say I picked it up after sweeping!!! It's a bit surreal having a motorcycle on a lift after the last year I have had. I am so glad to have my happy place back!

 

Tools! And Stuff to work on!!! Yaaaayyyyyy. It's officially a garage again.

 

I also got my MIG weld cart into the shop, and hung the speaker mounting brackets in the four corners near the ceiling. Today my surround sound system will be finished. If my trailer was empty, I would take advantage of Harbor Freight's Presidents Day sale and pick up a gantry crane. 15% off is a savings of almost $125.

 

I always just used a cherry picker. Worked great for what I needed it for. We installed a ceiling mounted crane in a previous garage. Complete with casters to move in four directions. That was nice, but, limited where you could move large, heavy objects (engines and transmissions....) to. Having one on wheels, that simply rolled on the floor was an option, but, took up too much room.