I know I have been talking about this for quite a while now but after Ouray 2016, I have decided it is time to pull Brutus down for some upgrades in anticipation of future wheeling events. So here goes:
Interior changes:
Cab will be changed out for a raw (no top, no doors, no cage) M715 cab. I am going to tilt the windshield forward just so it doesn't look like ANY other 715 or J-truck!
Seats are getting re-upholstered currently with boat cover material and should be done and picked up this Thursday. Rim color is charcoal grey and interior panels are Brutus Blue (c).
DONE 7/29/16
Cab currently has no gauges so I will get new gauges.
I am going to try and make all my dash panels on piano hinges for access to the backside.
I will add a couple of USB charging stations.
Ipad and Iphone hard mounts will be incorporated.
Stereo will use Iphone as source and have an amp and a couple of speakers (hopefully under the dash)
I am going to make a couple half doors out of Brutus 1.0's old doors. I have a couple other sets just in case I don't like how they turn out.
Custom sheet metal removable hard-top.
1.75" 0.120 wall DOM interior roll cage.
Cab interior will be black rhino lined or equivalent
Powertrain changes:
Taking the 42 year old AMC 360, T18 and D20 and hopefully finding a donor rig missing these items to flip and replacing it with a new (3 year warranty) 5.3L Vortec/ NV4500 transmission/ NP203 rangebox/ NP205 Tcase should give me 20 distinguishable forward gears and four reverse.
With the 5.3 comes the need for a radiator upgrade (which is good since mine has been running with scrambled eggs and pepper in the leaks since Moab '07) with a mechanical fan and a pusher fan.
Also with the 5.3 comes a need for a fuel pump upgrade so I am leaning toward the 22 gallon tank and Bosch fuel pump that Austin is using on the quad cab J-truck.
Front driveshaft will get an upgrade from a 1310 CV to a flanged 1350 CV at the transfer case. Hopefully I don't need any more slip (rangebox thickness) than the 11" that I built into my current front driveshaft.
I will most likely have to get a new rear driveshaft made with a 1410 joint at the transfer case.
Exterior changes:
Banged up front quarters, hood and core support will be replaced with new sheet metal (currently painted gold)
I will fabricate a new front bumper to house my M12000 Warn winch (debating on where to mount two batteries in parallel... any ideas?). As much as I would like to have a front clip that hinged forward, I don't think I will be able to pull it off with the bumper design I am thinking of.
I will fabricate a new rear bumper.
I will fabricate rock sliders.
I will most likely rattle can paint the truck all the same blue (or as close as I can get) to what it is now but I am considering adding some white stars and white stenciling (similar to the army olive drab M715's but an air force theme)
Misc other things:
Re-wire entire truck to new fuse block inside the cab.
Staun beadlocks and rock rings
Tubing bender parts cut and fabricated
Tubing roller parts cut and fabricated
Kirby air compressor and one or two small tanks to run ARB's and air shifted transfer cases.
Rear cutting brakes after rear calipers are rebuilt.
Fix all frame cracks that I can find.
Replace trans crossmember with one or two "over the top" crossmembers for easy access to transfer cases.
adding/milling weld beads to inner square tube front driveshaft to reduce slop.
Designing/ordering the correct hydro assist cylinder so my steering is no longer limited to one side.
Fix whatever is currently wrong with my front diff.
Get lots of engine wiring help from Ethan and/or Blake!
I am going to push hard for a 10 month turn around so I have the option to make it to Ouray '17. Major parts that I don't currently have are 5.3 (1 week turnaround from time of order), core engine return (anyone in CO have one they want to not have to step over anymore?), fuel pump, fuel tank, & air compressor. I know there is a lot listed but I figure that if I take one bite of the elephant every day... it won't take long as I can do most of this list in parallel processes and having this forum will keep me motivated much like Brutus 1.0 build thread on the other forum did.
Pic added for attention