Only a couple updates this morning, as I spent all of Friday building a framework to remove the FC’s bed. Unfortunately, my tractor isn’t quite bit enough to lift the bed, so I had to develop an alternative strategy. The framework is mostly made from wood that was formerly a dove coop, so it’s nice to put it to some use after storing it for a couple years.
Of course, the plan went sideways when the FC wouldn’t start. I eventually figured out that the electric fuel pump had stopped working. Once replaced, the jeep started right up (didn’t really want to push the FC around).
With the bed off, I will start with working on the FC’s mechanicals. For example, the transfercase low range was never connected, so that is something I need to address. In addition, some working needs completion and the brakes and break pedal need some attention.
Here are a few photos:
Wow your gettin after it. When your finished it will be better than new. good job.
Mike,
Well, that’s the plan anyway, lol. The rear platform is off the back. I gave the chassis a good air-compressor cleaning (too cold to use water just yet). I removed a frozen body mount bolt, which will allow me to use all six (3 on each side) body mounts to remount the platform, to which I’ll add two more. That will simplify installing and uninstalling the platform.
I’m sure progress will come in fits and starts. We’ll see if I can get this rebuilt by the end of April.
– Dave
If you don’t mind me asking, what did you use to successfully remove the frozen body mount bolt?
Steve,
That’s kind of a funny story. For reference, these are the body mount parts: http://www.ewillys.com/wp-content/uploads2/2024/01/ford-body-mount.jpg
In that pic, the rubber part on the upper left sits under a plate on the frame, while the rubber piece on the upper right sits on top. The bolt goes down through the original Ford explorer body, then went through the piece on the right and screwed into the rubber piece on the left.
With the bolt cut, the bolt shaft stuck up, but ended at the surface of the rubber mount. So, there wasn’t enough of the bolt for vice grips to grab onto it (tried that and sprayed it with PB Blaster).
So, I tried welding a bolt to the top of the cut piece. That sort of worked, but when I twisted the new bolt head, it twisted the entire mount. So, I gripped the mount with some huge pliers, then tried unscrewing the welded bolt with an impact gun, but eventually the weld broke (hard to get a good weld with the rubber surrounding the bolt).
Finally, I used my brain .. I realized the there was nothing holding the bottom rubber part to the frame, other than some kind of adhesive. So, I took hammer and a long bolt and gave the cut bolt a few wacks and, sure enough, the mount fell off the bottom.
Since neither mounts were used for the previous FC bed, this meant that the mount could have fallen off at any time!!! In fact, the other side had the same setup, without any bolt. It could have also fallen off at any time also!!
I plan to include the mount locations on the new version of the bed, so I’ve ordered a replacement mount (rock auto.com is by far the cheapest source).