Fast forward to winter 2017-2018 I was frustrated with trying to create a nice truck out of such a rusty foundation so at that point i said f@#k it and really decided to pull it apart. Notice how Im talented at really doing things bass ackwards.

 

Lifting off the cab and stripping the frame . Took the axles off but left the leaf springs attached . Burned out the leaf spring bushings and sent it away to paint . That about brings me to my current progress. Things will be slower from here but hopefully i remember to keep updating this thread .

 

I like it!!! Keep us posted. Looks like you are off to building the truck to new-ish condition again. I cant seem to part with my 1st gen club cab 4x4 gasser as I have hopes but no ambitions as you do. Good Luck!

 

Thanks . Hopefully you find time to work on your truck also. Things will slow down now that the pictures have caught up to my progress but I usually do something every weekend . The frame is painted but not back home yet . Roads have to clear up first. I have been stripping the engine down to hopefully throw some paint on. Im still trying to figure out what power mods I would like to add. I will add some more pictures this weekend . And maybe show things in a bit more detail .

 

Cant wait to see and hear about your progress moving forward. My 2nd gen takes up my spare time now, still a couple years from my 1st gen project but it does run and drive. The power mods are fun!! Plenty out there for your build. What HP you shooting for? Be sure your trans is up to the task of your HP mark, its an often over looked issue.
You should fill in your signature with your truck info.

 

My power goal is an honest 400 horsepower . Probably on the upper range of what my ve can handle but worth a shot maybe .I would like to throw on a small set of compounds , decent injectors and fuel pin with 3200 spring . I'm going to ditch the factory lift pump and run my fuel with a walbro gsl392 pump and bigger feed line . My truck had the a518 automatic but I've ditched it and have begun searching for a manual transmission . I know there are many benifets to an automatic but I like manuals The old a518 . Works good still
The miscellaneous stuff Im trying to sell with it

 

The diesel version is an A618. Do you know ifs its a lock up unit? If it is the plug by the shift shaft that points up will be 3 pin, non lock up is 2 pin. Interested people will need this info. What area are you in?

 

I thought A618 is for the 47 series transmission maybe I'm wrong though . Its a non lockup, its the factory trans and no lockup for 1992 as far as I understand . Definitely would like to upgrade to something manual . Getrag 360 would be nice because it's practically bolt in but I might put in the extra effort to get a 6 speed . I'm up in Alberta Canada by the way

 

The A518/46RH/46RE are gas bell housings and the A618/47RH/47RE/ and 48RE are for the diesel bell housings.

 

Got the frame back from paint pretty happy with how it turned out . Managed to sell the transmission so I'm happy with that also . Now I need to decide what I want to put back in there . I could go and put in a getrag or an nv4500 which would be fairly bolt in . I would like a six speed though . Also pushed in the new leaf spring bushings using a c clamp and lots of oil . Worked good
Cleaned out the diff and put some fresh rtv on there
Definitely had a little bit of water in the diff at some point . You can see the discoloration on the right side . Everything in the diff looked good so I'm not too worried .